Vanilla and Fish
I had been looking forward to our stop at Raiatea. The last time I was here was a two day stop. We had originally been scheduled in Raiatea for one day and for a stop at Bora Bora the next. … Continue reading Vanilla and Fish
Category: MS Zaandam 2026 Grand Australia and New Zealand. Voyage
OMG! It’s Bali Hi. Mo’orea.
When I looked out my balcony this morning, anchored in Cook’s Bay Mo’orea, I saw the pointed peak of the mountain and thought, the same thing I thought the first time I was here, “OMG I have dropped into the … Continue reading OMG! It’s Bali Hi. Mo’orea.
Tahiti Without COVID
On Tuesday we became “sticker people” taking a Holland America tour “Tahiti’s Natural Wonders.” About halfway through I was asking myself “why?” feeling that I had made a mistake booking this. Our first stop was at Venus Point where Captain … Continue reading Tahiti Without COVID
Too Much Fun?
In a way this cruise is relentless. Too much fun. We came off an intensive port schedule in New Zealand with three on board parties in a week. St. Patrick’s Day Tuesday, Costume Party Thursday, and Music Night Sunday, which … Continue reading Too Much Fun?
The Birthplace of New Zealand, Waitangi
New Zealand’s founding document is the Treaty of Waitangi. In 1840 in front of James Busby, the British Resident’s house, Māori tribal leaders gathered with assorted missionaries, mariners, and military to sign the Waitangi Treaty. Captain William Hobson represented the … Continue reading The Birthplace of New Zealand, Waitangi
Auckland Hop on Hop Off.
We’ve been to Auckland several times. Each time we’ve visited Devonport. We’ve walked the waterfront, visited the Maritime Museum, strolled through the Central Business District (CBD), sailed on an America’s Cup yacht, and visited local wineries. But we really hadn’t … Continue reading Auckland Hop on Hop Off.
Auckland Family Visit.
Suzi and Jeff have known each other all their lives. They were born three months apart and grew up in the same neighborhood in St. Paul. Jeff’s mother was a New Zealand war bride. When Jeff was a teenager, he … Continue reading Auckland Family Visit.
Mt. Maunganui, It’s the People!
This is our third call at Mt. Maunganui, the port for Tauranga, New Zealand. In three calls we have yet to set foot in Tauranga proper. Tauranga means “Anchorage” in the local Māori language. The Mount, as Mt. Maunganui is … Continue reading Mt. Maunganui, It’s the People!
Wellington Redux
This was our second visit to New Zealand’s capital, Wellington. We were in a lazy mood. The weather was on and off, rain in the morning, then sun then… The first time we visited Old St. Paul’s, a carpenter Gothic … Continue reading Wellington Redux
English Country Gardens, Timaru
I honestly don’t know why we signed up for this tour. I have no memory of signing up. We had never been to Timaru, New Zealand so attended the port lecture, making note of what we wanted to see. We … Continue reading English Country Gardens, Timaru
The Oldest Community Radio Station in the World?
The first broadcast station in New Zealand was in Dunedin. In May 2021 experimental voice and music broadcasts began. Regularly scheduled broadcasting started in 1922, New Zealanders brag, before the BBC. The Otago Radio Association’s 4XD claims to be the … Continue reading The Oldest Community Radio Station in the World?
Scotland with Good Weather, Dunedin
The most interesting art museums and galleries, for me, are the ones where the building itself is a work of art that complements the pieces, think I.M. Pei’s East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington or his … Continue reading Scotland with Good Weather, Dunedin
Doubtful, Thomson And Other Names Captain Cook Thought Appropriate.
This is a photo blog post and the second in a series. There are two galleries. the first takes us through Doubtful and Thompson Inlets. And Here are pictures from Breaksea and Dusky. And here is a link to Milford … Continue reading Doubtful, Thomson And Other Names Captain Cook Thought Appropriate.
Fjordlands National Park – Milford Sound
The two sea days out of Sydney were not as relaxing as we needed. The sea days on this cruise are paced more go, go than slow, slow. We had lectures, shows, and the cruise’s second block party where everyone … Continue reading Fjordlands National Park – Milford Sound
St. Pat’s 2026
I’ve been lucky enough to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in lots of places. Dublin had a huge party and parade, complete with Viking ships and a reenactment of the Battle of Clontarf. I’ve celebrated in New York and it was … Continue reading St. Pat’s 2026
Sydney Reunion
When we went to bed it was cloudy so I didn’t set the alarm but I was awake before seven so looked out our starboard window and saw clouds, but the Opera House was on the port side so I … Continue reading Sydney Reunion
Trusting Google in Sydney
Sydney has one of the great natural harbors in the world. Two iconic symbols of the city sit by the harbor, the Sydney “coat hanger” bridge and the Sydney Opera House with its white sails. We sailed into Sydney before … Continue reading Trusting Google in Sydney
A Terrible Beauty, Port Arthur
Van Diemen’s Land was the was one of the most notorious penal colonies in the British Empire. In 1642 it was named by Abel Tasman, a Dutch Explorer, for his boss, the head of the Dutch East India Company. In … Continue reading A Terrible Beauty, Port Arthur
Saving Wildlife
The Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary started as a wildlife park, an attraction for tourists. Greg Irons had his 7th birthday party there and decided “one day I’m going to own this place.” He went to school, and then to work at … Continue reading Saving Wildlife
Thinking of Pop in Hobart
I had no plans for Hobart except to visit Euan Hills at the Art Mob Aboriginal Fine Art shop. While the shop is right next to where the ship docks, we passed it outbound because we knew we would buy … Continue reading Thinking of Pop in Hobart
Zorba ’till You Drop
By the time the ferry arrived back in Melbourne from Portarligton after our visit with Peter and Deryn we had missed the last tram back to our hotel so we took a cab. The driver warned us that it would … Continue reading Zorba ’till You Drop
There’s Cruising and then there’s Cruisin’
I got an email from Peter asking, “Would you fancy a ferryboat ride?” I’m always up for a ferryboat ride. Peter is an Australian broadcaster who had been on Raven Radio New Year’s Eve program for years reporting on festivities … Continue reading There’s Cruising and then there’s Cruisin’
Travelers
“The Traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see.” G.K. Chesterton I used to spend hours reading tour guides and history books planning everything we wanted to see. but we kept getting … Continue reading Travelers
The Overland
While the Indian Pacific is a relative new train, starting transcontinental service in 1970, one of the oldest inter-capital trains in Australis is the Overland, between Melbourne and Adelaide. That run started in 1887 as a sleeper train. It was … Continue reading The Overland