Yee Haw - 2018 Country Music Tour - Just like Tamworth, but on a cruise ship!

We enjoy going to Tamworth, although we do not go every year, and in 2017 we picked up a brochure about a country music cruise. It was expensive, but it stayed in our minds as we love cruising, and every now and then I would check the website. In August, just under 3 months until the cruise, a price came up that we thought was good, considering the amount of artists that were on board, so we booked it. Booking was easy and a lovely consultant from Cruisin' Country was very helpful.

We were not disappointed. It was just like Tamworth, but on a cruise ship. The ship was Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas - our favourite RC ship (so far), so lots of good venues with stages.

We were particularly keen to see Mel and Susie,

Graham Roger (and Trevor Tolton),

and Graeme Connors, but there were so many more that were so good, that we are now keen to see. There was one song that I came away from the cruise singing in my head over and over, and it was one of Graeme Connors - Beach House - love it.

Most venues were perfect for the performers and more importantly, the passengers. Many evenings we spent in the Schooner Bar sitting in seats where we couldn't see the performers, but could still enjoy the music. Here we are enjoying the Hillbilly Goats - from a distance. Such fun.

The Colony Club was the same - if one could get a seat. We were fortunate to get good seats early in the cruise for the first performance of Tracey Killeen. She told the life story of Patsy Cline.

Pool area wasn't ideal, mainly due to the sun, but we did get to see many great artists there, especially when many were crowded into the Centrum to see Chad Morgan!!

One of the theme nights was True Colours and passengers were encouraged to wear sports team colours. Of course the Eastern Suburbs ROOSTERS were well represented. The pool party that evening was fun. 

We were disappointed with the venue for Mel and Susie. They did the morning show with other bush poets Grant Luhrs, Bob Magor, and Greg North in the Centrum. The Centrum is a great space, but it is not a good concert venue. Most of the artists that performed there also performed in other venues on the ship. The problem with the Centrum is there is not enough seating for the many many people who wanted to be there. The great Chad Morgan only appeared in the Centrum and the last Final Show. The Morning Show started at 9am each day and went until 11. I went past most mornings between 8-8.30am and all the seats were already taken and even going back anytime between 9-11am - no seats. Sadly only saw snippets of Mel and Susie as standing room only, and one can only stand for so long!! We felt sorry for the elderly who simply could not stand for any length of time.
Mel and Susie in the Centrum.

 

Chad Morgan in the Centrum.

Each night there was a Headliner Show that was repeated for each main dining room seating, and our cruise cards were different colours to indicate which show we were allowed access to. In reality there was not enough room for all passengers to sit in the theatre. By the end of the 7 night cruise, we needed to get to the theatre a good hour before the show to get a good seat - thanks goodness for drink waiters!

One of my favourites - Troy Cassar-Daley

We were introduced to so many other country music artists, and had the chance to see some favourites, like Allan Caswell. We got great seats in the Schooner Bar half way through his show when passengers left to get to another show early. 

As frequent cruisers we are use to cruising on Royal Caribbean and the Country Music Cruise is NOT like a normal cruise. Yes, accommodation, meals, entertainment are included but it was not the same. First, we did not see our cabin attendant once - have no idea of his name, or what he looks like - we did get two towel animals on the cruise. We like to have evening meals with the same people and the same table staff. This was not the case on the chartered Country Music cruise. We ended up eating in the Waterfront buffet with some people we met in the main dining room one night. Something to keep in mind next time we do Country Music Cruise. There are also not many of the 'usual' cruise ship activities. There was the 'belly flop' competition, but that was about all. I did miss the trivia quizzes that are a normal part of regular cruising. One thing we found interesting was the Drinks Package was more expensive on this cruise. We did two cruises 11 days apart, both on Royal Caribbean. The first, this Country Music Cruise, the Deluxe Beverage drinks package was $89.64 each per day. On the following cruise, 11 days later the price was $73.14 each per day. A big difference, with no reason for the difference. 

The cruise did include two ports: Noumea and Isle of Pines. We have been to both ports many times and stayed on board for Noumea, but did a local island tour off ship at Isle of Pines - see next blog post. We had a great time, especially with family traveling with us. This was island night in our favourite meeting place - the Champagne Bar.

We found that there was so much great entertainment on the cruise that we were never in the cabin - so the choice of an interior cabin was a good choice for this cruise. We loved the cruise and hope to go on the next one - with Michael Waugh, O'Shea, the lovely Amber Lawrence (that was also on this cruise), Camille and Stuie, Bob Corbett Band, and Gina Jeffreys.    

Sad, but all good cruises come to an end....

Days 13 and 14, were sea days, and I like sea days. I've already talked about the daytime activities, the quizzes, napkin and towel folding, the music. On sea days there are more activities to help pass the time. On Radiance of the Seas, there are a lot of inside seating, especially with a view outside. It was lovely sitting looking at the ocean pass by. I did miss this on the previous RCI Voyager Class cruises. I'm not sure why I have two 'day 13' - not to worry.

Lifts were not as bad as other RCI ships, although we did do a couple of 'going down to go up' rides. Also, we did a riding the lifts one evening when there was entertainment in the Centrum and passengers were standing two to three deep trying to see. We had a perfect view for about 15 minutes, before decided to go to the Champagne Bar. A negative, when getting off the lifts on Deck 11 to go to Windjammer or the pool, one was hit the smell of cigarette smoke. There was a similar, but not so powerful smell walking into dinner on Deck 5. Maybe the smoking areas should be restricted to areas away from the doors. There was also a lack of activities around the pool area.

Evening shows at the Aurora were pretty good. Some we had already seen, but were happy to go again. There was a lot of on-board entertainment in the evening, mostly in the Centrum. One needed to be there early to see the entertainment. We mostly sat in the Champagne Bar and just listened. There was room for the ship to have more seating overlooking the Centrum, but only the Cafe Lattitudes on deck 5 had seats overlooking the Centrum entertainment. Some evenings passengers pulled lounges over to the glass walls to see what was happening. Day 14 I got to the Cafe two hours before the scheduled dance I wanted to see, just to get a seat, and even then I had to wait for people to leave. It's a shame that more seating isn't provided on each deck overlooking Centrum, as most of the Centrum entertainment was very good.

There are a lot of bars on the ship. My favourites are all on deck 6. In fact, many of my favourite places are on deck 6. I told Jonnie, if you can't find me I'll be on deck 6 or around the adults pool on deck 11. The Champagne Bar made the best sparkling mojitos and chocolate martinis and Peter and I would go there each evening after the show to have a drink or two and watch the entertaining bar staff. We frequented the Colony Club for adult karaoke – just to watch, and the game show The Quest, so funny. Trivia quizzes were also held in the Colony Club and the Schooner Bar. The Schooner Bar always had music late at night, and the Schooner Bar was were we did the napkin folding.

The staff were very attentive and we were looked after very well. Just a shame the RCI booking process is not effective and booking staff are not totally honest. It is like they don't care, and maybe they don't.

Day 15 we arrived in Sydney early morning. Sydney Harbour is always spectacular and we never grow tired of seeing it.

Would we go again? I'd have to say yes, of course we will definitely go on other cruises - we love cruising - if the price is right and the timing good. Would we go on Royal Caribbean again? Yes, but maybe not book through RCI. 

Radiance of the Seas is a beautiful ship, and we do want to try Ovation of the Seas.

Happy Cruising.

 

Cruise Ship Destination: The Sounds of New Zealand

WOW, what a wonderful day of cruising the sounds in the Fiordland National Park. We ordered room service breakfast so we could sit on the verandah and watch the sounds go by. The first sound we cruised through was Dusky Sound. Dusky Sound is the largest sound in kilometres. 

In olden times Maoris would camp beside the water while hunting. Captain Cook recorded the sound on his first voyage to the southern waters in 1770, and it was Captain Cook who named the area Dusky Bay. On his second voyage in 1773, Cook established a camp and stayed for almost two months, repairing sails and other ships needs, including brewing beer. It is believed that this was the first time beer was brewed in New Zealand. We cruised past Anchor Island turning at Long Island to cruise past Resolution Island. Resolution Island is the largest island in the Fiordland National Park, and the seventh largest island in New Zealand. It was named after Captain Cook's ship Resolution. The sound has much bird life and many of the geographical features are named after birds. We sailed through Acheron Passage, past Resolution Island. Captain Cook named the passage 'New Passage' and it was also known as 'Resolution Passage. Acheron Passage was named by J. L. Stokes.

The next sound was Doubtful Sound. This is a long sound and the ship only cruised a section of it. This fiord has dolphins and seals, but we only saw tiny  black and white dolphins. We had time to have lunch in the Windjammer, and then head to the Schooner Bar. We were lucky to get a seat right next to the window and the views were amazing. Jamie and Karen joined us later. It was lovely sitting there listening to the odd announcement about the history or the geography or wildlife, and sipping chocolate martini's. We didn't go to far in, but cruised around Secretary Island.

Doubtful Sound was named Doubtful Harbour by Captain Cook in 1770, and he didn't actually enter the sound as he was uncertain if the sound would be suitable for a sailing ship.. I really need to look up Captain Cook's journey as I've learned a lot about his sailings both here and in Canada, and I realised that I didn't know much about Cook's expeditions.

We have stayed at Queenstown many times over the years, and also Te Anau and Lake Manapouri. My mum and I stayed at Milford Sound and enjoyed a half day sightseeing cruise to Mitre Peak. We have traveled to Milford Sound via road, but never by ship. I must say here, that I think it is more spectacular taking a half day cruise up to Mitre Peak. Don't get me wrong, the scenery was still amazing, but I remember it more so in a smaller ship.

Milford Sound is only a small sound, but seemed to have more waterfalls, and it must have been a deeper fiord, as the ship went right up to Milford. It is a World Heritage Site. Maoris have a long history with Milford Sound, and many Maori legends are derived from Milford. In Māori legend, Milford Sound was formed by Tu-te-raki-whanoa. He was  in charge of making the sounds / fiords. Early explorers didn't explore the sound, thinking it too small. In 1823 a sealer named John Grono named it Milford Sound after Milford Haven in Wales.

 A wonderful day, of beautiful scenery and great company and mmmm chocolate martinis.

 

Cruise Ship Destination: Port Chalmers, New Zealand

The following day, Day 11, the ship docked at Port Chalmers for tours to Dunedin. There were no buses put on by the local council for cruise passengers, so the ship charged $15 return to drop passengers off in Dunedin.

Marg and Steve's booked tour was great and we will do that next time. They booked it in Akaroa and paid for it at Port Chalmers when boarding. $99 each and it was a whole day including the Scottish Lanark Castle. Well worth the money. 

Peter and Jonnie had a walk around Port Chalmers. 

I stayed on board and enjoyed the view of Port Chalmers from the Colony Club. Staying on board when most passengers get off is great and one can get good photos of the ships different areas - without people!

The town was founded in 1844, and settlers started arriving around 1848. It is named after Thomas Chalmers, the Free Church of Scotland leader who died in 1847.

 The first frozen meat from New Zealand to the northern Hemisphere was from Port Chalmers in 1882. The Victoria Channel was dredged to make it suitable for container ships and in 1977 Port Chalmers became the South Island's deep water container port.

The passenger terminal had fast internet, and tables were set up for passengers to use.

 

Cruise Ship Destination: Akaroa, New Zealand

Day 10 -On the way into Akaroa Harbour we saw tiny dolphins swimming beside the ship, lovely to watch while having tea on the balcony. After the debacle with the tenders at Bay of Islands, we got out tender tickets before breakfast. We had finished breakfast and we were in our room getting our things for shore when our tender number was called, so that worked out well.

Akaroa is a lovely little fishing village first sighted by Captain Cook in the 1770's. It was first inhabited by the Maoris and the name Akaroa means long harbour in Maori. It was settled by the French in 1840 as a safe haven for whalers and sealers, and is the oldest colonial town in the South Island. The harbour was made from two extinct volcanoes.

There were a lot of tours available at the end of the wharf for both Akaroa area and Dunedin. Christchurch is a 90minute drive from Akaroa and shuttle buses are $45NZ return and leave 9.30 and 10.30. They return leaving Christchurch at 3pm. One can pay directly at the wharf. The same return bus booked on the ship does give one more time to explore Christchurch. They leave at 8am and cost $65.95US. There are local 2hr bus tours, $40NZ are also available from the wharf. One unique mode of transport was the old vintage car, a 30 minute tour costing $60NZ for 2 people. We also saw the trikes again. We found out too late that there was a free shuttle from the wharf down to the other end of the bay – and I thought I had done my homework – where there are markets on cruise ship days. Marg and Steve did a tour and booked another tour for Dunedin the next day.

We walked past many coffee shops and gift shops and when walking around the first block, down to the 'historical houses' we can upon a great fish and chip shop on the corner. It is across the road from the library and the free wifi, which was really fast.

The old homes were lovely. Walking around the bay one will come to the oldest dwellings in Akaroa and some quirkey places like the giant house – a famous mosaic garden and art galley. There are many short walks from the wharf to historical areas. The pop-up i-site at the end wharf will have details.

We were going to walk around to the other end of the bay, but I was way too tired from walking each day, and Peter and Jonnie were not interested in seeing the other older houses so we went back to the ship for afternoon tea.