Rarotonga, Cook Islands

This was sunset from our balcony last evening as we departed Raiatea and set sail for Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. I was hoping that I might possibly feel well enough to just get off the ship and walk around for a few minutes this morning.

 

However, today turned out to be another missed port due to horrible weather! We arrived early this morning in Rarotonga. The port is not large enough for our ship to dock, so plans were to tender in. In fact, the first couple of tenders had already headed toward the island when the weather suddenly turned ugly. Ronnie had taken the photo below from our balcony as we were coming into port. Notice how smooth the water is in this photo.

 

threatening clouds over Rarotonga

  

It was my first time out of the room in several days, so we decided to go to the dining room (quieter, fewer people) since I still have a cough. We were seated by a window and perhaps within 20-30 minutes of when the photo above photo was taken, it was raining hard and we could see the loaded tenders rocking back and forth, side to side in the water. I can't imagine how the folks inside were holding down their breakfasts!

Soon after ordering our food, the captain came over the intercom to announce that it was too dangerous to run the tenders and we would be getting everyone back on board to head to our next destination. This makes our 4th missed port due to weather. Disappointing for sure, but we do understand and appreciate our safety being the ship's first priority!

We watched as the crewmen struggled to get both tenders back to the ship. It was amazing how quickly the weather turned from good to bad, then back again. The swells died down and we were treated to a beautiful rainbow as we sailed on. 

Ronnie now has the crud I've been dealing with for the past several days, but he is responding much faster to the antibiotic than I am. However, the fact that I felt well enough to go to breakfast this morning is progress. I will spend the rest of the day resting and taking in more fluids. Honestly, if one has to be sick, a cruise ship is not a bad place to do it. Room service 24/7 from any restaurant on board, laundry service, all sorts of in-room TV and movie selections, etc. I'm really not complaining, just ready to get rid of this cough and sleep at night.

It's mid-day now and we're sailing toward Pago Pago, once again under fluffy white clouds and sunny skies.