colbe Posted October 9, 2023 #1 Share Posted October 9, 2023 I lurk on the HAL board and enjoy reading about the exciting journeys that many of you take. I generally write a restricted F*ceb*ok diary for family and close friends when we cruise, but this time I thought that I could try putting some posts here for anyone who is interested. We are a retired couple from Aotearoa New Zealand. I am a Maori Kiwi and DH is a UK born, East Africa raised, and now an adopted Kiwi. We flew from Auckland to Houston, landing 13 hours later, and 5 hours before we had left NZ (yep, that pesky dateline confuses the heck out of my brain) Air New Zealand offered us free upgrade to Business Class if we didn't mind that one of the seats had a fault, and would not convert to a fully lay-flat bed. Well I'm vertically challenged and do not need a 2m long bed, so we jumped on the offer. Houston Airport was a pleasant surprise. Immigration and security were vastly more organised and speedy than our last two experiences. This time we were 2 hours early at the gate for our flight to FLL, last time we were 10 minutes late and they were holding the plane for us. We booked into the Hyatt Place Cruise Port Hotel for two nights to give ourselves time to adjust to the time change, and as a buffer incase of flight changes.. We have stayed here before and like the big rooms and the locality. This morning we set off to walk over the 17th Ave bridge to see what was on the other side - and what did we see? We saw the sea! Actually it was to get some exercise and some daylight to change our circadian rhythms. On the way back we stopped at Publix to buy 3 kgs of Red Mill muesli to take on to the ship. We are not accustomed to eating highly processed food and I don't enjoy the US style overly sweet cereals provided on board. Whole grain muesli, with added nuts and seeds from the galley, makes a nourishing long- lasting breakfast for us. For lunch and dinner we simply request extra steamed or raw vegetables. We have a shuttle booked for tomorrow and the next chapter of our big adventure begins. 20 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 1of4 Posted October 9, 2023 #2 Share Posted October 9, 2023 Thanks for including us in your adventure. Great upgrade that I would have jumped on too! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cccole Posted October 9, 2023 #3 Share Posted October 9, 2023 I am so happy that you will be taking us along on your cruise. The Grand Africa is definitely a cruise we have looked at. Hopefully you will find food to your liking. I think that many passengers do not eat a lot of processed food and the options may amaze you. Have a great cruise. Looking forward to your posts, Cherie 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnlcruise Posted October 9, 2023 #4 Share Posted October 9, 2023 Have A Most Excellent Time Looking forward to your reviews Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted October 9, 2023 #5 Share Posted October 9, 2023 Have fun. We look over the menu beforehand then order the entree we want and pick from the various vegetables available that evening in the dining room. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quilty964 Posted October 9, 2023 #6 Share Posted October 9, 2023 Thanks for taking us along! My breakfast go to is oatmeal with some fruit! Enjoy your adventure! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare SUESEABE Posted October 9, 2023 #7 Share Posted October 9, 2023 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare lyndarra Posted October 10, 2023 #8 Share Posted October 10, 2023 (edited) Kia ora. looking forward to your writings. Africa is on my list to see someday Africa as in south of Egypt. Edited October 10, 2023 by lyndarra 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colbe Posted October 10, 2023 Author #9 Share Posted October 10, 2023 2 minutes ago, lyndarra said: Kia ora. looking forward to your writings. Kia ora mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcummin Posted October 10, 2023 #10 Share Posted October 10, 2023 You have made me very happy, colbe. I look forward to delighting in your exquisite adventure. Bon Voyage! Barbara 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare erewhon Posted October 10, 2023 #11 Share Posted October 10, 2023 Bon Voyage! Have a fabulous cruise Have you voted early? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smeecanada Posted October 10, 2023 #12 Share Posted October 10, 2023 20 minutes ago, erewhon said: Bon Voyage! Have a fabulous cruise Have you voted early? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colbe Posted October 10, 2023 Author #13 Share Posted October 10, 2023 2 hours ago, erewhon said: Bon Voyage! Have a fabulous cruise Have you voted early? Yes, we voted as soon as early voting opened. Thank you for your bon voyage.message. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colbe Posted October 10, 2023 Author #14 Share Posted October 10, 2023 Went down to breakfast and found several groups of people of a 'certain age' discussing shuttles, taxis, Uber, and dock number 26. I wonder where they are all going today? We can see Zuiderdam docked. Weather is warm and sunny with a possibility of showers this afternoon. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CruiseIreland Posted October 10, 2023 #15 Share Posted October 10, 2023 Kia Ora, Colbe. We had a wonderful month in your beautiful country earlier this year. Highlights were Waitangi and Rotorua. Looking forward to your trip report. Ken 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcrennak Posted October 10, 2023 #16 Share Posted October 10, 2023 Thanks for doing this. Looking to meet you on board . we are on the same floor opp. side 5156. We spent several months in your wonderful country and have met many of your fellow Kiwi"s on other trips. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EASYSPIRITS Posted October 10, 2023 #17 Share Posted October 10, 2023 Looking forward to reading your blog. Liz Hayes Cabin number 4178. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted October 10, 2023 #18 Share Posted October 10, 2023 1 hour ago, colbe said: Went down to breakfast and found several groups of people of a 'certain age' discussing shuttles, taxis, Uber, and dock number 26. I wonder where they are all going today? We can see Zuiderdam docked. Weather is warm and sunny with a possibility of showers this afternoon. My recommendation is use the hotel shuttle to ship if available. I have had one too many bad taxi and Uber experiences in FLL 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forwardho Posted October 10, 2023 #19 Share Posted October 10, 2023 Thanks for taking us along. We visited NZ in our fall of 2022 and enjoyed it immensely, 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colbe Posted October 10, 2023 Author #20 Share Posted October 10, 2023 3 hours ago, CruiseIreland said: Kia Ora, Colbe. We had a wonderful month in your beautiful country earlier this year. Highlights were Waitangi and Rotorua. Looking forward to your trip report. Ken I was born in Rotorua. Lived in Whakarewarewa village with my grandmother who was one of the guides for the thermal area. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colbe Posted October 10, 2023 Author #21 Share Posted October 10, 2023 10 Oct, Departure Day We used the 11am, paid hotel shuttle. Very quick easy transfer, $9 per person. Dropped our bags and basically walked straight on to the ship. No lines, no waiting, plenty of ground staff. We were on by 11.30. We went to the Lido, collected a welcome aboard glass of bubbles and found a window seat. The sushi selection today was impressive. Cabins were ready just after 12.30. We missed out on a fixed dining table but have been able to book for tonight in the lower dining room. Good news for me - they have my favourite Wairau River sauvignon blanc available in the cellar pack. No luggage yet, but I am not surprised as there is a huge amount waiting on the dock to be loaded. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colbe Posted October 10, 2023 Author #22 Share Posted October 10, 2023 20 mins until sailaway and the dock is still being cleared. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colbe Posted October 10, 2023 Author #23 Share Posted October 10, 2023 The divers have finished their hull work. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RosieCanberra Posted October 10, 2023 #24 Share Posted October 10, 2023 How exciting! Have a wonderful cruise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colbe Posted October 10, 2023 Author #25 Share Posted October 10, 2023 The lads in the front and aft rope lockers are excited to have huge new coils of string to play with. 6 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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