Bay of Islands (last port and day aboard)

Our last day on board in the Bay of Islands.   The ‘Celebrity Today” forecast was showers again, but even so we want to get up early for breakfast and be on deck as we sailed in.

So we work at 6.30am and pulled back the curtains to reveal a wonderful sunny sky with hardly any clouds.   We were still some way off, so we decided to have our last breakfast in the MDR.   This time we got to the restaurant, and it was still closed, so we had a little wander out on deck while we waited the few minutes until it opened at 7am.

Again we were the first into the dining room, and we were given a table for two near the entrance but so we could see out the window.   It was very quiet and all the waiters were ‘waiting’ for passengers!    

Were finished and out of deck by 7.30am.   We went straight up to Deck 12 (above the pool) and although slightly chilly it was the most spectacular morning.     There were fishing boats and yachts everywhere, just beautiful.     Pete even spotted a pod of dolphins.    We stayed up there for quite sometime as tendering was not due to start until 10am.

Being a tender port, we were not able to go ashore, so this morning we opted for massages in AquaSpa!!!   Another indulgence.   My massage was for 10.15am – a 75 minute shoulders, back and legs massage.   Pete the 55 minute hot stone massage.   I have to admit I was nearly asleep during the last part of the treatment!       By the time we finished it was nearly mid day.

The Staff advised we should stay out of the sun and drink plenty of water.  I felt a little light headed after the massage so we went back to the cabin and started packing.    That was quite easy really, one suitcase full of dirty clothes and the two bottles of water (doesn’t matter if they break!!) and everything else in the other bags.   The wine, duty free rum and the last days clothes and toilet bag in the carry-off bag.  Easy.

Our last lunch was in the Buffet – self serve pasta again, so yummy.   I had to have a huge helping of shrimps!

It is a day of ‘lasts’.  A nice coffee was in order and I have a lot of Blogging to catch up on so we hear Cova Café calling.    I was virtually the only one there for a couple of hours.  I had a latte and then Lara gave me iced water after that (by orders of the spa treatment).  Meanwhile Pete was wandering the ship taking photos and chatting to people.

It was such a beautiful afternoon having a beer and wine on Sunset Deck was a must.   Sitting under the Sail Shades was most pleasant.     We have a busy evening ahead, so we will miss our usual Sailaway on the aft deck with everyone.

I suddenly realised I hadn’t told a couple of people of the dinner time for our Post Cruise Dinner we had arranged.  So we scooted off to the cabin to get write notes for Amy and Larry, and Stuart and family, which we then dropped off to their cabins.   On route to Stuart’s cabin we came across a flurry of activity by a number of cabin attendants, which necessitated us stopping as mattresses were being moved and a large amount of linen.   When we finally able to proceed we went past a cabin with a terrible stench!   Someone had been dreadfully ill.    The smell was right along quite a bit of the passage.   Simply awful for all the crew and passengers in the area.

As we were about to drop of Stuart’s note he arrived – Annemarie was dropping the girls at the Fun Factory after being ashore for the day.    The girls absolutely love the Fun Factory, which leaves Stuart and Annemarie to enjoy time together, including dinner.

We had arranged to have our last dinner with David and Chris in Select Dining and to meet with them in the

Rendezvous Square

at 6.45pm.    So off back to the cabin to change this time, as once we were underway we had some shopping to do for Fiona, and a photo frame to exchange as the one we had got the night before had a mark on it.

By now it was time to go for our last pre-dinner drink, so we got to the bar a little early.  Chris and John (more CCer’s) joined us as well and of course David and Chris just after 6.45pm.  

Our last dinner we were served by Raymond in the dining room – we couldn’t get Jimmy unfortunately, however Raymond was fine, as he was by now a lot more relaxed and friendly.   We had a most enjoyable dinner with David and Chris, who are from Philadelphia.    David works for the ‘Food in School’ Programme we had quite a discussion on the differences between how America and New Zealand schools, taxes etc work.   

Dinner finished at 9pm, just in time for the final Show – Danny Elliot and Ben – the pianist.  It was probably one of the better shows.   They are both very talented.

Once the show was over and of course we were now ‘back at sea’ the shops were now open.  Time for the last minute shopping, as I needed to get the product Fiona wanted.   We only managed to get one, which was a pity as the stock was slightly different, but still it was a savings for her.

We couldn’t resist one last look in the Jewellery Shop, and as luck would have it I spotted some lovely earrings – 50% off which had not been on display before as they were new stock.    Pete relented and I tried on two pairs and the second were perfect!!  Of course this meant Pete could now look at watches, and again new stock and Pete found a very nice Citizen Eco Drive Watch, which was 40% off and a very reasonable price too!

So now our final bill was somewhat more than we anticipated – but aren’t most holiday bills.

Just as we were leaving we meet Rosemary who had tracked us down, as she had received a second set of menus, and wondered if I wanted them.   I declined as I had enough paper work collected to ‘sink a ship’.    She was about to head back to the cabins and pack, and she had 3 sons to pack for as well!   Rosemary was quite thrilled to show us that her youngest son, Scott (10), who had been helping the waiters in the MDR during meals, had received an envelope with a tip!!  Scott had a lot of fun helping them.

Off to bed now at it was closing on 11pm, when we should have had our bags out for collection!   A made flurry of activity for do the final pack and check all was in order.  The bags were out by 11.15am.    I have no idea what time Rosemary would have finished, with two cabins to pack…

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.