Report #66 Saturday, March 7, 2026----Day #1 Of 2 In Sydney, Australia----7am-Overnite---Docked Port Side To Pier----Cloudy---79 Degrees---78% Humidity---5mpn Winds-----Casual Dress

The Volendam sailed quietly through the headlands on the way to Sydney Harbour well before 5am, we think. It was still dark when we passed the iconic Sydney Opera House (unlit), Circular Quay, and proceeded past the already docked Zaandam, then finally under the Sydney Harbor Bridge. As promised, the bow was opened before 6am and there was no rain. Lucky since even in the dark, the city was beautiful lit up like a Christmas tree. Our destination was White Bay Terminal where we seem to dock these days. Usually, the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay is reserved for those cruise ships that will not fit under the bridge. The Zaandam beat us to that spot because they arrived yesterday. Not to worry, we did have a shuttle over to the Hilton Hotel.

 

Anyway, here are a few tidbits on the fabulous country of Australia. The population is 23.7 million people (more or less) that mostly speak English. The capital is Canberra, one city we have not visited. Most Australians live on the coastline of this country….89% of them. Sydney is considered glamorous with beaches, boutiques, and bars. Melbourne is arts, alleyways, and football. Brisbane is sub-tropical and Adelaide is festive. Perth is considered the West coast up and coming city, while the capital of Canberra remains political. Hobart is totally opposite with chilly weather.  

 

We have been so lucky to have visited these many places and more. We have never explored Uluru or Ayers Rock, but many friends of ours have gone overland there. Most of them came back with stories of extreme heat, dust, and incredible amounts of flies. We had the same impressions while on a tour in Kakadu years ago. We lasted 10 minutes outside the bus until the flies drove us crazy. Now we see the need for those nets that cover your entire head.  

 

Food here is a trip within itself. How about bugs (shovel-nosed lobsters), or fish like snapper, trevally and whiting (good for fish & chips). Marron is a prehistoric-looking freshwater crayfish and another good choice is fresh water grilled barramundi. Oysters in Sydney are called rock oysters, but in Tasmania, they are called Pacific oysters. Yamba prawns can be found about anywhere. 

 

And who can resist the furry and ferocious critters native to Australia. Cuddly koalas, wallabies, kangaroos, kookaburras, nesting sea turtles, little penguins and fur seals come to mind. On the other hand the ferocious animals may include a numerous variety of poisonous snakes, Tasmanian devils, wombats, saltwater crocodiles, and sharks like the great whites and the bull sharks. The bulls can come up the rivers when you least expect them.  

 

What is there to see and do? If you prefer tours, HAL offered eight of them today. Manly and North Sydney sites was 4 hours for $70. Another affordable one was Sydney sites and Bondi Beach for 4 hours and $90. Two excursions costing $140 were the Taranga Zoo for 6 hours or Taranga Zoo sunset walk for 3 hours. A foodie tour in Sydney was 4 hours for $270 or a trip to the Blue Mountains (we have done this one twice) for 8 hours for $280 with lunch. To climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge for 4 hours was $500, or take a seaplane flight with fine dining for 5 hours for $900. These same tours would be available on March 8th as well. 

 

Everyone had to attend the immigration inspection, even if you did not want to go ashore. We had been given letters with group numbers on them to go through the checkpoint. Although our paper said 7:45am group B, we had the option of staying onboard until the last call after 9am. That happens to one of the perks of being Presidents Club members. The folks that had tours went off first, then the group numbers were called. We still had plenty of time to eat our usual breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill and be on time for the inspection.

 

So with our passports, room keys, and the filled out incoming passenger forms, we headed off by 9:30am. There was hardly a line this time, which was great as it is usually the Disneyland-type line that moves like a snail. The guests who had chosen to go back on the ship were seated outside the xray checkpoint in the huge terminal. They could not re-board the vessel until everyone had cleared immigrations. On our way to the waiting shuttle, we picked up a city guide booklet with a few maps. We were on the bus by 10am, and once it was full, we were driven to the Sydney Hilton Hotel within walking distance of many city sights. It was not close to Circular Quay, but we easily walked there as it was downhill all of the way.    

 

To begin, it was going to be a very warm and humid day, unusual for this time of year. Rain was in the forecast but not until later in the afternoon. We brought umbrellas just in case but never needed them. The bus ride took only 20 minutes or so. We walked down Pitt Street and located the pedestrian-only Pitt Street Mall. One of us was in need of some new denim shorts, and we knew there was a Cotton On store in Westfield's Mall. Lucky for me, I found one pair that worked. 

 

Then we headed down towards Circular Quay and the Overseas Passenger Terminal where the Zaandam was docked. That ship is currently doing the Australia/New Zealand Grand Voyage and a special Chocolate Afternoon Tea was happening for guests from both HAL ships. This meet-up had been in the works for a few weeks because we had a printed invitation to fill out and let them know of we were going or not. We never responded since we did not want to sacrifice the precious time we had in Sydney. Everyone that attended from the Volendam had to be cleared and on their roster. Long story short we really do not like tea nor did we need the chocolate fix. We only wanted to see some of our friends that were sailing on the Zaandam. 

 

As luck would have it, we were passing by the Museum of Contemporary Art when someone approach from behind us and pulled my hair. What a wonderful surprise to see friends Greg and Heo and Allen and Sandra. They had been invited to attend by another guest and had submitted their documents a few weeks ago. Before they boarded this ship we were able to spend some time chatting with the four of them. The guys will be joining the Volendam in Singapore, while Allen and Sandra will be boarding the Eurodam next Sunday after spending three months living in the Manly area. We said our goodbyes before the buses began arriving from the Volendam. We knew that without signing up for the tea we would not be allowed onboard. Turned out to be a wise decision.

 

It was crazy crowded at Circular Quay with the ferries going everywhere. It was also a Saturday with decent weather, so many families were out and about . Knowing our favorite pizza stop in the Rocks had closed last year, we knew we needed to find a new place. That turned out to be Eastbank Cafe and Pizzeria right on the Circular Quay waterfront. It was noontime so there were only a few remaining seats left outside under the umbrellas. We ordered one pepperoni pizza to share along with ice cold tasty draft beers. Much to our surprise, the pizza was excellent. We added a shared dessert of chocolate cake. The next morning, we learned from very reliable sources that the special teatime on the Zaandam was disappointing as far as the food went. One of our buddies even went as far as saying it was on of the worst teas he has ever attended. For one thing, the duration of the tea party was only 1 hour, and the ship was due to leave the port by 5pm. That must have been challenging because they had to use both lower and upper dining rooms to accommodate that crowd. So by the time these folks were waiting for their tea and sweets, we were already having our pizza and beers. 

 

From the restaurant, we walked around the back if the Sydney Opera House, spotting the one New Zealand fur seal that was resting on the steps of the harbor. He barely moved and may have had a slight injury. We entered the Royal Botanical Gardens and made our way to the center of the park. It was here we saw many Australian white ibis, the scavengers of the area. Going from bench to bench, we also saw some Sulphur-crested cockatoos hiding in the evergreen trees, and some noisy aggressive mynah birds doing the same. There were a few black and white Australian magpies. And there were no squirrels because they do not have squirrels in Australia. 

 

We exited the gardens at Macquarie Street and followed it uphill. We passed by the State Library, NSW Parliament, Sydney Hospital with a bronze wild pig outside the main door, the Mint, the old barracks museum, and St. Mary's Cathedral. We continued on to Hyde Park with Queen Victoria's statue looming high over the entrance. We saw the Archibald Fountain, then detoured to take some photos of a flock of little white corella cockatoos eating seeds in the grass. From there, we made our way back to the shuttle above the Pitt Street Mall. The buses were running often enough, we did not have long to wit before they left. We were back onboard the ship before 4pm, enjoying some well-deserved ice cold sodas. 

 

Working on photos and reports took the rest of the afternoon. Dinner was good with arancini appetizers, a salad, and mains of meatloaf stuffed with cheese and wrapped with bacon. We may have passed on the dessert. And because today was the start of another segment, the Lido Market had their welcome onboard steak dinner. That seems to appeal to the newbies first dinner as a casual one ending at 8pm. The dining room at 7:30pm was not crowded.   

 

The show for this evening was provided by a fellow named Patrick McMahon who entertained the crowd with country songs. His best ones were from Glenn Campbell, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Kenny Rodgers and more. We believe he was on the Tales of the South Pacific last fall and was a big hit. 

 

Resting up was on our agenda for another marathon day tomorrow.

 

Bill & Mary Ann  

 

377 Pictures

Report # 65 Friday, March 6, 2026---Sea Day #2 Of 2---Crossing The Tasman Sea Enroute To Sydney, Australia----Rain Showers---73 Degrees--14mph Winds--79% Humidity----6' Swell----Casual Dress

It was really overcast and dismal this morning when we woke up early.  For one of us, it seems when we have a time change, it is difficult to go to sleep.  And when you do finally sleep, it is difficult to wake up.  The crew does not seem to have this problem.  They take that extra hour and sleep it away.   Of course, the majority of the crew are much younger than the passengers.  

 

We noticed a long line of guests at the front desk on our way to breakfast at 8am.   Since many will be getting off tomorrow, they are double checking their shipboard accounts.  It looks like there are some problems in that area.  We better check ours, even though we have sufficient shipboard non-refundable credit to keep our credit card from being charged. We learned that there will be close to 200 guests leaving tomorrow, and 400 joining.  That will put our passenger numbers over 1100 or more.   Our head waiter admitted that the new crowd will be going for the anytime dining down on deck four.    That is funny, since years ago, the big demand was for main or late fixed seating.   He admitted that while in Europe, the late seating is jammed.  

 

We have gotten behind on the blog and needed to work with the photos to get things up to date.  That occupied our morning into the afternoon.   Just as well, because the ship was going from shower to shower most of the day.  Our veranda was wet and windy, so going outside wasn't in the plans.  Except for taking a long walk on the promenade deck, that was the most one of us got outside all day.  It is always interesting chatting with friends during the walk because Bill can find out what is going on with other folks we know….some of whom are currently on the Zaandam which will be docked in Sydney tomorrow.  That will be another story to tell. 

 

Captain Rens came on with his noon update giving us the nautical info as well as the weather.   It was 74 degrees with 23 knot winds.  The sea swells were 6 feet or better, and the stabilizers were out to give us the most comfortable sailing as possible.    We have another 283 nautical miles to reach Sydney tomorrow at 5:15am to pick up the pilot.   If the weather co-operates, the bow will be opened at 6am for the sailing past the Opera House and going under the Sydney Harbor Bridge.   It will be dark at that time we think.  We hope they will be serving Opera House Rolls, even if the bow is not opened. 

 

We was to be a light room service lunch ended up with 2 big Cobb salads (only ordered one), a club sandwich to share, and one bowl of chicken noodle soup.  Needless to say, dinner will  be light.  It was also a good time to go to the front desk and buy some Australian money.   I was not the only one who thought of that.   There was a long line with the folks going home tomorrow trying to figure their accounts out.   Checking ours, there were some odd charges on one of them but they had been instantly refunded.  It was also a good time to cash out the Mariner drink cards we had gotten on day one.  Gil, the Ocean bartender gave me two bottles of water instead of the secret drinks we do not like.   By 4pm, the sun began peeking out.  I happened to notice the Ocean Bar was full of guests who probably are taking full advantage of their have-it-all beverages before departing tomorrow.  

 

Leaving our room for dinner, we noticed suitcases here and there out in the hallway.   A reminder that this 61 day segment from Florida to Sydney sure went fast, at least for us.  And we will probably be getting new neighbors on one side, the third set up to date.  Dinner was good as always with starters of one corn and crab fritters and a bowl of a different type of chicken soup.  Mains were one plate of sour orange-glazed chicken and a farfalle sausage meal, but ? order.   It was plenty.  Dessert was one slice of a chocolate layer cake and a plate of sliced pineapple. 

 

The World Stage had Chris Powley, a vocalist, singing Neil Diamind, Tom Jones, and Elvis tunes.  The Wajang had a movie, 1480 Radio Pirates based in New Zealand.   

 

Now we hope for good weather tomorrow in Sydney, although the TV screens show three drops of rain.  Time will tell………

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

No Pictures

Report # 64 Thursday, March 5, 2026---Sea Day #1 Of 2---Crossing The Tasman Sea Enroute To Sydney, Australia----Cloudy---70 Degrees--19mph Winds--71% Humidity----Dressy Dress

Today began with our usual breakfast, which we enjoy more than an early lunch in the dining room.  So with today being near the end of the second segment of this world cruise, there was the Mariner Recognition Event in the World Stage.    This was aimed at the group that had done the second segment of the cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Sydney, a 61 day sailing. 

 

It began at 9:45am this time, and we were requested to enter the port side of the lounge as President's Club members.  There was a reserved section in the center front for the 40 of us.  We  had the string trio playing back round music while beverages were served from juices to mimosas and wines.  Having these ceremonies at this time of day, no food is served, which was fine with us.  All of us did have small jars of peanuts on the little tables.   

 

Two crew members had the honors of singing songs with the resident piano man, followed by Captain Rens and hotel director Florin entering the room.   Erin began the show by calling each medallion awardee to have their medals placed around their necks and have a photo taken.  Both of the officers hammed it up a bit like the first ceremony, but perhaps not quite so much as rolling on the floor.   They do enjoy getting the laughs from the audience.   Once the new honorees were completed, Erin called each President's Club member up for a photo, once again announcing the number of days each of us had.   Once again, no one topped us this time. 

 

The finale was a duet by Josh, the travel guide and Clare, the assistant cruise director who sang a sweet song.  Professional is the right word for it and appreciated by all.  Then some of the crew members came on the stage from every department.  They got a standing ovation which was well-deserved.   As we discovered at the last ceremony, this would suffice for the night time farewell in the dining room.  We never did care for the flying crumbs of the napkin-waving.   

 

Lunch followed in the main dining room, but we did not attend.  Maybe we will go next time, or not.  The rest of the afternoon was spent catching up with the disappearing photo files and writing reports.  Around 5pm, we had a phone call, but no message.  That prompted one of us to check the passport distribution letter we got a few days ago.  I thought it said March 6^th tomorrow.  But it was March 5^th and our time for passport pick-up was 3:15 to 4pm.    Obviously, we missed it.   Bringing the passport receipts we had been given made the process quicker.  Many other people had done the same thing but failed to produce the receipts.    No problem, they  had to fill out new ones.    I did find out that Australian money will be sold on the ship. 

 

Dinner was good with Cobb salads with beef tenderloin sliced thin…better than Pinnacle quality.   Crispy bacon was on the salad too.  This would have been ample for our meal, but we did order one entrée with sesame seed covered lamb chops and one everyday chicken dinner.  No dessert…..no room.

 

The entertainer for this evening was instrumentalist Roy Theaker with Around the World on 4 Strings.   And the clocks went back one more hour to be on the correct time for Sydney.   

 

One more sea day with some rocking and rolling, and we will be in Australia.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

84 Pictures

Report # 63 Wednesday, March 4, 2026---Waitangi, Bay Of Islands, New Zealand----7am-4pm----Anchored Using Our Tender Boats----Broken Clouds---68 Degrees--14mph Winds--45% Humidity--Part #1 Of 4----65 Pictures Of 244---Casual Dress

Today's port of call was listed as Waitangi, Bay of Islands, New Zealand.  However, shortly after they dropped anchor offshore, the Celebrity Edge ( launched in 2018) showed up.   At 130 plus gross tons, she holds up to 2918 to 3373 passengers with a crew of 1320.   So, it turned out that Celebrity was tendering their guests to Waitangi with a shuttle bus that took them to nearby Paihia.  We ended up tendering directly to Paihia, which worked out better.  Our arrival time was 7am, and the last tender was scheduled at 1:30pm.  A very short stay.

 

There were a number of tours offered here, some of which we did over the years.  Some of these tours were priced from $90 to $150 for 3  to 4  hours.  Those included the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Maori culture and Kerikeri highlights,  Glow worm express, scenic village railway, estuary kayaking at Haururu Falls, and a Russell lunch cruise across the bay.  Other tours for 4 to 5 hours were Puketi Forest nature walk, a canoe expedition, the Kauri Forest and glow worm caves, or historic Waitangi and Kerikeri all costing from $150 to $180.  On the more expensive end was a delicious gems of the north for $240 or Bay of Islands fishing for $220.  You cannot take your catch onboard the ship but can donate it to the tour guide and boat driver. 

 

We planned a simple day of going over to shore around 10am, walking the town, but probably not staying for lunch.  This day would be different than we had planned in a good way.   The weather was next to perfect with temperatures in the high 60's, although at 7am, it was only 50 degrees.   The winds were light, so we were comfortable wearing shorts like we always do.  Wearing the new vest gifted by our travel agent, was perfect for one of us. 

 

The tender ride was smooth as we headed directly to the pier at Paihia and the center of town.  This area is so different from the big cities, it is an easy place to see.  The tours were interesting from what we remembered and very close to nature, which we like.  Stopping at the info center, we picked up a map that had local ferry times listed on it as well as the layout of the immediate area.  Paihia is a true vacation spot for locals and more.  There are beaches and family-friendly activities along with a variety of eateries.  Hiking up the main street, we went as far as the school.  Years ago, we had discovered a second story pizzeria that was pretty good.  Finding the building, we found the restaurant had changed to an Indian venue, not exactly pizza anymore.  So we headed back downhill passing by numerous shops, cafes, and souvenir stores.   We stopped and entered the War Memorial building  where a local artist had her display of pricey items on several tables.  Most of her jewelry creations were made with paua shell and glass.  Unique and set in silver or gold, some three-piece jewelry sets were in excess of $1000 NZ dollars.  Tempting, but we did not see many sales here.  Some of her proceeds may have gone to local donations from what we remembered. 

 

Further down the street was the library where many passengers will go for free wifi.  Having successfully done that in Auckland, we kept going.  Next to the library was a field where souvenir tents had been set up.  It sure reminded us of the traveling craft fairs that come to our area at home in the spring and summer.   Many unique items were sold here such as wide-brimmed straw hats, linen clothing, wool items, jewelry, and artistic metal sculptures.  "Artisitic" means pricey once again, but very nicely done.  We enjoyed looking and taking pictures but came out without anything this time.  We have run out of wall space at home, and that keeps us from buying too much. 

 

One of us had to search for Hokey Pokey ice cream, and that was located directly across the street from the drop-off point.  With a line of folks at the stand, it was apparent lots of people were doing the same thing.  We ordered one waffle cone with the rich vanilla and honey crunch filling and sat to eat it on convenient benches in the sun.   It was close to 12:20pm, and we thought it was best to head back before the line got too long for the tender.   

 

We did check out the menu at the one nice restaurant that over-looked the bay, but they did not have pizza.  Last time we dined here, we were surprised to have a fried egg on top of the cheeseburger.    That combo had not hit the states yet, so it was different. On the way back to the tender landing, one of us spotted a small place called Charlotte's Kitchen located right next to the ferry platform.  Looking at the menu brought a smile to our faces since they offered wood-fired oven pizzas.  Who knew???  The problem was would we have enough time to eat lunch here and not miss the tenderboat.  The owner promised us a table within five minutes, so we took the chance.  It worked….we ordered one Margherita pizza and two Steinlager draft beers to start.  Then we added one order of French fries and finally a dessert that was most unusual.  It was a waffle cone filled with vanilla ice cream with popcorn and a crunchy red candy along the side.    Every bit of the pizza was excellent and due to the 400C oven, it cooked fast.  We sat at a table for two over-looking the harbor with the ferry activity.  One silver gull landed on a pole outside the window and watched us eat, which was funny.   We left around 1:20pm,  well before the last tender at 1:30pm.

 

Well, the line of guests waiting to board went all the way to the stop light at the main street.   Holey Moley, there must have been 100 people.  No way are we going to be back on time.  At least it was pleasant standing in the sun.  It could have been raining like we told the apologizing security officer we know.   She said there had been an earlier problem with the Celebrity tours, and the buses had returned later than expected.  So that delayed the HAL excursions.  Oh well, we know the ship will not leave without us or so we are told.

 

It was 2pm by the time we got on one of the several tenders lined up to get us back.  The ride was smooth and we were onboard by 2:30pm, more or less.  Captain Rens did not come on with his talk until 3pm and announced the anchor was being lifted and the last tenders brought back up.  We have 1175 nautical miles to arrive to Sydney at a speed of 18 knots.  He expected more winds and a slight swell of 3 feet as we head out straight across the Tasman Sea.   If that holds true, it will be a good sailing as the Tasman Sea had a reputation of being nasty.  We know….we have sailed in bad conditions and do not want to repeat the experience.   And the clocks would go back one hour tonight, ending his talk with enjoy the beautiful elegant Volendam.  We will, thanks.

 

Dinner was basically Dutch with the dress suggestion – a splash of orange.   Both of us had the Westland salad and had intended on sharing a bay shrimp appetizer on those salads.   Our waiter did not hear that exactly right, but he brought the shrimp and one salad.  We worked it out.  The next  best appetizer was pea soup with ham and Pumpernickel bread on top.  It was what we call "stick to your ribs" soup.  So good.  Mains were one Nasi Goreng and one Dutch Hodge Podge Klapstuk or stew on mashed potatoes and gravy.   One scoop of raspberry cheesecake ice cream was plenty to end the meal on a sweet note. 

 

The Orange Party was held in the Crow's Nest at 8:30pm.  The clocks did go back one hour, and the extra rest was most welcomed.

 

There was a show with a singer, Chris Powley with songs from Neil Diamond, Tom Jones, Elvis and more.

 

Looking forward to two days at sea, but only if the seas are smooth as silk. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

244 Pictures

Report # 62 Tuesday, March 3, 2026---Auckland, New Zealand---Day #2 Of 2----4am-6:30pm----Docked At Princess Wharf---Starboard Side To Pier---Sunny And Windy---68 Degrees---Casual Dress

One of us woke up around 4:20am and found that the Volendam was already heading into the Princes Wharf about 700 meters from the Queens Wharf.  We soon found out that another ship was docking in our spot.  It was the Arcadia from P & O at 84,000 gross tons with 2094 passengers.  It used to be adults only but recently switched to family-friendly.    One of the reasons we had to move was the fact we were taking on fuel today. 

 

One positive thing with the move was that we got the ferry side of the wharf where we could watch the many ferries going in and out of the very busy harbor.   It also appeared that it was going to be another nice day, although the wind was strong and rather chilly.  That never stops us from wearing shorts, especially if we are walking far.  Today we would stick closer to the ship.  The high temperature of the day would be 64 degrees with winds of 24mph.  That kept it cooler. 

 

We always like to walk to the marina end of the waterfront, so after leaving the new terminal, we turned right at the corner and followed the street towards the Maritime Museum.  On one of our first visits here, we did a tour that included this museum and found it full of history of the explorers, trader, whalers, and the many immigrants that settled here.    Continuing up the pedestrian walkway, we came upon the Te Wero Bridge that separates the Viaduct Basin from the Waitamata Harbor. 

 

We happened to stop on one end of the bridge while talking to a fellow passenger for a while.  We were deep into conversation, when the bells began to ring, and the warning lights were going off to vacate the bridge.   We went the shorter way, while our friend heading back towards the ship side of the bridge.  She made it off, as did we, then the gates closed and the bridge was lifted to allow two tall-masted sailboats out of the basin.  Always fun to watch, we continued on our way into the Wynyard Quarter. 

 

This entire stretch of waterfront warehouses has been converted into separate eateries.  Most all of them had indoor and outdoor seating, and offered many selections of cuisine.  Come to think of it, this is where we bet a lot of folks went to dinner last night.     It would be close enough to walk, and safe as well.  We checked out the menus along the way, trying to recall where we dined the last time we were here.  We did remember it was Wynyard Pavilion, and they were opened at noontime.  We had left the ship around 10am and decided to have lunch earlier today since all aboard was 6:30pm.   That would give us plenty of time to explore this area to Silo Park and beyond. 

 

Since it was windy and a bit chilly, we found a sheltered spot to sit and watch the people go by.   Further up the road, it comes to an end where a marina houses some very old sailing boats where they were permanently moored.   Signs were displayed at every sailboat and some dated back to the 1800's.  Of course, they have been restored many times over but still show the size and owners. Had we gone much further, we would have been at the base of the Auckland Bridge.    

 

Time to head back, we took our time checking out menus.  By now, the places were filling with guests from both ships, we assume.  Still the best place was the Wynyard Pavilion where they served pizza, of course.  We took the same hightop table and chairs where we sat a few years ago.  We ordered Steinlager draft beers and one meat-lovers pizza to share.  While we waited, the server was kind enough to connect us to their free internet so I could update my Kindle.    The few games I have on it were expiring and needed renewing.  The waiter did his magic and I spent the entire time downloading everything possible.  This should last for a few months now.  

 

The pizza arrived and it was full of sausage, bacon, salami, and green bell peppers.  Drizzled on the top was a smoked BBQ sauce that reminded us of California Pizza Kitchen pizzas.   Very good and also a nice crust, it was quite filling.  We did add what they called the Big Kids Sundae which was three flavors of ice cream and a pistachio base.    We had to laugh because right on top of the ice cream was what looked like chicken feathers.   No kidding….white chicken feathers.  The brave one of us tested a small bit of it, and it was just like cotton candy, only white.    With the money exchange, the bill came to $76 NZ, which computed to $46 USD,  They did take American Express, which surprised us.  We also left a cash tip for the waiter.    

 

We never did find any Hokey Pokey ice cream, but there is always tomorrow in the Bay of Islands.  We made our way back to the ship after 3pm and gladly rested up the rest of the afternoon.   One of us is still trying to figure out what is happening with the photo files.   Some progress has been made with the update, but it is taking forever. 

 

Around 6:30pm, the Captain came on with a short update.  We have 139 nautical miles to reach the Bay of Islands tomorrow at a speed of 13 knots.   By the time the ropes were dropped and the gangway lifted, we left the harbor by 7pm.   We had the best place for the sail away which was right on our veranda.  Once the ship swung around, we had a perfect view of the Auckland Bridge with the sun setting behind some pretty massive clouds.    We stayed until 7:45pm and thought we better head for the dining room. 

 

Dinner was good with a different type of salad and pot stickers that we love.   A couple of plates of these pot sticker appetizers would have been plenty for our meal.  Then we ordered one beef pot pie that was covered with the broiled mashed potatoes on the top.   The other entree was a plate of cheese raviolis with a chunky tomato sauce.   Just the right amount, we had a little watermelon and a real slice of cherry cake that was good.  

 

A violinist entertained the folks this evening by the name of Roy Theaker.  He promised a show of energetic and uplifting music.  And Strictly Ballroom was the Wajang movie.   After two full days in The City of Sails, we were tired and happy to turn in early. 

 

Tomorrow we will have a short day in the Bay of Islands…..doubt there will be time for lunch. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

232 Pictures

Report #61 Monday, March 2, 2026----Day #1 Of 2 In Auckland, New Zealand----Docked Starboard Side To Pier At Queens Wharf---7am-Overnite----Broken Clouds--63 Degrees--15mph Winds-----Casual Dress

Well here we are in the beautiful country of New Zealand.   The city of Auckland is the port of call.  We cannot remember how many times we have visited here before, but it is numerous times.  And we can add an extra day to that number since today is a bonus one, added after the cancellation of Nuku'alofa, Tonga.  The Queens Wharf had been assigned to the Volendam temporarily, then the plan was to move to Princes Wharf the following day at 4am. 

 

One thing for sure, there were quite a number of excursions to book here.   Sixteen choices actually.  Some of the ones we did on past visits included the city drive and Auckland Museum for 4 hours and $90.  Devonport by ferry and the north shore for 4 hours was $110, while wonderful Waiheke for 5  hours was $210.  America's Cup Sail was 2  hours for $190 and Waitomo Caves to see the glow worms was fun for 9 hours and $290 with lunch.  There used to be a tour to Kelly Tarleton's Aquarium, but it is no longer on the list. There were more, but we just gave you what we did.  Today as you might guess, we took off on our own.

 

With all of the preparations before arriving here, such as getting the tourist visas, then filling out the declaration's forms, we did not have to have a face-to-face inspection this morning.  Nor did we have to carry our passports with us.  All the clearance must have been done onboard early this morning.  

 

During breakfast, the only announcement that came through to the entire ship was the biosecurity notice.  There was no mention of the ship being cleared, or even where the gangway was located.  There was another crew drill held at 9:30am, and with the noise, we decided to leave the ship by 10am.    We had to ask one of the hall monitors during the drill where the gangway was.  First she thought it was deck two, then changed her mind and said it was on deck three forward.  That was correct.

 

The weather was confusing to say the least.  Before breakfast at 7:30am, there were plenty of clouds in the sky, but there was sun peeking through as well.  The forecast was broken clouds, with temperatures in the mid 60's.   The humidity was low, but the winds were picking up.  During breakfast, one of our friends stopped and said we better be prepared for rain.  Really?   Back in our room, we noticed that the veranda was almost flooded and the streets below were very wet.  Must have been a good passing shower.   So we played with the idea of packing the umbrellas but ended up leaving them on the ship.  With the blustery winds, the umbrellas would not have worked well.   As it turned out, it never rained again. 

 

Our marathon hike took us up the streets towards the Sky Tower, then onto Albert Park.  We decided the streets have become steeper since the last time we were here.  Or perhaps we are just taking them slower.  What was nice was the fact the ship was staying overnight, and we did not have to worry about being back onboard by 5 or 6pm.  We could afford to take our time.  Just about anywhere in this area, you will be able to see the Sky Tower at 1,072 feet high.  There are spectacular views from the top, where we have experienced the 360 degree scenery.  

 

Albert Park is located high on a bluff with a fountain, statues, flowers, and buildings that date back to the 1800's.  The mature trees might be that old as well.  The wind was blowing strong there today, which did not seem to affect the dozens of college-age students that frequent the park.  We had wandered into the University of Auckland campuses and really realized how few people our age were out and about.  Finding the pedestrian bridge across a highway, we walked Symonds Street past many historic buildings and the old cemetery.  That led to the Graftton Bridge that took us  past the Auckland Hospital and into the Graftton district. 

 

The entrance to the Auckland Domain is there, and the beginning of our downhill walk.  Following the winding road in this very green park, we found the Wintergarden Pavilion.  It is a really nice place to visit with tropical gardens, a formal pond, and seasonal flowers.  Straight up the hillside is the Auckland War Memorial Museum loaded with Maori and Pacific treasures as well as military, social and natural heritage.  There was a Shark Exhibition taking place for a while.  On previous trips here, we went to the museum at least twice.  There was no time today or the energy to do it again. 

 

Hiking down the grass knoll, we joined the street that took us to the Parnell District, which was Auckland's first suburb.  Today it is a unique area with small boutiques, shops and businesses for the locals as well as tourists.  Far from glitzy, they have second-hand shops, cafes, bakeries, and restaurants that open mostly at night.  The last time we were here, we discovered a very cozy Italian caf? that specialized in pizza and wine or beer.    Doing our homework, we knew it was still opened for lunch customers, and by luck, we found it.   Taking a table for two across from the bar, we chatted with the bartender/waiter who was most friendly.  We ordered two Peroni beers and one Margherita pizza to share.  A young fellow, he was most interested where we were from.  His dream is to be able to visit the states someday, and we told him it was a "must do", telling him all about the San Francisco Bay Area.  Then our pizza arrived, and it was just as we had remembered.  It was cooked in a wood-fired oven with the best crust and toppings.  We decided the pizza is all about the crust.  Toppings are interchangeable, but the right ingredients make the pizza all the better.   We added one slice of the most decadent chocolate cake that was like silk.  What made the experience better was sitting and relaxing for over an hour.  We do not know the exact mileage we put on, but it was worth it for the reward of such a nice lunch.   

 

Time to move on, we slowly made our way downhill to the very nice Woolworth's Grocery Store near Quay Street.   Picking up a few snacks for our room, we strolled back through the Britomart District passing a few more eateries until we reached the ship.  Passing by the local agents in the terminal building, we had the grocery bags checked before proceeding back onboard.  Our  ship's security team was in place so we went through xray like we usually do.   Needless to say, it was wonderful to be back after walking over six hours.

 

One of us had run into a problem with the computer regarding photo files.   There was a request to update things, and by pushing one key, it went into something that was not expected.   It might be a while before photos will be included with the reports. 

 

Dinner was fairly light for both of us.  They had a new beef soup which was not creamy, and that was perfect for one of us.   A small salad and a shrimp appetizer were starters for the other.  Mains were one chicken parmesan with spaghetti and one boneless beef rib meal for the other.   Desserts were one sliced banana and a small jello.  That makes our waiters laugh since we do not indulge in the sweets every night.  There was a variety show with two of the entertainers from last week.   Since there were fewer folks at dinner tonight (figured they went out to dinner), we doubt the show lounge was filled.  

 

Looking forward to a good rest tonight to take on another day in the City of Sails tomorrow.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

363 Pictures

Report # 60 Sunday, March 1, 2026----Sea Day #5 Of 5 Enroute To Auckland, New Zealand---Partly Cloudy---70 Degrees---78% Humidity---18mph Winds---Ships Speed 14 Knots---6' Swell----Casual Dress

Our last day at sea on the way to New Zealand was a pleasant one weather-wise.  News-wise?  Well that was something else.  Need we say more?

 

Being that today was a Sunday at sea, it was brunch in the dining room from 10am to 1pm.    Our hosts organized a group set of tables to attend the brunch, meeting in the Explorer's Lounge at 10:50am.  You would be on your own if you wanted to purchase  drinks.  As for us, we enjoy our breakfasts earlier in the morning and would not give up our spot at 8am.  

 

The replacement two-week delivery of our 40 Coke Zeros arrived and this time they were dated into mid-April and will not expire by tomorrow.  They apologized but got it right and it did not take a week to do it.

 

We also received a New Zealand and Australia biosecurity regulations form reminding us of items that cannot be taken ashore.  That includes fruit and veggies, meats, sandwiches, dairy products, eggs, honey, flowers, seeds, or plants, and all other food products (fresh, processed, or packaged).   Only commercially bottled drinking water is allowed to leave the vessel.   At any time, hand luggage, handbags, and backpacks may be inspected.  In addition, there is a current outbreak of foot and mouth disease in several overseas countries.  There may be increased screenings if we had been in contact with livestock.  Shoes and clothing must be clean and free of soil or organic matter. 

 

After going for a promenade deck walk, dodging the painters, drilling and sanding teams, we went to the Seaview Pool to get some sun.   And lemonade.  It was quite nice back there with some sun and a light breeze.   Captain Rens came on with his noon update, and said the temperature was 70 degrees with 78% humidity.  The winds were 17.4 mph and the ship was doing an average of 14 knots.  We had another 226 nautical miles to reach Auckland early tomorrow morning.  The skies were partly cloudy and partly sunny and no rain.    There was a 6 foot swell and some motion of the ship but not pronounced.

 

On the way back to our room, we passed through the Lido poolside and noticed the tables had notes on them stuck in between the salt and pepper shakers.    It reminded the guests NOT to take any food from the ship in New Zealand or Australia.  If you ignored this notice, you could be fined $400.    This has to be the first time we ever saw messages left for everyone to see.  You would be hard-pressed to say I did not know about the restrictions and play dumb.  One time while visiting Melbourne Australia, one of the agricultural officers asked to check my handbag.  He had a cute little beagle dog, who dipped his whole head into my opened bag.  Satisfied that nothing was there, the officer handed me a little dog pin for my cooperation.   So you never know, and for that reason, we never take any food off the ship when told not to.   

 

Today was the final one with the Polynesian ambassadors, a group of four lovely ladies.  We have seen them meeting in the Seaview Pool area for a Lido lunch.  They like the sushi bar it appears. 

 

The day was filled with promotions from the shops as well as activities to keep the guests busy.  Then there was a Seafood Boil in the Lido for dinner which costs $35 we believe.   There was a  German Lunch in the Pinnacle Grill (for a price).  We went to the dining room like we always do, and had salads, one skewered chicken appetizer, and one bowl of chicken noodle soup.  I do not care for creamy soups, so my standby is the room service soup.  Our entrees were the same……New Zealand lamb chops, tasty but on the tough side.  Once you have ordered the grilled lamb chops in the Pinnacle, you will be spoiled since they are always tender and savory.     That same rule goes for the steaks.  The dining room steaks are OK, but nowhere near as good as the Pinnacle. 

 

Dessert was one slice of a chocolate tart, and a plate of watermelon. 

 

By 8:30pm, many folks left the room to attend the Glamp Out which was held in the Lido Poolside.  We strolled through one of these events and found make-believe campfires with people "roasting" marshmallows on a stick over the fake fire.  We seem to remember that all of the seating was gone, taken by the early diners, so we went out one door, and back inside within a few minutes.  Snacks and s'mores were not what we needed after a big dinner anyway.  And there was entertainment in the World Stage with singer, Daniel Thompson with classic country music mainly Johnny Cash tunes. 

 

We are more than ready for two full days in Auckland  where we will be on the lookout for Hokey Pokey ice cream.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

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Report # 59 Saturday, February 28, 2026----Sea Day #4 Of 5 Enroute To Auckland, New Zealand----Clouds---75 Degrees---64% Humidity---14mph Winds---Ships Speed 15 Knots---6' Swell-----Casual Dress

The two week delivery of our President's Club amenity has arrived again.  We always ask for Cokes, and they were brought this morning.  As soon as we saw Santa Claus on the cans, we knew the date had expired.    Glad we were "home" when the room service fellow came, and when we pointed out the fact that it had expired, he immediately took it back.  Actually, we still have one 12 pack left from our delivery two weeks ago, also Christmas cans.    We don't mind a few old ones, but not 40 more.  He promised he would be back later with the fresher batch.   He did not say when, but it was not today.

 

The Polynesian ambassadors are onboard with daily activities that include sarong tying, Polynesian dance class, and ukulele lessons.  We have a guest chef,  Bertrand Jang.   Fijian-born, he is here to give a special group of diners a traditional experience with dishes from both New Zealand and the Pacific.  His talents will be on display in the Pinnacle Grill this evening with a pop-up dinner. 

 

The Volendam has sailed far enough southwest that the weather has changed.  The temperature was 75 degrees with 64% humidity.  The winds were 13.8 mph and the seas were confused.  The sea swells are still around 6 feet, and we do have some motion, but not extreme.  The skies were overcast most all day, and there was very little heat in whatever sun did peek through.   We sat at the Seaview Pool with just a handful of people and a small number of smokers.  During his noon update, jolly Captain Rens reported that we have been successful in skirting around the cyclone conditions, and we had about 940 nautical miles to reach Auckland on March 2^nd. 

 

This afternoon was a good time to research restaurants in Auckland, since the last time we were here was in 2023.  Not that long ago, but long enough for cafes or pizzerias to come and go or change names.    We usually end up in the Parnell District and have gone to several different venues over the years.  And in recent years, we discovered that New Zealand does not accept all credit cards.  So because of that, we always buy some NZ dollars.  It was not announced before the cruise that the ship would carry many foreign monies, but it does look like they will be selling the NZ dollars.   

 

After a light lunch, one of us went to buy some money at the front desk.  It appeared that only one person was doing that and that person was on a break.    Thinking a good time to go there would be during the first dinner time,  it worked.  Best not to wait until the last minute, because they might run out of it. 

 

Dinner was good in the dining room.  A different type of appetizer, a spring roll with shrimp was wrapped in a thin noodle and had peanut sauce under it.  It was served cold.  We both had Caesar salads, which have been on the  small side.  Then one of  us ordered the BBQ ribs, and the other spaghetti Bolognese.  Both were excellent.  Desserts were lemon jello and watermelon.

 

The entertainer this evening was another instrumentalist by the name of Akos Laki with happy Latin vibes.  His instrument was a saxophone and he played Latin jazz and Balkan music.    The Dam Band was playing in the Ocean Bar.  We notice how much louder they are compared to the other performers.   It's no wonder that our neighbors had moved from the room over the Ocean Bar because they heard the noise almost every night.

 

One more lazy day at sea, then we will be in beautiful New Zealand.

 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

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Report # 58 Thursday, February 26, 2026----Sea Day #3 Of 5 Enroute To Auckland, New Zealand---Broken Clouds---77 Degrees---60% Humidity---20mph Winds---Ships Speed 15 Knots---6' Swell----Casual Dress

The days seem to be rolling by all too quickly.  Hard to imagine we are about halfway through the Grand Voyage.  Today's temperature was much more tolerable compared to a few days ago when we were roasting.  It was 77 degrees this morning with only 60% humidity.  The winds were 20 mph and the skies had broken clouds according to the weather channel. 

 

We are beginning to see some flying fish, although their numbers are low.  Even a small flock of sea birds were spotted flying over the waves.  Speaking of waves, the swells are measuring around 6 feet, but it sure feels like much higher than that.  During the late evening, it began to become rough and it lasted throughout the night.   According to Captain Rens, we are slowly escaping the cyclone conditions as we rapidly head southwest.  We still have over 900 nautical miles to reach Auckland. 

 

Now that it is certain we will be docking a day early in Auckland, we were advised to complete the forms required by New Zealand today and not wait until 24 hours prior to our visit.  Those with cell phones could do this form with the use of a QR code.  We were given a flyer to complete this information on our computer.  Following the directions, it was going OK until we reached the part about the address of the pier we will be docked at.   The front desk folks had given us the incorrect info to type in for an address, so we couldn't go any further with the first application.   Finally we called and we were given the correct address.  It worked.  So the second time we completed the questionnaire, it went smoother.  This was supposed to take 10 minutes a person.  But in order to get it correct, it took almost an hour.    In the end, it was accepted and should be added to our passport numbers along with the New Zealand visas we got before we left home.    The only sad thing is that we wished we had more ports to see in New Zealand instead of just 2 ports in three days.   

 

This morning we spent an hour at the Seaview Pool and enjoyed sitting back there.  It had cooled down a whole lot, although we still drank three glasses of lemonade served by Ramon.   Then we indulged with two Cannonball burgers from the Dive-In, which were very good for a change.  We still are not big fans of their French fries, but one order between the two of us was plenty. 

 

Going for a 5:30pm walk around the promenade did not last long since the deck crew were just starting to do some deep cleaning out there.   The doors to the deck had been roped off, except the one we went out of.  Honestly, it was still too rough to walk a straight line.

 

Dinner was good with a coconut-crusted shrimp appetizer, a Caesar salad, another jumbo shrimp cocktail and one Caesar  salad.  Tonight's hot soup was minestrone, so one of us ordered that.  I would have been happy with two bowls of this delicious soup and skip the main course.  But we both ordered one huli-huli chicken dish and the other had the veal and sage meatballs.  Except for a few bites, we cleaned the plates.  Dessert looked tempting, but we passed on it. 

 

The entertainment this evening was the comedian Simon Palomares with "All in the Family" comedy referring to teenage kids, aging parents, and dogs.  But he was funny.

 

A few more sea days and we will be docking in Auckland.  

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

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Report # 57 Wednesday, February 25, 2026----Sea Day #2 Of 5 Enroute To Auckland, New Zealand---Cloudy With Heavy Rain---79 Degrees---75% Humidity---11mph Winds-----Formal Dress

Day  number 2 at sea sure started totally different from the last few days in Polynesia.  It was overcast and dark with rain.  We figured we would be encountering some of that storm the Captain spoke about.   As the day advanced, it never got much better.  We are beginning to feel the motion of the ocean and we suspect it will continue as long as this storm goes on.  It would have great to have avoided it, but that's not always possible.    Now we are grateful that we had such nice days while in the Polynesian islands.   

 

The temperature was still warm at 79 degrees with 75% humidity.  The winds at 8am were 11 mph, but later in the day, they increased significantly.   The light rain turned heavy just about the time one of us went for the morning promenade walk around 10am.  When the rain came in a driving downpour, the promenade deck was closed and roped off.  We think there have been several falling accidents, but only a couple that we were aware of.  

 

The Captain's talk at noon had a little more info regarding the change in the weather.  Captain Rens joked that the ship was getting "automatic" washing with the downpours.  The swells were 3 to 6 feet and the winds were increasing.  He added something interesting about the temperature of the sea waters which are currently 86 degrees.  He was hurrying to get to cooler waters which  might reduce the rough seas.  Hope it works…. We have 618 nautical miles to reach Auckland on March 2^nd, which we guess that means they secured another day in that port.  We would get the details later in the evening.

 

We worked online most of the morning into the afternoon while catching up on news.  It was a good day for inside activities which included wine tasting, water coloring, arts and crafts, and some dance lessons.  Board games in the library seems to be a growing activity here.  Speaker Dr. Chris Benton spoke about the human spaceflight to Mars. 

 

A formal attire evening was sprung upon us with the theme of Casino Royale.  The dining room menu offered the usual suspects like escargots, shrimp cocktails, smoked chicken slices and surf and turf.  Feeling the motion of the ship caught up with one of us, so a bowl of hot chicken noodle soup was in order.   The avocado and shrimp bowl and sliced smoked chicken were starters for the hearty one of us who never gets seasick.  Not even close, lucky guy.  Entrees were the surf and turf which consisted of a thin filet mignon, which was on the tough side, but tasty with a very good gravy.  The chefs are hitting the mark on the gravies this year.  Only one of us had the lobster.  Finishing the meal was one dessert of a little chocolate volcano cake in a ramekin.  It was as close as it got to the old standby of Chocolate Volcano Cake we used to get in the Pinnacle Grill.   Talk about sugar overload, which we never gave a second thought back in those days.  The other dessert was a slice banana with a tiny bit of chocolate sauce.  We usually finish dinner before 9pm, but we noticed the room was emptying after 8:30pm. 

 

There was a Casino Royale event happening in the Mix for a change at 8:30pm.   They had table games and a chance to win up to $100 casino free play, as well as prizes and drawings.  For the first time this cruise, the casino on the opposite side had many players at the slot machines and tables too.

 

There was a show in the World Stage featuring a vocalist named Daniel Thompson doing Johnny Cash songs and telling tales of the famous crooner.

 

Back in our room we had a turtle towel animal and two little boxes of Belgium chocolates, a formal evening treat.   Also in the stack of papers on the bed were the letters explaining how crossing the dateline works.    It is simple going west.  We lose a whole day, which will be Friday the 27^th.   Then the other notice was about the change in the itinerary with Tonga being cancelled.    We have not talked to anyone yet that is disappointed about missing that stop.  Usually when we are in New Zealand, we always have two days in Auckland.  This cruise, it was only one day.   Now we will have two full days there beginning March 2^nd and everyone is pleased.  All the prepaid Tongan shore excursions will be credited back to everyone's accounts.  If you had booked independent tours in Tonga, then you would be on your own to get refunded. 

 

Never a dull moment here.  Oh almost forgot, the clocks went back one hour tonight.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

67 Pictures

Report # 56 Tuesday, February 24, 2026----Sea Day #1 Of 5 Enroute To Auckland, New Zealand---Sunny With Some Clouds---81 Degrees---77% Humidity---10mph Winds-----Casual Dress

Day one at sea began like any other one with temperatures in the low 80's, 77% humidity, and 10 mph winds.  The skies were partly sunny and cloudy.  Another month has gone by so we were due for a full passenger muster drill at 10:30am.   Everyone was required to follow the directions given by the cruise director, Erin.  For a change, it went smoothly and everyone showed up to their assigned stations, having their room cards scanned.   And for the first time in years, the passengers did not chatter incessantly or play on their cell phones like we usually see.  The Captain did his talk, then thanked everyone for their cooperation. 

 

One of us having completed yesterday's report and the other completing a promenade walk, we headed for the Seaview Pool for some lemonade and some sunshine.  We downed three glasses before cooling off.  The sun remained intense with just a small breeze. 

 

Then the Captain came on with his daily report.  After the usual numbers were read off, he proceeded to tell us we were heading directly to Auckland.  The port of Nuku'alofa, Tonga had been cancelled.  Unknown to us, there is a system brewing in the area near Tonga that is producing 30 foot seas.  No way do we want to be caught up in that.  So the plan is to turn southwest and head away from Tonga at a speed of 19 knots.  Captain Rens added that he is working on getting a slip in Auckland for March 2^nd, giving us two full days there.  He could not promise that will work, but they are trying their best.  So as it stands, we will have 5 full days at sea with a distance of 1867 nautical miles to reach Auckland, New Zealand.  Oh well, we were just in Tonga last fall, so we are not terribly disappointed.  

 

Polynesian-themed activities continued all day, as well as a new speaker Dr. Chris Benton with Our Place in the Universe.  There were 11 promotional activities with the shops and the casino.   

 

We had a room service lunch with one salad, soup and one shared plate of mini burger sliders.   It took all afternoon catching up on the last few days in Moorea and Bora Bora.   

 

Dinner time snuck up on us, and we had salads, a chicken appetizer, and different entrees.  One of us had the parmesan-crusted veal loin, and the other had the pork dish called spiced porchetta.  Both were good with ample-sized servings.    Dessert was a small jar of lemon jello, which we shared.  It is never on the menu, but it is offered everyday since it is totally sugar-free. 

 

The show in the World Stage was the cast with Legends.   It was a tribute to the greatest male legends of all time.

 

Hope tomorrow is a real lazy day at sea without any more surprises.  One good thing is that the temperature is supposed to fall  about 5 degrees.  That's fine with us. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann   

 

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Report #55---Monday, February 23, 2026---Vaitape, Bora Bora, French Polynesia---Anchored Using Ship's Tenders---Clear Skies---82 Degrees---67% Humidity---10mph Winds------Casual Dress

Today's port has to be one of the most beautiful spots in the world….Bora Bora, French Polynesia.  There are not enough words to describe the shades of blue, turquoise, and sapphire waters that surround this island and comprise their many lagoons.  As many times that we have been here,  we never tire of seeing the tall peaks of the volcanic mountains and the lush green hillsides of this  island of 38 square kilometers with a shoreline road of 20 miles.  No wonder it is home to over 10,000 residents.

 

According to the Daily newsletter, the bow would be opened at 7am as the Volendam entered the lagoon at Teavanui Pass and dropped anchor in the harbor in Vaitape.   Except, the Captain had mentioned  in his sail away talk yesterday, that the sail in would be at 6am.  We were up early, so it did not matter as we could see the entrance right from our veranda although still very dark.   And it was the earlier time after all. 

 

We went to breakfast as usual, and only heard the quarantine message regarding forbidden things to take ashore.  So far this trip, we seldom hear that the ship has been cleared, or the tenders are operating, and even tender ticket numbers called.  In other words, there is very little communication over the ship wide speakers.    Maybe this is the new trend for all HAL ships.  We do know for a fact that the early tour groups will be getting off first in a tender port like today or yesterday.  Then eventually, "open tenders" is called and you do not need to get tickets after that.  

 

When the tender platform is open on the port side, we get to watch the action from our room.  And that's when we decide to go when we see a boat pulling up to get loaded.  The time to leave today was after 10am.  It was going to be a nice warm day once again with temperatures in the mid 80's, a bit less humidity at 67% and light winds.  The ride over was quick because we were quite close to the Vaitape dock.  Another ship was already anchored when we arrived.  It was the Paul Gauguin, a small luxury vessel of 19,200 gross tons.  It holds up to 330 guests and has a crew of 209, giving it one of the highest guest to crew ratio.  They have 7-to-14-day itineraries and are "all inclusive".    One of their tender boats was at the dock when we arrived there, and some of the guests could ride on the roof.

 

While we were gone, an emergency maintenance was done on the hot water system in our quarter once again.  It had no effect on our water supply. 

 

Our plan for the day was to take the local shuttle to Matira Beach.  It is walkable, but it would take way too much time.  Riding the shuttle bus was a mere $5 per person and well worth it.   There were excursions offered of course.    The island discovery is one we have taken more than once for 3 hours for $70.  A glass bottom boat was popular for 2 hours and $90.  The shark and ray coral gardens was 3  hours for $150.  A motu islet cruise and beach tour was 3 hours for $160, while a catamaran lagoon cruise with sharks and rays was 5 hours for $300.  That included a BBQ lunch.  To rent jet skis for 2  hours was an outrageous $570.  A drink came with that excursion.  A 4x4 off the beaten track was more affordable for 3 hours and $180.  Once again, several independent tours were offered by the locals at much better prices. 

 

Bypassing the souvenir hut, we got seats in the local shuttle to Matira Beach.   The speed limit is slow, so it gave us a chance to get some photos along the way.   We passed the area where the famous restaurant Bloody Mary's was located.  The old icon is gone now, but there is a resort going up across the road with more over-the-water huts and new restaurant we assume.   Last fall, we were told the property would be open for business by Christmas 2025.  Not a chance……even by next summer, we highly doubt it will be completed.   Many times that we came to Bora Bora, we made it a point to bus to Matira Beach, then walk back to Bloody Mary's where we would have lunch in their sand floor restaurant on a gentle slope of the hillside.  The chairs were stumps of coconut trees and most uncomfortable.  But it was the atmosphere and the place where many Hollywood stars and dignitaries spent their time belly up to the bar, so to speak.  And one of the jokes associated with this place had to be the restrooms with some different type of decorations that might raise one's eyebrows.  All in good fun.  After lunch, we would pick up the shuttle back. 

 

We walked Matira Beach for a ways, but due to high tide,  the sandy beach area was much narrower.  It's always fun watching locals as well as cruise ship guests basking in the sun and snorkeling in the aqua waters.  We searched for some "floating" rocks, which turn out to be sting rays, but saw none today.  Bird sightings were minimal.  At the end of the beach, we exited at the covered pavilion which is usually filled with locals.  But being that today was Monday, few people were out and about.  Worth mentioning is the fact that there are fairly new restrooms and changing rooms at this end of the beach in case you came here to swim for the day.  Beware……the sun is extremely intense and you will need a lot of sunscreen.

 

The Intercontinental Resort is located here and we always like to explore the property passing through the open-air lobby.  We did not see a day pass being offered for cruise ship folks like us.   But if we were staying at this nice place, we would not like the invasion of extra guests invading for the day.  Happy to take some photos of the several restaurants and bungalows over the water, we made our way past the  swimming pool, then continued on with our walk.

 

About a half mile more up the road, we found our lunch spot at the Maitai Polynesia Resort.  Slowly walking the property, we entered the open-air restaurant about noontime when it opened.    What is nice here is the fact it is never crowded, the food and service is good, and we are never rushed.    A strong breeze seems to always flow through this venue, and it was most welcomed today.  First on the lunch list were two Hinano draft beers (the big ones), followed by a pepperoni pizza to share.  Two small French bread rolls were served with butter too.  Not quite as good as the pizza in Papeete, but every bit as tasty.  There are at least three dogs that live here, and they think nothing of plopping down under the chairs.  Then they give you that "I am starving look" as you eat the pizza.  Most times, they are content with a pat on the head.  We saved enough room for a dessert of profiteroles.  This will probably be our last chance to enjoy this treat.  We stayed until 1:30pm, then decided it was time to head back. 

 

One of the shuttles was just filling up as we made it back to the drop-off point.  Within minutes, we were on our way back with about 12 other guests.   Once back at the pier, we strolled into town, but not for long.  A tender boat arrived and we got onboard for the short ride back to the ship.   We managed to skip the souvenir hut altogether since there was nothing more we needed. 

 

Relaxing with ice cold sodas, we spent the remainder of the afternoon in the comfort of our room.  Of course, working on reports and pictures.  A scenic sail away was held at the Seaview Pool at 4:30pm .  The Captain came on the speakers and declared the day a glorious one.  The temperature was still 82 degree with a breeze of 10 mph.   The ship left through the passe after the anchor was hoisted around 5pm.  We now have a long way to go to Tonga, arriving by Saturday.   Friday will not exist for us, since we will be crossing the International Dateline.   Not to worry, we will get that day back later in the cruise. 

 

Dinner was light for us with a smoked chicken starter, a salad, and mains of sliced lamb.  It was served over coconut rice, which one of us does not prefer.  So the lamb came with just gravy….tender and tasty.  No dessert again. 

 

There was an "Island Dream" activity held in the Lido Poolside at 8:30pm with the Dam Band playing.  After three days in the sun and heat, we would be most surprised if the after party was well attended.  And there was an instrumentalist in the World Stage by the name of Andrei Cavassi with Brazilian, Argentinian, Greek and Spanish tunes.   Prepare to be captivated!

 

Looking forward to three days at sea.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

461 Pictures

Report #54 Sunday, February 22, 2026----Bahia d' Opunohu, Moorea, French Polynesia---Anchored In The Bay---Partly Cloudy---84 Degrees---17mph Winds---72% Humidity-----Casual Dress

Our second port in French Polynesia was Moorea, the sister island of Tahiti and a hop and a skip away from Papeete.  However, our itinerary showed we were to arrive at 9am at Opunohu Bay with scenic cruising beginning at 8am.   The Volendam left the harbor at Papeete sometime around 4am, so where did we go for five hours?  Apparently we were circling the area until we were ready to enter the bay.  Now here's the funny thing……we were already in the bay when we woke up.    What happened to the bow opening at 8am?  Guess it never happened nor was there any explanation of what changed the planned scenic sail in.  We have been lucky to have been here numerous times over the years, but the first time sailing into either Opunohu or Cook's Bay was memorable.  Many folks that are here on this cruise are first time "world cruisers" and would have appreciated the effort.   Anyway, we were here and anchored and ready to go ashore later in the morning. 

 

As you may have guessed, there were some tours here today.  Discover Moorea, a bus ride, was 3 hours and $80.  Also the same price covered a 2-hour lagoon cruise into both bays for 2 hours.  A snorkel safari was 3 hours for $100, and the Aito safari adventure was also $100 for 4 hours.  An island drive and Belvedere was 3 hours for $100, while Moorea highlights was 4 hours and $120. The Ohana catamaran escapade was 3  hours for $160 and dolphin-watching was also 3 hours for $170.  A popular excursion was the motu beach picnic and ray feeding for 5  hours and $180.  A photography expedition was 4 hours and $180.  One time many years ago, we took the ferry from Papeete with our host at the time.  We spent the day at a beach, then took the ferry back.  There was one problem that cropped up that day and that was traffic we did not anticipate getting back to the ferry landing.   Had we missed that ferry, we would have been stuck overnight and missed our ship.  Not a good feeling, we never tried that again. 

 

It was going to be another hot day in paradise as the 7am temperature was already 79 degrees with 72% humidity.  Winds were 16.5 mph which decreased during the day.  We stayed onboard until most of the excursions were taken off.  The tender boat was full of guests and one of the last seats in the front near us was taken by a man who talked incessantly about his career and flying  all around the world.  All we could say is "that's nice".  He continued on, but then his phone rang.  How funny is that?  It was his significant other who called to tell him to move and sit by her in the tender boat.   That way they could be the first ones off.   With that, he got up and moved, working better for us as it was really cramped for space.

 

As the driver approached the tender dock, he went straight ahead and rammed into the dock.  Gosh, we thought he put a hole in the boat it hit so hard.   Guess he was not watching and made a mistake.  Ropes were thrown and we were tied up snug so we could get off.  And we did quickly but did not see any damage.   The welcome group of musicians were there as well as the usual tables of precious souvenirs.  A sign posted on a pole stated that all of the pearls were genuine black pearls.   They may be of various quality, but they are real.  Good to know.  And as always, we looked for our sweet Tahitian lady that has been selling her designs for many years now.  And there she was, sitting in her same spot as always.  Her face lit up when she saw us as did ours.  This time she asked in broken English if we were from Hawaii.  Maybe because we always have a tan when we arrive here, or it is closer to Polynesia by ship.  She really laughed when we said San Francisco.  Then we inquired how long she had been working the souvenir stand, but she understood that as how old was she.  We never would have asked that, but she showed us eight fingers, indicating that was her age.  Gosh, she is close to our ages, which we never suspected.    Then we did buy one of her seashell designs with some blue shells to match the blouse I wore.   She was pleased with the sale and we wished her well as we continued our hike. 

 

Many independent tour guides were at the exit with good prices on excursions.   They had a lot of takers.   We headed up to the main road, turned right, and began our long walk to lunch somewhere.  Passing many private houses, a church, a few closed restaurants and fruit and veggie stands, we visited along the way with those who were out and about.  Being that it was Sunday, most locals were enjoying a lazy day raking leaves, hanging laundry, watching little ones, or simply hanging out.  Most all of the locals young and old are friendly. 

 

It took us a while to get as far as the old Intercontinental Hotel, due to the heat, we went from shade to shade tree, and bus stop to bus stop benches.  We had time and were in no need to hurry.  It would have been nice if it had rained.   The clouds came and went, and we did get some misting on the way back.  Anyway, we decided to check out Holy Steak House or as it is named these days Holy Delizes.   According to the internet ad and the sign on the road, they were opened for lunch.  It had better be after climbing the steep road to access it. 

 

Yes, they were opened and welcomed us to sit on their breezy patio.  They are located high enough to see over the palm trees right to the lagoon.  We ordered Hinano draft beers, the large size, then added a cheeseburger with extra fries to share.   Those Hinano beers are life savers for sure.  They had a nice chocolate mousse dessert, so we finished our meal on the sweet side.  As we walked out of the restaurant, the waitress handed us a shotglass full of pineapple rum.  Really tasty

 

We figured if there was a taxi that came by on the way back, we might take it.  However, no one stopped and we slowly made it back to the pier by 2:30pm or so.  While sipping some lemonade, we happened to talk to the beverage manager who was manning the stand.   We mentioned that it came as a surprise to find the Lido bar had Blanton's whisky at the special cocktail party we attended a few nights ago.  Actually, he said that the case was delivered by mistake in San Antonio, but they decide to keep it, selling the shots for $16.  Once it is gone, they did not know if they will get anymore.   We mentioned to him that we heard Carnival had Blanton's, which he seemed to know.  But HAL does not know if they intend to restock it.  Hopefully they will host another party for our group and we'll ask for the good stuff once more.   A tender boat had just arrived, so we had a quick ride back.  The air-conditioning never felt so good.

 

The Captain came on with his update around 5:20pm, with the all aboard time of 5:30pm coming up.   He claimed there were 25 more guests to be transferred, then the last tender would be loaded and we sail out of the bay shortly afterwards.  There was really no mention of why we missed the sail-in this morning.  We had another 149 nautical miles to reach Bora Boa tomorrow with the bow promised to be opened by 6am.   By the time we left Moorea, the temperature was still 84 degrees with12 knot winds, which may or may not have caused some problems early on.   By the time we went to dinner, we did catch a nice sunset as we left the island behind. 

 

Neither of us were really hungry at dinner tonight, and we think it was due more to the heat than anything else.  One of us had a Caesar salad and a bacon-wrapped tenderloin appetizer, which was so good it should have been an entr?e.    A bowl of Italian wedding soup was just right for a starter.  One entr?e was swordfish and the other was pork tenderloin….both were excellent.  Dessert was one sliced banana to fend off possible leg cramps and one scoop of vanilla ice cream.   

 

A comedian, Simon Palomares, was the entertainer in the World Stage this evening.  We heard he was hilarious. 

 

Ready or not – Bora Bora here we come………..

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

434 Pictures