Finally I have some time to post a little. Been a great trip. We started in Queenstown and had such a fantastic three days. Filled in every minute and had many great meals. We stopped at the Shotover river and Cindy, David and Mary Elaine took the jet boat ride. It was a strange day it was sunny, then windy, the rain, then sun again. Just as they started to board strong gusts of winds swept down the river and they had to wait and the boats got backed up. Finally off the went and the sun was out and it was perfect. However since the boats were backed up they had about a 35 minute ride instead of about 10 minutes, which was great. I love those boats. Just as they docked another gust of strong wind and then some pretty heavy rain. It was so strange. Perfect while their boat ride lasted and terrible before and right after they arrrived back. I guess a "window of opportunity"

June my sister was along and acted as our Queenstown expert. As the time progressed I just really wanted our reunion to continue. So at the last minute I contacted Regent and we were able to get her booked on the trip. This was not easy at the final hour but Clay got it all handled for us. So when we arrived back in Auckland she had about four hours to make all the arrangements to be gone for two weeks and pack and get back to the ship.

Been so wonderful to have her along. We have a lovely group of people and we are enjoying some wonderful weather. Auckland was perfect and our day in Tauranga we had one of June's friends aboard for lunch and then went to her home. A stunning home with a beautiful view of the beach right off the large patio.

Today we are in Napier and did the Gannet Colony. Six of us went together and the day was perfect. This tour has changed since our last trip and was better than ever. You are within a few feet of the gannets and they are beautiful birds.

We just finished dinner at Sette Mare. I LOVE the appetizers they have and could make a meal out of them alone. I had a steak tonight and it was perfectly cooked and fantastic.

So all is well with the Aussies just incredibly busy since we first arrived in Auckland. Sorry no one has posted yet we need a good poster like so many of you out there.

For the next three days we are incredibly busy with tours but perhaps on the sea days Ken can post some pictures.

So good to hear from you. I was afraid the Dingos gottcha !

Olivia & I had so much fun on the Shotover jet boats, sure brings back fun memories. We loved Queenstown. I'm so happy that June could join you. That really is the cherry on top.

Keep having a great time, many of us (ME for sure) wish we were with you.

A quick post.

It was incredibly windy today living up to the name of Windy Wellington.

This morning we took a tour to the "storm coast". The bus went right by the house where I grew up so June and I had our faces pressed to the window to catch a glance of the old "homestead".

It was a longer bus ride than I had remembered but at the end we were at Pencarrow Lodge where we had a wonderful cup of tea and goodies. The wind was blowing so hard it was almost impossible to hear the sheep farmer as he told the story of the land and lodge and had the dogs do a demonstration.

When we got back the BEST lunch awaited us - boneless leg of lamb and for me cooked to perfection. I over indulged as you would expect.

Everyone else went back into the city on the shuttle bus. I had full intentions of going but all that lamb I ate and the blowing wind made me decide to stay in. My doorbell rang and there was Linda with some New Zealand cherries for me. They were so sweet and vanished in a very short time. Do I really have Prime 7 reservations tonight!!

Before dinner a Maori concert party is coming on board. Set to take place on the deck but I hope they move it to the lounge it is so windy.

We all are having a great time and I have yet to meet some of the people that I do not know. That will happen at the B&K cocktail party tomorrow night so looking forward to that.

Sandra Bowen in on the ship and we will have the pleasure of her company tomorrow night. So looking forward to that.

Okay Trivia calls I hope the group gets back in time probably wont do too well all by myself.

Glad you got to see the old homestead, ngaire. How fun! That would never happen for me as I grew up in the hills of NW arkansas.

What a fun trip you are having Ngaire. First with your Sister and being able to get her on the ship and then passing by the house you grew up in.......not to mention a lunch of lamb already and New Zealand cherries!

Love the seamail, thanks for sharing, hope the wind dies down and the weather stays nice.

A Few Photos from AUSSIE:


Queenstown from the gondola.


Cindy, Ngaire, David, June, Ralph, Sheila, and Ken.


Mary Elaine, Linda, Cindy, and David taken before the Shotover River jet boat ride.




Mount Maunganui in Tauranga, NZ.


A gannet colony ouside of Napier, NZ.




A sheep farmer and his dogs.

Maori Concert onboard the Voyager before we left Wellington, NZ.

Yeah Ken got some pictures up been nice weather as you can see for the most part. New Zealand is tricky the weather can change in a minute and also rain a lot we have been very lucky.

This morning Ken, Sheila, June, Ralph and Ken and I went ashore in Akoroa. Ken and I have never been here before and we found it to be a delightful small town with lots of cafes and flowers along the waterfront. We stopped for a lovely coffee and shared scones and rasberry muffins. YES life is good!!

Proud to announce that Ken and Sheila and Ken and I tied for the win in trivia today. There was one Lord of the Rings and one Hobbitt question we had no idea. Where is my sister June when you need her we would have won by two questions had she been in attendance. Only day she does not make it and we have those two questions.

Tonight is the cocktail party and we draw four names for the free cruise. Captain Felice Patruno is onboard not as part of the crew but on a special project. He is coming this evening so we will have him draw the names he is the BEST at this task.

OKay have to sign off and get ready for the evenings festivities.

Ngaire and Ken: Love all the photos and reports - sure wish I was there with you. Really wish I had joined you instead of going to the Aussie Open - could have easily gone next year. Bit late now!

Good luck to all who have the chance to win a cruise!

Lee

Nice photos.

You should have had either of my sons there for trivia, and you would have been all set with the correct answers!

Thanks for the fine photos and reports, Ngaire & Ken. Sounds like a great time!

great pictures Ken, sounds like everyone is having a ball.

I love the head-on photo of the Shotover boat!

Haven't checked in here in ages....so glad to hear from the Aussies! Looks like you are having a wonderful time! Sure wish we could be there with you....Great pictures, Ken, as always!

Great photos as always Ken! Brings back great memories of DINGO. NZ is a magical place.

Hi all! So sorry for the delay, we all know the iPad and connecting situation, nut today I've been on all day and it is great. (Too much work but oh well). Such a fabulous group and New Zealand is everything imagined and more. The Tasman sea is not letting us down with its rough sea reputation. Hoping it might get us another prime 7 reservation! :). Yes ken and Sheila won trivia with only a table of 4! David and I were....lets see having a glass of wine on our deck! We are just having a great time with a great group of new and old friends. Working on our next cruise!
Sitting in the observation lounge and trying to capture the moment!

Glad you all are having such a great time. We did the same ports two years ago. Miss that part of the world. Have some wine for us please.

Keep us posted.

Thanks for checking in, Cindy. We do see your priority... wine over trivia!! But yes, the wines in NZ and OZ are great!! Do share, what will be your next cruise?

Great Cindy !! We've spent lots of time with most of your cruisemates and agree it's a super group and we LOVE that part of the world.

I sure hope your future cruise plans include beining on Ngaire's MARINER in October cruising Istanbul to Rome. If it sounds like I'm recruiting you, it's because I am. We miss you & David

Last day on the Tasman. Some rocking, rolling and banging but not bad really it could be a lot worse.

I loved the little town of Akaroa, darling homes with tons of flowers, nice cafes and a pretty foreshore. I love these small ports where you can walk around and just enjoy the environment. Ken, Sheila, June, Ralph and Ken and I had a wonderful coffee in town.

Dunedin, Ralph, Ken and I went into town and visted the cadbury chocolate factory. A bit of a bust would not recommend it but the factory was not open for us and it could be much better if you get into the factory. The highlight was a ton of chocolate pouring into a vat - amazing sight. The railway station is wonderful I think Ken will post a picture.

We had a STUNNING day in Milford Sound just spectacular. Clear, sunny and warm the best I have ever experienced and I have been to Milford Sound MANY times. Something really special.

We got Cindy and David to play trivia with us yesterday and they came up with some answers we did not know so they were a great addition. We did not win but had a lot of fun.

Ken is working on some pictures now so hopefully we can get some of these up.

We had a great cocktail party a surprise guest was Captain Felice Paturno doing a special project for Regent on all the ships. So wonderful to see him and in his regular clothes not a uniform. Sandra Bowen was onboard and came as well. It was a very lively party with so many of the senior crew there even Captain John McNeill turned up. Leaving Dunedin we did not expect him to be able to attend.

Ricky the F&B man did his wonderous job of creating the pin for the cruise in icing. It is so much fun to see that and only Ricky does that. Four names were drawn and the LCT people were Ralph Webster and Ken and Sheila.

My sister, June became sick and has been hanging out in her cabin for the last few days at least it has been sea days. Hopefully she will turn the corner soon. We all missing having her around. That is a bummer but it happens to us all at some point.

Got a ton of work done not enough card playing people to play cards so I am completing a ton of projects completed during these sea days. I need that catch up time so this is a good thing.

Tomorrow we arrive in Hobart so looking forward to seeing the Kangeroos and Koalas. Be back later.

More Photos From Aussie:


Brown & Keene Cocktail Party for Aussie. Chris, Sheila, Ken, June, Cindy, and Ralph.


Ricky, the F&B has done it again. He had the pastry chef do our Aussie pin.




June and Ralph.


Captain Felice draws four names at our first drawing of the year.


The train station in Duniden, NZ.


Entering Milford Sound, we had a beautiful day in the sound.


Leaving Milford Sound and on our way to Hobart, Tasmania.

I'm green, green, green - you are having such a great cruise! So sorry to hear your sister isn't well Ngaire - hope she's feeling better soon.

Ngaire - is the officer in the photo where you are with him behind the pin an Aussie? He looks like the one we had dinner with on our last cruise from Venice to Rome.

New Zealand really is a beautiful country.

Lee

I love the Aussie cake, that is so cool!

Thanks for the update. Hope your sister is well soon. Tell ken his pics are awesome. Also got my money from regent so all is well.

Hi all, sitting in the observation again, this time with Carla and Franks glass of wine, keep those requests coming folks, we shall do our best. We are thinking out next cruise will be Miami to Lima January of 2014. Several here are going as well and we would like to maybe see about Macchu Pichu on the end. I normally don't enjoy post cruise things but this trip will do the canal and if we did Macchu it would be two off the bucket list! Would I love to do the Mariner in October? Oh yes, but these month long vacations really kill us with trying to work. We are hoping to get to Napa at least once and would love to come in to LA. For a Marcie and Tom fix :).

3rd sea day and this baby is a rockin. We upgraded to one of the suites on the back with the larger deck, we love the feel of looking straight out on a sail away, but boy did that room jump last night. We really don't mind the motion , some are fine, but our next door neighbor had a bad night. Sure are bigger problems in the world right?

tomarrow Hobart, and we are going an oysters and wine tour (huh?). Love these sea days but it will be nice to be on land. We just live our group, there are not enough nights for all the dinners so we have booked a nice lunch in Compass Rose with Mary Elaine and David. So fun. I'll keep you posted as I can , Internet is smoking fast right now, I'm guessing there are many napping?

Off to do a little walk!

Lee the officer is RICKY from Australia the F&B manager he has been around for a long time.

June is improving not right yet but getting there.

Thanks Ngaire - he'll probably be too polite to say he doesn't remember me and Michael but if you would say hi to him from us, that would be great.

June must wonder how you do it - I feel for her!

Lee

Lee, my family and I had dinner with Ricky on one cruise, too. With my two (at the time) 20-something nieces, I think it was an enjoyable evening for him.

Ngaire, everyone looks great. Glad you all are having a wonderful cruise. Appreciate your seamail!!

I think I remember him. Wasnt Ricky the bartender in the Navigator Bar on Samba??? He was great!

Frank, You might be thinking about Richard in the Navigator Lounge on SAMBA. He is from England and now a Park West Director on Norwegian ships .... he and I are Facebook Friends. Ricky has been an F&B Manager for some years now, I think.

Maybe there are 2 Ricky's but Frank I remember same one we had and he was lots of fun and very good!~

Frank, It is the same Ricky who was our bartender on SAMBA...just a neat guy that is moving up in the ranks.

Photos from Hobart, Tasmania:


An old bridge built in 1823 in Richmond, Tasmania.


Kangaroo stampede at the Bonorong Wildlife Park.


Emu with a bad hair day.


Tasmanian Devil.


Ngaire, Ken, and Sheila.


Wombat.


Baby Wombat with Sheila and Ngaire.


Scenery on our way back to the Voyager.

The animals with Ken, Sheila, and Ngaire look a little stiff.

Really like the emu.

--------------------

Eugene

I so loved our time at Bonorong! Have they solved the problem of the Tasmanian devils' cancer epidemic? And aren't wombats so much cuter than expected?Thanks for the pics!'
-------------------
Helen

Bonorong was a highlight for me too. Getting up close to the roos and feeding them was fantastic. Tasmania is quite beautiful.

Us too...great time there. Love your photos Ken.

Happily here in Melbourne. David and many are on a tour, I stayed behind thinking I was coming down with the epidemic cough onboard. Turns out I'm fine, but am SO scared of getting someone else sick I played it safe. What a beautiful place! Last night they did the pool deck bar b q, had a lovely albeit chilly dinner with our fun little group. Did the kangaroo and koalas tour yesterday, very nice. Those koalas are so darn cute. They were quite High in the trees, buy we did get a few shots. Heading into town this afternoon. So much to do here!

Our Dinner at Compass Rose last night.
Seated: Sheila & Ken, June & Ralph.
Standing: Linda, Chris, Cindy, David, Mary Elaine, David, Ngaire, & Ken.

What a beautiful group!