New Years Day - Akaroa

Our planned sleep in was disturbed by the constant PA in the corridor for people tendering ashore, so eventually at 8.45am we conceded defeat and decided to get up.

One thing we really liked about Celebrity is the lack of announcements.   The only annoucements were the Captains at midday each day, and those advising restrictions when going ashore.   As we had a huge number of spanish speakers aboard all announcements were made twice.  Tender ports meant extra PA annoucements due to the tendering process, but these generally only lasted a couple of hours.

I tried to stand, but found my feet slipping on the carpet as they still had oil on the soles from the massage!!   Hmm - what to do - grab a towel and use that to stand on to create some friction.

The shower was wonderful!   My back was still giving me a bit of jip, but once I got moving and had a nice long shower the twinge subsided.

The ‘Celebrity Today’ had showers on the weather forecast, but upon opening the curtains a beautiful sunny day with only a few wisps of clouds was revealed.  The forecast was wrong yet again.

Again we only just made it to the Buffet in time! We had missed breakfast in the MDR completely!.

We are not going to go ashore by tender as we think it would be too hard.    Just not worth the hassle.   They are using four tenders to go back and forth.

After breakfast it was a good time to have a walk right around the ship and for Pete to take more photos of venues and of Akaroa of course.

It is a spectacular day, hardly a breathe of wind.   It was lovely walking around the decks in the sun - just soaking up the ‘ray’s’.   The ship was being constantly circled by speed boats, yachts, and jet skis with waving passengers.

 Obviously some passengers and crew had too much lunch ashore!

Time for a coffee fix in Cova at 2pm.   It is deserted except for two staff, who both just about fell over each other to serve us!     My latte was lovely and hot.   Pete had his coffee and went back out on the Promenade to watch the tenders.   I kept blogging - seems to take an hour or so each day.   One of the waitresses bought me nice iced water - tap water, so having to buy water is a big myth.   In our cabin the water jug and ice is topped twice a day at least, so there is actually no need to bring or buy water.   The two 1.5l bottles we bought on board and still in the fridge unopened.

It is interesting talking to people - there are a few who are finding fault and complaining about the smallest of things which astounds me. (Including Ccer’s)  The main complaints are the coffee in the Buffet (we can’t fault it - it’s instant sure, but it is nice and hot), the toilet paper - get over it, it needs to be a special type for the sewage system, one had complained there are no flowers on the dining tables in the Select Dining area -WHAT???     I am on holiday and life is not perfect, and time to precious to waste on such insignificant issues.

We have had the occasional glitch, and if it is of interest or importance I mention it, but mostly these things are so minor it is worth writing about. 

Anyway - time to return the Netbook to the cabin to charge.  I seem to manage to use most of the battery each day.

The day has been beautiful, with a bit of wind, which has been easy to escape.  There is always somewhere to be sheltered.    We had a late lunch of hamburgers by the pool then went and sat on the Sunset Bar to read.    Before long Yvette went past, and so stopped and chatted for a bit, then shortly after Rosemary and Robert joined us as they were having a late lunch/afternoon tea snack.    They are keen to have a chat about Rotorua, so Pete said we would get maps etc when in Wellington.

After coffee, we watched the tenders from the port side on Promenade as Pete wanted to capture the lifting of the tenders out of the water.   As time moved on it was obvious there were still people onshore as the tenders kept unloading and heading back to Akaroa.   The Black Cat Dolphin pulled alongside and unloaded and disappeared.    We were amazed that a short while later it returned with a load of passengers.   (We found out the next day it was passengers from a shore excursion).

Eventually they staff started lifting boat 9, and Pete managed to get a prime spot to video the whole sequence, which we will upload onto You Tube.  Now uploaded http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSjrBJbiSNo

We didn’t bother to watch the other three but instead went to the Sunset Bar to join Patty and Colin.   

The ship had been holding position in the Akaroa Harbour on the thrusters, and as the day wore on more and more mud was being stirred up by them.   Departure was supposed to be 6pm, but it was 7pm before we finally got under way.

The mud being stirred up as we finally leave 1 hour late.

Colin and Patty went down to the Show; however we decided not to go.    They had invited us to join them again for dinner at the Late Sitting at 8.30pm as two from their table were in Murano for dinner.    This meant we needed to return to the cabin and change.   The show normally finishes about 7.50 to 8pm, so we agreed to meet in the

Rendezvous Square

before dinner.   At 8pm a Passenger Singing Talent contest was being held.    A panel had selected 5 people over previous nights that had been very good at the Karaoke Nights.  Now these were all older people - not one was under 50 at least!!      They sang reasonably well, but we did not wait to find out who was the winner.  

The table Patty and Colin have in the Grand Dining Room is a ten seating - three couples plus a family of four Americans- who also happened to the Ccer’s!    The other two couple were American.   And they have a premium spot - at the rear of the room right by the large aft windows.   We had a most entertaining.   There was much laughter and interesting discussion.   Dinner didn’t finish until well after 10pm, so we did not stay on for any further entertainment but headed for the cabin.   

On the way we bumped into Hunter who wanted to arrange to have a chat about what to do in Auckland before we arrived in port.  Pete’s skills and knowledge of New Zealand as a ex-tour coach driver has got around the Ccer’s, so they are picking his brains constantly.   Where was he when he was needed on the Roll Call - absent and lurking only.   He has his own profile but prefers to remain incognito!

The night sailing was extremely smooth again - We must be taking the fine weather north with us.