Off Season Cruising

We are now crossing the Tasman Sea, having visited Auckland, Tauranga, Napier and Wellington, and cruising through the Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound.
In Auckland we toured Devonport and Waiheke Island, watched a friend leap off the Sky Tower, and searched for any enthusiasm towards America's Cup 2024. All but that last search were successful. Barcelona, Spain is standing in for Auckland for the races and Auckland is demonstrably bummed. The only T-shirts I could find were leftovers from 2021. We did have a pair of 1/2 size Emirates sails on foils streak past doing 30+ in 10 knots of wind.
Napier was missed when we visited by cruise ship in 2020, due to the tricky entry to the small harbour in a wind. This time, our Captain backed in and around a corner, to enable a bow out departure. Sure enough, there was a wind at departure time, so the harbour tugs tied on and stood by, then once we were away the tugs did a little partying, turning 360s and tooting a salute.

Edit: I tried attaching photos to this post, but as we are in an area of the Southern Ocean that Elon Musk hasn't adequately covered just yet, that is not happening just now. Once we get to Aus things are supposed to get much better, Musk wise.

I think Musk has plenty of satellites in relevant orbit, but geo-fencing access. I thought your ship would have the (expensive) double-dish maritime version which should not be subject to the same problems.

Are you visiting Brisbane?

koliver said:

We are now crossing the Tasman Sea, having visited Auckland, Tauranga, Napier and Wellington, and cruising through the Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound.

In Auckland we toured Devonport and Waiheke Island, watched a friend leap off the Sky Tower, and searched for any enthusiasm towards America's Cup 2024. All but that last search were successful. Barcelona, Spain is standing in for Auckland for the races and Auckland is demonstrably bummed. The only T-shirts I could find were leftovers from 2021. We did have a pair of 1/2 size Emirates sails on foils streak past doing 30+ in 10 knots of wind.

Napier was missed when we visited by cruise ship in 2020, due to the tricky entry to the small harbour in a wind. This time, our Captain backed in and around a corner, to enable a bow out departure. Sure enough, there was a wind at departure time, so the harbour tugs tied on and stood by, then once we were away the tugs did a little partying, turning 360s and tooting a salute.



Edit: I tried attaching photos to this post, but as we are in an area of the Southern Ocean that Elon Musk hasn't adequately covered just yet, that is not happening just now. Once we get to Aus things are supposed to get much better, Musk wise.

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Remarkable. We’re in Napier today and saw the cruise ship backed in. We are here for a few days then back to Wellington in time for the cyclone. Then back to Seattle next week.

Lots of cruise ship passengers out and about today. Would’ve been amazing to run into one another!

Airstream345 said:

Remarkable. We’re in Napier today and saw the cruise ship backed in. We are here for a few days then back to Wellington in time for the cyclone. Then back to Seattle next week.

Lots of cruise ship passengers out and about today. Would’ve been amazing to run into one another!

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We are crossing the Tasman Sea, yesterday and today, after visiting Wellington and Doubtful Sound.
The ship in at Napier today is the sister ship Viking Mars, though I don't know if it is the same as when you were there (likely is). Watching the docking towboats party was a treat, as was watching this big ship getting in and out again.
We walked around the town for a couple of hours. before leaving. Yes, it would have been awesome to have run into you.

Insequent said:

I think Musk has plenty of satellites in relevant orbit, but geo-fencing access. I thought your ship would have the (expensive) double-dish maritime version which should not be subject to the same problems.

Are you visiting Brisbane?

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On board, we are told that there are 3500 Starlink satellites, of an approved total of 42000, so out in the vast open ocean there are not enough to give us good coverage. We are also told that this being the newest ship in the Viking Fleet, it is also the only one with Starlink.

IIRC, the first generation of satellites are not interconnected by laser, so require a shore station within 200 miles, which is, of course, a limiting factor out in the open ocean. I have no idea how many of those 3500 are first generation. When we are within 200 miles of shore the coverage is noticeably better.

There are 6 Starlink dishy things visible up top, but zero that look like the newer, bigger, commercial dishy things.

We are not visiting Brisbane. It was on the original itinerary, but somehow that got changed to Mooloolaba.

Keith, your cruise ship travels are one of the few cruises we would ever consider. Relatively stable population, and a long cruise. Most others we would avoid like the plague. Keep the updates coming!

slowgoesit said:

Keith, your cruise ship travels are one of the few cruises we would ever consider. Relatively stable population, and a long cruise. Most others we would avoid like the plague. Keep the updates coming!

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Scot

Many here have expressed a loathing for "Cruising". I think you can define this kind of traveling differently from that. We chose this type specifically to avoid all those things: Casinos, Smoking, huge numbers, etc.

We are now back in the land of decent internet, so I will soon add some pictures taken in the land of poor bandwidth.

Pictures
Our friend Ron leaping from the Sky Tower in Auckland
A beach on Waiheke Island, near Auckland
A winery on Waiheke
Docking tug with us getting out of Napier

When we arrived in Hobart, the Australian Wooden Boat Festival of 2023 was underway, having started the day before. I managed to talk to a guy on what I thought might be a really nice boat. The sign had a name of the guy who did the maintenance, so when I saw a guy wiping the rainwater off of the house wall, I asked if he was that guy (duh), and after talking varnishing for a few minutes I was invited aboard. What a treat! The first pictures are that boat. Built as a Pilot Cutter in 1956, it now looks as though launch date was yesterday, as a gorgeous yacht. I took quite a few pictures. Then after lunch we went back. In 1970 there was an Australian challenger for the America's Cup, Gretel II, and there she was, looking like new. ( I will need to get that picture from a different camera).

slowgoesit said:

Keith, your cruise ship travels are one of the few cruises we would ever consider. Relatively stable population, and a long cruise. Most others we would avoid like the plague. Keep the updates coming!

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Scot
I didn't mention: that this is an adults only cruise. So we don't have aboard any of those things we all wanted when we travelled with kids. Waterslides, ports of call that catered to kids, etc. The only downside is the extra time that has to be allowed for the old guys, but it is worth the wait.

Once we left LA, early in January, no new passengers joined us and none will. We have 850 passengers until London, when we depart on May 9.

After Hobart, the next stop was Philp Island, where the only shoreside attraction offered was the "Penguin Parade". We passed. The next morning, we heard all about it from friends who went. Apparently quite interesting, as the viewing was from a boardwalk that passed above the route of the 6" to 12" tall penguins, and there were lots of them to be seen. The parade has been going on for centuries, observed by masses of tourists for decades, it occurs at dusk every night.
Our next stop was Goolong, where we were tendered in to the Royal Goolong Yacht Station, then got our bus into Melbourne. This very modern city is fast growing, but what we saw of it looks like a very liveable city. an "Arts Precinct" and a "Sports Precinct".

Edit: My pictures didn't load, but we will be in Sydney for 2 days tomorrow, so I will try again.

We are at sea again. Sydney was far too busy to have time to load pictures, and now that we are between Sydney and Brisbane, the internet is again refusing to load pictures.
This cruise has had some of the best lectures. Today's was the Reef Pilot, taken aboard in Sidney, but not really required to be on the Bridge until we reach Cairns in a few days, then at work until Thursday Island, at the north tip of Australia. He will have a career as an entertainer when his piloting days end, and although his intro was to say he is not a public speaker, he had the whole audience glued to his every word. On top of that style, he was very informative about all aspects of a Pilot's life, both the exciting parts and the less so parts. He ended with a video about an Australian shipping disaster of a few years ago:

Keith I was happy to just read about your adventure and then you throw a curve ball. I have not heard that for a few years, thanks for giving us a good laugh.

Enjoyed the Pilot`s John Clarke video "The Front Fell Off",fine example of the humour he and John Dawe produced, he is greatly missed.
The little blue (aka fairy) penguins of Philip Island were helped by the removal of the island holiday homes, expanding their residential area. These penguins are found elsewhere, eg. Kangaroo Island off South Australia, even on Sydney Harbour where you sometimes hear their distinctive call.
Cairns,in Far North Queensland is a good base for exploring the Kuranda Railway with return via the aerial Skyline, the Daintree area to the north, and to access Port Douglas.

We are now well into a routine on board. We have met several couples wiih whom we are developing friendship. We also know a few in a different category, though to be fair, those are few.
I tend to rise early, especially on sea days, and get my first coffee at the only open outlet, on level 1. There are other early risers, a changing parade. The guy who needs an audience at all times occupies the central corner stool and after several mornings runs out of new faces, so moves on and is replaced by another. After 60 days this scenario has played out several times and that location had been quiet for a week or so, until a new voice arrived this morning.
Occasionally, an Officer joins in, a few days ago the Captain, so I had my first private conversation with him.
Yesterday was Mooloolaba. The included tour was a bus ride to Noosa. There was a well attended Triathlon or Iron Man, with swimming starting while we were on the beach. I was at the start of an I-M when our son was doing one. so I estimate the crowd for this one at more than the 2500 identically clad swimmers there. Traffic was extreme. Noosa is a cute little beach town, but overwhelmed withe the crowds on this day.
Back at Mooloolaba, a huge marina presence, lots of waterfront homes with docks in front, lots of signs of prosperity.

BruceK said:

Cairns,in Far North Queensland is a good base for exploring the Kuranda Railway with return via the aerial Skyline...

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Great side trip from Cairns. Watch out for salties!

If you liked Noosa you may like the feel of Port Douglas. Pretty coastal town, beach a little remote and restricted by "stingers" this time of year to a netted area. The "Tin Shed" fishermans club at the northern end has good seafood, beer, etc, covered outdoor dining. We were there Easter last year.

Jeff F said:

Great side trip from Cairns. Watch out for salties!

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Salties?

koliver said:

Salties?

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Salt water crocodiles, as distinct from freshwater variety. Salties can be aggressive and dangerous while Freshies generally would not attack.. They take to the ocean, and are seen on beaches, and in surf. They can grow to 4 metres, and have big teeth. Make excellent luggage and bags though. They are farmed for their skins, and tourism.
Wild egg collecting has involved a man hanging from a helicopter grabbing croc eggs from a nest(litigation pending over a death, what could possibly go wrong) with the nest owner not approving.
Crocs are a protected species, leading to population increase.

BruceK said:

They can grow to 4 metres, and have big teeth.

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6m, 1000+ kg. Largest reptiles on earth. They make alligators look cute and cuddly .

https://sightseeingtoursaustralia.c...e both fearful and,and Cairns is no exception.

OK
We are scheduled to do the Jungle train, Kuranda and Skyrail tomorrow, so will look out for salties!

koliver said:

OK
We are scheduled to do the Jungle train, Kuranda and Skyrail tomorrow, so will look out for salties!

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You should be safe up there . Skyrail gets interesting in a cross wind.
Mossman Gorge just north of Port Douglas would be second choice, but you couldn`t see both in one day.

Skyrail was good. It seemed to slow as we were at the towers (upper limit for viewing), a few times, which added to the experience. The muddy waters (high rains recently) hid any Salties from view. The views from the train were also spectacular. All in, one of the best excursions we have had.
As we had only one day in Cairns, we couldn't see the Great Barrier Reef, but those who chose that excursion reported various levels of success in seeing much of the reef, due to high water and strong winds. We will just need to come back another time.
We are at sea again, on our way out of Australian waters.

The Kuranda visit, train one way Skyrail the other, is certainly worth doing.
On the subject of crocodiles which abound in northern Australia, here`s a news article. So called "salties" are equally at home in fresh water, though I don`t think the freshwater ones like a salt environment.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02...ensland-man-frees-himself-from-jaws/102012388

I am really enjoying this part of this thread as it brings back our visit to Queensland to dive the reef.
We took side trips to take advantage of the area you visited to include Port Douglas, a lovely place, and the Daintree and Mossman.

Part of what struck me while we were there in this region was surely all of the things that the signs were saying were going to try to kill us from the stingers to the salties to the snakes and spiders.
The people were sure hospitable, even if the wild things aren't!

klee wyck said:

I am really enjoying this part of this thread as it brings back our visit to Queensland to dive the reef.
We took side trips to take advantage of the area you visited to include Port Douglas, a lovely place, and the Daintree and Mossman.

Part of what struck me while we were there in this region was surely all of the things that the signs were saying were going to try to kill us from the stingers to the salties to the snakes and spiders.
The people were sure hospitable, even if the wild things aren't!

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Glad you survived, you sure picked the right places to visit! I hear the cassowaries of the Daintree forest are not to be messed with either.

BruceK said:

Glad you survived, you sure picked the right places to visit! I hear the cassowaries of the Daintree forest are not to be messed with either.

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Yeah, I darn near nailed one of those strange birds with my rental car on the way back down from Daintree. Good thing I was on the wrong side of the road.....

We arrived Thursday Island (TI) and anchored 5 miles off to get enough depth. Tenders in began at 08:30 in calm conditions. At 09:30 tha anchor came up with an increase in wind and waves and those on shore were asked to return to the ship. As the roundup took a while, the ship made way to windward while waiting for all returning tenders to arrive. Shallow here so the thrusters churned a lot of mud trying to make shelter for the tenders.
All done and away by 14:00, Pilots off by 15:00. TI is a tiny place. All we really did here was give the entertaining Pilot a ride home. Our next stop is Komodo, a few sea days further on.

Sounds like the ship handled the changing conditions well.

Don`t pat the lizards at Komodo.

Keep up the log Keith. It is fun to read about the marathon you guys are doing. Will you be back at Ganges for the late May holiday?