Spirit LA - LA via Auckland

[coverpoint]

My wife and I cruised from LA to Auckland and had a very enjoyable holiday. It is interesting to read the Auckland- Melbourne posts.

I think Silver Spirit was pretty well full on this sector and wonder how (if) it changed things on board. We rather liked having the ship not much more than half full so there was never a problem in obtaining dining reservations (or bagging a sunbed).

I have posted a review and, as usual, forgot to mention some things. I will blame it on jetlag!

[englishusa]

After Melbourne down to Burnie Tasmania ( Or Tassie as they say here)

Visited Wildlife farm Loads of animals.

Tasmanian Devil

 

Devils lunch.

 

Roo

 

Baby Roo (Joey)feeding

 

Wombat on the run.

Edited February 25, 2015 by englishusa

[englishusa]

Boogeying up to Sydney.

Finally achieved at the goal of drinking the ship out of "Billi Billi "Shiraz but they have consoled me with a Shiraz named for my wife!

A Meerkat in unfamiliar pose.

A "dirty" swan.

[RachelG]

No more billibilli--George may have helped you out on that a little!

 

Missing the ship already, as no butler came to make up my bed this am.

[englishusa]

Today, at midnight UK time, I tossed an orchid blossom into the sea as a memorial to my mother who passed away this day last year. R.I.P. Mum.

 

 

Against ship regulations but what the Hey. Arrest me!

[rojaan19]

Missing the ship already, as no butler came to make up my bed this am.

 

That always annoys me too when I get home !! :D

[englishusa]

Wes: Good news. Head sommelier Kiri says that more Billi Billi is expected in Sydney.

 

Also had fresh Tasmanian oysters on the half shell at lunch today.

[RachelG]

Today, at midnight UK time, I tossed an orchid blossom into the sea as a memorial to my mother who passed away this day last year. R.I.P. Mum.

 

Good job, David. I am sure she would smile.

[WesW]

David, Ida and I echo Rachel's warm comment--your everlasting love for your mom endures daily--bravo. Thanks for the Kiri Bili Bili update--hopefully they will be delivered/stocked in a.m so we can have a bottle or two at lunch tomorrow :).

 

Wanted to start contributing to this thread now that we are in Sydney (thanks Korean Air for making 25 hrs in the air comfortable as could be). Please see a pix of Ida and I enjoying a champagne cocktail

in Korean Air's A380 celestial bar at 34000 feet.

 

 

Please see a few pix today of Ida and I in Sydney below. We so look forward to boarding the Spirit tomorrow about noon and also look forward to seeing EnglishUSA/David for lunch and also seeing Emtsbam/Bob & Victoria, Donna and Alan.

 

Ida and I this afternoon @ the iconic Sydney Opera House:

 

 

One of world's (Sydney's) most famous harbor bridges in the background:

 

 

We took the hop on hop off bus for a tour of Sydney. Ida being a Master Gardener just had to see the Sydney Royal Botanic Garden (first pix below). She became Garden intoxicated--see her hugging the broad leafed paperbark tree below (second pix below):

 

 

Edited February 26, 2015 by WesW

[dougburns]

Great pix of you and Ida, Wes. Hope you have a wonderful cruise. Please pass our best to David and Bob/Victoria. Look forward to following your trip.

[spinnaker2]

Have a wonderful time Wes and Ida!

Looks like you have already started to enjoy.

Please give our regards to the Spirit and Victoria and Bob as well.

Good to know the wine cellar has been restocked in anticipation of your arrival, now you all will have some wine to consume.

Please leave us some...only about a month til we board.

[Silver Spectre]

Looking good Wes (and Ida too). Have a great voyage.

[WesW]

out for morning run just left park hyatt looked left and enjoyed this wonderful sight

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad mini using Tapatalk

[englishusa]

Arrived very early. Raining and low light.

 

Edited February 26, 2015 by englishusa

[Wellseasoned]

Bon Voyage, Wes and Ida! Ida looks great, but Wes! I thought you would have gotten rid of those yellow shoes after Bermuda banned you for running the streets in them! Anyway, have a great cruise and keep us posted!

 

Dieter and Debbie

[RachelG]

Nice pics of sydney, David. Phase fun keeping the billibilli safe from Wes.

[bettywh]

Wonderful photos of one of my favorite cities. Enjoy the opera. How nice to see one there.

[BARBYQ]

David the weather has been horrid in Alabama. John and I hope Patricia hasn't been too troubled . Enjoy the rest if your cruise.

[ging466]

Despite your wet arrival this morning, glad to see that Sydney has put on some lovely sunny weather for u today.:)

 

Cheers

Jennifer

[Emtbsam]

Ging - We're looking forward to seeing you tomorrow for lunch with Wes and Ida. Now we have to get ready to climb the bridge!

 

Wes - Great picture of the Silver Spirit going under the bridge. See you tomorrow.

[ging466]

Ging - We're looking forward to seeing you tomorrow for lunch with Wes and Ida. Now we have to get ready to climb the bridge!

 

Victoria, u will love it...the bridge climb is going to be spectacular...can't wait to see u and Bob, Wes and Ida tomorrow:D

 

Cheers

Jennifer

[WesW]

Enjoyable first day on board the Silver Spirit. Turnkey embarkation--less than 15 min from moment we stepped out of our car until we were in our suite (our suite was ready). Jet leg attacked me at 3-6pm, Ida enjoyed Yoga with Donna the fitness instructor at 5 p.m.

 

Dinner last night was in La Terraza (Italian venue). Samir is the La Terraza chef who we know from past cruises. He came by our table (pls see pix below of Ida and I toasting with some very nice Italian (Brunello di Montalcino) wine) to talk. He got married two months ago and is now a newly wed. He will make us his special Spaghetti Carbonara for our next visit to La Terraza.

 

 

We were heading to the Bar for a nite cap and met Bob & Victoria there. They just returned from their nighttime climb up/down the harbor bridge. Pls see photos below. First pix is Emtsbam/Bob and Victoria in their blue Harbor Bridge caps beaming with a vodka martini toasting their achievement. They relished their first drink in 24 hours since the Harbor Bridge folks give you a breathalyzer prior to climbing. The next pix shows their Harbor Bridge group raising their hands on top of the bridge (Victoria and Bob are the 3rd/4th folks from LtoR)

 

 

 

 

Today we meet Ging466/Jennifer (who resides in Sydney) for lunch at 12:30. Bob & Victoria, Ida and I look forward to enjoying lunch with Jennifer. Ida and I have a mandatory face-to-face meeting with Australian immigration at 4pm then our life boat drill is at 5:45pm. Bob & Victoria are taking the shuttle in town this morning. Ida and I are getting ready for our early morning workouts--hope to run off the ship before breakfast.

 

Rachel, you so right on the Spirit's internet--slowest I've experienced in 60+ days on board--took me 40 min to construct this post with pix even at 5:20 am..ugh.

Edited February 27, 2015 by WesW

[englishusa]

Those of us booked on the whole 64 day cruise experienced a fantastic evening. First a catamaran came alongside the "Spirit" and we transferred directly from the ship. Then a tour of Sydney Harbour ending up at the Opera House.

At an outdoor restaurant at the Opera House we were treated to drinks, meal and entertainment by an aboriginal dance troupe complete with DidgeryDoo!

 

Then an evening at the Opera, a performance of " Madama Butterfly". A great production. Coach ride back to the ship to a welcoming group of butlers etc at 11:30 PM.

Edited February 27, 2015 by englishusa

[BARBYQ]

David, Have you heard from Patricia ? Is everything well ? We're bit worried .

[WesW]

Bob, Victoria, Ida, Jennifer (our special guest for lunch on board the Silver Spirit and a Sydney resident) and I toasting good friends. We so enjoyed our lunch in The Restaurant with special visitor Jennifer. We all regaled each other with

our Silversea cruise stories. Lovely cuisine, intuitive service, warm friends--life doesn't get any better. Now time to go to our mandatory immigration meeting (face-to-face) with the Australian immigration folks. Earlier today, got to meet Donna who introduced herself at breakfast--very nice to meet a long time digital cruise freind.