Making Memories in the Mediterranean (Part 2)

Part 2: Mediterranean and Adriatic cruise

Athens (Port of Piraeus), Greece
This was the first day of my 2nd cruise on the Royal Princess also known as turnaround day for crew. Since we didn't have much time in port before we were scheduled to work we decided to stay in the city of Piraeus instead of taking a bus into Athens.
It took us about 40 minutes to walk from the cruise terminal to downtown Piraeus. Since most tourists go into Athens we were among the locals going about their daily routine in Piraeus. We saw fish markets catering to the locals as well as supermarkets that had good bargains you wouldn't find in a more tourist-populated destination.
Interestingly, we passed by several coffee shops but did not see a single Starbucks. If local coffee shops are your thing Piraeus is the city for you.
On the way back to the ship I bought a spanakopita (Greek spinach pie) from a pastry shop. It was legitimately one of the most delicious pastries I have ever had! The warm flaky phyllo dough and the savoury spinach and cheese filling were delectable.


Santorini, Greece
(The ship anchors and you will need to take a 5 minute tender to the dock.)
My love and interest for Greece stemmed from the pictures I have seen of Santorini. I knew this was the reason I needed to go to Greece and it did not disappoint.  
A cable car located a few steps away from where the tender docks takes you up to the cliff-side town of Fira. Alternatively, you could also ride a donkey or if feeling particularly active you could walk up a thousand steps alongside the donkeys' pathway to get up to the town of Fira.
Note: It costs 6 Euros for a one-way ticket on the cable car and round-trip tickets are not available. A discount for crew applies.
The ride on the cable car was only a few minutes long and upon reaching the top I was immediately wow-ed by the buildings dotting the cliff-side. 

After spending some time taking photos in Fira we went to the local bus station to catch the 30 minute bus ride to the town of Oia.
Note: It costs 1,80 Euros for a one-way ticket which you will have to purchase on the bus. Someone will walk by and collect your money for the bus ticket as soon as the bus starts moving so don't worry about having exact change for the bus.
Almost every postcard of Santorini will have a picture of Oia on it and being there in person exceeded my expectations of how beautiful this town truly is. I took so many photos and as happy as I was with my photos I won't forget how much better it was to see it in person.

After an hour or so in Oia we took the bus back to Fira where we walked around and browsed the shops. I'm not a big souvenir collector but I did buy a bracelet (made in Athens) to remind me of the time I went to Santorini. For lunch I ate a pork gyro at a restaurant and took advantage of their free WiFi to catch up with friends and family back home.
While waiting in line to take the cable car back down to the dock I was reminded of how amazing the scenery is from this village located on a cliff. The views were breathtaking!

I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to be in Santorini.


Kotor, Montenegro
I only had a couple hours in Kotor before my afternoon shift at work started so I spent the day walking around Old Town and New Town.

Old Town of Kotor

I also checked out the beach located near the dock. It's a 10 to 15 minute walk from the dock but this beach has pebbles instead of sand.

However, it is still worth checking out as the sea walk provided gorgeous views of the fjords in the distance.
Tip: As you exit the cruise terminal where the tender drops you off, turn left and follow the harbour to get to the beach.


Messina (Sicily), Italy
I took the Princess Cruises shore excursion to Taorimina.
The bus ride from the port of Messina to the resort town of Taorimina took about 45 minutes.

Upon arrival at Taorimina the guide walked us through the busy streets toward the Greek Theatre.
Note: Entrance fee to the Greek Theatre is 10 Euros but admission was included in this tour.
Taorimina is located 700 feet above the sea and the Greek Theatre provided lovely views of the bay below.

We had about 50 minutes of free time to explore the town after the tour guide dropped us off at the Greek Theatre. After snapping a few photos of the view from the Greek Theatre I made my way through the streets again. I bought a ferrero rocher-flavoured gelato on a cone and the vendor was extremely generous with giving me a giant scoop of gelato onto my cone (for only 2 Euros!)
Quickly eating my gelato as the heat was melting it faster than I could consume it I strolled through the distinctly Italian streets.


Naples, Italy
I had to work at 10am so I got off the ship at 7:30am to make sure I didn't miss the chance to set foot in Naples. The architecture of Castel Nuovo, the Grand Palace and the St. Francis of Badua church was a marvelous sight to behold. I stumbled onto the narrow alleys where a few local shops and residential neighbourhoods were located and admired the quaint Italian-style streets. Eventually I found my way back to the main shopping street but many stores were still closed this early in the morning. Nevertheless, I was still happy to get the chance to see Naples.


Part 1: Greek Isles cruise
Part 3: Mediterranean cruise

Making Memories in the Mediterranean (Part 1)

My contract this summer doing a Mediterranean itinerary was the best first Europe experience I could have asked for. I was on the Royal Princess for three weeks and there was a different itinerary every week which meant visiting new ports every cruise.

Part 1: Greek Isles cruise

My first port of call on this cruise was Kotor, Montenegro. The ship wasn't scheduled to arrive until the afternoon so I was able to watch the scenic views of Kotor from the crew deck as the ship navigated through the fjords into the city.
(The ship anchors and you will need to take a 5 minute tender ride to the dock.)
I had one mission in Kotor and it was to climb to the top of the fortress. Ever since I saw photos my friends posted of Kotor taken from the fortress I knew it was something I needed to experience for myself. A short walk through Old Kotor led us to the entrance of the fortress.
Note: The entrance fee to the fortress is 3 Euros. 
There are over 1300 steps to get to the top where the fortress is located. The halfway point has a church and the views from there are very nice too.

View from just past the halfway point

It took me about 2.5 hours to get from the entrance to the top of the fortress and back down again. Most people can probably do it quicker than this but I stopped many times to take photos and also to catch my breath. I'm not going to lie it was one of the most challenging things I have ever done especially with the sun beating down on me and the temperature in the high 30's. However, I did see people of all ages (both young and old) who were climbing the steps to reach the fortress.
The views from the top were spectacular! It definitely made it into my top three most scenic views from an elevation.

To finish off the day my friends and I went to an outdoor cafe located in Old Kotor to enjoy a delicious iced coffee (topped with ice-cream!) and use the free WiFi. This was a great day to start my Europe trip and one of the highlights of my 3 week contract.


Chios, Greece  
(The ship anchors and you will need to take a 5 minute tender ride to the dock.)
Upon arrival on the dock we were greeted by locals who volunteered their time to provide information to the cruise ship passengers/crew. We found out about a beach in Karfas which was a bus ride away and decided to make this a beach day.
We walked into town to find the bus station where we could buy a one-way ticket for 1,60 Euros (alternatively, a day pass is available for 5 Euros). The bus we boarded took us on a scenic ride through the city and took about 40 minutes to get to the beach in Karfas.

This beach wasn't anything amazing compared to other beaches I have been to but I was still happy I could enjoy the sunshine and water at the beach. After spending about 2 hours at the beach we took the express bus back to town (20 minute ride).
Tip: Pick up a bus schedule from the bus station to know when the bus leaves Karfas.
Once we got back to town we walked around to check out the shops, bakeries and cafes located around the city.



Rhodes, Greece
We explored Rhodes Old Town (the part of town located inside the medieval walled city where many shops and restaurants are located).

Fun fact: Rhodes Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest inhabited medieval town in Europe.
While walking around we discovered the "Street of Knights" which is a medieval road featuring the lodgings of the Knights of St. John.

Rhodes is relatively easy to navigate by walking and we walked along Mandraki Harbor to see the three windmills as well as the male and female deer statues that stand on columns over Mandraki Harbor.
Another fun fact: these columns used to have a bronzed statue of the Greek god Helios before an earthquake destroyed it.
There were many medieval structures to take photos of and the Palace of Castellania was an interesting one we had the chance to check out.


Mykonos, Greece
(The ship anchors and you will need to take a 5 minute tender ride to the dock.)
When I think of Greece I always think of Santorini and Mykonos.
As soon as I stepped foot on land I could already see the iconic blue and white buildings and white cobbled-stone streets of Mykonos that I have seen in so many pictures of Greece.

I made my way around the maze of streets lined with shops and restaurants. The buildings and houses were adorably painted white with accents of colours on the window shutters and doors.
A sense of awe washed over me as I meandered through the narrow streets and realized that I was actually in the iconic city of Mykonos!

I walked to the windmills to take some photos and it was extremely windy there! The sand kept being blown up by the wind and hitting me but the views there was worth the pain.

I only wish I had more time to spend in this charming town but I had to be back on the ship for work.


Part 2: Mediterranean and Adriatic cruise
Part 3: Mediterranean cruise

And Another Summer in Alaska...

My latest journey on the Grand Princess to Alaska marks my fourth summer in a row to this wonderful state. The sail-away from the ports and cruising the fjords will always excite me no matter how many times I have seen them.

Tracy Arm Fjord

The view was worth waking up early to see

Just another foggy day in San Francisco as we begin the cruise

I was blessed to be able to experience a tour at each of the ports the ship stopped at.

In Victoria I did the Ocean Wildlife & Orca Exploration Cruise. Unfortunately, we were not able to spot any orcas. However, my friend who did this tour the next time we were in Victoria was able to spot a pod of orcas. You just never know!

In Ketchikan I did the Back Country Zodiac Expedition. We were all bundled up in the gear they provided for us so that we would stay warm and dry. Then we were off on the four-passenger boats following the guide around the waters of Ketchikan. The thrill I felt from the wind whipping my face as I marveled at the scenery and bald eagles around me is a moment I will never forget.

In Juneau I did the Taste of Juneau Walking Tour. I'm always ready to try local cuisine and even though this tour wasn't intended to fill our bellies I was definitely ready to skip dinner after the tour ended. We visited seven places around Juneau and sampled a variety of dishes. At Tracy's King Crab Shack we tried their award-winning bisque and crab cake. At Deckhand Dave's (food truck) we tried their panko crusted salmon filets. At Alaska Knifeworks our tour guide prepared some smoked salmon spread and salmon caviar spread on a rice cracker. We also sampled a kelp marmalade which was surprisingly nice to counter the saltiness of the salmon caviar. At V's Cellar Door (a local eatery) we tried the halibut fusion nachos. Since V's Cellar Door is hidden away and not noticeable to the average visitor I would never have found out about this place if it wasn't for this tour. I enjoyed their Mexican-Korean fusion food and would love to go back one day. At McGivney's (restaurant-bar inside a hotel) we tried a hog wing and beer pairing. At SALT (a higher-end restaurant) we had green tea soba noodles and duck confit paired with wine. It was nice to experience a wide range of tourist favourites, local eateries and higher-end restaurants during this tour. Our final stop was the Alaskan Hotel & Bar for a beer tasting where we sampled three different types of Alaskan Ales.

In Skagway I did the Ocean Raft Adventure. I had done this tour two years ago and raved about it in a previous blog post. You can read about it here.

Waterfall photo-stop location in Skagway's Ocean Raft Adventure

As wonderful as it is to explore new places, Alaska will always be that mesmerizing comfort of natural beauty I can and will return to time and time again.

Love it when it's still bright outside after work (Alaska at 10pm)

See you again soon Alaska...

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.