Joy's Memoirs: Memorable holidays - Pacific & New Zealand Cruise November/December 2019

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Memorable holidays - Pacific & New Zealand Cruise November/December 2019

http://joyolneyfamily.blogspot.com.au

Pacific and New Zealand Cruise - November/December 2019

A cruise on "Ovation of the Seas" with Royal Caribbean and 5000 passengers was enjoyed by Joy, with grand daughter Emma as her cabin mate, and in an adjoining cabin was Robyn and Andrew. We sailed out of Sydney on 23 November 2019 to Noumea in New Caledonia, onto Mystery Island in Vanuatu, Auckland and Bay of Islands in New Zealand, arriving home on 4 December 2019. Highlights on board were the IFly where air gives you the sensation of flying. I think I was quite adventurous to try this. We went on the North Star which is a capsule high above the ship while at sea. Robyn celebrated her 50th birthday while on board "Ovation of the Seas", and Emma was turning 21 in February 2020.

While in Noumea we took a tour of Noumea and visited a tropical fish aquarium. We all enjoyed snorkelling at Mystery Island. In Auckland we went up 328 metres in Sky Tower for a 360 degree view of Auckland. A visit to Kelly Tarlton's fresh water aquarium and lots of penguins was enjoyable. In the Bay of Islands we looked at Waitangi where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between the Maoris and White man and nearby Paihia.

Robyn & Andrew, Emma Jeffery and Joy about to board "Ovation of the Seas" in Sydney.

Everyday we made a point to take a photo of our feet in the lift!
Every morning the day changed and we made sure of that!

We spent many hours relaxing in the spa pools at the rear of the ship.

Top deck with the pools and deckchairs for relaxing.

Lounge at rear of the ship.

Mid ship.

Emma, Robyn and Joy ready for dinner - on Robyn's 50th birthday.

Robyn's 50th birthday with our waiters (Jeffrey and Dani) and Andrew.

The Mall on "Ovation of the Seas".

"Anyone for a drink?" asks the robot.

Robyn, Emma and Joy heading to the dining room.

Jeffrey, the waiter on the left presented me with a ring.
I made sure I wore it every night.
Dani was a great waiter also. Both were from the Philippines.

The Chef paid us a visit during Dinner.

Jeffrey expertly did his fork act. He also had some card tricks up his sleeve.

Robyn, Emma & Joy ready for Dinner.

Joy, Robyn and Emma ready for Dinner.

Snails for entree.

Another entree.

Which dessert will I choose?

Andrew, Robyn, Emma & Joy had a go at IFly.

We all went up in the North Star while at sea.

We took a bus tour of Noumea, visited a tropical fish aquarium and ended up at Lemon Beach.

Tropical fish aquarium in Noumea.

Turtle in Tropical fish aquarium in Noumea.

"Welcome song" on Mystery Island, Vanuatu.

That coconut milk was so refreshing.
We enjoyed snorkelling for a couple of hours.

Emma and Joy on Mystery Island with "Ovation of the Seas" anchored out there.

Mystery Island.

"Ovation of the Seas". Our cabin was above where the missing tender boat is.
Cabin 186 on Deck 9.

We went up Auckland's Sky Tower. 328 Metres.

"Ovation of the Seas" and Auckland from Sky Tower.

Joy on top of the world in Auckland! Up 220 metres.

Penguins at Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World in Auckland.

You are an inquisitive penguin.

Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World in Auckland.

Taking a tender to Waitangi and Paihia in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand.

Waitangi Treaty House was where the document was signed on 6 February 1840 that established the British Colony of New Zealand. There are some large war canoes in the grounds.