Our First Cruise !

Our final excitement before heading back to work on our next station was ...

Our First Cruise !

We chose to celebrate our 32nd wedding anniversary aboard our first cruise on the Explorer of the Seas, a Royal Carribean ship. It also happened to be the first time we had taken time out to celebrate our anniversary in well over ten years.

We were bound for New Zealand for 14 days, before heading back up to Queensland for another year. We had saved up for the cruise while we were out on our first station in south west Queensland and didn't leave the property for 10 weeks at a time

Below photos showing one of the exercise and pool decks, the promenade with cafe and shops, and the theatre which seated 2000 people.

After spending 2 calm days at sea we entered the three sounds at the base of the south island. It was a perfect day for cruising Milford, Dusky and Doubtful Sounds, and we were the first ship in a few weeks to have clear skies as we travelled through each sound.

We arrived earlier than expected at all three sounds so cruised through the first at about 7.30 in the morning watching from our stateroom while we had breakfast. The second we viewed over lunch from the dining room, and the last from the rear deck.

Above: seals 

Our first port and land based tour was Dunedin where we spent the morning on a Panoramic tour which included the gardens, the old train station and views from a lookout. After the tour we spent a wonderful afternoon at the Otaga Museum and had a stop at the Cadbury Factory before making our way back to the boat. The day would only have been made better if I had taken my scooter, but that's another story.

Our second port was Picton where we chose to do a tour which included a cruise through Charlotte Sound. Though the day was overcast to begin it cleared to a beautiful day. We enjoyed the cruise, but touring the town in the afternoon with my scooter was the best part of our day. What a beautiful town situated as it is on the bay with a walking path around the bay which we really enjoyed. To add to the mood in the afternoon, an older gentleman accompanied by a younger man marched through town and into the park by the bay playing the bagpipes.

After another day at sea, which enabled me to rest and get ready for another busy day, we arrived in Wellington where we'd decided to do our own touring which included a morning at the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum including the special ANZAC display, a 'walk' around town, a trip on the cable car to the top to Kelbourn Lookout  where we would have views of the city and visit the Cable Car Museum. The museum is a must on anyone's itinerary. I must say the trip in my scooter on the cablecar, which was very crowded, was a little uncomfortable and scary. It was also another day where we had difficulties with transport for anyone in a scooter, and I wound up disagreeing with a bus driver and refusing to move out of the way unless another gentleman in a scooter was also allowed to board.

Tauranga was our next port and George left me onboard to relax while he did a day tour to Rotorua. We had decided that the tour would be too difficult for me due to the uneven ground, the extended time in the bus, and a longer day. We were glad we had decided months ago to only book half day tours for me. I disembarked the boat on my scooter later in the afternoon in time to meet George as he exited the bus at 3pm so we could have an afternoon walk along the foreshore paths on both sides of the inlet and through the town. Staff, passengers, customs officers and NZ tourist officers were all very helpful this day as I disembarked on my own and laughed about George being on the last of 13 buses. (I am very lucky to have such a patient husband who is willing to keep going after a long day for 
me. It has become a common occurrence  during our travels. While traveling the gulf, George would walk to the top of a canyon only to return to an expectant/patient me wanting to do something else !)

In Auckland we once more started with a tour, this time to a cultural centre and participated in a Welcoming Ceremony and a Hangi. We then spent the afternoon visiting the Scenic Sky Tower. As each port was only a day visit, this was the best way to have an overall view of this large city which has so much to offer. The tower was 60 floors high and the first lift takes you to the first viewing area on the 51st floor which has a few glass floor panels. From here we could see people completing the outside platform walk and others preparing to do the base jump. The second lift takes to to a another viewing area and covers 10 floors in 7 seconds ! The view from both the viewing floors was amazing and the perfect way to see the city when you don't have much time.   

 Our final port of call was the Bay of Islands where we'd decided to have a short day in port as I was beginning to feel the effects of so much busyness. We did a tour of the Treaty House and park area, and the earliest trading post and mission house. It was an excellent tour which rounded out our tours of the history and culture of New Zealand. 
The only thing to mar this day was that it was a tender port and was to cause a lot of angst amongst passengers with mobility issues as each was given a different story about the tendering of mobility aids. I didn't take mine and noticed a few other passengers struggling, only to discover later that day that others had been allowed to tender theirs.

Two more days at sea and we would be home. George made the most of his time on board and participated in the choir and drama groups. I also made him do a few things I would have loved to do but couldn't, poor man, the dance fitness class, iceskating and the Flowrider. The last one I couldn't stop him once he started. I secretly think he enjoyed the dance fitness class too !

The Waitangi  Treaty House and Treaty Canoe... 

Original mission house and stores house 

Two more days at sea and we would be home. George made the most of his time on board and participated in the choir and drama groups. I also made him do a few things I would have loved to do but couldn't, poor man, the dance fitness class, iceskating and the Flowrider. The last one I couldn't stop him once he started. I secretly think he enjoyed the dance fitness class too !

Above: a photo with a waiters each night.


By Lynne