Cruising: 2019-Sep Radiance OTS (Vancouver, BC-Honolulu-Sydney, AU)

We are really looking forward to this Back-to-Back trans-Pacific cruise with mom/dad! The first cruise brings us to Honolulu where we get to spend the day with Greg, Jason and Anela! After that, we are off to Tahiti, Bora-Bora, New Zealand and finally to Sydney where will get to spend some time with Gloria, Syd and Yvonne before heading back home on Oct 16. Our itinerary is as follows:

September 10, 2019 – Tuesday – Mukilteo-Vancouver, BC
Today starts another cruising adventure! The weather at home was gloomy with fog, drizzle, and an occasional downpour. We were packed up and ready to roll just before 6:15 AM when our chauffeur and limo (Nicole with the trusty gold van) took us to Everett Station. There we caught the Bolt Bus to Vancouver which departed about 7:45. Before arriving at 10:40 we made stops in Bellingham and at the Canadian border to go through customs. We had to take all our belongings, including luggage, through border security before reloading everything to finish our ride. At the station in Vancouver we had a determined taxi driver who managed to wedge us and all our luggage into a Prius! At the port we went through RCCL check-in and US Border Security before boarding the Radiance of the Seas towards noon. As we usually do, we headed straight to Windjammer for lunch and coffee. We had a nice outside table all the way at the back of the ship where we could observe the Vancouver skyline. By the time we were full and caffeinated our rooms were ready. Staterooms 7118 and 7116 are balconies on the port side which mostly faces south on the way to Australia so hopefully we’ll get to enjoy some sun there. We have an efficient stateroom steward named Yoga. We relaxed until our luggage arrived and we had the 4:15 muster drill. Then it was time for our first happy hour so when we set sail at 5:00 we were ensconced in the Starquest Lounge on deck 13 where we had a wonderful view of the area mountains in the alternating sun and clouds. When we had enough “happiness” for the moment we returned to our staterooms to finish unpacking before our evening began.

Tonight we used M&D’s BOGOs for an 8:00 dinner in Chops. As always the steaks were amazing, although Dad had to send his back to get cooked a little more. All the various sides and desserts were also delicious. To give our dinner some time to digest we walked to the theater where they had a Welcome Aboard show. It highlighted some of the coming entertainment. By the time it was over everyone was ready to drop into bed. A long, busy, successful day! (Tonight we turned our clocks back for the first of many time changes.)

September 11, 2019 – Wednesday – At Sea (cloudy, 61 degrees)
We were up early and went to the Diamond Lounge for coffee from the espresso machine there (cappachinos and lattes). Today is just a relaxing day at sea. The four of us went to Windjammer just after 9:00 for breakfast and chatting. Then we wandered around the ship where apparently everyone else had the same idea because there were people everywhere. At the shops Pat bought a magnet of the Radiance ship for our growing collection. We also looked at the boarding pictures and Pat picked out her free picture. Off the Centrum we found a small area to sit and chat for a while. Later we down to Cafe Latte-tudes for our daily free espresso drink and found another area of chairs. There was a moment of silence at noon to remember the victims of 9/11. People held flags of different countries and taps was played for a very moving memorial. We were then entertained by the Hawaiian music of The Kama-Aina Duo who ended their set with the wonderful Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Following that was a game where bottles of champagne, wine, and cans of soda were set up and people lined up to toss rings at them, winning any they landed a ring around. Back to our staterooms to hang out until Happy Hour. At 5:00 we headed up to the Starquest Lounge where we had appetizers, drinks, and conversation until our 8:00 dinner in the dining room. This was our first formal night so we were all spiffed up. Our main waiter for this trip is Ronnie and his assistant is Walter. They were both personable and efficient as they served us a delicious meal. There was a show at 10:15 but we all wanted to just turned in early.

September 12, 2019 – Thursday – At Sea (AM clouds/showers, PM sun, 64 degrees)
We went to the DL for coffee but the machine wasn’t working so got our coffee at the Park Cafe and took it up to the Starquest Lounge to overlook the pool which was sloshing due to the ship rocking a bit. We met up with M&D for breakfast in Windjammer at 9:00. After a stop at the C&A Loyalty Desk we went to the Colony Bar to wait for the Cruise Critic Meet & Mingle to start at 11:00. The Activities Director, Sophie, covered some information about things coming up on the cruise. There was also a raffle where we won a fold-up fabric bag and RC pen. Afterwards we tried our luck in the casino with our free slot machine spins. Yesterday Mom won a t-shirt and today Pat won a raffle ticket. Then we went our separate ways until Happy Hour. Mom went to the casino before getting some ice cream to take back to the room to join Dad who has a bit of a cold. We sat on our balcony for a little bit, then went to the Diamond Club for coffee and to read. We also watched the 2:00 showing of Men in Black: International which was showing in the tiny cinema. Afterwards we went back to our staterooms for a few minutes before dinner. Pat was feeling very tired so she opted to stay in the room while the others enjoyed dinner in the dining room before turning in for the evening.

September 13, 2019 – Friday – At Sea (partly cloudy, 75 degrees)
We had our early morning coffee in the DL which was nice and peaceful. The windows overlook the pool deck and part of the walking track so we could observe the ship coming to life with staff getting the pool ready and the number of fellow passengers on the track gradually increasing. Today we went to Giovanni’s for their Diamond Plus only breakfast courtesy of M&D’s status. (We’ll eventually get there!) We ordered off a menu and everything was delicious and the service wonderful. It was nice not to have to hunt down an empty table like we do in Windjammer. We sat and chatted in the Champagne Lounge area of the Centrum while our breakfast settled before Mom went to shampoo her hair in the spa, Dad did a couple errands, and we went to the DL to relax and read while our room was being cleaned. Back to our room until 4:30 Happy Hour. In the DL we saw a couple that looked familiar. It ended up being Beaver people Bill and BJ Sprague who are also from Washington. They joined the four of us for some pleasant conversation until they left for their dinner at Chops. Small world! At 6:30 we went to the Aurora Theater to see tonight’s entertainment, Master Magician Leo Ward. He was a good magician but a great comedian and he had us endlessly laughing. Then it was time for another delicious dinner in the dining room before retiring to our rooms.

September 14, 2019 – Saturday – At Sea (mostly cloudy, 77 degrees)
Another relaxing day at sea started with breakfast in the Windjammer. Breakfast was followed by hanging around the Centrum and listening in on a musical movies trivia game. We spent some time in the room reading, snoozing, and watching a little TV. Late afternoon RCCL had a Top Tier Event for it’s more frequent travelers. The captain and other officers were there to greet us and a variety of cocktails were passed out. They told us the number of cruisers in each level starting with Platinum (the lowest) at 218, Emerald 120, Diamond (our level) 221, Diamond Plus (G&G) 164, and Pinnacle 25. There are about 2,200 passengers onboard. Then we ventured up to the DL for drinks and appetizers before seeing the show in the theater which was Bob Arno – Pickpocket King, America`s Funniest Con Man. His show was very entertaining and funny. Our evening ended with dinner in the dining room with continued excellent service from Ronnie and Walter. We turned the clocks back another hour and turned in for the night.

September 15, 2019 – Sunday – At Sea (mostly cloudy, 79 degrees)
This morning we got an early start with breakfast in the Windjammer at about 8:30. At 10:00 there was a meeting for all passengers staying onboard for the back-to-back cruise to Australia. There are hundreds of people staying on! Then between Guest Services and the casino we took care of getting cash for our non-refundable on-board-credit since it’s the last day that the casino is open (no longer in international waters). Afterwards we returned to our rooms to relax, read, etc. We had an enjoyable Happy Hour with Bill and BJ Sprague (Beavers) and ended up skipping the show at 6:30. It was the second formal night in the dining room and, more importantly, it was lobster night! It was delicious! As usual we retired to our staterooms after dinner.

September 16, 2019 – Monday – Lahaina, Maui, HI (partly cloudy, 82 degrees, humid)
We had a leisurely breakfast in the Windjammer, then returned to our rooms for a little bit. Late morning we took a tender over to Lahaina, a tourist spot with shops, art galleries, and restaurants. We walked along Front Street window shopping and looking out at our ship across the water with a mountainous island for a backdrop. A little baby ray less than a foot across jumped in the air nearby then we could see it scooting underwater because it was so clear. We strolled in a park with an amazing Banyon Tree that was planted in 1873. It looked like a giant life form stretching its horizontal and downward branches and vines throughout the park. The tree is 60 feet high and covers about 2/3 of an acre. Many birds could be heard and there was even a rooster wandering around. It was extremely hot in the sun and we were dripping by the time we got back to the ship where we re-hydrated in the Windjammer with lots of iced tea. Our afternoon was spent relaxing in our staterooms. A big part of Happy Hour was spent in the company of Bill and BJ with enjoyable conversation and many drinks (and olives) served by Charles. We turned in early after a delicious dinner in the dining room.

September 17, 2019 – Tuesday – Nawiliwili, Kauai, HI (mostly clear, 85 degrees, humid)
Another Windjammer breakfast. We got off the ship mid-morning but it ended up our options were to take a free shuttle (long lines) to shopping or pay for an excursion. We all ended up going back aboard with M&D going to their room and we went up on deck to get a view of the surrounding area. After seeing the lay of the land we probably could have managed to walk to the shopping center where the shuttles went as well as the park and beach near the center. It was very scenic with a large beach in the distance that progressed into rocky coastline with large breaking waves. We enjoyed the view, took a few pictures, and headed back to our room as well where we rested and did some reading. We had our usual Happy Hour but then decided to try the Windjammer buffet for dinner. Tonight’s buffet was seafood themed so there were big bowls of cooked shrimp, fish prepared various ways, filet of fish cooked to order at a special station, and then the usual vast assortment of other items including salad fixings and desserts. We strolled our full tummies back to our staterooms and said good night a little early.

September 18, 2019 – Wednesday – Hilo, HI (mostly cloudy, rain showers, 81 degrees, humid)
After breakfast in Windjammer we went back to our rooms for a while since it was pouring out. (This is the rainy side of the island with 130 inches of rain a year!) We left the ship a little later in the morning when it had stopped raining. At this point the free shuttle to the Farmers Market/Downtown was filled so we hopped on a free shuttle going to Walmart a couple miles away just to get out and do something. We did end up buying a few necessities, though. The bus driver going there gave a few jokes and various facts about Hilo and the Big Island so it was like a mini tour. We also were able to observe some of the local greenery and scenery out the windows in air conditioned comfort. Just after we got back on the ship it started to pour again so we had good timing. We had a light lunch in Windjammer before going back to our rooms again to rest up for Happy Hour. Part of our Happy Hour was spent with Bill and BJ with some wonderful conversation and laughs. We were back in the dining room for dinner. Apparently they didn’t prepare enough BBQ ribs and we were given the option to wait up to an hour for ribs or order something else off the menu. This was at the point when they’d usually be serving the entree. We opted for something new and they promised they’d have ribs tomorrow in addition to whatever we’d like off the usual menu. Off to bed.

September 19, 2019 – Thursday – Kailua-Kona, HI (mostly cloudy, rain showers, 82 degrees, humid)
Our last full day of this cruise started with breakfast in the Windjammer. We went back to our rooms to handle a banking problem of Mom/Dad’s and wait for the initial wave of passengers taking the tenders to shore to take place. We took a tender late morning docking right in town. There were beautiful blue waters and sandy beaches on either side of the pier. A woman was lobbing tennis balls into the water which her dog enthusiastically retrieved.

We walked along the waterfront looking at the store-fronts, lush scenery, huge banyon trees, and colorful birds happily singing and flying in and out of the trees. Light rain showers crept down from the mountain tops refreshing us from the heat. After returning to the ship we lunched in Windjammer and went to our rooms to nap, read, etc. It was a good place to be since it rained all afternoon. (So much for this being the “sunny side” of the Big Island!) We had another pleasant Happy Hour then dinner in the dining room. For the first time Mom had something she couldn’t eat – Steak Diane that was fatty and tough. She had ordered a side of spaghetti and a plate of ribs (see yesterday) was placed in the center of the table so no one went hungry. Tired and looking at an early start, at least for M&D, we retired to our rooms where luggage lined the hallway for those departing tomorrow. Not us! 🙂

September 20, 2019 – Friday – Honolulu, HI (partly cloudy, showers, trade winds, 82 degrees, humid)
A busy day with M&D getting up early to join us. We got our new Sea Pass cards at the Excursion Desk at 7:30 then went up to Windjammer for a leisurely breakfast. We had little time to relax in our staterooms before gathering up our laundry and going ashore. Shortly after doing so Greg pulled up at the dock to drive us back to his condo about 30 minutes away. It was great to see him as it’s been years since we were last together! What a wonderful time visiting, catching up, and meeting his dogs Mochi and Bella. Greg was a gracious host serving us fruit, drinks, and letting us use his washer and dryer. He was having a problem with a shower door so he and Laurie tackled it including making a trip to the hardware store. Jason and Steven joined us around noon, presenting us all with gorgeous, heavenly scented leis. In addition they brought us warm Leonard’s malasadas which are fried, sugared Portuguese pastries popular in Honolulu. So yummy and they melt in your mouth! More visiting before we took 2 cars to Halona Blowhole a short drive away on the coast. It was incredibly scenic with the strong winds pushing waves against the varied coastline of rocks, cliffs, and sand beaches.

We saw the little beach where years ago (1953) the famous (and risque at the time) beach scene in From Here to Eternity was filmed. Further down the coast we could see Sand Beach stretching into the distance. Unfortunately, the blowhole didn’t blow while we were there. Greg went with M&D to pick up Anela at school and we met up in Koko Marina Shopping Center where Anela had to go to work after we had a short visit and many hugs.

In the same center was Kokonuts Shave Ice & Snacks where Greg treated us to some very refreshing shaved ice (some with ice cream at the bottom). Even President Obama visited here in 2008! Steven had to go to work so he and Jason parted company here. Greg took us on a scenic drive on our way back to the ship where we saw huge mansions mixed with smaller homes along Diamond Head.

A stop on a cliff let us look down on the rugged coast and see surfers riding the waves. Back at the port it was very sad parting ways with Greg but we were thankful for the time we did get to spend together.

Part two of our adventure now begins as we journey to Sydney, Australia! We had no problems boarding the Radiance of the Seas again as we already had our sea passes in hand. We received a lot of compliments along the way about the scent of our leis. We soon headed up to the Diamond Lounge for Happy Hour. Muster was at 7:30 then it was time for dinner in the dining room. Haerul and Paulo are our waiters for this cruise but we saw Ronnie and Walter and they were going to see if they could switch us to a table in their area. As we headed out of the dining room about 9:30 we saw the pilot boat shadowing us so stepped out on deck to watch as the boat eventually came along side and picked up the pilot who was helping guide our ship. He got a round of applause and yelled out to “have fun downunder!” It was a beautiful, comfortable evening outside. Since we were all exhausted after a long, fun day we retired for the evening. (On this cruise there are only about 300+ Americans versus 1,200+ Australians!)

September 21, 2019 – Saturday – At Sea (mostly cloudy, rain late, 82 degrees, humid)
One daily routine we’re keeping is that every morning Laurie is up early and in the Diamond Lounge on Deck 13 sipping coffee before 5:30. Pat joins him about 6:30. We can watch the ship and sky come to life from here. Another delicious breakfast in Windjammer followed by a lecture called “History of the Internet” by Lyn Yaworsky. It was okay – interesting. We went to the Diamond Lounge for coffee and to sit a bit. A short stay in the room before another lecture called “The Universe and You” by Vince Ford.

He was extremely knowledgeable and presented an informative and interesting lecture. Time for another rest before Happy Hour where we mostly had our usual waiter, Charles.

We had given him a good tip at the end of the last cruise which he must have liked because he couldn’t do enough for us! We had more drinks and olives than we could consume! It was formal night so we were dressed up and had some pictures taken on our way in to the dining room. Ronnie and Walter were at the entrance wildly waving their arms in greeting and informed us that they, along with Head Waiter Rajvir, had arranged a table served by them. It’s a table for 8 and we sit 2 to a side across from each other so we have lots of room. We’re also by a window but since it’s dark by the time we eat we can’t take advantage of it. Dinner was fantastic and the service outstanding.

September 22, 2019 – Sunday – At Sea (mostly cloudy, chance of rain, 82 degrees, humid)
A yummy breakfast in Windjammer then we went early to the Colony Club to wait for the Cruise Critic Meet & Mingle. The activities director let us know all the activities planned for this long cruise and raffle gifts were given out. We didn’t win anything this time. After looking at our pictures taken so far in the gallery we rested in our rooms. We grabbed coffee from Cafe Latte-tudes and went to the theater for the second enrichment lecture with Lyn, this one titled “Protection from Internet Scammers”. Time for a rest before Happy Hour. At 6:30 we saw a very nice show by Hayden Smith – Vocal Instrumentalist. He sang a great selection of songs and played several instruments. His wife, Alexa Jayne, happened to be onboard and joined his performance. She was also a high energy singer who eclipsed her husband when on stage. The show left us feeling energized and ready for dinner in Chops. We all had steaks which we agreed were good but not up to past steaks. Bedtime.

September 23, 2019 – Monday – At Sea (mostly sunny, 84 degrees, humid)
A Windjammer breakfast then back to our rooms while Mom went off to wash her hair in the spa. This morning there was a Top Tier Event for repeat RCCL cruisers where they had drinks, a band for entertainment, and presentations for cruise achievements. The numbers of the various Crown & Anchor Society members on board from the lowest level on up: Platinum 224, Emerald 101, Diamond 303, Diamond Plus 153, and Pinnacle 10. The captain and a couple of the officers gave talks. Next up was another astronomy lecture titled “The Private Lives of the Stars”. It was interesting in a “try to stay awake” sort of way. Afternoon rests and Happy Hour during which we crossed the equator at 5:15 with the captain blowing the ships horn. Dinner in the dining room after which both Ronnie and Walter entertained us by making napkin creations.

September 24, 2019 – Tuesday – At Sea (partly cloudy, 81 degrees, windy, humid)
Our usual breakfast then we stopped by Next Cruise to get prices on future cruises. Later we attended a poolside Equator Crossing Ceremony, although we crossed yesterday. It was pretty much crew who hadn’t crossed before getting dumped on with spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, eggs, salad, bowls of colored gel, and whipped cream. It was very windy up on deck and felt refreshing. A quick lunch in Windjammer then it was time to rest. Happy hour preceded an evening lecture “Voyages to the Inner Planets”. A delicious dinner in the dining room before collapsing in bed. The days may sound a bit monotonous but we are thoroughly enjoying each one.

September 25, 2019 – Wednesday – At Sea (cloudy, chance of rain, 82 degrees, humid)
Windjammer breakfast followed by the lecture “Realm of the Giants, the Outer Solar System”. A quick stop for coffee and then back to our rooms to be lazy all afternoon. During Happy Hour we decided that rather than book a cruise right now we’d take advantage of RCCL’s Open Booking program where we place a $100 per person deposit (rather than $900 per cabin) towards booking a cruise within the next year. This is only offered while on-board. We took care of this before catching the entertainment for the evening which had already started: Chelsea Gibb, an Autralian singer with a powerful voice and a great show. Soon after we went to dinner in the dining room then turned in for the night.

September 26, 2019 – Thursday – Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia (partly clear, 84 degrees, humid)
After breakfast we went into town. When we think of Tahiti we think of bright blue waters and stretches of sandy beaches. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case with the port where we docked. It really was just another medium size town with lots of traffic on the road along the water.

The marina was pretty, though, with a couple of very large sail boats. We walked the short distance to the huge municipal market that sells a wide variety of items from produce, fish, and baked good to souvenirs, Tahitian oils, vanilla, straw purses and hats, t shirts, flowers, sarongs, and jewelry – especially black pearls. There were also many places to buy fast foods. It was very vibrant with a Tahitian band playing lively music. The rest of our day was very laid back resting, reading, Happy Hour, and a wonderful dinner in Chops. They redeemed themselves from the other night when the steaks weren’t as good as usual. We planned to see a comedian at 9:45 but everyone was too tired.

September 27, 2019 – Friday – Moorea, French Polynesia (mostly sunny, 82 degrees, humid)
A beautiful, sunny day. The bay where we anchored had expansive ocean views in one direction, and soaring, lush, rain-forest covered, craggy, volcanic peaks wrapped in wisps of clouds in another. The captain said there were a couple of humpback whales headed out of the bay when we were headed in. A fellow passenger said

they saw several stingrays come up to the surface near the ship. There weren’t any beaches in this area but the various shades of blue water combined with the endless shades of greenery was gorgeous. After breakfast we took a tender to a market set up on the island with similar items for sale as yesterday but no produce or flowers. There was Tahitian music and dancers for entertainment. After we took it all in we returned to the ship for some refreshing iced tea then went to our staterooms to relax. Our evening was as usual – Happy Hour and dinner.

September 28, 2019 – Saturday – Bora Bora, French Polynesia (mostly sunny, 81 degrees, humid)
Pat started her day by seeing the spouts of a whale immediately after awakening. It was moving away from the ship but she didn’t get to see the creature itself. Then at breakfast in Windjammer a fellow cruiser pointed out a group of dolphins out in the distance. Soon after breakfast we took the tender into town which is named Vaitape. It didn’t feel as hot as yesterday but the scenery was stunning – crystal clear waters in shades of blue from a rich, dark shade all the way up to light turquoise. The little village area where the tender dropped us off was backed by a majestic, craggy, lushly covered volcanic peak. There was musical and dancing entertainment, and a market with the usual items (mostly jewelry and clothing). There were two women making the traditional floral headpieces who were very sweet and gave Mom and Pat flowers. Back on the ship we had iced tea before Mom went off to the spa to wash her hair and we went to our rooms to relax. Our evening again consisted of Happy Hour and dinner in the dining room.

September 29, 2019 – Sunday – At Sea (mostly cloudy, 75 degrees)
At our early morning coffee in the Diamond Lounge we chatted with some several very nice people from Australia – Lindy, her daughter Tanya, and friends Elaine and Chris. They were well traveled, lively, funny, and interesting to converse with. After a Windjammer breakfast we watched a bit of a cooking competition in the Centrum, relaxed in our rooms, attended another astronomy seminar called “The Lights Are On, But Is Anybody At Out There?”, more relaxing, Happy Hour, and a yummy dinner in the dining room. Love our days at sea!

September 30, 2019 – Monday – At Sea (mostly cloudy, 72 degrees)
A wonderful day at sea following our usual routine: Windjammer breakfast, relaxing, afternoon seminar “Things You Don’t Need a Telescope to See”, Happy Hour, a pretty good comedic juggler named James Bustar, and dinner in the dining room.

October 2, 2019 – Wednesday – At Sea (mostly cloudy, rain, 66 degrees, windy)
That’s correct – not only is it October but it’s Wednesday – we lost Tuesday, October 1st! We crossed the International Date Line around 12:30 pm but changed the date overnight to be less confusing. So now we are 20 hours ahead of Seattle time! There was a little ceremony with cake to celebrate the crossing. Also, the forecast is getting a bit cooler each day as we head farther south on our way to New Zealand. After Happy Hour we saw a very energetic show called “Strings Alive” which was a husband playing piano and electric guitar and his wife playing violin, singing, and dancing about the stage. She was the star of the show. Then we had a delicious, relaxing dinner in Chops.

October 3, 2019 – Thursday – At Sea (cloudy, rain, 63 degrees, windy)
It was very windy and rocky starting late yesterday and all through today. The pool was emptied and the upper deck closed. It was more of a front-to-back rolling motion rather than side-to-side, so Dad was able to tolerate it. Occasionally the bow would hit a large wave just right and huge sprays of mist would flow past the sides of the ship. If the sun happened to be peeking out you could catch a rainbow in the mist. Most areas inside the ship were more crowded since people weren’t outside. Otherwise it was pretty much our usual routine: breakfast, relaxing around the ship, astronomy lecture, Happy Hour, a hypnosis show by Phoenix “The Mind Guy” which we could have done without, and dinner in the dining room.

October 4, 2019 – Friday – At Sea (partly cloudy, 57 degrees)
Much calmer and sunny today although it’s very chilly. After breakfast in the Windjammer we spent a little time in the stateroom until the attendant came to clean. We then went to the Centrum to watch the “Chef’s Got Talent” final cook-off then went back to the room until it was time to pick up coffee and head to the astronomy lecture. Happy Hour and dinner in the dining room to end our day.

October 5, 2019 – Saturday – Wellington, New Zealand (cloudy, chance of rain, 55 degrees, very windy)
“Windy Wellington” earned it’s nickname just by the sail-in. As we approached we had the wind howling through the balcony doors which woke up Pat who was still sleeping, Larry being out earlier as usual. Then we could hear it pounding on the ship while having coffee in the Diamond Lounge on Deck 13. Surprisingly the ship wasn’t rocking too bad. After breakfast we got off the ship and took a free shuttle into town. Our destination was the Wellington Museum which ended up being several blocks from the shuttle stop – walking in the cold wind. The museum portrays the history of the original Maori tribes and the European settlers who arrived around 1840. It also had a fascinating holographic video depicting the Maori history. In addition to the cold and fierce wind it was raining when we came out of the museum so we took a taxi back to the port. After a light lunch we rested in our rooms, had Happy Hour, and then dined a little earlier than usual in Giovonni’s Italian restaurant. The food was good and we ate too much once again. We were ready to turn in early after our busy day.

October 6, 2019 – Sunday – Picton, New Zealand (mostly clear, 55 degrees)
The port where we docked was next to a humongous lumber yard with massive, towering piles of logs. These logs were lower grade logs that will be shipped to China to make paper. We had a delicious breakfast in Windjammer then headed to shore.

A free shuttle took us the short 15 minute drive from the port into Picton, which is set in the picturesque upper reaches of Queen Charlotte Sound between the sea and mountains. Along the waterfront was a marina and a lovely park with a beach full of seagulls looking for food, grassy areas with some chilling ducks, and palm trees populated with many twittering birds.  There were loads of beautiful flowers planted along the walking path. We visited a wonderful little craft market that had a wide variety of homemade goods. We chatted with some of the vendors, and Mom and Pat both bought earrings for $10 each made from Paua shells found only in New Zealand’s coastal waters. They are a very colorful, iridescent member of the abalone family. We window shopped along the touristy High Street before catching a shuttle back to the ship. It was a fantastic morning and we really enjoyed ourselves. We had a quick lunch before relaxing during the afternoon. Happy Hour was outstanding today as it occurred during sailing out from Picton through magnificent Queen Charlotte Sound with it’s islands, inlets, peninsulas, and surrounding lush mountains. Absolutely mesmerizing and gorgeous! The magician we saw afterward, Duck Cameron, was a bit of a let down after nature’s spectacular. Dinner in the dining room this evening.

October 7, 2019 – Monday – At Sea (mostly cloudy, 59 degrees)
When we return to our room after dinner last night the carpet was wet in front of the couch. We assumed Yoga had spilled the ice bucket and not cleaned it up very well, but in the morning it seemed even wetter. Turns out there was a plumbing leak in a utility closet in the hall. They fixed the leak, but then had to move the couch and set up a blower(very noisy!) to dry the area which by now had started to stink. RC moved us into an obstructed balcony room on deck 8 which we partially moved in to (only bringing our essentials and change of clothes). RC said they will compensate us in some way but we’ll have to wait and see (update Nov 2019: RC provided approx. $900 Future Cruise Credit for our inconvenience). The rest of our day was breakfast, a guest variety show with singing and dancing, Happy Hour, and our last dinner in the dining room where we said goodbye to Ronnie and Walter, some of the best servers we’ve had on a cruise.

October 8, 2019 – Tuesday – At Sea (cloudy, chance of rain, 63 degrees)
Most of the day was cloudy and rainy but the sun tried breaking through in the evening creating some beautifully lit cloud formations. A slow-paced day having breakfast, packing, Happy Hour, and picking out our free pictures. Since Yom Kippur started at sundown we had an early dinner in the Windjammer buffet instead of the dining room. Then the unthinkable – we had to stop eating for the rest of the cruise! We were in our cabins and relaxing by early evening. We turned back the clocks one hour for the last time so we were on Sydney time which is 18 hours ahead of Seattle.

October 9, 2019 – Wednesday – Sydney, Australia! (mostly sunny, 60ish, windy at times)
Yom Kippur – so no coffee or food. At least we don’t have to fight the crowds in Windjammer that are partaking one last time. We pulled into the port in Sydney Harbour 5:30-6:00 AM. We glided into the port with the Sydney Opera House outside our balcony! The Sydney Harbour Bridge is visible on the other side of the ship. We’ll be in Sydney a week, so we will have more chances to get better views. After disembarking we caught a taxi to our Airbnb. We managed to get into the lobby and then into the apartment early. Shortly thereafter, Gloria and Syd arrived and had a very happy reunion with the family. We chatted for a while, then Syd took us to a grocery store about 1-1/2 blocks away. On the way we walked through an outdoor market selling prepared foods, vegetables, plants, jewelry, and endless other ideas. The shopping center where the Coles grocery store was located had dozens of smaller shops such as bakeries and a butcher, as well as services such as hair cuts and manicures. There’s also a Kmart there, so everything you need can be found. We did some laundry in the apartment while we chatted with Gloria in the afternoon. Gloria invited us back to the place she is staying locally (Montefiore) for dinner which was 3-4 blocks away. It’s like a Jewish retirement home but allows shorter visits for those qualified to stay for a respite, such as Gloria who’s staying for two weeks. The food was delicious and tasted like a homemade meal – soup through dessert. We had a pleasant stroll back to the apartment where we tried to stay awake but gave up about 9:00.

October 10, 2019 – Thursday – Sydney, Australia (mostly sunny, mid-60s, very pleasant)
Laurie went for a very early (still dark) walk to Bondi Beach a couple miles away. We made ourselves a light breakfast then took Mom and Dad to a nearby clinic to have their continuing coughs looked at. They both had lung issues (dad’s more severe), and the doctor prescribed different antibiotics for each. After only about 45 minutes we left the clinic with the doctor visits only costing about $50USD each and the medicine about $17USD for both. Gloria came over mid-morning. After visiting a bit, Gloria showed us the ropes of buying and using an Opal transportation card at the nearby bus/train station. We then boarded a bus for a 25 minute bus ride to Watson’s Bay with Gloria acting as a tour guide pointed out highlights and places where family lived or had lived. We met up with Mom and Dad who had been given a ride by Syd. It was an extremely picturesque area with glittering water with bobbing sailboats, stretches of sandy beaches, and the greenery of a large park. We met up with family members Deborah, Fiona, Jodie, Jodie’s husband Alex, and their foster daughter for a lively afternoon of conversation and good food at Doyle’s on the Wharf, a locally famous waterfront fish and chip place. We were spread between two covered outdoor tables where we were visited by pigeons wander the floors and an occasional braver seagull trying to snatch something off a table. It was a lovely afternoon hosted by Syd and orchestrated by Gloria. After our hugs and kisses to say good-bye, the four of us road back with Syd who took a scenic route pointing out highlights and dispensing bits of information. Deborah dropped Gloria off at the apartment where we visited for a short time before Gloria headed back to her place leaving us to relax and watch some CNN before turning in around 8:30. A fabulous day.

October 11, 2019 – Friday – Sydney, Australia (mostly sunny, mid-60s)
We spent the morning in the apartment having breakfast, doing laundry, and relaxing. Late morning we walked the two blocks to Westfield Mall to meet Gloria, Syd, and Yvonne at a dim sum restaurant in the mall called Zilver’s. Since Yvonne is in poor health we were all very glad she felt up to coming to lunch. Syd and Yvonne chose a wonderful selection of dim sum (Aussies call it yum cha) from the carts wheeled around the room, and they are then placed on the turntable in the center of the table. Every dish was an adventure and delicious. The highlight of the lunch, though, was the great visit we had spending time together. Afterwards the four of us along with Gloria went shopping at Target where we bought some towels for the apartment. Then Laurie walked M&D back to the apartment before catching up with Pat and Gloria shopping at Aldi where we bought a coffee maker and coffee. The Airbnb host reimbursed us for the items we bought. We returned to our place and Gloria to hers to rest up after a another fantastic day.

October 12, 2019 – Saturday – Sydney, Australia (cloudy, cool, chance of rain)
Similar start to yesterday, then Gloria arrived mid-morning. She guided us to the nearby train station where we boarded a train followed by a second train to get to Circular Quay where water ferries are. We then took a half hour ferry ride – getting great views of the Opera House, bridge, and Radiance of the Seas which was still docked where we had disembarked only 4 days earlier. After docking at the Manly Wharf we leisurely strolled along the pedestrian only shopping streets. Mom bought a couple of cute tops for about $7USD each but mainly we window shopped. Lunch was some yummy fish and chips which we took the short distance to Manly Beach to watch the hopeful surfers and crashing waves while we ate. Another slow walk took us back to the ferry to reverse our earlier travels, with a stop for ice cream along the way. It was a cloudy, cool day with a little bit of rain but mostly comfortable. We parted company with Gloria late afternoon. All of us were pleasantly exhausted from our happy adventure and looked forward to putting our feet up for the evening.

October 13, 2019 – Sunday – Sydney, Australia (mostly sunny, upper 60s)
Relaxed until 1:00 when Syd and Yvonne picked us up for lunch. Gloria came by and went with Mom and Dad in a taxi to the restaurant in Double Bay called 21 Espresso. The menu was Hungarian/Jewish. Most of us had schnitzel, but Mom had goulash and Dad matzah ball soup to help his continuing cough. On the side we had some crispy, fried Hungarian bread (Langos) that you spread with minced garlic and sour cream. It was heavenly! Despite her poor health which tires her out easily, Yvonne took us for a walk several blocks away to the water where ferries arrive/depart. She said she loved the water. There was a small sandy beach, sailboats bobbing in the harbor, and a park nextdoor with lots of people enjoying the perfect weather. And Yvonne made it all the way back as well. Such spirit! Gloria and Yvonne took a taxi back while Syd took the four of us on a driving tour. We mainly toured some of the beautiful beaches including Bondi, Bronte, and Coogee. Syd was a great tour guide pointing out lots of interesting things along the way. After the 2 1/2 hour drive we were ready to unwind at the apartment.

October 14, 2019 – Monday – Sydney, Australia (mostly sunny, 70s, best day yet)
A busy day for all of us: We left before 8:00 to take two trains, a ferry, and a bus to the upper entrance of the Taronga Zoo. The zoo was $47AUSD per person but we had a 15% off coupon. When Laurie took his money clip out to pay the woman helping us saw the old Australian money he had which has been out of circulation for quite a while. She was amazed to see it and even took it to show some fellow employees that Australia used to have $1 and $2 paper bills instead of the current coins. We managed to see everything we wanted to see and more in 3.5 hours. The zoo is set on a hill and you can start at the top and work your way around and down. There also was a cable car that ran from the ferry to the upper entrance. It was a fantastic zoo with one of the highlights being an enclosed “Australian Walk” with kangaroos, wallabies, and emus wandering around that you can walk right up to. We also enjoyed the free-flight bird show with various birds flying over the seating area, some landing on the arm of a trainer standing near us. From the bird theater there was a jaw dropping, panoramic view of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, and the Bridge. An entertaining seal show also was a highlight of our visit. While we were having fun at the zoo, Mom, Dad, and Gloria took trains (1.5 hour ride) to Gloria’s place where we met them later after taking an Uber from the zoo. Gloria’s partner/roommate, Con, prepared us an outstanding lunch of grilled shrimp and chicken skewers, asparagus, salad, cheeses, fruit, and cheesecake. We sat in their lovely little backyard surrounding by Con’s garden with vegetables, trees, flowers, and various plants. Two gorgeous Rainbow Lorikeets paid us a visit to partake of Con’s daily food handout. With great company, conversation, food, weather, and surroundings, we couldn’t ask for a better afternoon. The four of us and Gloria took 2 trains to return us to our respective apartments.

October 15, 2019 – Tuesday – Sydney, Australia (partly sunny, 70s, pleasant)
Our last full day in Sydney 🙁 The two of us were out of the apartment before 7:00 and caught a bus to Bondi Beach, an expansive sandy beach known for surfing. There were surfers out on the waves already as well lots of walkers, runners, and people doing yoga. We did the Bondi to Bronte walk which goes along the coast providing spectacular views of waves crashing on beaches, rocks, and against cliffs. Over the many years the waves have worn away amazing designs in the rocks along the path. Just past Bronte Beach was a large cemetery on a hillside overlooking the ocean with some interesting tombstones. The oldest date we saw was from 1844, the most recent 2006. Then we did the walk in reverse back to Bondi, about 5+ miles total, where we caught a bus back stopping at Starbucks to re-hydrate and cool off with Frappuccinos. Then the four of us walked the short distance to Syd and Yvonne’s condo where Gloria had already arrived. Their place on the 21st floor had a large balcony with panoramic views of Sydney including the harbor, bridge, and Opera House. Syd and Yvonne were warm, gracious, welcoming hosts spoiling us with drinks, snacks, a lavish brunch spread, fruit, cake, and ending the afternoon with delicious take-away laksa. Syd shared pictures and family tree information which led to some interesting conversation. We couldn’t have had a more wonderful time! We ended our day packing up for an early morning departure from the apartment.

October 16, 2019 – Wednesday – Sydney to Seattle (cloudy, 70s)
We took an Uber to the airport about 7:00AM but our first flight to San Francisco wasn’t until 11:15. This gave us time to enjoy the Singapore Airlines lounge which had a great assortment of food and drinks. Our flight left on time and was very smooth. We arrived a little early then went through customs: Mom and Dad avoiding the long lines by playing the “age card”, and we zipped through with our Nexus cards. Our luggage arrived shortly thereafter which we then had to take to re-check for our next flight. Then it was time to go through security before we could finally go to the United Lounge to spend a little more time together before going our separate ways to Seattle and Chicago. Our slightly bumpy flight arrived a little early where we then arranged for an Uber to take us home. It was very good to be home!

What a wonderful trip we had! The two cruises were outstanding but our Sydney visit was definitely the highlight of our travels. The city has so much to offer and is surrounded by stunning, picturesque naturally beauty. The family there was so warm, welcoming, and loving. They couldn’t do enough for us while we were there. We’ve all taken home some very special memories of our extraordinary time there.

Link to all photos: <LINK>