Days 4 and 5 - Auckland, New Zealand

Day 4 Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012
Up at 8 A.M. after breakfast upstairs in the Windjammer we went outside to the bow of the ship to watch as we came into the port of Auckland New Zealand. There were very high cold winds. Eventually we found shelter a level down from the heliport pad where we still had a very good view.

As soon as we were docked and had clearance off the ship we went to check things out.
We have an excursion scheduled today for 1:00 and wanted to make sure just where we would be meeting our group. Didn’t take us long to find our meeting spot and as it was Easter Sunday the few nearby shops were closed today, we were soon back on the ship.

With so many people gone from the ship we figured this was a good time to check out the internet and get signed on with our laptop. Found out that once we were connected it was possible to use it in our cabin. Not sure if this will continue while we are at sea but hope so as its nice to be able to log on in our room.

An early lunch and we were soon on our bus, yes it was full, and on the way to see first The Sky Tower and then after a guided tour of Auckland the Kelly Tarlton’s Antarcic Encounter and Underwater World. Sky Tower gave us a wonderful view of Auckland from 1,176 feet in the air. Phil was just as excited to find, in the Sky Tower shopping area, a store that was about all the movies that have been filmed in New Zealand. For him the book all about “Lord of the Ring” series made his day as he had been greatly disappointed about not being able to visit the set where it was filmed. It was a great excursion except that next time I will bring a face mask as we had a lot of people on the bus coughing and sneezing.

Back in time for our evening meal in the dining room after which we first looked for the movie cinema. By the time we found it… it was full. They were showing the movie “The Zoo Keeper”, sat on the steps for awhile and then went looking for the outside movie screen, poolside, where they were showing “An Audience with Michael Buble”.
We had decided against going to the big show of the evening as it didn’t sound that interesting. As it was rather cold out around the pool by this time we called it a night.

Day 5 - Monday, April 9, 2012

Today we plan to enjoy our ship while many others are doing thing in Auckland. My day started at 8 AM. Phil is getting quite good at quietly leaving our cabin early in the mornings which lets me sleep in while he has an early breakfast and walk.

First off to the spa for a weigh in then down and to the bow of the ship to the Colony Club where we have morning Mass. So far I have been doing all the readings at these morning mass’s. Then a bite to eat before taking a morning swim.
Phil and I have both agreed to meet at our cabin by 11 each day. Then we are off to play
a game of cards before lunch. Today we purchased some computer time, one hour for $35.00. So quite a bit of my afternoon was tied up with getting the first three days of our trip typed and posted to our blog. I hoped to get more posted today, while we are at sea but the internet is very low, only 2 bars, so guess I will have to wait until we are in port again.

At 5 we enjoyed the Tamaki Paenga Hira – Moari Cultural Performance by a group of native New Zealand dancers. Following a wonderful meal in the main dinning room
We elected to pass on this evenings entertainment show of Ash Puriri…..but from reports the next day I guess he did have a wonderful program. Hopefully we will have a second chance to see it later in the trip.

For myself I enjoyed having some down time for computer and reading..Phil went off to find several of the music venues to enjoy. We left the port of Auckland this evening and are now on our way to Tahiti.