Dunedin

It was 7am and we ate breakfast and watched as the Oosterdam was slowly manipulated into the port of Dunedin by busy little tug boats.

Known as the Edinburgh of New Zealand, Dunedin is the country’s city of the south, wearing its Scottish heritage with pride. Surrounded by dramatic hills and at the foot of a long, picturesque harbour, Dunedin is one of the best-preserved Victorian and Edwardian cities in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Cruise liners organise many tours at each port, but I consider them overpriced. Now the downside, for me, of cruising, is the short amount of time that is available to explore each port stop. If you have never visited a country  possibly the best option is to take a tour. After all you may never be back this way again…

It is many years since I last visited Dunedin so our decision was to take the shuttle bus, organised by the Oosterdam, at the cost of US$20 return, which took us downtown.

So come with me, the weather is perfect, and gaze at the magnificent Edwardian style buildings built-in the late 1880’s when, due to the discovery of gold, Dunedin became the largest city, by population in New Zealand.

Time to stop for lunch, but still much more to see.

Now this is the jewel in the crown of the buildings in Dunedin. It is reported to be the most photographed building in New Zealand.

What a magnificent building, and it is still used as a train station. Admire the detail.

The inside is also very impressive.

Benches for Jude

Dunedin was built on the remnants of an extinct volcano. The city suburbs extend out into the surrounding valleys and hills. One very little known fact is that the steepest street in the world can be found tucked away in these suburbs. We went to have a look at it…

No we didn’t walk up, just took the photo then caught the local bus back to town…

The final place I left till last was the Chinese Gardens and they are so charming and exquisite that they deserve a post of their own.

To be continued…

  

Fun and Games on Board…

Finding quiet moments on board a cruise liner are an option, but they have so many other options to keep every one amused that it is almost impossible to fit every thing into the day.

Here are a few of the things I enjoyed.

Each day a computer workshop would be held to show how to do various things, usually quite basic. BUT they did not include any use of the internet. If you wanted to use internet connection it would cost US$55 for 100 minutes. The connection was very slow and unreliable so we all know how frustrating that would be… I didn’t connect with the internet for 14 days!!!!

The class is waiting for the tutor to arrive, notice what some are doing to fill in time????

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As I’ve mentioned the food was very good, and varied and regular cooking demonstrations were held. I went to a couple of them. After the demonstration we had samples to try. Yummy…

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This is the start of a dance class. The dance teachers, on the stage, very patiently took us through the basic steps of the samba, again and again. I have to admit that we just couldn’t get it. So when they had taken us through all the steps and then turned on the music we admitted defeat and just did our own bit of a boogie in the corner.

It was a competition and each session the best dancers, chosen by audience clapping, went on to the next round. On the last evening the finalists competed and the best couple won a cruise.

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If cards were your thing you could go along to this room and join in all different sessions.

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Are you a shopaholic? Then this is the place. A small shopping arcade and every time you bought any thing you received a raffle ticket. This is the scene at the big raffle draw…

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One of my favourites was the art auction.

Given a glass of bubbly and 20 minutes to wander round looking at the art. Any that interested you put a sticker on.

Just a small selection here. Then the auction began…

It was a quick fire auction and some did get sold. I kept my hands firmly in my lap…

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In the evenings the pace picked up with a choice of classical music played on the piano and violin.

Jack did this drawing of the pianist as I did not take a photo

There was also a piano bar playing popular tunes from the shows. A dance band in another area to dance the night away to. And BB King’s blues club.

 

Every night a different show was performed in the grand 3 level showroom. Singing, dancing, illusionist and my favourite was when our happy Indonesian staff performed a selection of songs and dances from their home country.

I did not take any photos of the showroom as the light was very dim, but Jack busily sketched away while we waited for the show to start.

These are just a small sample of the things to do.

Other things included an indoor and outdoor pool both heated with hot spars to soothe the aching muscles. The green room for massage, facials, hair care and all other things to pamper you (at a cost). The gym equipped with all modern equipment to keep you fit. And don’t forget we had to walk 3 times a day to the restaurant of choice for our meals.

 

The indoor pool

Plenty of seats to lounge on

The outdoor pool

Taking photos of Milford Sounds

If it all became a bit too much you could just laze around and read a book on your Kindle.

But that’s not all… Most days we woke up to find we had docked at another port to explore…

Whew….

To be continued….

WordPress photo challenge : Luxury Afloat…

What a perfect challenge from the WordPress team this week. After 2 weeks afloat in luxury I would love to share it with you…

Obviously a great deal of thought and design has gone into the décor. I found it restful and refined. The royal blue of the carpets with lots of brass fittings, the sweeping stairs down into the Atrium with the large, impressive, magnificent, revolving Waterford crystal world slowly turning and catching the light from the chandeliers. Exquisite artwork adorns the walls. a warm palette of colors accentuating an extensive use of crystal, marble, inlaid woods and brass, lovely flower arrangements, antiques and a full wraparound teak promenade deck with padded deck chairs. Words cannot really do the atmosphere and ambience of this cruise ship justice so I will take you for a photo tour through this luxurious ship I called home for 2 weeks.

This impressive globe hung above 3 decks of the Atrium area. Behind it you can see part of the art gallery.

Unusual light fittings glowed in the star encrusted ceiling that glittered with tiny lights.

 This corridor leads to the Casino. No photos are allowed to be taken in that area, but it had all the equipment to entice you to gamble the night away. This is a no cash environment, your door card, with your number and name, acts as a credit card for all purchases. So easy to run up a large bill. We were very careful, everything, including all alcohol, is charged at US$. But there is so much more entertainment available for free.

Looking through to the Pinnacle Restaurant. This restaurant offered a fine dining experience and was the only restaurant that charged for the meal. From $29 to $69. We did not dine here as the other restaurants were covered in the cost of the cruise and we considered their food to be of an excellent quality.

But I did take a photo of this restaurant.

This is the entrance to the Vista Restaurant, the A ‘la carte dining room, these meals were included in the cost of the cruise. When they had the formal evenings we would go here for dinner. Notice on the right hand side there is a hand sanitizer? They were set up every where and there was notices requesting us to wash hands and be aware of healthy habits, even told at the end of announcements over the intercom to wash our hands…

Jack all togged out in his formal Suit

This is the Vista Restaurant.

Seats are scattered everywhere.

Fresh flowers are everywhere.

 All the dining tables have a dainty orchid on them. Jack carried his sketch pad with him all the time and did 2-3 sketches of ship board life every day. This is a sketch of the orchids.

The Vista Dining Room also served afternoon tea every day. This particular day it was an Indonesian theme with delicious Indonesian delicacies to have with our tea or coffee. 

 It was the small details that impressed me. Every day these delightful fruit carvings greeted us in the Lido Bistro Restaurant.

I loved this “Tromp l’oeil” art work. I could imagine strolling around this classic Italian style garden, so peaceful.

These are the lift doors. Each lift  has a notice board on the wall alongside to let you know exactly where you are and what is on this deck. This is absolutely essential as the ship is so large I easily got lost in the first few days.

I realised that I didn’t get photos of all the areas. I missed the Green Spa area, where, for a price, you could indulge in various massages, facials, hair styling and cuts, manicures, pedicures and all that sort of pampering. The gym and a number of the bars I also missed. Maybe I will have to go on another cruise…

But apart from eating and wandering around admiring everything there was a great entertainment programme and of course there are the ports to be explored…

To be continued…

  

Come for a cruise with me…

The excitement of a new experience gets me out of bed early to explore this floating 5 star accommodation. Our “stateroom” (that does make it sound such a luxurious and up market space) is on the bottom deck, or Main Deck, of 11 stories that tower above us. The 3rd deck is the Promenade, perfect for early morning walks (are you with me Jo?) a sign tells me 2 circuits will be 1 kilometre. Great I will be able to keep fit doing circuits…

A staff member is busily washing the windows and I could see the teak wood decking had already been swabbed down. Everything sparkled.

I briskly walked 6 circuits breathing in the fresh ocean air. This is the life I tell myself I will do this every day…

Jack has gone to the gym, great he says it has his favourite cross trainer equipment. (I didn’t get any photos of the gym, which is a shame as it was a very impressive area) YES he will keep fit also…

The staff are industriously polishing and dusting, see how he is using both hands, there are a lot of stairs and balustrades to keep sparkling. I found out there are 800 staff looking after us…

Time for breakfast, the Lido buffet Restaurant is on the 9th floor so we catch the lift, after all we have done some exercise this morning…

Notice when the lift doors open the mat tells us what day of the week it is, it is changed every day, one more job for the staff…

Chrissie, one of the delightful dining room staff greets us with a smile. I cannot praise the staff highly enough. They are always smiling and helpful. Every one welcomes us with a cheery greeting. They set the atmosphere of happiness and relaxed enjoyment around the boat that has every one smiling and in a good mood.

The staff is all Indonesian or Filipinos and the Holland America Line has a training school for them. 

We find a seat then check out the buffet… WOW… so much choice

Juice? Take your pick..

bread freshly baked

fresh fruit

The omelette station , cooked and flipped before your eyes

eggs poached as you would like them

The staff happily fetch you extra cups of tea or coffee

I am amazed at the quality and variety and marvel at the amount of work that has gone into preparing and serving all this food. Apart from this restaurant the A ‘La Carte Vista Restaurant serves breakfast and you can have meals brought to your State Room. And all this food and variety is available for 3 meals a day plus afternoon tea and a snacks bar available all day on the pool deck.

Every meal we had was of the highest standard with a change of menus each day.

The food alone was worth going on the cruise.

But wait there is more. I will show you around the ship next….

As for the daily walk around the deck and Jack’s gym visits I’m ashamed to admit I only did 3 deck circuits during the 14 days. I did the occasional wander onto the Promenade deck to watch the sea go by. Jack did the same number of work-outs. After all, we rationalized, we were at the front of the ship and the dining room was at the back so we walked to our meal and back 3 times a day, so do the maths…Then there was all the walking when we went on shore…

A Life on the Ocean Waves~~~

Our lovely Airbnb hosts take us round to the cruise terminal and leave us with our bags, (the most we have ever travelled with) and we wave a fond farewell.

The bags are taken away and after filling in countless forms we sit and wait for the boarding call. Jack sketches.

There it is, the Oosterdam, our home for the next 2 weeks. I am very impressed, it is huge…

After the general welcome aboard we are told that we MUST all muster on the Promenade deck for a life boat drill, in case of emergencies, which, of course, they do not expect to happen, and we hope will not happen!!!

Just a very small section of the passengers, mustering for the drill in our area. These will, hopefully, fit into our lifeboat number 4 in the unlikely event of an emergency. There are 1889 passengers and it took almost 30 minutes for everyone to be accounted for and ticked as present. We were told if we did not attend this drill we would be put off the ship… 

Then it was time to find our “stateroom”

This is the door to our room, 1006, what a surprise when we opened the door…

We have a window, oops I should maybe say “porthole”, and have been upgraded to a larger, 4 berth, room.

Notice the TV and video? 3 wardrobes and around the corner is an en suite. We are delighted with our new home. More space than when we lived in Matilda.

At 5pm we went up on deck to watch as we slowly pulled away from Sydney

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney Opera House

It was a grey and drizzly evening as we headed out to sea.

Under the harbour bridge, past Lunar Park, we are on our way to New Zealand.

This is my first cruise and I am very impressed with the organisation and looking forward to the next 14 days.

Back down in our room the sun is setting over the ocean and our room attendants have been in to close the curtains and leave us chocolates and a cute towelling animal.

So the adventure begins…