Jim_Iain Live - 2nd Half World Cruise - B2B Singapore to Down Under 11/25 – 12/21

[RNCheryl]

Maybe the best quote of this posting:  Blind date with a book.

 

Jim, the Penguin Parade at Phillip Island near Melbourne is a hoot.

 

Your pictures make me (almost) want to do that flight from the US west coast to NZ.

[Jim_Iain]

11 hours ago, Mariettte said:

Great photos! I was swimming once in Nelson Bay, north of Newcastle in NSW, when an apparent torpedo burst through the midst  all the swimmers. It was a tiny penguin, so unexpected! It swam around and through our group for about 20 minutes, don't know how it managed to avoid collision, they swim so fast and come to an abrupt stop and change direction. Then it swam off into deeper water. I'll never forget it. 

 

That would have really been exciting to see.  

[Jim_Iain]

6 hours ago, Weelynn said:

Wow photos are amazing Jim. That place looks amazing. Wish we’d stayed on for this leg now lol. 

 

When I read of the population I was expecting a really small place.   It is much more developed than anticipated.   The town is immaculate and the locals are very engaging.

[Jim_Iain]

2 hours ago, venicecruiser said:

More amazing photos - especially at the Aquarium!  Keep them coming please!

 

Claudia

 

Today will be Christchurch and we are taking a tour via boat ---- hope it's nice out.

[Jim_Iain]

11 hours ago, Redking said:

So true Jim, especially in NZ. She gives great beauty but enjoying it can be a lottery!

 

Last night was really rough at sea passing Cook Strait.   I guess that would be normal as the winds funnel through the gap.   We had about 40 knot winds and 7-9 Meter seas.    

[Jim_Iain]

2 hours ago, terrydtx said:

Jim,

We are down to 28 days before we board the Edge for our NZ cruise. Your pictures and stories make us so much more anxious to be on the cruise, Thank you for this blog.

 

I think you will enjoy it.    Best to prepare for layered look.   Yesterday was actually quite warm and hit about 76f.    Layered look is the way to go.

[Jim_Iain]

1 hour ago, terrydtx said:

Jim,

 

Do you know if the Magic Carpet has been repaired and in use now? Our GBR cruise has 4 tendered ports.

 

That I don't know.    We haven't had any tender ports.     So far it hasn't moved from it's parked location.

[Ciaranaman]

Napier pics - those have got to be your most colourful ones yet!  Loved it!

~Bernadette

[hcat]

hard to keep up..so many amazing photos!  I will def be scrolling back to savor  my favorites!

 

how do you store your photos after each cruise..?  we have dozens of old cruise albums and scrap books.. need to pare down..  we are thinking of  trying to convert our favs to digital! hard choices!

Edited December 15, 2023 by hcat

[terrydtx]

4 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

That I don't know.    We haven't had any tender ports.     So far it hasn't moved from it's parked location.

Do you go to Bay of Islands on this cruise, I think it is tendered?

[asnaleah]

Gorgeous photos Jim! Maybe we should think about going back to NZ.

[mauimary]

Love all your beautiful photos of Napier. We will be there in Nov on our 45 day cruise that begins in Honolulu and concludes with a 12 day New Zealand. Very excited to see more of New Zealand on this cruise so enjoying all your photos. 

[Mike981]

14 hours ago, dlh015 said:

Jim, I intended to climb Mount Maunganui last Oct 30th...but a gale had other ideas and the port was cancelled...I had been planning it for months but nature has a way of scuttling such things.

 

Thanks for the photos!!

 

Thank you for using "scuttling" dlh. I love the word and will try to use it more. I know, I'm weird.

[Redking]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Last night was really rough at sea passing Cook Strait.   I guess that would be normal as the winds funnel through the gap.   We had about 40 knot winds and 7-9 Meter seas.    

Spot on Jim, It's one of the world's roughest stretches of water, ferry crossings can be interesting.

https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/cook-strait-rail-ferries/love-boats-or-chuck-buckets#:~:text=Cook Strait can also be,like a huge wind tunnel.

 

At least you're rewarded by Wellington Harbour and the Marlborough Sounds at either end. Am I right in thinking you're not going to Wellington? I think it feels like a mini San Francisco with the steep streets and weather board houses or villas as you'll now know them. A friend who's from San Francisco completely disagrees though, heho!

[Jim_Iain]

Last night the Chef in Luminae treated us with a Guinness and Steak pie.   I couldn’t resist the lobster and ordered it nude with drawn butter.  
 

Perfect. 
 

for a starter I had the salad with asparagus and poached egg.  Sounds weird but works. 
 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

9:30 AM and coming into ChristChurch Harbor.  
 

 

[dlh015]

56 minutes ago, Mike981 said:

I know, I'm weird.

And I still am after all these years...🙃

[Redking]

54 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

9:30 AM and coming into ChristChurch Harbor.  
 

 

🙌 I love Lyttleton. Nearly ended up working at the port a few years ago.

[gfkcruiser]

Great photos!

[theopup]

Napier looks like a great port to explore, excellent pictures as always 

[DaKahuna]

Jim,  Is the Luminae burger still on the lunch menu every day?  Is it the same or has it changed? 

 

[MisterMet]

19 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Really no comparison so far.   They are both unique in their own way.   Australia and many of the city are so much larger than those of Australia.

 

I was saying today that Sunnyvale is almost 3 times the population of Napier but Napier is much more commercially developed while Sunnyvale has a very high density.

 

 

Thanks Jim

[Wookie01]

7 hours ago, terrydtx said:

Jim,

 

Do you know if the Magic Carpet has been repaired and in use now? Our GBR cruise has 4 tendered ports.

Terry we are boarding on Wednesday (when Jim leaves) and our first day is anchored in Sydney harbour.

Tenders will be in use so I will let you know about the Magic Carpet then.

[Jim_Iain]

A fun day in ChristChurch.   We had a late excursion as we didn’t get in until 10:30.  
 

We took our time and things were going slow for general disembarkation.   Our tour was at 12:30 and they were only up to 12 for tickets.  
 

Shuttles were running slow.   
 

Our tour was a boat trip around Lyttelton bay.   It was a nice size catamaran with about 40 aboard. 
 

Prior to leaving the ship we took a stroll around the ship and stopped in retreat for a coffee. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

fantastic view from our living room 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Our tour group left promptly and started to a quick 5 minute bus to the your bus. 
 

 

 

Remnants of The Breeze sunken by the navy after target practice is still visible. 

 

 

Edited December 16, 2023 by Jim_Iain