Day Nine - 30 December 2010 - Port Day - Dunedin

Weather - partly cloudy light breezes 17°C

Another early rise using the tried and true method, leave the curtains of the balcony pulled back to let the morning light in.    We rose at 6am as we approached the heads.  

I had the first shower, and as Pete was finishing in the bathroom we seemed to whiz passed the Albatross Colony.  I could see the Albatross birds as white blobs on the hill side, but as I was still stuck on the bed waiting for Pete to help me dress we missed most of it!!!

Any way we did get to see most of the entry to the port on the balcony, so we will see it all on departure.  

The port was the ‘logging’ berth and it was fortunate it was not raining as it was rather rudimentary.   But after all we had come to see Dunedin not the wharf.  

The Council had shuttle buses going into town for $15 return, and had kneeling buses in the fleet.   So this was the cheapest option, as a cab would be $50 or so each way!!!    The driver we had on both journeys was a dreadful - the first negative thing we have encountered on this cruise.  

We visited the Train Station which was beautifully restored.  











The Cadbury Chocolate factory visit was given a miss as the place was very crowded and actually didn’t appeal.   So we decided we should keep the NZ economy going by shopping.   I found a lovely Merino Wool shop and got some lovely tops.   On leaving we discovered the owner was a fellow Alfa Romeo Owners Club member, so we had a catch up!   We thought Colin looked familiar but thought it was just because we had met so many new people during the cruise.

Before we returned to the ship for a late lunch I found a lovely necklace and earring set at the local craft market which was open conveniently close to the ’Cruise Bus Stop’.    Of course now back in NZ we made calls to Mum to check on life back on Auckland.   She had been worried about us as Nelson and Marlborough had been hit by terrible storm, and thought we might had had a awful trip across ’The Ditch’. Being starved of news we had no idea, and so far had had wonderful sea conditions!

After lunch it was time to ’vege out’, as the whole point of this cruise was to relax and not run around like mad things.   Julie and Dave are now ’pro’s’ at relaxing!    And we have managed to see Dave drink more than half a glass of wine, and to even ’down the hatch’ the last bit when necessary.   But Pete hasn’t managed to get him tipsy yet!

Julie and Dave are now ’pro’s’ at relaxing!  Getting into the swing of taking time to do nothing, or find a quiet corner to read in or for a stroll around the ship.   Strolling achieves two things, walks off some of the food eaten to excess and chance to chat to friends or to make new acquaintances.   We have managed to see Dave drink more than half a glass of wine, and to even ’down the hatch’ the last bit when necessary.   But Pete hasn’t managed to get him tipsy yet!  Not sure he will achieve that.  

 We were berthed with our Port Side cabin to the wharf, so it was a good place to watching the returning passengers.  

Bus after bus arrived, with all piling out frantically.  

About ¾ hour before we were due to depart, the Dunedin Scottish Band arrived to farewell us from the port.   They assembled at one end, and playing “Scotland the Brave” marched down to wharf. 

This proved somewhat of a challenge as they had to match around the fleet of buses and cars, but they did it like real professionals!   They played for quite some time, before marching back down the wharf just before we departed.  

Of course we did this with wine in hand, or in Pete’s case a Rum and Coke!

We went up to Deck 15 for Sailaway    Pete liked to be on the deck above the bridge, which necessitates me to climb up four large steps with Pete’s help, and it is worth it.   As the wind was quite keen I didn’t stay up there for too long.  

 











However while up we sail out quite close to the shore.   At one point a small group on the shore shouted “Aussie Aussie Aussie”.   All those above the bridge replied “Oi Oi Oi” followed by lots of laughter and clapping.   All this makes a wonderful Sailaway.   

Later I sheltered behind the Lotus Spa out of the wind with Lilia, who was resting her weary legs on a stray chair she had found.    We stayed there until we were out of the heads and past the Albatross Sanctuary.    Camera’s were going flat out as the birds were souring around the point and catching all the air currents - spectacular.

We decided it was to dine in the Savoy, but requested ‘not’ the massage table.   Being the powerchair meant the Restaurant Manager needed to find that illusive round table for four.  In the end we were put in a section that was yet to be ‘opened’, but at least we wouldn’t have the vibrations!   Flora who served at the “massager table” was very good humored about our request and each time she passed to and from the kitchen she would check that we were being looked after!

It was one night there was nothing on the entertainment that appealed so we adjourned to one of the lounges to listen to what ever was being played before retiring at a reasonable hour!