Rare mahdnc Posted December 26, 2019 Author #126 Share Posted December 26, 2019 (edited) The weather is gorgeous! Here is our docked position Edited December 26, 2019 by mahdnc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottygirl1 Posted December 27, 2019 #127 Share Posted December 27, 2019 Did you see this? People removed from your ship in Picton! https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118468149/cruise-passengers-removed-as-ship-docks-in-picton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted December 27, 2019 Author #128 Share Posted December 27, 2019 52 minutes ago, Scottygirl1 said: Did you see this? People removed from your ship in Picton! https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118468149/cruise-passengers-removed-as-ship-docks-in-picton No, this is the first I've heard. When we got back on the ship at about 5:30 pm, there was a young man in a wheel chair being escorted of the ship, but I did not see security personnel nor police...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzi66 Posted December 27, 2019 #129 Share Posted December 27, 2019 14 minutes ago, mahdnc said: No, this is the first I've heard. When we got back on the ship at about 5:30 pm, there was a young man in a wheel chair being escorted of the ship, but I did not see security personnel nor police...... By the paper reports they got off before any of you did at Picton. That may have held up your disembarking process by just a little bit of extra time as well yesterday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted December 27, 2019 Author #130 Share Posted December 27, 2019 3 hours ago, Suzi66 said: By the paper reports they got off before any of you did at Picton. That may have held up your disembarking process by just a little bit of extra time as well yesterday. Whatever they did and whenever they did it, it was done discreetly! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted December 27, 2019 Author #131 Share Posted December 27, 2019 (edited) Venus shines brightly in the western sky (upper right hand corner of the photo). We are getting another clear sky tonight. It is a very windy night tonight however and white caps are visible in the ocean. The ship is sailing remarkably smoothly nevertheless. Edited December 27, 2019 by mahdnc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted December 27, 2019 Author #132 Share Posted December 27, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzi66 Posted December 27, 2019 #133 Share Posted December 27, 2019 Napier is probably the one cruise stop in NZ that I haven't been to. I'm very interested to see what it is like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted December 27, 2019 Author #134 Share Posted December 27, 2019 (edited) We had a terrific port day at Napier partly due to the magnificent weather, but mainly because of the tour we took. I signed us up for a private tour of a 5th generation family owned working farm a few miles north of Napier. The tour started with some skeet shooting for my family which was well organized, followed by a fun ATV tour of the hilly 1100 acre farm which held cows and sheep. We saw the dogs in action as they were herding the cows which was impressive. The tour ended with a nice home made lunch with the owner's family on the back patio of their house. It is likely to be the high point of the cruise with my kids. IMG_9492.MOV Edited December 27, 2019 by mahdnc 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted December 27, 2019 Author #135 Share Posted December 27, 2019 IMG_9934.MOV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted December 27, 2019 Author #136 Share Posted December 27, 2019 (edited) Like Picton, a free short shuttle bus ride was required to take us from the industrial port to the town of Napier. Edited December 27, 2019 by mahdnc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare hcat Posted December 27, 2019 #137 Share Posted December 27, 2019 3 hours ago, mahdnc said: Venus shines brightly in the western sky (upper right hand corner of the photo). We are getting another clear sky tonight. It is a very windy night tonight however and white caps are visible in the ocean. The ship is sailing remarkably smoothly nevertheless. Excellent shot! Love all your photos.... Great family journey! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare countess5 Posted December 27, 2019 #138 Share Posted December 27, 2019 Have you been getting the daily announcement about the fines for taking food off the ship. It went on and on every day. You think by day three people would get it! 😂 Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted December 27, 2019 #139 Share Posted December 27, 2019 Thank you for your wonderful blog. We will be taking this same cruise next year and your review and photos are causing excitement. I'm hoping we have the beautiful weather you are experiencing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted December 27, 2019 Author #140 Share Posted December 27, 2019 We will be docking shortly at Wellington. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted December 27, 2019 Author #141 Share Posted December 27, 2019 Another port, another shuttle. This will be our third stop in New Zealand. And the third time that a free shuttle will be needed to take us safely out of the industrial port and into the city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted December 27, 2019 Author #142 Share Posted December 27, 2019 (edited) Having a simple breakfast in our cabin.... Edited December 27, 2019 by mahdnc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzi66 Posted December 27, 2019 #143 Share Posted December 27, 2019 5 hours ago, mahdnc said: Another port, another shuttle. This will be our third stop in New Zealand. And the third time that a free shuttle will be needed to take us safely out of the industrial port and into the city. From memory, Dunedin is the only place you have to pay for a shuttle into town when visiting NZ unless you are doing the 90 minutes to Christchurch from Akaroa and then that is to be expected or the hour to Rotorua from Tauranga (same there). Unlike Australia who stung us for the shuttle into Cairns and the one into Brisbane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted December 28, 2019 Author #144 Share Posted December 28, 2019 (edited) We took a half day tour of Wellington. When we pulled into port, the skies were completely cloud covered. By noon time, the sun came out and the weather was quite excellent. The above photo shows 3 New Zealand symbols: a statue of NZ's 15th Prime Minister, the Beehive (Executive Building), and a blooming Pohutukawa tree (New Zealand Christmas Tree). The above panorama shot is taken from the hill that has a solitary wind turbine on it. Edited December 28, 2019 by mahdnc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted December 28, 2019 Author #145 Share Posted December 28, 2019 (edited) Last shuttle is at 545pm. Our daughter got a new tattoo this afternoon in Wellington which was fine except the procedure finally finished at 5:20 pm. And then we rushed off to catch the shuttle which is where I'm posting this update. By the time we got there, there were three empty shuttles ready for passengers. The shuttle pick up point was across the street from the Amora Hotel in Wakefield St. Edited December 28, 2019 by mahdnc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted December 28, 2019 Author #146 Share Posted December 28, 2019 (edited) There are quite a few Pohutukawa Trees in bloom here in Wellington. They are a very charming aspect of this country especially for our Christmas cruise. Edited December 28, 2019 by mahdnc 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afto Posted December 28, 2019 #147 Share Posted December 28, 2019 Thanks for taking the time to put together this very interesting and useful review. I am loving the photos, especially those gorgeous evening shots of the ship and the sunset. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted December 28, 2019 Author #148 Share Posted December 28, 2019 (edited) Good morning from Akaroa. It looks like we lucked into another day of sunshine! Edited December 28, 2019 by mahdnc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted December 28, 2019 Author #149 Share Posted December 28, 2019 Akaroa is our only tendered port on this trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted December 28, 2019 Author #150 Share Posted December 28, 2019 Solstice is now dropping anchor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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