twangster 21,892 Report post Posted February 11 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. 9 1 ellcee, Skigoofy, Ogilthorpe and 7 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twangster 21,892 Report post Posted February 11 Here we begin a slow turn and prepare to head back out. The close proximity to very tall mountains is stunning. 8 1 JLMoran, Sweety, Guy Gadwa and 6 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twangster 21,892 Report post Posted February 11 On our way out we encountered another cruise ship on her way in. Lots of room for two ships. 5 1 Ogilthorpe, Guy Gadwa, ellcee and 3 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twangster 21,892 Report post Posted February 11 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. 7 1 MaryS, Vangrizz, Guy Gadwa and 5 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twangster 21,892 Report post Posted February 11 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. 5 2 Vangrizz, KathyC, JLMoran and 4 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twangster 21,892 Report post Posted February 11 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. 10 2 KathyC, Mike P, Skigoofy and 9 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
June_May 7 Report post Posted February 11 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twangster 21,892 Report post Posted February 11 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. 7 Lovetocruise2002, Guy Gadwa, Skigoofy and 4 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twangster 21,892 Report post Posted February 11 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. 6 JLMoran, Deedeelynn, Lovetocruise2002 and 3 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twangster 21,892 Report post Posted February 11 Day 11 - Sea Day This morning I took in the sunrise from deck 15. Our progress... 13 2 Guy Gadwa, Skigoofy, ellcee and 12 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twangster 21,892 Report post Posted February 13 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. 11 1 KWofPerth, DDaley, ellcee and 9 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KWofPerth 249 Report post Posted February 13 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
June May 56 Report post Posted February 13 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! 6 JLMoran, Skigoofy, KristiZ and 3 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twangster 21,892 Report post Posted February 13 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. 12 Vangrizz, KWofPerth, Guy Gadwa and 9 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ellcee 1,380 Report post Posted February 13 Safe travels home! 1 twangster reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marc Van Niekerk 237 Report post Posted February 13 Thanks for taking us along on this adventure! 1 twangster reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
emsff02 1,538 Report post Posted February 13 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! 1 twangster reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WAAAYTOOO 9,465 Report post Posted February 13 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 ! 1 twangster reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guy Gadwa 125 Report post Posted February 13 Thanks for sharing another great adventure!!! 1 twangster reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew72681 1,246 Report post Posted February 14 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twangster 21,892 Report post Posted February 14 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%). 3 Ogilthorpe, Skigoofy and JLMoran reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lovetocruise2002 9,346 Report post Posted February 14 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. 🙂 1 twangster reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sweety 1,397 Report post Posted February 14 Thank you for adding another cruise to my bucket list. Seriously, the blog and pictures were awesome. 1 twangster reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SolariumSnoozer 75 Report post Posted February 14 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. 1 twangster reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Tule 231 Report post Posted February 14 Thank you for a wonderful blog ....Your photos bring it to life 1 twangster reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
