The ZEAL in New Zealand

New Zealand to Melborne

Voyage 3 Aukland,  New Zealand to Melborne, Australia February 13- February 28, 2011

Auckland, New Zealand

.   

uckland, New Zealand 11 February 2011

I actually arrived in Auckland a day before my ship. This was due my escorting a sick guest shore side in Fiji and then flying onto Auckland to continue her treatment. 

We all took an early morning flight from Fiji to Auckland, and allowing for time adjustment we arrived t midday.  After checking into the hotel and finding out that we couldn’t actually go to our rooms as they weren’t ready, we headed down to the QUAY MEDICAL CENTRE to find the hyperbaric chamber so Lisa could get check out by the expert and perhaps go back in for more treatment.  Great people run that place including a really nice, well qualified South African guy called Johann – we are everywhere in the world aren’t we??  This team helped Lisa fantastically and I left her and her husband Al in their capable hands and went off to find “Ruby Wax” beauty salon to spruce myself up for the ship’s imminent arrival.  Hadn’t seen Ed for a couple of days and wanted to be at my best for him so I had all my nails done- hand s and feet – and a complete ‘defluffing

I also magically had my eyelashes permed and dyed!!  Didn’t know you could get your eyelashes permed but they came out fantastically and it made such a difference that I hope I can get it done some place else as well. 

The Crystal Serenity pulled into the harbor before 08h00 on Friday morning and all 3 of us were so happy to see her.  I got Lisa and Al back onboard and then reported to the med cnt to update Dr Ralph on all the happenings.  Then I found Ed………

 Whilst I had been in the Quay med cnt.  I had made an arrangement for Ed and I to meet up with Johann and his girl Jennina and they took us for a fabulous drive out of the city.  We had a great stop at Cornwallis Wharf where you can see the volcanic sand on the beach. 

Then we went and had lunch at a great restaurant called Elevation that has a purely panoramic view of Auckland from a distance. 

Really nice and the food was good as well.  Ed tried some of the local beer and deemed it “the moistest”.  Then we drove on to Waitakere Regional Park where we walked through an informative visitors centre and played outside a bit –

Ed even tried driving on ‘our’ side of the road!! 

Back in Auckland we went down to the shore side to check out the yachts – fabulous, fabulous, fabulous!!  And we stopped off for another beer at one of Johann and Jenina’s favorite hangouts

From contemplation of this fab outlook from Magnus ‘the hero sailor it was back to reality and the ship and I was back on duty in the evening again.   

Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Voyage 2 Papette To Auckland January 30-February 12, 2011

 We spent an overnight in Papette - I managed to keep the room in the Hotel TAHITI NUI and spent the night ashore.  

It was nice to pretend to be on vacation there for a night.  Although I must admit that if I had a load of cash to spend this would not be one of the places I would spend it on. 

        

 I am not sure what they are doing wrong as it is a real pretty place, but the atmosphere in Papette is just not welcoming. The people are nice enough and poor as church mice but they need to do something about their government. Serenity was 1 of two large cruise liners in the harbour, it was a Sunday and there were at least 2 000 people wanting to spend money but the shops were closed as the 'government' has decided that there will be not shopping on a Sunday!  Come on guys - once you have enough money to feed yourselves then you can decide when to work!!  It might also help to sort of clean up the streets a little - reminicent of India that also needs a new broom to sweep clean.

Once out of Tahiti it was onto BORA BORA - the world's most talked about place.  It is magical and the colour of the water is completely indescribable.  Even the photographs don't do it justice.  The colour is mesmerising.  This island is also poor but the people are nice and they try hard.  I was amazed to learn that they grow no food, everything is imported.  Would seem to me that they could be a little more self sufficient if they kept a market garden or two.  I spent the morning escorting a 4 x 4 tour of the island.  Wasn't exactly sure how much 'off roading' we could do, but was suprised.  We went up and down that volcano at a lick and stopped for some fabulous photo opportunities.  During WW2 the American's had an outpost here and there are still a couple of those huge guns about.  I wasn't impressed by them but the guests were and we took some pic from the vantage point.  They were apparently never fired as the ammo that was sent was the wrong size. 



ALOHA Hawaii

First stop of Crystal Serenity World Cruise 2011 was Honolulu.  Luckily I met up with my good freind Grace and she took me out and about. 

Got my feet wet in the Pacific at one of the famous beaches after trying to find one that wasn't covered in good looking bodies.....! 

Grace came back to the ship and we all had dinner together and then went up on deck to see a local show with fabulous Hawaiian men in short skirts and some good cocktails. 

 

Ion and I wave goodbye to Honolulu

Full World Cruise 2011 Los Angeles To London in 110 Days

Much excitment for the start of World Cruise 2011. We all gathered in the Crystal Cove for the big BALLOON DROP which signifies the offical start of the World Cruise.  The guest line the Cove and the Crew walk down the stairs into the middle and they drop hundreds of mutli-coloured balloons onto us which we take great pleasure in popping!!

This is where we are going - amazing to think that we can travel all that way with stop overs in beautiful places, have the time of our lives and all in 3.5 months!