New Years Eve - Dunedin

What a lovely sleep in - work up just before 9am.   Opened the curtains as we were docked starboard side, which meant we were looking out towards the Silver Shadow, which we will see a few times from now on.

The weather forecast on “Celebrity Today” was for showers - we couldn’t see a cloud in the sky let alone showers.    Again the weather forecast was wrong, but we won’t blame the ship as that is probably the information they have been given.

We made it to breakfast just in time, because at 10am they closed a lot of the stations in the Buffet and go to a “Late Breakfast” selection.   I am becoming addicted to the Granola and berries with yoghurt!!!!   This morning it was mostly blueberries.    We had breakfast with Patty and Colin.   Again, when Colin went to get coffees one of the waiters said “No I will get them, what would you like” - great service again.

We decided just to go into Port Chalmers and have a walk around the village. 

First stop was the local Library, which offers free Wifi, so we were able to use the Netbook to check our emails and make a couple of postings on http://www.cruisecritic.com/  Very friendly locals.  We had a quick read of the paper - poor Christchurch has had more strong earthquakes.  The New Years Honours List was out also - Sir Graham Henry which was very predictable.

We went to a small memorial park across the road from the library, where it was quiet so we could ring family at home in Auckland.    They have been having horrible wet weather since Boxing Day.   So we had made a good choice!

Memorial Park where the following photos were taken from

The Port Chalmers Library

It was getting warm by now, the sun out and the clouds dispersing, none of the predicted showers in sight.      Above the village is a lovely old stone church - Iona, and from there we could get good views.    I would have loved to go up to the lookout above the wharf but it was a steep road and I needed to watch the battery on the chair.

Taken from the rear of Iona Church 

 One of the cars doing tours.

We returned to the ship via the Lotto shop.  Maybe Port Chalmers could be lucky for us!  Back at the wharf we had a great chat to the security staff.  They even waived looking at my photo ID as they remembered me leaving the wharf secure area!!!

Once back on deck we called into the Aqua Spa to see if we could still get the Port Day Special from Melbourne - Five steps to Heaven for USD $129.   A body brush, a neck and shoulders massage, a back massage, an arms and hands massage and finally a foot massage.   They were happy to accommodate us and booked us both for 3pm.    This meant we had time to have a leisurely lunch etc and before coming back.

Our massages were wonderful.   My masseuse skipped the body brush to allow extra time on my feet and calves.  50 minutes of massage was just the ticket.   Due to my MD I have a lot of small knots in my shoulders and neck, plus very poor circulation in my ankles.   For Pete his masseuse was horrified how tight his back was - mainly due to lifting me all the time.    We didn’t finish our treatments until 4.30pm, by the time Pete helped me to dress etc.    Unfortunately when I got up from lying I pulled a muscle in my lower back, which was incredibly painful and made dressing really difficult!   Not what I was expecting post treatment.

As we enjoyed the pampering so much we booked in for another treatment each while in the Bay of Islands on the 5 January, our last day aboard.    Pete will have a hot stone treatment to try and warm up and loosen is strong back muscles, and I will have 75 minutes of the same!

Sailaway is later than normal - 7pm, complicated by the fact it is a Formal Night and the 7pm Show was the Acrobatic Duo - not to be missed.   We joined Patty and Colin on the Sunset Deck, and after much deliberation it was decided that Patty, Colin and I would go to the Show, while Pete went to Sailaway.   As we were joining Patty & Colin for the second sitting dinner, we need to change, which we thought we would do after the Show then we decided we would be better to do this before Sailaway.  

What a made dash to change into formal dress in half an hour!   At least we did not need to shower like the others who had been walking all over Dunedin! 

The Show was brilliant and very well attended.   A pity that Pete missed it.  Just as the Show was about to wind up Pete found us.  Patty wanted to see the Albatross Colony and was extremely disappointed to be told we were already out past ‘The Heads”.   We did however have time for pre dinner drinks on

Rendezvous Square

.   For once the venue was busy.  I think as we have been going to dinner at 7.30 to 8pm most people are either in a show, dinner or getting ready.

 Iona Church on the hill

Baby albatross on their nests!!!  (Pete took this not really knowing what he was looking at!)

One thing I have found disappointing, is the gaps between music being played in the different venues.  It is not staggered, but rather all seems to be on at the same time, then there can be a gap of ½ hr to 1 hr before the next session.   Doesn’t make sense.

Dinner in the downstairs of the Grand Dining Room on New Years Eve second sitting can only be described as madness, rushed and incredibly noisy.   Whoever decided that horns and clackers should be on each table should be shot.   There was no way you could heat anyone let alone have a conversation!!!!  It was a pity as I was looking forward to having dinner with Patty and Colin’s table.

The “Main Event” for the evening was to be held by the Pool on Deck 11.    As it was now rather cold we returned to the cabin to put on warm clothes and we thought the best place to be would be above 11 on Deck 12.   We used the forward elevators, and when we got out we met Jo and Graham.   They had just been in the Hemisphere Lounge and had left as it was full of ‘old people behaving badly’!!!   A couple of minutes later Pam arrived to check out what was happening - Merv was still in the cabin.   We agreed to meet there shortly, then Colin returned saying he had found a sheltered spot on Deck 11.

Eventually we all managed to gather on Deck 11, and Colin had found blankets, so had gathered a few.   There was hardly anyone on Deck 11 at this stage - 11.30pm. But gradually people arrived grabbing blankets, except of course the young ones, who although dressed scantly did not appear to notice the cold.

In the build up, one of the chefs came out and did a ice carving.  Turns out he had the world record for carving a bald eagle - very impressive to watch.   As Midnight approached the place become very busy and noisy.  And just before the strike of midnight waiters came out with free bubbles for everyone.  Colin was so funny, grabbing drinks from every tray he could and stashing them on our table!!!  

Midnight was signaled by “The Bridge” by a long blast of the Horn and the ship stopped for about 5 minutes, during which time the cold chill disappeared briefly.

Once the countdown was over, the big ice carving of 2011 on the Poolside had the 1 pushed off the end into the pool and replaced with a 2.   Then there was hand shakes, hugs and kissing galore!   Mind you I had to line up for a kiss from my DH - he was busy hugging and kissing others - what the heck????   I even got to shake the Captains hand - poor man must have shaken hundreds of hands by the end of the evening.   Pete even found an American Marine in full regalia - Alex Bush who is currently stationed in Japan.

It was looking like it could be a long night, but we were both tired, so headed for bed.    We slept like logs, until we were woken at 3am by some teenagers making a huge noise outside in the corridor.   Pete went out and told them to quieten down, a which point to two boys did a runner.  A couple minutes later the noise returned so he went back out and told the girls ‘To shut it’ and they finally got the message and left.   Goodness knows what they were doing.