CHRISTMAS ISLAND

Yes, that rain cloud did come our way!

The local council offices!

Christmas Island, or Kiritimati as the locals know it was our port of call yesterday, and quite an adventure it was too!

The height of this island is only 10 feet above sea level so although it was in the path of the last tsunami, thankfully for them not enough wave height to do any damage.  They are afraid though, that a really big wave will wipe the island out.

The first tenders left just after 0900 with their 100 passengers and on their return, some hour or so later, they were immediately hoisted back onto the ship – the tenders that is, not the passengers! It seems that the journey from ship to shore was in extremely shallow water and both tenders had “bottomed out” on the coral below.  Not good for the coral and definitely not good for the tenders.

After inspection they were returned to duty later, but the ship could then only safely carry 20 passengers ashore and they had issued over 1,000 tickets. Logistically that meant our chances of getting ashore were very slim, but around lunchtime the number was increased to 39 passengers because it was high tide – the only difference between high and low tide is 3 foot! 

I have included some photos but please don’t rush down to the nearest travel agents to book a cruise there!  We were there only 25 minutes, just enough time to photograph the children dancing and a quick walk up the road.  Sanitation arrangements, like their housing is extremely basic – and smelly! However, they are very happy and smiley people and seemed genuinely pleased to see us as not many cruise ships stop there.  I wonder why!

The water looked very inviting, but we had been warned there were tiger sharks and interesting to note there were no locals in the water either.

So, Honolulu next stop, a place we haven’t been to before, so we are very much looking forward our visit.