Silversea Water Cooler: Welcome! Part Five

[turtlemichael]

DavyWavey70 clearly fabulous weather for the visit to the Sounds.

[lincslady]

Both the food and drinks,  ship and scenery - and the weather - look gorgeous , so pleased  you are having a great time.

[DavyWavey70]

Thanks TM and Lola. I Believe we’ve really lucked out on the weather. It was a stunning day and despite blowing a hooly that made me wish I’d packed a better bra it was just incredible. Had a wonderful meal at the Normandie this evening despite my dislike of anything too French (you started it). Coqcille St Jacques, French onion soup, Beef Wellington and Mille Feuille.  Swished away with Champagne, a Louis Jadot Chardonnay and a little Moscato to finish. A Couple of Martinis at our local and then off to see an Excellent Rock Violinist show. An Extremely talented young man that talks too much. I Dodged the silent disco in Eden and plumped for a lovely chat at the Martini bar with some new friends. First port day tomorrow so I went for the option of breakfast in bed ($11.94)just to make sure I’m awake in time. Service around the ship is excellent with the exception of the girl at the coffee place with a moustache that Tom Sellick would be proud of. She finally looked up after 5 minutes and told me I was in the wrong part of the counter and to go to the back of the queue. The queue wasn’t there when I’d arrived as the guy behind me confirmed. I Politely informed her that she could keep her coffee. The crew on here (with the exception of the bearded lady) are incredible. Especially in the Martini bar. Anyway, off to explore Dunedin in a few short hours. G’night all xxx 

[drron29]

I see that you really have got into the swing of things down under with that last photo DW. i presume taken by an Apple device.

[DavyWavey70]

13 minutes ago, drron29 said:

I see that you really have got into the swing of things down under with that last photo DW. i presume taken by an Apple device.

How very correct you are DrRon. Still it adds a little authenticity to the fact that my iPhone can’t currently tell the difference between Tuesday and cabbage. 

[drron29]

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

7 hours ago, DavyWavey70 said:

Had a wonderful meal at the Normandie this evening despite my dislike of anything too French (you started it). Coqcille St Jacques, French onion soup, Beef Wellington and Mille Feuille.

Good job going with Beef Wellington and avoiding a Napoleon for desert.  Show them who won!  🤣

[drron29]

5 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Good job going with Beef Wellington and avoiding a Napoleon for desert.  Show them who won!  🤣

As a friend of mine from Wales would say “Remember Fishguard “.

Especially February 1797.

[DavyWavey70]

Kia Ora Otago! What a day! Arrived into Port Chambers around 8. Took a little while to clear immigration as it’s our first NZ port. Had breakfast deliverood to my cubin and made my way to the meeting point for todays tour (Taieri Gorge railway and Dunedin tour) All very well organised. 20 minutes bus ride to Dunedin Station and all aboard quite quickly. I wasn’t sure if I’d got my days mixed up as we were clearly in the Hobbits carriage. A lovely train ride through beautiful countryside that was very similar to Wales. In fact the place felt more Welsh than Scottish to me. I Was presented with a vegetable wrap for lunch which obviously went straight in the bin. Spent a pleasant half hour at Hindon Station (think Dolgarrog but quieter) before returning to Dunedin for a city tour. Spent some time around the Octagon and St Paul’s (smaller than ours and less pigeons) before passing an hour in the Museum and Butterfly jungle.  A Quick stop at the worlds steepest street (only 10 mins there so obviously wasn’t able to climb it) and a stop at the beautiful Botanic Gardens. Altogether a really beautiful city and a fabulous day. Excuse the photo dump.

[Host Jazzbeau]

5 minutes ago, DavyWavey70 said:

 

The Platypus

by Ogden Nash

 

I like the duck-billed platypus
Because it is anomalous.
I like the way it raises its family
Partly birdly, partly mammaly.
I like its independent attitude.
Let no one call it a duck-billed platitude

[DavyWavey70]

Well after such a long day I hadn’t made plans for dinner so at one point tonight I thought I’d be going elbow to elbow with the plate pilers in the buffet. I Was so wrong. I Got into Fine Cuts. My favourite cocktail to start with, a Singapore sling, Crab Cake starter which was beautiful with a nice Sancerre, I really fancied Surf and Turf which was easily accommodated with Fillet steak and Lobster Tail. The crowning glory was a glass of Inniskillin Vidal, Canadian Ice wine with dessert. It is beyond words. Fabulous evening.

[jpalbny]

5 hours ago, DavyWavey70 said:

 

Last year, I climbed that street!

 

Well, it was a virtual workout on my iFit treadmill. But I had Graham McTavish as my guide.

[DavyWavey70]

2 hours ago, jpalbny said:

 

Last year, I climbed that street!

 

Well, it was a virtual workout on my iFit treadmill. But I had Graham McTavish as my guide.

Was he Welsh!

[drron29]

 

[jpalbny]

3 hours ago, DavyWavey70 said:

Was he Welsh!

 

Not unless you annex Glasgow.

[Lirio]

11 hours ago, DavyWavey70 said:

Kia Ora Otago! What a day! Arrived into Port Chambers around 8. Took a little while to clear immigration as it’s our first NZ port. Had breakfast deliverood to my cubin and made my way to the meeting point for todays tour (Taieri Gorge railway and Dunedin tour) All very well organised. 20 minutes bus ride to Dunedin Station and all aboard quite quickly. I wasn’t sure if I’d got my days mixed up as we were clearly in the Hobbits carriage. A lovely train ride through beautiful countryside that was very similar to Wales. In fact the place felt more Welsh than Scottish to me. I Was presented with a vegetable wrap for lunch which obviously went straight in the bin. Spent a pleasant half hour at Hindon Station (think Dolgarrog but quieter) before returning to Dunedin for a city tour. Spent some time around the Octagon and St Paul’s (smaller than ours and less pigeons) before passing an hour in the Museum and Butterfly jungle.  A Quick stop at the worlds steepest street (only 10 mins there so obviously wasn’t able to climb it) and a stop at the beautiful Botanic Gardens. Altogether a really beautiful city and a fabulous day. Excuse the photo dump.

 

I have a place in my heart for Dunedin. When my daughter first went to NZ, when she was 15 in a high school exchange program, she lived for 7 months in Dunedin.

 

After that, I went there to meet her, and we came back to Brazil together.

 

I redeemed a miles ticket from Brazil to Dunedin through LAX and Auckland. 2 days travelling, but it was funny at that time, first time in first class and Kiri Te Kanawa was just by my side from LAX to Auckland. When I arrived at Dunedin airport (small at that time) I passed by my daughter without recognizing her and she got really sad. On my excuse: she had gained 10 kgs, dyed her hair blonde and got a piecing and a tattoo.

 

It is a lovely city.

 

 

[Georgia_Peaches]

Found you @Daveywavey70!

[DavyWavey70]

5 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Found you @Daveywavey70!

Hi there!

 

8 hours ago, Lirio said:

 

It is a lovely city.

 

 

It certainly is Lirio.

[DavyWavey70]

Well it wasn’t the best start to a tour I’ve ever had but it did redeem itself. Today was the small group high Country off road adventure and jet boat experience. 38 poor souls were crammed onto a 40 seater coach and off we went. We wasted the first
hour trundling through Christchurch with guided commentary. The only 2 highlights were the partly rebuilt Cathedral and a BP petrol station. 2AND A HALF HOURS LATER we arrived at our destination. The brochure was fabulous. All the talk of going into the mountains in a 4x4, the thrillls, the excitement, the splendour and majesty of the landscape….. In reality we were shoved on another bus almost asphyxiated with diesel fumes and driven to the top of a hill to look at a cloud whilst avoiding stepping on gorse and cow Patts. not quite the adventure we signed up for. After driving to the 2nd viewpoint we were taken for lunch in the Woolshed. Perfectly good lunch. One of the highlights of the day was meeting Peggy, their pet lamb who was wandering around in her pearl necklace being petted by everybody. Now I know things are said about sheep in Wales but a ewe in a necklace was a first for me. A Quick traipse around the worlds only Jetboat museum and we were away. After lunch was the Jet boat adventure. That was a lot more fun. We were split over 2 boats and off we went bumping our way through the most incredible landscape. I must say that the outfits weren’t the most flattering but they did at least cover a multitude of sins when 6 days into a cruise. The sea air has already shrunk several of my tops.  No idea where dinner is yet but there’s a G&T back at the ship with my name on it.

Edited January 18 by DavyWavey70
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[Boatharbour]

4 hours ago, DavyWavey70 said:

Found you @Daveywavey70!

 

2 hours ago, DavyWavey70 said:

 

Well it wasn’t the best start to a tour I’ve ever had but it did redeem itself.

 

Yikes, we’ve booked this excursion in March! Given the $$$$ do you think it was worth it overall? We’ve been to Christchurch several times and chose this tour because it didn’t have a city tour. 

Glad I found you as I was enjoying your report over on the other board. 

[Host Jazzbeau]

[DavyWavey70]

5 hours ago, Boatharbour said:

 

Yikes, we’ve booked this excursion in March! Given the $$$$ do you think it was worth it overall? We’ve been to Christchurch several times and chose this tour because it didn’t have a city tour. 

Glad I found you as I was enjoying your report over on the other board. 

Hi Boatharber. I just think we we were all disappointed because it wasn’t at all like the description. It was definitely mis-sold. The jet boat part of it was superb but the rest sadly lacked. If you go into it knowing that your 4x4 mountain top adventure is nothing more than a trip to 2 viewpoints on a jalopybus you’d be less disappointed than I was. I hadn’t paid full price, I paid just over £200 gbp in the sale and feel cheated, had I paid the original 430ish gbp I’d be even more miffed. 

[Boatharbour]

6 minutes ago, DavyWavey70 said:

Hi Boatharber. I just think we we were all disappointed because it wasn’t at all like the description. It was definitely mis-sold. The jet boat part of it was superb but the rest sadly lacked. If you go into it knowing that your 4x4 mountain top adventure is nothing more than a trip to 2 viewpoints on a jalopybus you’d be less disappointed than I was. I hadn’t paid full price, I paid just over £200 gbp in the sale and feel cheated, had I paid the original 430ish gbp I’d be even more miffed. 

I really appreciate you taking the time to give an objective opinion of this tour. This was the most expensive one we’ve booked (at full price) but it sounded so good we thought what the heck. We even checked out external review sites. I’ll definitely look into this before we sail. 
Thanks again for a great review of this trip. 

[DavyWavey70]

2 minutes ago, Boatharbour said:

I really appreciate you taking the time to give an objective opinion of this tour. This was the most expensive one we’ve booked (at full price) but it sounded so good we thought what the heck. We even checked out external review sites. I’ll definitely look into this before we sail. 
Thanks again for a great review of this trip. 

No probs, it’s worth checking regularly on the sales on Celebrity. If one comes on you can cancel and rebook at the new price. Hope you enjoy your cruise as much as I have.

[DavyWavey70]

Can I just apologise to my fellow coolers if I’m posting a bit much in the cooler, I Was doing a live from on the Celebrity boards until Nurse Ratched turned up.