Sea Day 4 cruising Milford, Doubtful and Dusky

We woke at 6am, the seas were very slight and the day was dawning beautifully.   We were a bit naughty and skipped the shower, so we could get up on deck early - just like everyone else.  

The starboard side was very popular outside but we went over to the port side where it was sheltered from the wind.  Tucked as far forward as you can go on Deck 12 were William and Neil (Wilneil from Cruise Critics) so we joined them.  

The only way to describe the day is simply stunning!!!   Not a cloud in the sky.  Watching the Sunrise was spectacular, with only a few small wispy clouds up high.   It was all so breathe taking.   Pete took heaps of photos which tell the story.

Once we were right in to Milford, I was starting to feel a little hungry.   With the Buffet handy we went in there, but it was very busy so Pete suggested we try the MDR.    Level 6 was just about deserted with only a few tables at the rear by the windows occupied.   We got a seat with a view and were joined by Pam and Merv.  So we had a very enjoyable breakfast with a view.

The Captain turned the ship, and ended up having the do a full rotation and a half, due to some kayakers crossing the Sound.    We were in for a special treat, the Captain decided he could take the ship into the Sterling Falls and wash the front of the ship.   Passengers were invited to go to Deck 7 to watch (and get wet), so Pete and Merv rushed off.    Unfortunately the Kayakers got in the way, so he could not get any closer.   Still Pete got some more wonderful shots. 

On the way back to the cabin we met Colin, who was in Cova having a coffee with Patty, so we stopped with them for coffee, and I had a citrus mint tea.  Am quite enjoying my new habit of the herbal tea.

We are due at the next Sound - Doubtful at 11.30, so we thought we would find a spot in the Hemisphere Lounge early.   There were still plenty of people up there.

Sometime later they announced due to the rough weather we were delayed arriving by 1 hour, new time of 12.30 pm.

Once we got into Doubtful Sound and it was nice and calm we decided it was a good time for lunch.    The Buffet was really busy so Pete suggested we go to the MDR instead.   It was lovely and quiet - just like at breakfast.    It our first lunch in the MDR and the menu was very appealing, and I had my courses from the Vegetarian Menu.  The food as with every other meal was delicious.    At one stage there were 6 table waiters and 3 wine waiters lined up waiting for passengers - that’s how quiet it was!!!!  Best spot for lunch as the views out the large picture windows were great and it very peaceful.

After lunch and once we were back out in the Tasman Sea we sat in Cova Café reading, as it is on Deck 6, so much lower down and less movement.   There was a lot of movement in the Hemisphere Lounge and after a while I found it quite uncomfortable.   I wasn’t feeling seasick but for some reason I found the movement unpleasant.    The rolling motion in the Cova was fine.

When we arrived in Dusky Sound we went back to the cabin for some quiet time.  Pete used the laptop while I watched some TV and cap napped.   For some reason I was feeling a bit shattered?   The Naturalist who was doing the commentary came over the PA system from time to time (no where near as good as the commentary on the Diamond) and at one point we managed to see a small pod of blue nosed dolphins.   I managed to get up in time to see them out our window.   Pete raced up to the Promenade - the next deck up but was too late to take photos.

I am very happy with our Oceanview cabin.   It is more than adequate, and it is nice having the window and I am not missing the balcony at all.   Being on our own it is better to ‘hang out’ in the Cova or another spot and then you get to chat to people as they pass.

One thing we have found the Captain and Officers are very visible around the ship.   You can just about set your watch by the Captain’s coffee stops in the Cova.   All the Officers and Cruise Staff are very approachable, and even the crew can be eager to stop and chat when they are not busy.

Tonight’s Show is Richard Rubin - ship Pianist, Comedian and a past star of “Beauty and the Geek”.   He was very good, and funny - kept poking fun at the Jews (as he is one!).    Worthwhile seeing.

In the Grand Dining Room we were seated at our ’usual’ table for tow, with Jimmy & Alvin, which is fine but it would be better to be sitting with others really.   Our wine waiters is great - I Made Saskara.   He is good at recommending wines - but the wine by the glass selection is rather limited.   The special on tonight was ‘Surf & Turf’ which was very nice, and I decided to try chocolate for the first time by having Chocolate Meringues with Brandy - sensational.

After dinner we joined Jo and Graham at the back of the Buffet to watch the sunset from inside - it was too cold on deck where they had been sitting.   When we arrived Jo was having a deep conversation with a couple who were at their wits end with their obnoxious child - Luke whom we had seen a couple of times being in meltdown mode.  Poor Dad was so embarrassed and the Mum frazzled.    As we were now in Foveaux Strait the winds had died down and the seas had calmed.    Sunset was 9.43pm, so it was light until about 10.30pm.   The skies were fantastic.  Jo took some great shots on her camera.

We stayed up as late as possible - not actually that late so we would have a nice sleep in on New Years Eve, so we would stay awake until Midnight!!!  Curtains closed.

Day Eight - 29 December 2010 - Cruising Milford/Thompson/Doubtful/Breaksea/Dusky Sounds.

Weather mostly cloudy with a chance of rain, slight breeze 16°C

Sunrise 6.44am however Pete got up at 5.30 and went onto the balcony, which I slept through!!   The alarm went off at 6, and I actually woke up, and we were very close to Milford Sounds entry, but we did a full about, so it gave us time to have our showers.

We arranged for Room Service Breakfast for 4, and a bottle of Asti, which we had delivered the night before.   Julie and Dave were joining us on the balcony.

All I can say is Wow Wow Wow!!!   The entrance was misty, but once we made our way in to the Sounds we were spell bound by the beauty of the area.   We had the Silver Shadow with us, but they went on ahead as they were tendering passengers into Milford who were doing the overland trip to Dunedin or Christchurch.   At the heads we took Ross Kerr on board from the Department of Conservation, who did a commentary most of the day and we went in and out of the five sounds and past important landmarks.   He spoke extremely well and the commentary was sprinkled with historic information, certainly not boring!

 

 The Silver Shadow heading in before the Diamond Princess 

Only on a couple of occasions did we have to retreat to the cabin as the mist lowered and turned to light drizzle and the only time is was cold was when we were transiting the Tasman Sea between Sounds.  The sea was like a mill pond in the Sounds and it was truly spectacular.  Pete and Julie seemed to take photos continuously, as around each bend there was something else to see.   Milford Airport was very busy and at one stage we counted no less then 6 planes doing the circuit, plus a few vessels cruising or fishing.

We had one little interlude, when Pete and Dave left to go to a Classic Car Lovers meeting in the Explorers Lounge.  They had a dozen or so men turn up to chat and exchange information.  It was nice the guys to have some ‘man time’.   Julie returned to her cabin for a nana nap as she had had a very disturbed night.

Meanwhile I decided to continue with this log, but during one rather large swell as we were between Sounds the Netbook flew off my lap onto the floor!   Too my dismay the Netbook screen was BLANK.   So I sat in the cabin for the next hour feeling quite bad, as Pete had just downloaded more photos and my immediate reaction was I had damaged the screen.   When Pete returned he was very good about it.   After taking more photos Pete had a thought, as the Netbook would not close down, he should perhaps remove the battery.    Having done so, he put the battery back in and what do you know, the Netbook reopened, recovered my document (thank goodness!!!) and we were away again.  I had of course been saving data as I went, but just to be sure I saved as a duplicate.

The day cruising the Sounds was a once in a lifetime chance, and considering they had 1metre of rain in the previous few days, we were blessed to have a clear wonderful day with a short patch of drizzle.   

 PHOTOS AT THE END

We did hear people complain about the weather and we decided that you just can’t please some people.  After all we were a long way south with a prevailing south westerly weather pattern, so what can you expect.  We even heard people who thought they were mislead that it was summer ‘Down Under’, but of course it is really early summer.   Oh well, we were more than grateful.

The wine was opened at 5pm, and we enjoyed the final trip down the southern part of Fiordland coast as be headed for Dunedin.    We decided we would have dinner in the Santa Fe Dining Room.   All the waiters and waitresses have been excellent, and tonight was no exception, except of the snappy supervisor who seemed to make life difficult for the boys for some reason, so we did our best to show OUR appreciation of their hard work.    Some of the guys are real characters with very quick wits and always ready for a joke or silly behaviour to break the ‘strict’ professional behaviour.    During the Pub Lunch in the Savoy one of they guys said “look there is a seal” When we asked where?  His response was “there - the window sill”.  It is nice to have chats with them, and they are often eager to hear about NZ and our lives, when they are not too busy.

At 8.15pm there was another show of interest in Princess Theatre - Ports of Call, singing and dancing from the entertainment crew.   It was excellent, however Julie was too busy shopping they were late to the theatre and couldn’t get seats.   The 8.15 session is very popular, so you need to be there by 8pm to get a seat.   Tonight they put notices on the disabled row seats and the three rows in front reserved for those with mobility issues - not that that really helped!

We were exhausted by the end of the show and got an early night, as a port day was ahead it was another early start.

Pete took some wonderful photos, this is just a handful of them!!



Silver Shadow heading into Milford to tender passengers ashore





Clink goes the Camera yet again!





Huge slip from the recent earthquakes in the region