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Saturday 31 December 2011

Volendam NZ Christmas Cruise 2011 Part 4





Saturday 31 December


It was also very wet and cold for our arrival in Auckland, however the rain eased off by lunch time. After lunch I walked around town for a few hours. I didn’t want to be to worn out for the visit to the Bridge at 4pm.

The Bridge visit was great although some of the oldies on the tour asked some very dumb questions. One old bloke asked is the Capt. allowed to go ashore when the ship is in Port and if he did would he only mix with the Captains of other ships? 
The bridge visit overlapped with Happy Hour but the boys had reserved our seats and had our drinks ready for us. New Years Eve was a formal night so I made the effort to put on the glad rags. The lobster for dinner was done to perfection and a great meal. We saw the New Year in up at the Crows Nest, I called it a night about 2ish. It was a great night.

New Years Day

I awoke just before 9am and went up for a late brekkie.

WOW…  I Have Made It
I received an invitation for cocktails and then dinner with the Captain tonight.




It’s our last day in NZ today and the weather has improved and are enjoying the sunshine as we visit the Bay of Islands (Waitangi). It was a 15 minute tender transfer to go ashore and well worth the visit.   I even won $15 on scratch it (lotto) ticket.




The cocktails and dinner with the Captain was a great experience, there were only 8 guests the Capt. and Michelle the Party planner. I sat beside Michelle a charming young lady from Vancouver and it is her first time in this part of the world. The meal was excellent and the table service was top notch. A privilege to sit with these well travelled guests.

I finished off the night at the Crows Nest with the Aussie Sing-along. The boys were done out in Aussie T-shirts, the boxing kangaroo flag flying and green and gold balloons around the ceiling. I called it a night at 11pm.

We are out in the Tasman Sea on our way home to OZ after having left our friendly Kiwi cousins and the beautiful Islands of NZ late this afternoon. So for the next 2 days we will be at sea.

Thursday 29 December 2011

Volendam NZ Christmas Cruise 2011 Part 4




Friday 30 Dec

We had a very wet and cold arrival at Tauranga this morning at 7.30am and the expected max temp will be 18C.



Ricardo and I in a very wet Tauranga

The Volendam & Myself
Wayne and I took some of the guys from the Crows Nest to lunch at a Chinese Restaurant. We were soaked by the rain on the short walk. It was a fantastic meal and it is always so good to see our friends enjoying themselves away from the ship and the other guests.
Wayne and I with some of the Crows Nest Boys
 (Sir Bob, Sir Michael & Sir Ricardo)

After lunch it was back to the ship fighting the wind and by now very heavy rain. I had to go and take a hot shower to try and warm up. Surhardie my cabin attendant was so concerned he took my very wet shoes to the laundry to see if the warm air there would dry then out faster.

My cabin Attendents

 My soaking jeans and other damp clothes were whizzed of to the Laundry for washing. I joined Wayne for a nice hot cuppa green tea up in the Lido.

I have had a bonus today as I have been able to contact to a free outside WiFi. 

The invitation to visit the Bridge arrived this morning. 

Volendam NZ Christmas Cruise 2011 Part 3










Thursday 29 December 2011

This morning we arrived at the town of Napier about 7.30am. I was doing my deck walk as we were coming into the Port. Napier is known as the Art Deco Capital and it was beaut to revisit this very scenic and historic town.




 All the post Christmas Boxing day sales were still going so there were heaps of bargains for shoppers.
It was unfortunate we only had a 4 hour stopover to have a look around. So it was back to the ship for lunch and the sail away.

I took advantage of having a nanna nap.

I have a new name by some ot the boys working the Crows Nest and that is ‘Papa Ko’ which means ‘My Father’. Jeric started calling me that when he was on the Amsterdam so now 3 of the other boys have also started calling them that. I call them ‘Anna Ko’ No 1, 2 or 3 which means My Son. However Ricardo who I knew well before these guys is a bit put out as I have always called him Sir Ricardo and. He also now wants to be called Anna Ko. I think the best way out of this is for me to call them Anna Ko then followed by their name and drop out the No1 etc. Boy oh boy I hope this action sorts things out as I have never had young blokes or girls getting a bit jealous of me showing favouritism before. It is all good fun as they love to tease me a bit also.

Tonight is another formal dinner so we are still deciding if we will go to the dining room or the informal Lido. Anyway I have no doubt the decision will be made at happy hour later this arvo.

Happy hour was a hoot as usual and the boys now have our places at the Bar reserved for our arrival. I forgot to mention in the Crows Nest there is no smoking on the Volendam which is great as there are 1062 Aussies on board compared to 187 US and 48 Canadians.
We had informal diner in the Lido and I took advantage of another early night and was in bed by 10.30pm

Tuesday 27 December 2011

Volendam NZ Christmas Cruise 2011 Part 2


Sunday 25 December 2011

Christmas Day I slept in until 8am. We are at Port Chalmers and I hope to get over to the Seaman’s Mission with some of the crew and use the internet and send this update. Being Christmas Day most places are closed in Dunedin and Port Chalmers so we have decided just to stay in the little port town. At brekkie I met up with Catherine the Chief Officer and she has invited Wayne and I up to the Bridge on the next sea day after Auckland. 
I went ashore for a walk but as everything was closed I headed to the Seaman’s Mission to use the internet. As one of the Princess ships was also in port so the mission was crowded with crew from both ships and the small wifi server crashed. I purchased internet time on the ship when I got back.
Christmas night was a formal dinner and we had a good table. I got to bed a bit after midnight and slept in to 9am. Boy oh boy I am sleeping very well on this cruise.   
(Photo of Wayne Joanna and myself Christmas drinks. Joanna is the Beverage Manager.)

Monday 26 December 2011

The day at sea was in perfect weather as we cruised up the East coast of the South Island of NZ. The highlight was going through the Cook Strait which was like a mill pond. We had dinner in the Lido after Happy hour and it was an early night to bed … well before midnight.

Tuesday 27 December 2011

I was up early for our arrival in New Plymouth. We were the first cruise ship to visit this port in the past 12 years. On going down the gang plank I was met by the Mayor, and the number of volunteer friendly guides they had to assist the passengers was a credit to the community. When I got to the Port gates I was met by Janice and Bryan (friends from my Prinsendam cruise to Europe last April) who gave me the royal tour of the city and surrounds. I was treated as a VIP and saw so much more of the points of interest than the folk doing the city tours. There is nothing better than to be given the guided tour by locals as I feel like a visitor and not a tourist. I hope Holland America include this port on the Itinerary of future cruises as this region has so much to offer. The local folk were so friendly and very proud to show off their city with many volunteering to be information officers and guides for the day to assist the cruise passengers make the most of their visit.





Bryan Janice & Myself at lunch
Other 2 photos taken in Pukekura park

I really enjoyed Pukekura Park as we wandered through this botanical wonderland with its lake and waterfall. It was so great to see so many locals and families enjoying these facilities on this public holiday. We had a beaut lunch at one of the nearby beach cafes, the salt and pepper squid was done to perfection.
I was back on the ship by 4pm and up in the Crows Nest for the sail away.  I had an informal dinner in the Lido and as I had missed my afternoon nanna nap I had an early night and had retired to the cabin by 9.30pm.

Wednesday 28 December 2011

Today we have arrived at Wellington on an overcast morning although the sun is trying to shine through. The city will live up to its windy reputation with wind gusts and showers predicted and a max temp of 18C.
I got free Wi-Fi today in the Seaman's Mission so I was be able to update my blog site.


The sun came out mid afternoon so it was a good sail away from Wellington. I didn't leave the port as the weather was not so good in the morning.

Volendam NZ Christmas Cruise 2011




Monday 19 Dec

Early start with taxi to airport at 5am for 6am flight to Sydney. I was a good flight and the Aussie movie ‘The Cup’ was shown on the 3 hour flight.
On arrival in Sydney I caught the train from the airport to Circular Quay to board the ship. With my 4 star mariner status I was first to board the Ms Volendam.
It was so good to catch up with so many of the crew that I had met previously on this ship or other Holland America ships that I had sailed on. I guess you realise I on really love being on the ships and feel right at home. In the late afternoon Wayne arrived and joined me in the Crows Nest. I met Wayne earlier this year when we were both on the Amsterdam’s World Voyage
 We met the 2nd Mate from the Amsterdam in the Crows Nest so we will get a bridge inspection on one of the sea days. I also found out I know the newly appointed first female Chief Officer on the ship is Catherine who was the 2nd Officer on this ship last year so it will be great to catch up with her again.
The Rev Bev who I also met last year on this ship is also back on board. She loved reliving the ‘Fr Pat’ story from my last Volendam cruise.





Having been a long day I called it an early night about 10 pm and had a fantastic 8 hours sleep.

Tuesday 20 December 2011

I awoke went up to the Lido for some green tea before doing my 2 mile walk around the deck. Sorry about talking in Miles but as it is a Yank ship they still talk in Miles. So after brekkie I caught up with Wayne and we set off for the Bridge climb, although we arrived an hour earlier to our scheduled time we were allowed to join an earlier group.   So in the 3 hours we did the bridge climb, well worth every minute of it, It was awesome and I would recommend it to anyone visiting Sydney.
After the climb it was back to the ship for a late lunch and a bit of a rest arvo. For sail away we were up in the Crowsnest taking advantage of all the spectacular views of this great harbour during happy hour.
The 62 year old body of mine was exhausted after the bridge climb so after an informal dinner in the Lido I called it an early night at 9.30pm.  I slept for 9 hours on the so far calm crossing of the Tasman Sea.

Wednesday 21 December.

I started the day with my 2 mile walk around the deck then went up to the Lido for brekkie. The seas were still very calm with a slight swell. The outside temp has dropped down to the low 20C’s. I was surprised to be met at the Lido by Harry the Lido manager who insisted on giving me table service. Harry was on the Amsterdam on my Alaskan cruise 2 years ago. The Lido is a self service bistro for casual dinning, so I must have looked like Lord Muck to other passengers being waited on by the boss man and all the time he was calling me ‘Sir Pat’.  
I had an easy morning then went to lunch in the dinning room. As a four star mariner I was invited to a complementary wine tasting after lunch. These tastings are always heaps of fun.
I made the 4pm Happy hour in the Crows Nest but I couldn’t drink Guinness because others wanted it and all the Guinness had been reserved for me so I had to wait till they had left the bar before I could drink the Black stuff. In NZ they hope to get more Guinness so others can have it. I had a few XXXXGold instead. It was a formal night but we elected to go to the Lido for informal dining. However as we wanted Alaskan crab legs my friend Harry arranged for us to sit with the officers as it was not on the menu for the Lido. Boy oh boy they sure look after me, we had the crab legs and I got an extra plate so I could take it up to give the boys working the Crows Nest and it was greatly appreciated.
On my last cruise I spoke very highly about my good mate Peder the Beverage Manager on the Prinsendam, well I met his counterpart Joanna on this cruise. What a great lady she is and I look forward to many meetings with her.
I called it a rather early night at 10.30pm ish.

Thursday 22 December 2011.

It was a bit too cold wet and windy to do the deck walk this morning and I didn’t get out of bed until 7.30 am I just went up to the Lido for brekkie. Harry was there to meet me and between him and his boys I was waited on again. Yes, I love it, but sometimes I like to go over and see what is there for myself.
On the way back to my cabin I ran into some more folk that I had met on previous cruises. I have come to the conclusion that I would never be able to be incognito on a Holland America ship as someone from the crew or fellow guests would claim me.
The 4 Star Mariner’s reception then followed by the Mariner’s brunch took up from mid morning to early arvo.
The weather has improved with the sun trying hard to come out, the wind and the sea has settled down so after an hours nanna nap I did my laps of the deck before going to Happy Hour in the Crows Nest.
At 7.30pm I attended the 4 Star Mariners Cocktail party with the Capt and the senior Officers. 

Friday 23 Dec 2011

I awoke to a beautiful clear calm morning as we approached Milford Sound, wow what a contrast to my visit here last February when it was very windy cold and wet. I took some great photos from the top of the ship. After lunch I had a 2 hour nanna nap before going up to level 7 forward deck for the entry to Doubtful Sound. We were so lucky to have had such a perfect day. Then it was off to happy hour in the Crows Nest which was crowded with folk taking advantage of the views and not having to go to an outside deck. I had dinner with Wayne in the Lido before an early night. Wayne has been lying low for the past 2 days as he has had a cold. He hopes to be sparking on all cylinders by tomorrow.

Saturday 24 Dec 2011

We arrived at Stewart Island and had a tender transfer to the back of the island then had a 20 minute very steep hilly walk to the little town of Oban. I was so pleased with myself having lost over 12kgs since my last visit here last February in the way I handled the hills. Last time little old ladies were passing me as I had to stop many times to try and catch my breath. This time I breezed over the walk with no problems at all. We went to the little pub and after 2 beers walked back to the ship.
After lunch I had another 2 hour nanna nap to prepare myself for the Christmas Eve festivities. Happy hour for the sail away then dinner and back to the crows nest. Just before midnight Wayne and I called it a night. After leaving him at his deck I ran into some other Aussies who were heading up to the special midnight snacks in the atrium on level 5, so back into the lift to join them. As I wasn’t hungry I popped my head into the theatre where Midnight Mass was just starting so I stayed for Mass.  Then it was back to the Crows nest for a night cap and I called it a night at 2am.

Merry Christmas to everyone.

Monday 21 November 2011

Videos of the Longreach Trip Nov 2011

With the photos of the Longreach trip I compiled these 4 short Videos of Longreach, the 2 Museums and the Train trip back to Cairns 











The Trains from Longreach to Cairns Nov 2011


Thursday 17 Nov 2011



The train home.
I woke at 4.50am to get ready for the trip home on the train. After a short walk of 300 metres I arrived at the Longreach Railway Station at 6.45am. There didn’t seem to be many folk getting on the train and when I got on board I found there were only 9 people in my carriage that can carry 45 passengers so there was heaps of room to spread out. This is one of the advantages of travelling in the non tourist season. I wonder how many will join the train along the way on the 13 hour trip to Rockhampton.
At 7.30 am I was in the first seating for Brekkie and what a fun filled Brekkie it was, the staff was great and the openness combined with humour of the country folk on board provided a great experience. I had a full Shearers Breakfast of bacon, eggs, tomato, sausages with toast, coffee and juice.
The countryside was so brown and flat as the train snaked its way over the plains heading east towards Rockhampton. I have an economy class seat and to my surprise it would be as good as Business class seats on Amtrak. The folk on board were very interesting and entertaining. One lady was a shearers cook on sheep stations (ranches), boy, could she tell some yarns and this helped the 13 hours pass by very quickly. There was another bloke who was 45 but going on 18 and was going out between the carriages to smoke pot and thought we old folk didn’t know what he was up to.




I also went to the dining car for lunch and dinner, the meals were very good and the red wine to my surprise was from a Queensland Winery at Mt Cotton (South East of Brisbane). I didn’t know there was a winery there however the wine was very good.
We arrived in Rockhampton on time at 8.15pm and the train was to go on to Brisbane after a 20 minute stop over. The train developed a problem and was stuck at the platform for 2 hours longer than its scheduled stop. I along with an old lady are the only 2 waiting in the customer lounge for the North bound Queenslander to arrive in about 3 hours. I hope it will be on time.




The Queenslander was about 30 minutes late so it was nearly 1am by the time I got on and the first thing I did was have a shower and get ready for bed.
Friday 18 November 2011.



I sure had a good nights sleep and woke very refreshed about 6am. I wend down to the lounge car and made myself a cup of green tea. I went to Brekkie at 7.30am and had a great feed of bacon eggs and all the trimmings. After that it was reading the papers catching up on emails and then down to the Club Lounge for the entertainment. The crew are excellent and the passengers are ok also so there were heaps of laughs. Lunchtime was a seafood delight with prawns, oysters, bugs and crab. 





Wow, what a feed washed down with champers and followed by a decadent pudding. I had  a nanna nap after all this and then packed as there is only 4 more hours on the train before arriving in Cairns. 

Longreach Queensland Nov 2011

The Longreach Trip

Sun 13 Nov 2011
It was an early morning start with the alarm going off at 4am waking me into action. Anyway after a cuppa green tea, shower, shave and final packing the taxi arrived to take me to the Airport. I had a quick brekkie at the Qantas Club. I got on a Dash 8 for the flight to Townsville where I waited to connect to another flight to Brisbane. As I was using points and I left the booking too late I couldn’t get on one of the direct flights. Dash 8 and that was 1B. So they always called me ‘Pat One Bravo’ from Cairns.
After about an hour there it was on to the jet to Brisbane where I had another 2 hours in the Qantas Club before catching another Dash 8 to Longreach. I took this opportunity in Brissie to have some lunch and start on this blog.
The Dash 8 flight to Longreach was full and every one cramped in and I had a very overweight man spilling over from his seat to mine so I thought the best thing to do was put on the earphones and try to get some sleep for the 2 hour flight. Thank goodness I slept for over half the trip. The temp in Longreach on arrival was a very hot and dry 39C.


I was met by my friend Les (who worked with me for some of the time in the Cyclone Larry recovery). Les took me on a tour of the town and took me home to his family for a BBQ. After an early night he drove me to my Hotel about 9.30pm. 
Les and his wife are leaving to drive to Cairns in the morning so it was very kind of them to look after me on my arrival and first night.
After a long day it was good to get to bed about 10pm.

Monday 14 November 2011




I awoke about 6.30am, made a quick coffee and set off for a walk around the town. It is always a joy to watch a small country town wake up and come alive. The outside temp had cooled down a bit over night and was a very pleasant low 20’s. I got some Brekkie in a little but very busy cafĂ© in the main street.
After visiting the Tourist Information Office, I decided to spend the day in the town and spent a few hours at the Station Store. There were so many relics of the days long gone by. I then had lunch at the Pub I’m staying in. I had a steak sandwich that was so big I could only eat half of it. By now the temp was up to a very hot and dry 40C so I took shelter in my room and had a short nap. I can see why it is not the tourist season here in the heat of summer.
I went out about 5.30pm and the temp was down to 37C and after 40 minutes of walking around and getting some photos I was soaking wet with sweat so I went into the air-conditioned RSL Club for a drink. The first drink didn’t even wet the sides of my throat so I had to have another. I had a whiting and Calamari with salad dinner there, it also which went down very well.  I have now retreated to my hotel room as the temp outside is 36.5C and it is 8.45pm. Thank God for air-conditioning.
I will have an early night as it is going to be a big day tomorrow with the Qantas Museum and the Stockman’s Hall of Fame to be visited.

Tuesday 15 November 2011




I set off from the Hotel for the 30 minute walk to the Stockman’s Hall of Fame at 8.30am. Already the temp was 34C so it was a very sweaty walk and I had to drink heaps of water on the way. What a great Museum it was of early life of the Pioneers that came from many other countries to made this great nation what it is today. It had 5 Galleries that covered the






(1) Discovery of Australia before the British.
(2) The Pioneers
(3) Outback Properties
(4) Life in the Outback
(5) Stock Workers and Library
I spent about 4 hours there and will go back tomorrow.



After I had some lunch I went over to the Qantas Founders Museum and arrived just in time to do the 747 and the 707 tours. Also on display were the DC3, a Catalina and other various old aircraft that Qantas flew. I was very lucky as there were only 3 of us for the tour and as the other 2 were pilots we were taken to areas that it would not be possible to take larger groups.

 I will go back again tomorrow to look at the exhibits inside the hangers. So today was a full day and tomorrow looks like it will be much the same. As both the museums have so much to look at, it would be a waste of time to only spend a few hours in each.

Wednesday 16 November 2011
After brekkie I set off for the 30 minute walk out to the Airport to revisit the Qantas Museum and view exhibits that could not fit in yesterday. Boy it was another hot dry day and to spend another 4 hours in the air-conditioning was a bonus. What a fantastic museum it is and well worth the visit. After a late lunch I decided not to go back to the Stockman’s Hall of fame and head back to the hotel to have a cold shower and have a Fourex Gold to welcome President Obama on his arrival to Australia.
I have enjoyed the Longreach visit and leave tomorrow morning on the train for Rockhampton, so it will be an early night tonight. I will have all Thursday and Friday on trains on the return to Cairns.

Thursday 17 Nov 2011
The train home.



I woke at 4.50am to get ready for the trip home on the train. After a short walk of 300 metres I arrived at the Longreach Railway Station at 6.45am. There didn’t seem to be many folk getting on the train and when I got on board I found there were only 9 people in my carriage that can carry 45 passengers so there was heaps of room to spread out. This is one of the advantages of travelling in the non tourist season. I wonder how many will join the train along the way on the 13 hour trip to Rockhampton.
At 7.30 am I was in the first seating for Brekkie and what a fun filled Brekkie it was, the staff was great and the openness combined with humour of the country folk on board provided a great experience. I had a full Shearers Breakfast of bacon, eggs, tomato, sausages with toast, coffee and juice.
The countryside was so brown and flat as the train snaked its way over the plains heading east towards Rockhampton. I have an economy class seat and to my surprise it would be as good as Business class seats on Amtrak. The folk on board were very interesting and entertaining. One lady was a shearers cook on sheep stations (ranches), boy, could she tell some yarns and this helped the 13 hours pass by very quickly. There was another bloke who was 45 but going on 18 and was going out between the carriages to smoke pot and thought we old folk didn’t know what he was up to.
I also went to the dining car for lunch and dinner, the meals were very good and the red wine to my surprise was from a Queensland Winery at Mt Cotton (South East of Brisbane). I didn’t know there was a winery there however the wine was very good.
We arrived in Rockhampton on time at 8.15pm and the train was to go on to Brisbane after a 20 minute stop over. The train developed a problem and was stuck at the platform for 2 hours longer than its scheduled stop. I along with an old lady are the only 2 waiting in the customer lounge for the North bound Queenslander to arrive in about 3 hours. I hope it will be on time.
The Queenslander was about 30 minutes late so it was nearly 1am by the time I got on and the first thing I did was have a shower and get ready for bed.
Friday 18 November 2011.



I sure had a good nights sleep and woke very refreshed about 6am. I wend down to the lounge car and made myself a cup of green tea. I went to Brekkie at 7.30am and had a great feed of bacon eggs and all the trimmings. After that it was reading the papers catching up on emails and then dowan to the Club Lounge for the entertainment. The crew are excellent and the passengers are ok also so there were heaps of laughs. Lunchtime was a seafood delight with prawns, oysters, bugs and crab. Wow, what a feed washed down with champers and followed by a decadent pudding. I had  a nanna nap after all this and then packed as there is only 4 more hours on the train.