No signs of sea sickness. Loving the gentle sway.
Boarded around 1:30pm. Did the mandatory muster and then found our cabin. My bags had arrived, but my friend's hadn't, so I unpacked while she rested.
Then we went for a late lunch - gf chips!!!
A rest after lunch then explored the shop top to bottom.
A late dinner and now I'm sitting in the piano bar having a drink and humming along.
I started the day by going to the gym. Look at me! It's interesting walking/running while facing the ocean and being gently thrown from side to side.
The morning consisted of food and more food. Breakfast was what you'd expect from a large hotel's all you can eat buffet.
Back to the buffet for lunch and a variety of Indian curries, more excellent hot chips, and special (gf) cheesecake for dessert.
I spent the early afternoon in the lobby, listening to live country music and sipping some wine from my travel coffee mug.
I got my steps up in the afternoon walking around the ship, and found a 'secret' section with sun loungers in just the right amount of shade.
Then some more music (Fleetwood Mac cover band) before dinner. Elegant night - finally a use for the fancy op shop clothes I've been collecting! Also our first towel animal. 🐘
I finished the evening in the theatre with a music tribute to Showtunes of NYC.
A quiet day all around.
No shows or music of particular interest.
I achieved a sleep in today while my cruise companion visited the gym.
Unfortunately lack-lustre meals for the gluten-challenged, which left me grumpy with unstable blood sugar levels. 🤷🏻♀️
I met some other coeliacs at afternoon tea and they confirmed my experience to date.
I chose wine in the afternoon to find the lustre again.
But also, a day like this - spent sitting on a deck chair, on an actual real deck, watching the water - is better than a day like this anywhere else!
Another slow day on the ship.
Some rain moved in overnight and the gentle sway became a bit more choppy. I'm still fine with it, but my cruise companion was feeling under the weather somewhat.
Today has been all about food for me today, breakfast in one of the restaurants rather than the buffet, then early lunch, and late lunch (both at the buffet), dinner at a restaurant (best meal yet) and then straight back to the cabin to sleep off my food coma.
I also had a nana nap after lunch.
Apart from eating and sleeping, I hung out in the nightclub for a bit - 10am turns out to be the perfect time, no people and no loud music!
I also finally ordered my first espresso martini of the cruise. Meh.
We're making port tomorrow, non-ship photos may be in my future!
Yes. I'm a whole half day late with my day 5 report. It was a big day and a late night.
I started with some #beefcake go me!
Then a quick breakfast before going ashore for our first port day.
Lots of markets and wandering around. No tours or swimming.
Back on board for lunch and a snooze before an early dinner and back to back shows.
First a comedy/magician, who was quite good, then another comedian from Adelaide. Yesterday was also Dad's death anniversary, so I had a drink for him while enjoying the comedy (2 things he'd have never done).
I rounded out the evening with some live music and another drink (this one for me).
Another port day (we have 4 in a row).
Today was port by way of tender (small boats). It was easy uneventful and relatively quick.
Long-time cruisers informed us of the duty free shops (their only reason for braving the tenders). My cruise companion (cc) and I walked through the local temporary market (same stuff available as yesterday at the previous island), then walked from one end of the wharf road to the other, dodging taxi and tour hawkers who approached us somewhat over assertively, but did back away with a firm, "no thanks".
I decided to return to the ship for some rest. My cc decided to venture further afield for some sightseeing. She lasted less than an hour before she was back on the ship seeking me out. Alas a muddy patch had befallen her and resulted in a nasty gash. 3 stitches later and she's very glad to have medical insurance!
Tonight's entertainment included a rock show (meh) and a burlesque show (most enjoyable).
Onwards!
After my cruise companion's (cc) accident yesterday, she was initially not keen on going to today's island. I had a bit of an upset stomach (too much food and probably too much wine), so we both had a quiet morning on the ship.
But after an early lunch, we gathered our things and headed to the island. Market stalls and tours, avoided; I left my cc gazing out over the ocean and began my walk around the island (it's got an ~2.5km circumference). I returned to try some snorkeling - great experience, must do more).
My cc complained yesterday that from the back I resembled 'generic middle-aged, short, white woman with short grey hair', so I dressed a bit more brightly today. It worked well.
We returned to the boat after about 2 hours and back to a cabin with a malfunctioning toilet. 😳 Ship's plumber sorted it out pretty quickly and then housekeeping came to clean the mess.
An early dinner and then early to bed. My body can't take much more of this!
We awoke today to much cuteness on the lido deck - every deck chair and table occupied by towel animals.
Last port day before "sailing" home.
New Caledonia today.
My cruise companion (cc) was doing ok post incident, but walking carefully and not able to go in the ocean.
We walked up to a lookout with a small Catholic church and then back to the pier where I snorkeled for a bit, before heading back to the ship for lunch and rest.
The evening entertainment included a country music singer, some alcohol, and a comedian. I crawled into bed close to midnight.
Andrea
Wonderdog 🏳️🌈