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.

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

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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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.