twangster Posted February 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2020 The open sea appeared in the distance. IRMO12HD, WAAAYTOOO, ellcee and 11 others 9 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted February 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2020 It's hard to capture in pictures or words but perhaps this time lapse better represents the experience. IRMO12HD, Mike P, Deedeelynn and 15 others 9 6 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted February 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 Doubtful Sound Named by Captain Cook in 1770 when he wasn't sure he would be able to get his ship out of the inlet so he never entered it. As it turns out like Dusky Sound there is a passage we will transit through. If there was any doubt that we would get to experience this sound today that fear was put to rest. Photos do a poor job of showing the scale of the terrain right next to the ship. It's quite amazing and needs to be experienced in person. IRMO12HD, Skigoofy, SpeedNoodles and 5 others 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted February 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 Maybe it was a better understanding of what we were experience having been through Dusky Sound, or maybe it was better lighting with the sun higher in the sky but it seemed like Doubtful Sound was even better than Dusky Sound. This super wide angle photo doesn't give the same feeling seeing this massive mountain so close to the ship yet tower above it. ellcee, SpeedNoodles, IRMO12HD and 6 others 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted February 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 Breathtaking views all around. KristiZ, JLMoran, Ogilthorpe and 6 others 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted February 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 All good things must come to an end and so does our passage through Doubtful Sound. You could see a distinct difference in the water between the open sea and the sheltered waters in the sound. Looking North up the coast. Looking South down the coast. Lovetocruise2002, SpeedNoodles, MaryS and 7 others 9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted February 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 A time lapse of our transit through Doubtful Sound. Ogilthorpe, SpeedNoodles, Guy Gadwa and 7 others 6 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyC Posted February 11, 2020 Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 Good to see you back live blogging again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted February 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 At some point the Captain came on with news of Mlford Sound. It's a go! We are to be the first large ship allowed back in since it was closed from the flooding. Scheduled for a 4pm arrival we have a few hours of downtime on our way up the coast. Our progress... Skigoofy, KWofPerth, SpeedNoodles and 7 others 7 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KWofPerth Posted February 11, 2020 Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 Excellent news about Milford. The big daddy of the 3 ! twangster 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasFella Posted February 11, 2020 Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 Very interesting blog... and, so many fantastic pictures! Thank you. twangster 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyC Posted February 11, 2020 Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 Oh, and now that I've caught up on all the posts. I eat the skins of the kiwi too. I don't peel most fruits or veggies, as the skins contain a lot of nutrients. Of course I peel the ones you HAVE too, LOL. No eating orange peels or watermelon rinds... WAAAYTOOO, KWofPerth and ellcee 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vangrizz Posted February 11, 2020 Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 I keep waiting for "The line was short so I hopped in the North Star" but it hasn't happened yet. Is it a very popular attraction on this cruise? Loving the photos from ship level though, and thrilled that you get to do Milford Sound. Can't wait to see the pictures of that! twangster 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted February 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 Milford Sound When I booked this cruise I was focused on the port of calls. The fact that we might also visit the sounds was an added bonus. Little did I know the sounds would be the highlight of the cruise with Milford Sound leading the way. Milford Sound is worth the price of admission alone. At a distance you can't see the entrance. Milford Sound is an inlet where we go on, turn around and come back out the same way. In that respect it's similar to Endicott Arm in Alaska. Like Doubtful Sound there are high mountains on each side. However the terrain in Milford Sound is much more dramatic. Deedeelynn, DDaley, Guy Gadwa and 11 others 11 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KWofPerth Posted February 11, 2020 Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 @twangsteryou have done exceptionally well with the weather at Milford Sound. It's usually overcast and drizzly which is quite dramatic in its own right, but to see it in full sunshine looks spectacular! twangster 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted February 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 There are roads to Milford Sound and the area offers tours by boat. They offer a sense of scale when you see how small the boats are next to the terrain. The end of the inlet contains the dock where the excursion boats were operating from. There was an excursion offered through Royal that would have started in Dunedin and featured an overnight stay off the ship and driving to Milford Sound where you would take a boat out to the ship. That would have missed Dusky and Doubtful Sounds but for a future visit I may explore that option a bit more. Skigoofy, KristiZ, Ogilthorpe and 7 others 9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted February 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 Here we begin a slow turn and prepare to head back out. The close proximity to very tall mountains is stunning. JLMoran, Skigoofy, Ogilthorpe and 6 others 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted February 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 On our way out we encountered another cruise ship on her way in. Lots of room for two ships. ellcee, JLMoran, Ogilthorpe and 3 others 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted February 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 With that we were back at the entrance from the sea. Pictures simply don't do Milford Sound justice. Our local pilot departed the ship. For those keeping score we ended the day at 16°C or 61°F but in the strong sun it didn't feel cold. KWofPerth, Skigoofy, Ogilthorpe and 5 others 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted February 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 Obligatory time lapse of Milford Sound. We had a strong wind blowing down Milford Sound. So strong on the way out it moved my phone as it recorded the time lapse. Ogilthorpe, Guy Gadwa, JLMoran and 4 others 5 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted February 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 With our Sounds complete it was time to make our way back to Oz. That turned into a 9pm sunset this far South at this time of year. KathyC, Guy Gadwa, Skigoofy and 9 others 10 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
June_May Posted February 11, 2020 Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 Your photos of the snow caps in Milford Sound show pretty clearly the ash and smoke staining from the Australian bushfires over the last few months. But agree completely - Milford Sound was the absolute highlight of this cruise for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted February 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 Day 10 - Sea Day And so we begin our trek back to Sydney across the Tasman Sea. I'll have to take in the sunrise from the top decks tomorrow. Balcony kind of sea day as I worked on my pictures from the sounds. Gentle swell that is hard to see in this picture. Just a perfect sea day. ellcee, Deedeelynn, Ogilthorpe and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted February 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 Tonight's entertainment in the Royal Theater - Live, Love, Legs. It's a Vegas style showgirl show. Nicely done with strong vocals and... lot's of leg. Skigoofy, Ogilthorpe, Lovetocruise2002 and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted February 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 Day 11 - Sea Day This morning I took in the sunrise from deck 15. Our progress... SpeedNoodles, The Cruise Junkie, KristiZ and 12 others 13 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted February 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 Day 12 - Sydney I went up to get some pictures of our arrival into Sydney. One is the loneliest number... someone put their luggage out too late. A wet morning for our arrival into Sydney. JLMoran, Ogilthorpe, KWofPerth and 9 others 11 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KWofPerth Posted February 13, 2020 Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 With the cracking weather that you've enjoyed, you were due for a bad day Thanks for this thread. Loved it. Safe travels home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
June May Posted February 13, 2020 Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 Now I'm home from this cruise, I can comment from my original account! I can now say two things: I've been to New Zealand - Kia Ora to all my new mates there! And that I've cruised with @twangster … although, there were ~4200 other guests and I never knew who any of them were unless we had the good fortune to meet at dinner in the main dining room, or on a shore excursion. I chose this cruise for the Hobbitses - I did the tour out of Tauranga that takes you to Hobbiton. The actual movie set rebuilt for The Hobbit trilogy, in the same spot on the same farm where they filmed the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Then in Wellington, I visited the Weta Works studio, where they did the props and costumes for both trilogies, and are currently working with James Cameron on the next four Avatar movies. Like @twangster, I also visited Mount Victoria, and took in the splendid, if very windy, scenery, and then took a walk to some spots where various scenes in the trilogies were filmed. That was pretty neat. But hands down, the Sounds, particularly Milford Sound, were the most wondrous. It was so still and quiet from my balcony in Milford Sound, I could have been the only person on the earth there. It was an exquisite experience. And I really loved Ovation - for all that she is a honking great ship in the Australian cruise experience, I rarely felt crowded or hemmed in by people. And the crew were pure gold. I'm already planning ahead to another cruise to New Zealand, and it will be Ovation all the way for me! Guy Gadwa, JLMoran, MaryS and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted February 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 Our progress... 3,754 nm cruise distance. Breakfast in the Windjammer at 6am. The view down to the self assist line at 6:16am. I finished packing, collected my bags and made my way down to leave. By 6:46am I was outside and on my way to the train station. Walking to the train station one last view of Ovation. The train. At the airport by 7:24am only to find out Delta check in doesn't open until three hours before the flight. Another hour to wait. Eventually made it into the American Express lounge. Last chance for an Aussie beer. F1guynz, Ogilthorpe, Vangrizz and 9 others 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellcee Posted February 13, 2020 Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 Safe travels home! twangster 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Van Niekerk Posted February 13, 2020 Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 Thanks for taking us along on this adventure! twangster 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregD Posted February 13, 2020 Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 Thanks for taking us along. The pictures were stunning, I can only imagine experiencing it in person. I will absolutely have to put this on a must do cruise list. Have a safe trip home! twangster 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted February 13, 2020 Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 I think the early morning shots coming back into Sydney were the best photos of the entire cruise. Saved the best for last. Great work ! twangster 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Gadwa Posted February 13, 2020 Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 Thanks for sharing another great adventure!!! twangster 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew72681 Posted February 14, 2020 Report Share Posted February 14, 2020 On 2/3/2020 at 5:10 PM, twangster said: When using Voom internet, the O3b satellite platform makes it appear that I am located in Mount Airy, MD U.S.A. which is one of many earth stations for SES/O3b. Mt. Airy is right down the road. Could be there in about ten minutes. Wonder where there’s an satellite receiving station there. There’s a Hughes facility down 270 but that’s Gaitehersburg/Germantown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted February 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2020 Looks like I forgot to mention the Crown and Anchor top tier event. Day 8, 7pm. Total guest count 4,361 First time cruisers 2,789 or 64% Total CAS 1,572 or 36% Gold 823 (52.4%) , Platinum 314 (20%), Emerald 145 (9.2%), Diamond 213 (13.5%) , Diamond Plus 68 (4.3%), Pinnacle 9 (0.6%). Skigoofy, JLMoran and Ogilthorpe 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted February 14, 2020 Report Share Posted February 14, 2020 Beautiful blog @twangster! Thank you so much for taking time out of your cruise to share. Some of the pictures were truly breathtaking, I can only imagine what it was like for you to see them. twangster 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweety Posted February 14, 2020 Report Share Posted February 14, 2020 Thank you for adding another cruise to my bucket list. Seriously, the blog and pictures were awesome. twangster 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SolariumSnoozer Posted February 14, 2020 Report Share Posted February 14, 2020 Thanks again for taking the time out of your cruise/vacation to take us along. I always learn something new and truly enjoy following your blogs. This one definitely is an addition to the bucket list. twangster 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Tule Posted February 14, 2020 Report Share Posted February 14, 2020 Thank you for a wonderful blog ....Your photos bring it to life twangster 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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