Escaping to the South Pacific on the Emerald Princess (Part 3: New Caledonia and Vanuatu)

Part 1: Australia
Part 2: New Zealand
Part 3: New Caledonia and Vanuatu


Noumea, New Caledonia
I had to work port day supervision in the afternoon so I booked a tour: Noumea Scenic Drive & Aquarium for the morning.
The bus took us to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, the Ouen Toro Lookout and also the Aquarium de Lagons.
My favourite part of the whole tour was the aquarium because it was the closest I have ever been to a shark.

The tank at the Aquarium that contained giant fishes and reef sharks

The aquarium also had an outdoor sea turtle pond and a black-light exhibit room with illuminated jellyfish.

The jellyfishes illuminated in the black-light room

Lifou, New Caledonia
This was a tendered port which "docks" right at the beach. It was a nice day for spending some time in the ocean and on the sand.
Note: There are lots of sea coral so water shoes would make walking around less painful.

A photo from the tender to Lifou

Mystery Island, Vanuatu
The ship was unable to drop the anchor at this tendered port because of the wind conditions and sea swells.   


Port Vila, Vanuatu
Having been to this port last year my impression was that unless you book an excursion or want to spend a lot of money there's not much to do here. However, a friend of mine shared her secret beach location with us and it was inexpensive as well. We took the water taxi to Coco beach ($5 AUD one way, 15 minutes).

View from the water taxi

The best part of Coco beach was its seclusion. There was no one on this beach besides the four friends I went with and the locals who were working at the resort/bar near the beach.
Last year I named Luecila beach in Lifou, New Caledonia as the most deserted beach I have ever been to but Coco beach has now taken those honours.

View of Coco beach from the water taxi

View from the dock of Coco beach

I split my time at Coco beach between swimming in the ocean (being careful not to hurt myself on the coral/rocks on the ocean floor), exploring the beach, and lounging on the beach chairs. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Port Vila even if I didn't go on a shore excursion!


Champagne Bay, Vanuatu
This is my favourite beach port with its perfect combination of (mostly) coral-free white sand beaches and clear turquoise waters. I enjoyed my day alternating between soaking up the sun on the beach and cooling off in the water.

The best beach port in my opinion: Champagne Bay

The heat from the sun was intense so I bought a coconut from a local to stay hydrated. When I was done drinking the last drop from the coconut I went back to the local to get her to cut open the coconut so I could eat the flesh. I also snacked on some of the locally made banana chips and sweet potato chips that were sold at the stalls scattered around the island.
Champagne Bay is always a good time, even more so when the weather is nice. I couldn't have asked for a better port to finish my contract with!


My heart will always have a soft spot for the South Pacific islands and the laid-back and friendly locals who live there. South Pacific, hope to see you again soon!

Escaping to the South Pacific on the Emerald Princess (Part 2: New Zealand)

Part 1: Australia
Part 2: New Zealand
Part 3: New Caledonia and Vanuatu


Tauranga
Cruise 2:
Tauranga is my favourite port in New Zealand and I always have a good time here. Something I have always wanted to do was hike up Mount Maunganui and I finally did it. In the morning I made my way up to the summit of Mount Manganui.

Sheeps at the base of Mount Manuganui

It took me about 40 minutes to reach the summit but the views were amazing the entire way up. Since the trail is around the edge of the mountain every time I looked to my right I would see the ocean below.

View from the summit of Mount Manuganui

Another view from the summit of Mount Maunganui

In the afternoon, after grabbing lunch, I spent the rest of my time in port at Main Beach using the free WiFi and also watching people surfing in the ocean.
Note: Although the WiFi is free there is a limited number of megabytes you can use in one day.


Picton
Cruise 2:
This was my first time in Picton and it's always exciting to visit a city for the first time! The ship docked at a working port so everyone needed to take the complimentary shuttle to get to and from the port and town. Along the 10 minute shuttle ride the driver gave a little talk about this town with about 4000 residents. The shuttle stopped within walking distance of the Picton Shorefront. We checked out the arts and crafts market nearby as well as the shops around town.

Picton Shorefront

Cruise 4:
I started the morning with a tour: Omaka Aviation, Moa Brewery & Chocolates
The bus drove us from Picton to the city of Omaka to explore the Aviation Heritage Museum. We had about 45 minutes to spend inside the Museum before we needed to be back on the bus.

The planes on display outside the Aviation Heritage Museum

Our next stop was Moa Brewery to sample different apple ciders and ales.

One of many New Zealand vineyards

We finished the tour with a quick stop at Makana Confections (a boutique chocolate factory) where we were able to sample some chocolates and watch them make the confections they sell.
At the end of the tour I rode the bus back to the pier to meet up with a friend. We took the complimentary shuttle into town and walked the Waikawa trail and Scout trail to get to Habour View. The view of the harbour and the surrounding tree covered hills/islands was amazing! I could have stared at the view for hours marveling at how blessed I am to be able to experience such beauty.

My photo just doesn't do Harbour View justice!

 

Wellington
Cruise 2:
After the damage caused by the earthquake in November 2016, no pedestrian traffic was allowed in and out of the port. Instead, complimentary shuttles took passengers (and crew) to/from the port to the shopping district (about a 15 minute ride).
It was an extremely windy and cold day so our walk along the waterfront to Oriental Bay was not as pleasant as the last time I was here. Not complaining, just saying.

Cruise 4:
We walked around the downtown shopping area where the shuttle dropped us off and explored many parts of Wellington by foot that we have never been to before. To finish off the afternoon we bought some sushi (I'm always craving sushi when I work on the ship). Usually I buy sushi by the roll but several sushi places in Wellington (including this one) sold them by the piece.


Akaroa
Cruise 2: 
This is a tendered port and it takes about 15 to 30 minutes to get to the Main Wharf. 

Akaroa as seen from the tender

Having been to Akaroa a few times before we decided to do something different on this day. We had seen the lighthouse while we were in the tender and wanted to take a closer look at it. On our walk towards the lighthouse we saw a sign for the Garden of Tane. Intrigued but not entirely sure what it was we followed the trail into a forest and arrived at a lookout point over the bay.

View of Akaroa from the lookout point

Satisfied with our off-the-path adventure we continued on our way to the lighthouse. With some time to spare before we needed to be back on the ship we walked along Beach Road and checked out a few of the shops.


Port Chalmers
Cruise 2:
We took a shuttle ($15 roundtrip for 2 people) into Dunedin. The 20 minute bus ride dropped us off at the Octagon. From there we made the 5 minute walk to Cadbury World. After picking out 8 bars of chocolate from the Cadbury store we went to the supermarket (Countdown) across the street to look for New Zealand treats to buy for people back home.
When I was in Dunedin two years ago I remember marveling at how beautiful the architecture of the Railway Station was. This year I decided to take a look inside the Railway Station and found out it is was not as architecturally amazing as the outside but still interesting nonetheless. 
We walked along George street which had many interesting shops and Asian restaurants (I was craving Asian food at the time). Along George street is the Wall Street Mall which we took a quick walk through. When we were tired of walking we took the crew shuttle back to the ship then used the free WiFi in the cruise terminal.

Cruise 4:
Once again I took the shuttle into Dunedin to buy chocolates at Cadbury World. This time I was buying for a coworker who was doing port day supervision and didn't have time to go into Dunedin. After my little shopping task I walked around town to explore the different malls.


The ports in New Zealand have a little bit of everything from beaches to the big city life to the small towns to the amazing scenery. I truly believe it has something for everyone!

Escaping to the South Pacific on the Emerald Princess (Part 1: Australia)

My most recent contract aboard the Emerald Princess allowed me to sail to Australia, New Zealand and some of the South Pacific islands for the third Christmas/New Year's in a row. The 1st and 3rd cruise on this contract went to Tasmania, the 2nd and 4th cruise went to New Zealand and the 5th cruise went to New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

I have separated my experience into three parts: 
Part 1: Australia
Part 2: New Zealand
Part 3: New Caledonia and Vanuatu

Collage of pictures I took of the Sydney Opera House

Melbourne
Cruise 1:
I walked along the beach on Beach Street then turned onto Bay Street (known as the shopping street within walking distance of the port). When I needed a break from walking I went inside the local library to sit down and browse through some books.

Cruise 3 (Day 1):
It was so nice to have an overnight stay in Melbourne. This was one of my favourite days from this contract because (a) I was able to go to a part of Melbourne I have never been to before, (b) spend it with some good friends and (c) have nice weather.
We bought a myki card ($6 for the non-refundable card and $6 for loading a 1-day pass onto the card) at the convenience store across the street from the tram. We then caught tram 109 into Melbourne City Centre. 
Note: The myki card can be used on the tram, bus or train.
After getting off the tram, we went to a 7-11 to buy a (lychee/coke flavoured) slurpee to drink while we walked around the city. I was very impressed with Melbourne's Chinatown; there were a lot of Chinese and Japanese restaurants to choose from as well as cold drink places (e.g. Gong Cha, Chatime).
We found our way to Flinders street to see the iconic Flinders Street Station (pictured on most Melbourne souvenirs) and walked around Federation Square for a bit before catching the tram back to the cruise terminal.

Flinders Street Station

In the evening, after finishing work for the night, we took tram 109 back to the City Centre to experience Melbourne after dark.

Flinders Street Station at night

Cruise 3 (Day 2):
I started the morning with a tour: City Drive and Eureka Deck
The bus drove us around Albert Park Lake where the Grand Prix is held when it is in Melbourne. At our first stop everyone got off the bus and went up to the Eureka Skydeck on the 88th floor of the Eureka Tower. The Skydeck is "The Southern Hemisphere's Highest Viewing Platform." I was able to see 360 degree views of Melbourne through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

You can see the ship from the Eureka Skydeck

The tour then made a stop at Fitzroy Gardens where we were able to go inside Cook's Cottage (also known as the house captain James Cook's parents use to lived in when they were in England). The last stop on the tour was at the Shrine of Remembrance.

Shrine of Remembrance

The tour finished in the afternoon and I was able to spend a few hours at the beach before all the crew had to be back on the ship.


Hobart
Cruise 1:
I picked up a map provided at the cruise terminal and discovered the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens had free admission and was within walking distance (about a 45 minute walk). To get to the gardens, I walked on the sidewalk along the Tasman Highway to get onto the Soldier's Memorial Oval.
Fun fact: There is a tree planted for every Tasmanian soldier who fought in World War 1 on the Soldier's Memorial Oval trail

The gorgeous scenery along the Soldier's Memorial Oval

Following the signs I soon reached the entrance to the gardens. I was pleased to discover that the gardens were spacious, well-maintained and had benches throughout for people to sit and enjoy the view.
Tip: There is unlimited free WiFi in the cruise terminal.

Cruise 3:
We walked to Elizabeth Mall and went inside the Cat & Fiddle Arcade to look for Australian-made souvenirs to bring home. We also went to do some typical crew member shopping (for snacks) at Woolworths inside Wellington Centre. Before heading back to the ship for work we treated ourselves to a delicious green milk tea from Tea Tea after successfully surviving a busy Christmas and New Year's cruise aboard the Emerald Princess.


Port Arthur 
Cruise 3:
Upon stepping foot in Port Arthur I immediately noticed the newly restored Penitentiary (it was under renovations when I was here two years ago). Along with some friends, I hiked up a short trail to the Scorpion Rock Lookout.

Panaroma of the view from the Scorpion Rock Lookout

We checked out what used to be the Church and the Government Cottage when prisoners were still living here. Finally, we made our way through the nicely maintained Government Gardens to catch the 15 minute tender ride back to the ship.


Sydney
Two years ago when the Sun Princess was docked in Sydney I had to take a shuttle from the White Bay cruise terminal to Darling Harbour and then walk in the direction of Sydney Cove to find the Sydney Opera House. This time around our turnaround port was docked right beside the Sydney Opera House.

The Emerald Princess docked in Sydney

Cruise 2:
We walked towards the direction of the Harbour Bridge, did a loop around the neighbourhood and then made our way back to the Opera House. We went inside the Opera House but didn't do a full tour (tickets cost $37). We also checked out the Museum Of Contemporary Arts (free admission for some parts of the museum) located across from where the ship was docked.

Cruise 3:
We decided to do our own walking tour from the ship to the Royal Botanic Gardens. I was thoroughly impressed by the very beautiful landscapes, ponds and benches located in the Gardens.

Cruise 4:
We walked along George street because we had heard there were a lot of malls/shopping arcades with plenty of options for food inside the food courts.
This was also the only time this contract we watched sail away from the crew deck. It was a gorgeous day fitting for the picturesque sail away from Sydney.

Watching the Emerald Princess sail pass the Harbour Bridge from the crew deck

Cruise 5:
Our last day to explore Sydney was turnaround day before cruise 5. We walked towards Darling Harbour and Chinatown. We discovered Regent Place which had a variety of Asian (Japanese, Thai, Malaysian) restaurants set up in a street food style. There was also a Daiso on the 9th floor where we picked up fun knick-knacks. Walking a bit further we ventured inside Skyview Plaza and bought a cold lychee green tea from Sharetea (perfect for a hot day!). When we finally got to Chinatown we were happy to see many restaurants and cold drink places to pick from. We took a look inside Paddy's Markets which had many stalls selling cheap clothing, souvenirs, snacks and even fresh fruits.


It's been two years since I've been to these ports in Australia and it was definitely nice to be back exploring new places that I didn't get a chance to see last time.

Sea Princess sails the South Pacific (Part 2: New Zealand)

The second of three cruises on my Sea Princess contract was to New Zealand. I had done two cruises to New Zealand last year but two times just wasn't enough! The great thing about the ports in New Zealand is there are so many things to do within walking distance of where the ship docks.

Read Part 1 (Vanuatu and New Caledonia) of my Sea Princess adventures here


Auckland:
The ship encountered rough weather conditions and large swells while crossing the Tasman Sea from Brisbane to Auckland. The captain made the choice to sail the ship at a slower speed resulting in skipping this port and proceeding onto the next. Understandable decision but still disappointing since this is one of my favourite New Zealand ports!


Tauranga:
I love the beach/surfer town vibe of Tauranga! Since the weather was so unpredictable (alternating between rain storms and sunny skies) we decided not to make this a beach day. Instead we climbed the trail on the right side (when facing the ocean) of Main Beach.

The view along the trail

The lookout point at the top of the trail provided great views of the sea and beach below.

Mount Maunganui (partially hidden by clouds) and Main Beach

After heading back to the ship to eat a quick lunch we stopped by the park located beside Spongedrop bakery. We laid a towel down on the grass and enjoyed some free WiFi (provided by Spark WiFi).


Napier:
The ship was scheduled to dock at 12 noon and I had to work afternoon port day so I wasn't able to get off at this port.


Wellington:
It was a beautiful, sunny, hot day with a breeze - perfect for a leisurely stroll along the waterfront. Along the walk I saw buskers, runners, walkers and cyclists all around me. There are a lot of benches along the waterfront to sit and look at the calm blue waters.

The beautiful waterfront in Wellington

Clyde Quay Wharf is about a 45 minute walk from the port. Nearby is Waitangi Park with a large grass field great for having a picnic. I didn't bring a towel or snacks with me but if I ever go back to Wellington I plan on having a picnic at this park.

How great would it be to have a picnic here?

About 1 hour into my waterfront walk I was at Oriental Bay which had a small beach with a playground area.

Oriental Bay

After soaking in the fresh air and admiring the scenery from my walk along the waterfront I decided to head back to the port. I made a quick stop near the railway station (about a 15 minute walk from the port) to use the free WiFi (cbdfree).

Last year when I was in Wellington I went to the downtown shopping area. I had no idea Wellington had such a gorgeous waterfront, a beach and so many great places to have a picnic within walking distance of the port! I now have a much greater appreciation for this city.


Akaroa:
I was so happy I was able to get off at this port! Last year we were in Akaroa two times but I wasn't able to get off the ship both times.

This is a tendered port with a small town charm. I started my day with the Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise. The main reason I chose this excursion was to see the Hector dolphins (which are only found in the waters of New Zealand). However, I was happy that I was able to see Little Blue Penguins, cornets, New Zealand fur seals and sheeps as well!

A Hector dolphin!

The catamaran dropped us off at the Main Wharf after the excursion and I had the whole afternoon to explore Akaroa. I turned left from the Main Wharf and walked along Beach Road until I saw a sign for a hike to Stanley Park. I love doing hikes (especially in new places) so I decided to go for it. It wasn't a long hike but the terrain was steep. Within 5 minutes of walking I was at the Beach Road Lookout which had amazing views! There was a bench up there where I was able to sit and admire the scenery.

Views like this make me grateful for nature

Just admiring New Zealand's natural beauty

There were lots of sheep hanging out around the field which was super exciting for me to see since sheeps come to my mind whenever I think of wildlife in New Zealand.

Sheeps hiding out in the shade

After spending some time admiring the scenery and the sheeps I made my way back down to Beach Road. I passed by a few shops and restaurants until I reached a park. I took a seat on one of the benches and read from the local newspaper I was handed when I got off the catamaran.

Tip: Free WiFi can be found at the library which is just a short walk from where the tender docks.

Port Chalmers:
I only had the morning off in Port Chalmers which didn't give me enough time to go into Dunedin. As I made my way out of the port area there were locals handing out a Port Chalmers guidebook which proved to be very helpful.

We went to the Four Square Supermarket (located about 300 metres from the port) because I wanted to pick up some snacks. The guidebook had a map of the Full Harbourside/Back Beach Walk which we thought would be fun to do. From the supermarket we walked along Wickliffe Tce and along the harbour until we reached the Flagstaff lookout point. From there you just walk down a hill to get back to the port. The walk took about 1 hour and we saw many friendly locals along the way.

A nice start to the day in Port Chalmers

Read Part 3 (Vanuatu and New Caledonia - again) of my Sea Princess adventures here

A to Z: Australia to Fiji to New Zealand (Part 3: New Zealand)

Part 3: New Zealand

Hello New Zealand!

After seeing the beautiful Fjords while cruising Fjordland National Park I was very excited for New Zealand. Although the Tasman Sea had the roughest waters I have ever experienced it was well worth it to be able to go to New Zealand. Lucky for me we had back-to-back cruises to New Zealand so I was able to experience some ports more than once.

Port Chalmers:
Week 1: We took a crew shuttle into Dunedin. The picturesque drive from Port Chalmers to Dunedin was filled with images of a serene lake, several green hills as well as farms with sheeps and horses outside our window. The shuttle dropped us off across from Cadbury World so of course we had to go inside. We bought several chocolate bars and tins of hot chocolate because they were so much cheaper than in Canada. We then walked around Dunedin to get a feel for the city. We found our way to the main shopping district but didn't have much time to browse the shops. On our way back to the shuttle pick-up location we walked by the railway station. I was amazed at how beautiful the railway station was.

The most beautiful railway station I have ever seen

Week 2: We started our day by exploring the small town of Port Chalmers. We made our way up a hill so we could see the architectural handiwork of an old cathedral up close. A trail up another hill was located near the cathedral and because we were feeling adventurous we decided to make the trek up the hill. About halfway up the trail there was an abandoned 19th century cemetery in the middle of a secluded forest. It looked like something out of a horror movie set - pretty cool! Checking the time we noticed the crew shuttle was scheduled to depart from Port Chalmers to Dunedin in about 10 minutes so we quickly made our way back down to the cruise terminal to catch the shuttle. After seeing so many Japanese restaurants the first time I was in Dunedin I knew I had to satisfy my craving for Japanese food. Jitsu was the first Japanese restaurant we saw and it was full of locals so we gave it a try. Feeling satiated with the chicken teriyaki roll I ordered we headed back to Cadbury World to stock up on more chocolate!

Love this place!

Akaroa:
Week 1: I was working port day supervision so I didn't have enough time to get off the ship.
Week 2: It was too windy to tender. Such a shame because I was scheduled to go on an excursion.


Wellington:
Week 1: You can pay for a shuttle to take you to town but since it's only a 15-20 minute walk from the port to the downtown shopping area (Lambton Quay) we decided to walk. There is everything from boutique shops to department stores to electronic stores in the Lambton Quay area. Since it was the holidays most stores were still closed when we got there. We decided to go to the Civic Square and spotted the giant silver ball hanging from the "sky" - an interesting piece of modern art and a great spot to take a photo. We then walked across the City to Sea bridge to check out the waterfront area. The nice thing about Wellington is there is an abundance of informative signs all over the city so it's easy to navigate on your own.

The beautiful waterfront

Week 2: I went on an excursion called Wind Farm & Seal Safari. I could describe my experience but the tour overview described on the Princess Cruises website states it best:

This tour covers Wellington like no other tour. From the cruise ship terminal you head through the heart of the city to Otari Wilton's bush - New Zealand's only Botanic Gardens completely dedicated to Native plants, with a unique tree top walkway. Then it's over the hill and up to Tinakori Lookout, one of the best lookouts in Wellington with fabulous views over the City, harbour & surrounding suburbs. Leaving the main road, you will travel through Terawhiti Station, one of New Zealand's largest wind farms. The station has been in the same family since 1850. Learn about the fascinating history of the area and its connections to Wellington. Wind your way through towering 111m turbines that harness the wind to generate clean, renewable electricity.
Travel through Oteranga Bay; a strategic part of New Zealand's power grid where the Cook Strait Power Cable joins the North to the South Island as you make your way to the rugged South Coast of Wellington to see a Wild New Zealand Fur Seal Colony. Get up close (but not too close!) and personal with this real native New Zealand marine mammal. Seal sightings are guaranteed year round. With breath taking views over the Cook Strait to the South Island, you will soon discover why we consider this the best scenery in Wellington.

Interesting fact: New Zealand Fur Seals are actually sea lions and not seals because of the way they walk. This tour gave me a chance to see rural New Zealand and it was so much fun riding in the 4-wheel drive vehicle through the rugged terrain!

New Zealand Fur Seals

Napier: 
Week 1: The ship docked in a commercial shipping port so a free shuttle was provided from the port to your choice of either the city square or the aquarium. The city of Napier is filled with Art Deco architecture. In the city square there were people dressed in vintage style outfits performing a dance and vintage cars were on display as well. While walking around I noticed a skate/scooter park in addition to a multitude of other recreation facilities. We perused the shops before reaching a park called Clive Square. This park had bells which rang every half hour which I thought was pretty neat. I was very impressed with the care this city put into public spaces like the gardens and parks. Before heading back to the ship we wanted to walk along the beach. The beach is covered with pebbles and rocks instead of sand so it wasn't crowded with people suntanning. 

Take a step back in time in Napier

Week 2: I went on an excursion called Hawke's Bay Express. As described on the Princess Cruises website this city tour was in "a modern road train that's styled like an old-fashioned steam engine, but it travels on road, not rail, so you can get up close and personal with the city". I really enjoyed this tour because it gave me a chance to see Napier from a different perspective than the first time I was there. Also, the tour guides were extremely friendly and knowledgeable. I came away with a better understanding and respect for the city of Napier and its history.


Tauranga:
Week 1: I didn't get a chance to get off the ship because I was working port day supervision. However, the view of Tauranga from the ship made me excited for the next time we were there.
Week 2: The ship docked at Mount Maunganui and this place had a surf town feel to it. Pilot Bay is right where you exit the pier to your left. If you walk across the island, to the right of where your exit the pier, there is Main Beach. Main Beach is a more sheltered beach so it's popular with surfers and it is a bigger beach than Pilot Bay. We made our way to Main Beach to soak in the sun and use the free WiFi to reconnect with family and friends back home. Before heading back to the ship we made our way to Burger King to enjoy a Frozen Coke - perfect on a hot day.

Pilot Bay

Auckland:
Week 1: We started our morning by getting a green tea from Starbucks to enjoy while walking around the city. By the waterfront area there are some giant wooden lounge chairs perfect for relaxing and getting away from the hustle and bustle of the city. We spent some time on these lounge chairs before walking around the city again. We passed by the Sky Tower which has the distinction of being the tallest man-made structure in New Zealand. At a supermarket I bought a cold green tea drink and we headed to a park nearby to enjoy our drinks and to people watch from a bench in the shade.

The famous Sky Tower in Auckland

Week 2: I planned to buy some souvenirs here as my time in New Zealand was coming to an end but nothing really piqued my interest. We discovered another park called Albert Park which was much more scenic than the park we went to the first time we were in Auckland. This park had interesting looking trees as well as a fountain surrounded by a garden of flowers. It was nice to just breathe in the fresh air while lying on the grass. On our way back to the ship we walked by several back alleys that were lined with restaurants and shops. It made me realize there is something for everybody in Auckland - from the the big city atmosphere to the peaceful getaway of the parks and waterfront area to the trendy shops and restaurants in the alleys - it definitely became my favourite port in New Zealand.

Peaceful day at Albert Park

Bay of Islands:
Week 1: This was a tendered port and a free shuttle into Paihia was provided. We visited an arts and crafts market which contained only New Zealand made souvenirs. We also went inside a supermarket to buy some snacks. The local library has free WiFi so we made a brief stop there. Then we walked up to a lookout point at the waterfront to get a nice view of the different islands that make up Bay of Islands.

View of some of the islands that make up Bay of Islands

Week 2: I was working port day supervision and didn't have enough time to get off the ship. Until next time New Zealand!


Read Part 1: Australia here
Read Part 2: Fiji here

A Log Of Completed Cruises

As a passenger:
1. August 2008 - 7 night Alaska cruise on the Celebrity Mercury
Roundtrip Vancouver
Ports: Ketchikan; Hubbard Glacier (scenic cruising); Juneau; Sitka

2. August 2009 - 7 night Western Caribbean cruise on the Liberty of the Seas (RCCL)
Roundtrip Miami
Ports: Labadee, Haiti (private island); Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Cozumel, Mexico

3. May 2010 - 7 night Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Celebrity Solstice
Roundtrip Fort Lauderdale
Ports: San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; St. Maarten

4. October 2011 - 4 night Bahamas cruise on the Norwegian Sky
Roundtrip Miami
Ports: Nassau; Great Stirrup Cay

5. May  2012 - 14 night Hawaii cruise on the Celebrity Century Read about it here
Roundtrip San Diego
Ports: Honolulu (Oahu); Lahaina (Maui); Kona; Hilo; Ensenada, Mexico

6. May 2014 - 14 night Japan (Transpacific) cruise on the Celebrity Millennium Read about it here
Yokohama to Vancouver
Ports: Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan; Hakodate, Japan; Sapporo (Muroran), Japan; Petropavlovsk, Russia

7. February/March 2015 - 14 night Southeast Asia cruise on the Celebrity Century Read about it here
Roundtrip Singapore
Ports: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei; Nha Trang, Vietnam; Ho Chi Minh (Phu My), Vietnam; Bangkok (Laemchabang), Thailand

8. September 2016 - 15 night Bering Sea and Japan cruise on the Celebrity Millennium Read about it here
Read about my 5 day post-cruise experience in Japan here
Vancouver to Yokohama
Ports: Dutch Harbor, Alaska; Otaru, Japan; Hakodate, Japan; Tokyo, Japan

**Non-cruise trip**
1. September 2017 - 10 day East Coast Canada bus tour Read about it here
Provinces: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island


As a crew member:
1. December 2012/January 2013 - 2 weeks on the Ruby Princess
(2x 7 night Eastern Caribbean cruise roundtrip Fort Lauderdale)
Ports: Princess Cays, Bahamas (private island); St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; St. Maarten; Grand Turk, Turk & Caicos

2. June/July/August 2014 - 11 weeks on the Golden Princess Read about it here
(11x 7 night Alaska cruise roundtrip Seattle)
Ports: Juneau; Skagway; Glacier Bay (scenic cruising); Ketchikan; Victoria, BC

3. November 2014 - 1 week on the Crown Princess Read about it here
7 night Mexico cruise roundtrip Los Angeles
Ports: Puerto Vallarta; Mazatlan; Cabo San Lucas

4. December 2014/January 2015 - 7 weeks on the Sun Princess
(1x 7 night Tasmania cruise roundtrip Sydney) Read about it here
Ports: Hobart; Port Arthur; Burnie; Melbourne
(1x 13 night Fiji and South Pacific cruise roundtrip Sydney) Read about it here
Ports: Noumea, New Caledonia; Port Denarau, Fiji; Suva, Fiji; Savusavu, Fiji; Dravuni Island, Fiji; Lifou, New Caledonia
(2x 13 night New Zealand cruise roundtrip Sydney) Read about it here
Ports: Fjordland National Park (scenic cruising); Port Chalmers; Akaroa; Wellington; Napier; Tauranga; Auckland; Bay of Islands

5. March/April 2015 - 4 weeks on the Regal Princess Read about it here
(4x 7 night Eastern Caribbean cruise roundtrip Fort Lauderdale)
Ports: Princess Cays, Bahamas (private island); St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; St. Maarten

6. June/July/August 2015 - 10 weeks on the Ruby Princess Read about it here
(10x 7 night Alaska cruise roundtrip Seattle)
Ports: Ketchikan; Tracy Arm Fjord (scenic cruising); Juneau; Skagway; Victoria, BC

7. November 2015 - 9 days on the Star Princess Read about it here
(1x 5 night Baja Peninsula cruise roundtrip Los Angeles)
Ports: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
(1x 4 night West Coast cruise roundtrip Los Angeles)
Ports: Santa Barbara, California; Ensenda, Mexico

8. December 2015/January 2016 - 5 weeks on the Sea Princess
(1x 11 night New Caledonia and Vanuatu cruise roundtrip Brisbane) Read about it here
Ports: Port Vila, Vanuatu; Mystery Island, Vanuatu; Champagne Bay, Vanuatu; Noumea, New Caledonia
(1x 14 night New Zealand cruise roundtrip Brisbane) Read about it here
Ports: Auckland; Tauranga; Napier; Wellington; Akaroa; Port Chalmers
(1x 10 night New Caledonia and Vanuatu cruise roundtrip Brisbane) Read about it here
Ports: Champagne Bay, Vanuatu; Port Vila, Vanuatu; Lifou, New Caledonia; Noumea, New Caledonia

9. March 2016 - 2 weeks on the Grand Princess Read about it here
(2x 7 night California Coast cruise roundtrip San Francisco)
Ports: Santa Barbara, California; Long Beach, California; San Diego, California; Ensenada, Mexico

10. June 2016 - 10 days on the Grand Princess
(1x 10 night Alaska Inside Passage cruise roundtrip San Francisco) 
Ports: Ketchikan; Juneau; Icy Strait Point; Tracy Arm Fjord (scenic cruising); Victoria, BC

11. June/July 2016 - 3 weeks on the Coral Princess
(2x 7 night Alaska Voyage of the Glaciers cruise Vancouver to Whittier) Read about it here
Ports: Ketchikan; Juneau; Skagway; Glacier Bay (scenic cruising); College Fjord (scenic cruising)
(1x 7 night Alaska Voyage of the Glaciers cruise Whittier to Vancouver) 
Ports: Hubbard Glacier (scenic cruising); Glacier Bay (scenic cruising); Skagway; Juneau; Ketchikan 

12. August 2016 - 25 days on the Sapphire Princess (Chinese Chartered Cruises) Read about it here
(6x 4/5 Night Japan & South Korea cruise roundtrip Shanghai)
Ports: Jeju, South Korea; Nagasaki, Japan; Hakata (Fukuoka), Japan; Kagoshima, Japan; Busan, South Korea

13. December 2016/January 2017- 7 weeks on the Emerald Princess
(1x 7 night Tasmania cruise roundtrip Sydney) Read about it here
Ports: Melbourne; Wineglass Bay (scenic cruising); Great Oyster Bay (scenic cruising); Hobart; Port Arthur 
(1x 14 night New Zealand cruise roundtrip Sydney) Read about it here
Ports: Bay of Islands; Auckland; Tauranga; Picton; Wellington; Akaroa; Port Chalmers; Fjordland National Park (scenic crusing)
(1x 8 night Tasmania cruise roundtrip Sydney) Read about it here
Ports: Port Arthur; Hobart; Wineglass Bay (scenic cruising); Great Oyster Bay (scenic cruising); Melbourne (overnight)
(1x 11 night New Zealand cruise roundtrip Sydney) Read about it here
Ports: Fjordland National Park (scenic cruising); Port Chalmers; Akaroa; Picton; Wellington
(1x 11 night New Caledonia and Vanuatu cruise roundtrip Sydney) Read about it here
Ports: Noumea, New Caledonia; Lifou, New Caledonia; Mystery Island, Vanuatu; Port Vila, Vanuatu; Champagne Bay, Vanuatua

14. June 2017 - 20 days on the Grand Princess
(2x 10 night Alaska Inside Passage cruise roundtrip San Francisco) Read about it here
Ports: Ketchikan; Juneau; Icy Strait Point; Tracy Arm Fjord (scenic cruising); Victoria, BC

15. July 2017 - 3 weeks on the Royal Princess
(1x 7 night Greek Isles cruise roundtrip Athens [Port of Piraeus]) Read about it here
Ports: Katakolon (Olympia), Greece; Kotor, Montenegro; Mykonos, Greece; Rhodes, Greece; Chios, Greece
(1x 7 night Mediterranean and Adriatic cruise from Athens [Port of Piraeus] to Barcelona) Read about it here
Ports: Santorini, Greece; Kotor, Montenegro; Messina, Italy; Naples, Italy
(1x 7 night Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona to Civitavecchia [Rome]) Read about it here
Ports: Cartagena, Spain; Gibraltar, UK; Marseille, France; Genoa, Italy; Livorno, Italy

16. August 2017 - 10 days on the Grand Princess
(1x 10 night Alaska Inside Passage cruise roundtrip San Francisco) 
Ports: Ketchikan; Juneau; Icy Strait Point; Tracy Arm Fjord (scenic cruising); Victoria, BC

17. August/September 2017 - 7 days on the Sapphire Princess (Chinese Chartered Cruises) Read about it here
(1x 3 night Japan's Ryukuu Islands and 1x 4 night Japan's Ryukuu Islands roundtrip Taiwan)
Ports: Okinawa; Miyakojima; Ishigaki

18. November/December 2017 - 4 weeks on the Ruby Princess Read about it here
(2x 7 night Mexican Riviera cruise roundtrip Los Angeles)
Ports: Puerto Vallarta; Mazatlan; Cabo San Lucas
(1x 4 night West Coast Getaway with Catalina Island cruise roundtrip Los Angeles)
Ports: Catalina Island, California; Ensenada
(1x 10 night Baja Peninsula and Sea of Cortez cruise roundtrip Los Angeles)
Ports: San Diego, California; Cabo San Lucas; La Paz; Loreto; Puerto Vallarta

19. December 2017/January 2018 - 30 days on the Royal Princess Read about it here
(1x 10 night Eastern Caribbean Voyager cruise roundtrip Fort Lauderdale)
Ports: Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis; Bridgetown, Barbados; Fort de France, Martinique; St. John's, Antigua & Barbuda
(1x 10 night Southern Caribbean Medley cruise roundtrip Fort Lauderdale)
Ports: Princess Cays, Bahamas; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Fort de France, Martinique; St. George's, Grenada; Kralendijk, Bonaire; Willemstad, Curacao
(1x 10 night Eastern Caribbean Voyager cruise roundtrip Fort Lauderdale)
Ports: Princess Cays, Bahamas; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis; Castries, St. Lucia; Bridgetown, Barbados; St. John's, Antigua & Barbuda

20. June 2018 - 2 weeks on the Golden Princess
(1x 7 night Alaska Voyage of the Glaciers cruise Vancouver to Whittier)
Ports: Ketchikan; Juneau; Skagway; Glacier Bay (scenic cruising); College Fjord (scenic cruising)
(1x 7 night Alaska Voyage of the Glaciers cruise Whittier to Vancouver)
Ports: Hubbard Glacier (scenic cruising); Glacier Bay (scenic cruising); Skagway; Juneau; Ketchikan 

21. July 2018 - 1 week on the Sun Princess See photos here
(1x 7 night Asia cruise Singapore to Taiwan)
Ports: Phu My, Vietnam; Nha Trang, Vietnam; Hong Kong (overnight)

22. July 2018 - 1 week on the Golden Princess
(1x 7 night Alaska Voyage of the Glaciers cruise Vancouver to Whittier)
Ports: Ketchikan; Juneau; Skagway; Glacier Bay (scenic cruising); College Fjord (scenic cruising)

23. July/August 2018 - 3 weeks on the Sapphire Princess
(1x 14 night Mediterranean cruise roundtrip Southampton) See photos here
Ports: Barcelona, Spain; Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; Livorno, Italy; Genoa, Italy; Marseilles, France; Gibraltar, UK
(1x 7 night Norwegian Fjords cruise roundtrip Southampton) See photos here
Ports: Stavanger; Olden; Geiranger; Bergen