(February 13 – March 29, 2026) Guam is a strategic US hub in the Pacific, closer to Japan, Korea, and the Philippines than to Hawaii. We frequently watched US submarines transit the channel.
Most cruising sailors stop Guam en route to Japan or to collect stateside orders. Consequently, the island’s tourism is dominated by visitors from Korea and Japan.
Our primary goal was to collect parts and refill John’s prescriptions. Note for travelers: a doctor’s visit at an urgent care without insurance costs $195. While FedEx was punctual, USPS deliveries lagged behind our schedule. However, we are now fully stocked with replacement parts and a new jib sail, ready for our upcoming major boat refit in the Philippines.
We visited Donki often, a Japanese mega-store with an excellent food court and visited Home Depot, K-Mart, and Macy’s. Stepping into Macy’s felt like a time capsule; it was identical to the Fort Lauderdale location I visited over a decade ago. We also caught “Project Hail Mary” at the local Regal Cinema.
My favorite part of Guam was the military precision of the US Navy. Every morning at 8:00 AM, the National Anthem plays for Reveille as the flag is raised, followed by Retreat at sunset. The punctuality was razor-sharp.
