Live from the Eclipse, Apr 19 - May 21, Sydney to Honolulu to Vancouver B3B in an Aqua Cabin

[Ken the cruiser]

What a scenic excursion we went on today. First, we headed out on a 45-minute drive to Kauri Tree Forest where we saw a variety of cattle and sheep ranches as well as some beautiful scenery along the way.

 

 

 

  

 

The walk around the Kauri Tree Forest lasted about 45 minutes.

 

 
 

 

 

  

  

The bark on the Kauri trees was very unique and in a weird way felt like plastic!

 

  

 

 
Then it was time to head towards the Glow Worm Caves. Along the way we past a large, but very young kiwi plantation. The interesting part was that all the young vines were protected by screen.

  

 

 

Of course, I had to take a picture of a nearby Bay of Islands sea gull. 😁

 

 
Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to take pictures inside the cave. But seeing the adult and well as the recently hatched babies was pretty cool! 

 

  
Then after a total of 5 hours, it was time to head back to the pier to catch the tender.

 

 
While we stood in line for about 40 minutes, we couldn’t help but notice this large “sea goose”, for lack of a better description. it was a large gull with web feet that towered over the other nearby regular sized sea gulls! 
 

 

I tell ya, some of us humans like me are so easily entertained while standing in line! 😂

 

 

We got lucky on our tender ride back and were the last 2 to board on our otherwise full tender which meant we got to sit in the fold down chairs right at the entrance and were one of the first to get off! Because of this, I was also able to take this picture on the way back without looking through a window! 😁

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

Luckily because we were able to board the tender when we did, we had no issues getting back to the cabin and down to Blu before it opened to get our table for 2 by the window, and also catch the last part of the sunset a little while later as the ship turned around to head off to Auckland.

  

 
After a tasty dinner, we headed to the theater to watch a very funny comedian, Simon Palomeres, 
 

 
and then we were off to the Entertainment Court to watch a very funny interactive game show called Guess It! 😂

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

Day 8 - April 26 - Auckland, New Zealand

 

 

 

 

[Norwaylady]

Oh..... I miss NZ❤️

So happy you enjoyed the day. May the rest of your visit to NZ be perfect. 

 

We had a private tour to the caves, so we were spoiled.  Its very fascinating!

 

Oslo can report of big snowflakes falling down🤨 Not a happy camper...... even the cats is angry and upset looking out of the window🥶. 

[Azllama]

3 hours ago, Mark_T said:

Was there something unusual about the test kits they provided?

 

Hard to imagine any international travellers that need instructions for this sort of thing any more...

We had a lot of 1st time cruisers. Talking with them, this was their 1st trip out since covid started. I can give you an egg and a hot pan, doesn't always mean you will get an omelet. 

[Mark_T]

12 minutes ago, Azllama said:

We had a lot of 1st time cruisers. Talking with them, this was their 1st trip out since covid started. I can give you an egg and a hot pan, doesn't always mean you will get an omelet. 

Don't want to derail this thread, but this isn't a '1st time cruiser' issue, it is, presumably, a lateral flow test of the type that has been commonly used for some time now even by people who do not travel at all...

 

2 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

While we stood in line for about 40 minutes, we couldn’t help but notice this large “sea goose”, for lack of a better description. it was a large gull with web feet that towered over the other nearby regular sized sea gulls! 

 

 

 

Glad you are having a good time down there, we certainly enjoyed our visit and cruise on Eclipse back in January this year.

 

People are always surprised by just how large the Black-Backed Gulls are, especially when compared to what looks like juvenile Red-Billed Gulls.

[Barwick Cruiser]

I love the exceptional entertainment that Eddy Jenkins lines up but I’d have had a hard time deciding what to do at 10pm last night…both the comedian in the Theatre and the Headline the Band in Sky sounded great. Hopefully one of them repeats later in the voyage. What did you do? Nice to have so many great choices. 

[zestyzorra]

Love the pictures from Bay of Islands, Ken! I will be doing the same excursion next year. Was the forest walk particularly buggy? Repellent needed? 

[Ken the cruiser]

Good morning from Auckland, New Zealand! 😁

 

 

 
Here’s the Celebrity excursion we’re going on today.

 

[Ken the cruiser]

15 hours ago, zestyzorra said:

Speaking of Zoom calls, did you have any trouble connecting during your cruise? I will be sailing next year around New Zealand and then the TP to Tahiti - Hawaii - Vancouver.  I'm trying to figure out if I can work during sea days. TIA!

 

Sorry to interrupt your thread, Ken!

No worries. Not sure about zooming, but I do have one recommendation if you want to improve your Internet speed potential while on your cruise. Upgrade to the Premium package before you get on the ship to take advantage of the 10% prebooking discount. 
 

Yes, the speed may very depending on location, and I will try to post a Speed Check every day using the results from my iPad from our cabin. But Celebrity also purposely limits the bandwidth to their Basic Internet service so you will upgrade to Premium. I know. Who knew!

[Ken the cruiser]

13 hours ago, Azllama said:

We just got home from our B2B on the Eclipse. You got on the day we left. The ship was at a tier level 2 for COVID. This is what the Australian government posted. Our last 4 days of our cruise the captain recommended everyone mask up when inside. We got this same letter and when we returned back on board, the test kit was there. But they did not include instructions on how to use the kit. I bet a lot of them went into the trash. Did instructions come with your test kit?

Yes, we did get the instructions and so far masks are optional around the ship. But as you might imagine we’re hearing “the cough” periodically around the ship and are pretty much remaining antisocial on the cruise, but still having a great time! 😁

[Ken the cruiser]

11 hours ago, Mark_T said:

Was there something unusual about the test kits they provided?

 

Hard to imagine any international travellers that need instructions for this sort of thing any more...

This kit required 4 drops poured in the hole on the test strip after keeping the swab in the solution for 30 seconds. We’ve tested quite a few times and the procedures have been slightly different over these past 2+ years with each vender’s test. 

[Ken the cruiser]

Here’s the morning speed test on my iPad taken in our cabin while docked at Auckland.

 

[Ken the cruiser]

4 hours ago, Barwick Cruiser said:

I love the exceptional entertainment that Eddy Jenkins lines up but I’d have had a hard time deciding what to do at 10pm last night…both the comedian in the Theatre and the Headline the Band in Sky sounded great. Hopefully one of them repeats later in the voyage. What did you do? Nice to have so many great choices. 

We head back to the cabin to play on our iPads! 😂

[Ken the cruiser]

3 hours ago, zestyzorra said:

Love the pictures from Bay of Islands, Ken! I will be doing the same excursion next year. Was the forest walk particularly buggy? Repellent needed? 

No buggy bugs at all, or more to the point, felt. 😂

[Ken the cruiser]

Our Auckland Panorama excursion today was mostly a bus ride around the area with some vista viewpoint stops along the way. The weather also cooperated quite nicely. A little breezing and in the 60s, but my flannel shirt and my DW with her coat were quite comfortable when we were walking around outside.

 
Here are some pictures from the places we either stopped at or drove by in our mostly full bus. 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see we hit the mother load today while looking for the elusive Auckland pigeon! 😂

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 
Then just before we got back to the ship while heading towards downtown.

 

 

[Azllama]

6 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Yes, we did get the instructions and so far masks are optional around the ship. But as you might imagine we’re hearing “the cough” periodically around the ship and are pretty much remaining antisocial on the cruise, but still having a great time! 😁

We are home, so far only my wife has covid. When we left there was a lot of coughing before we left. We did bring a supply of Paxlovid with us for our cruise just in case. We realized she could of pick up the Covid anywhere during our travels home. Safe travels Ken.

[dlh015]

Just jumping in to say 'thanks' for all the great pics and info!! I've been lurking in the background since my way earlier post...my cruise is a year from now as I said...but you are keeping me on the edge of my seat!!

 

Carry on!!

[Ken the cruiser]

3 minutes ago, dlh015 said:

Just jumping in to say 'thanks' for all the great pics and info!! I've been lurking in the background since my way earlier post...my cruise is a year from now as I said...but you are keeping me on the edge of my seat!!

 

Carry on!!

Thanks! It helps to have a fun loving cruise director like Eddy Jenkins making sure there are plenty of fun things to do and shows to go to! 😁 

[Ken the cruiser]

I’m sitting on our balcony just watching time go by. Watching the various tour boats going to and from the commercial pier below and the construction going on across the way. I wonder what the sky line will look like from this view point next year? 🤔

  

 

Edited April 26, 2023 by Ken the cruiser

[Ken the cruiser]

Tonight after a tasty dinner in Blu and dessert up in the buffet, we headed to the theater to watch a very talented Australian musician, Danny Elliott.

 

 
Afterwards we were going to watch the True or False Game Show in the Entertainment Court, but all the seats were taken by the time we exited the theater. So it was back to the cabin to rest up before heading back to the theater for a 10 pm comedy show by Darren Sanders.

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

Day 9 - April 27 - First of 3 sea days

 

 

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

Today is the first of 3 sea days before we get to Papeete, Tahiti. It’s a little chilly on the balcony, but at least there is blue sky and calm seas! 😁

  

 

Tahiti here we come!! Yay! Warmer weather!! 😂


Here’s our current location

 

 
And the internet out on the balcony with the sliding door closed is quite acceptable!

  

 
This morning we went to a couple of Beyond the Podium lectures. First, we received an in-depth briefing about French Polynesia, and then we learned all about Orcas. We also turned in our passports to accommodate a Tahiti Customs requirement which we should receive back after we finish visiting the 3 islands.

 
This afternoon we’ll probably go for our walk and to a few trivias up in the Sky Lounge if they’re not too crowded. But tonight is definitely going to be a fun one after dinner with the Rock City production show in the main theater

  

 
followed by a late night adults only comedy show with Simon Palomares! 😁

  

 

 

Edited April 26, 2023 by Ken the cruiser

[Redking]

57 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Today is the first of 3 sea days before we get to Papeete, Tahiti. It’s a little chilly on the balcony, but at least there is blue sky and calm seas! 😁

  

 

Tahiti here we come!! Yay! Warmer weather!! 😂


Here’s our current location

 

 
And the internet out on the balcony with the sliding door closed is quite acceptable!

  

 
This morning we went to a couple of Beyond the Podium lectures. First, we received an in-depth briefing about French Polynesia, and then we learned all about Orcas. We also turned in our passports to accommodate a Tahiti Customs requirement which we should receive back after we finish visiting the 3 islands.

 
This afternoon we’ll probably go for our walk and to a few trivias up in the Sky Lounge if they’re not too crowded. But tonight is definitely going to be a fun one after dinner with the Rock City production show in the main theater

  

 
followed by a late night adults only comedy show with Simon Palomares! 😁

  

 

 

Sounds like a wonderful day. Enjoy. We're back in French Polynesia on the Edge this time next year, so looking forward to your reviews.

[Ken the cruiser]

Went for our afternoon walk up top today. It was a little chilly, but the heat from the sun felt good. While we were up there, we stopped by and watched the glass blowing demonstration  

 

  

 

And for those that like to play Cornhole, they do have the equipment up in the grassy area as well.

  

 
We also asked our Blu maitre d’ when he thought the Eclipse might be Revolutionized. He said there was no set date yet that he was aware. However, he did mention it would probably be during the time when the Eclipse was scheduled to be in the Caribbean.