Click the white buttons for our NZ Christmas Cruise
Ordered Wheelchair taxi for 12:15pm, came on time and reasonably fast trip into the overseas terminal at Circular Quay ($65 today, so better than the $80 the local cab charged just to White Bay in May)
On our way
Before dinner we had life jacket muster, no life jacket needed, mad crowds, and we could not see the demo screen, a complete waste of time, they even called our cabin number for not checking in, and we already had.
First, a quick look around, really felt like virgin cruisers (or as Anne would prefer me to say, first time cruises) on this new ship and company line
Reasonable boarding considering the 5000 passengers, on board around 2:30pm. A different experience for us, new ship, new company, new everything.
Our accessible room, automatic front door, accessible and large bathroom (no steps), twice the size room we are used to, four usable power points, but less storage room then what we are used to.
Next our first meal, food great and they took tomorrow night’s gluten free request for Anne. We have a window seat for 4.
We were 45 minutes late leaving, so had time for dinner before departing.
We were reminded of the American thing, the Entree is the main, our neighbours ordered thinking entree and main and ended up with two mains each.
Interesting,kettle in the room but only tea, no coffee (first thing in the Bay of Islands is buy a small jar of coffee) and Kevin had to hunt around to find green tea for the boss.
Early night (especially with clocks going forward an hour) and a busy day getting here
Breakfast a la carte at 8am, different from what we have been used to, but good
Christmas Choir practice, Anne only (while Kevin explored) with about 30 fellow singers, very different demographic to Princess where there are up to 200 singers and less than half the number of passengers.
Two70 lounge
Walking track
Robotic Bar
Wave surfing
Sunrise from both cameras
While Anne had her compulsory SCAN (Senor Citizen Afternoon Nap) Kevin did some more exploring.
Love the feature of my new camera that allows 30 shots the second before and after you press shutter. Below is a examples, a marvellous way to catch live action.
Also around the ship, I watched the last 45 minutes of “The Dish” in the theatre and saw the robotic bar being fed by a human.
The is the main lift well and below the view from the top through the glass floor
Very calm for the ditch
Tree without and with lights
Our afternoon position
Dinner
Captain’s welcome and the turning on of the Christmas tree.
Back home to towel art on the bed, clocks forward another hour tonight so will be on NZ time
Another smooth night, slept much better with blanket replacing quilt
While Anne went to Christmas Choir, Kevin went shopping for her
All types of shoppers here.
Lunch
Today we investigated the extensive gluten free options in the buffet (Windjammers). Kevin taste tested all the sweet options to see if Anne would like them. Anne took the healthier option with a pear.
Anne exercising on the running track on the left.
Kevin at work on the website.
While choir was singing an Australian Christmas song, the American girl conductor asked what is a “Holden Ute”?
iFly in action
Every day Menu items
Pay extra for these
Change every day
Dinner Menu below
Note in the lift, day changes on floor each day
Tonight Towel Art
Comedian tonight, not too many dirty jokes so Anne enjoyed the show
Made a mistake this morning and tried the Buffet (Windjammers) for breakfast, the gluten free pancakes were not edible, much better in the Grande where we can order our own breakfast.
Kevin tried out the tender system, different from Princess in that you collect your ticket and are then called over the speakers system (but not in cabins) when yours is ready, meaning you have to wait somewhere public to be called. Princess kept you in an empty restaurant until you number was called.
Kevin was lucky and smiled nicely and because he was alone was given the last tender 9 ticket, people behind him got tender 19.
After a larger than normal lunch we decided to check out the North Star, free and no reservations needed on port days, after about half an hours wait we were up 100 metres above see level.
North Star
Our Cabin
360 degree shot same object each end of picture
Another wide angle shot
Asked for a quick dinner tonight and we were fed and out in 45 minutes including fruit platter, entree, main and two deserts.
Next, to the early show ”Live Love Legs”, spectacular technical presentation, toooo loud and Anne called the singing screeching, more suited to the younger demographic.
Even had seat next to wheelchair places for Kevin.
Showtime
Back to our cabin for the coffee Kevin bought in town today.
Breakfast back as a la carte and sat with a gentleman and his two adult daughters. He had a stroke 18 months ago and I think we were an encouragement to him to continue working on recovery.
About 9:30am it was announced there was no need for tender tickets, so an hour later we proceeded ashore
Down to level 2 in the lift then a chair lift to the tender, then bumpy ramp onto the tender. Tender holds about 130 passengers.
Getting off should have been easier but they insisted she back down the ramp to the wharf.
A couple of hours of exploring Auckland, coffee in Starbucks and we headed home.
Our cabin
Straight back on a tender with no queues and back home
A restful afternoon with free Internet from across the bay using Queens Wharf and the Hilton.
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Auckland to Port Chalmers
