Blog for Saturday 24th October 2026

 When I woke up we were already docked in Tauranga! This time on our side of the ship and can you believe this – another picture-perfect day was delivered to us! Absolutely wonderful!

Shoo, this cruise of a lifetime is going by so fast, but what an incredible experience Ken and I are having as this is one BIG ship. It can carry up to 3521 guests and there are approximately 1377 staff on board too! So, no little tinny is this ship!

Where the amount of passengers on board becomes obvious to me is we have never seen the same people twice. You know, people we have struck up a conversation with once and then have never seen them again on board, and NO, they were NOT hiding from us, okay! There are so many place of entertainment, lounges and bars, dining rooms and restaurants it is no wonder really that we do not see the same people twice!

I took this photo from our verandah of some of the passengers getting off the ship and off to the different tours.

Ken and I went down to Deck 4 for a coffee and we relaxed there watching the passing people. I had wanted to take part in the Trivia show but when I got to The Club where it was meant to ne, the powers that be had moved it so I was late in getting to the new room – which was in the Martini Lounge, but just as well as it was a phoeffie one! I listened from the Deck above it and was glad that I was only listening!

Ken and I had another coffee and then returned to our cabin. Ken to have a good snooze and me to read or rather listen to my audio book as I waited to go to the ‘Watercolouring” session.

I made my way to “The Club’ for the Watercolouring” session and there laid out for one were brushes, watercolour paints, paper towels and several different designs to choose from. I loved it as it was therapeutic and very relaxing. There were quite a few people painting as well, which surprised me as many passengers were off touring Tauranga today. It was fun for me.

Two hastily painted pictures … but fun to do.

I came back to our cabin and Ken was awake which was good.

We are off to the “Cosmopolitan Restaurant" tonight – we have not been there before, so I am looking forward to that.

Actually, while I was waiting for the Water coloring session, I saw that I had booked at the “Le Grand Bistro” again for tomorrow, so I tried to cancel it online, but in the end, I went to the restaurant in person and cancelled it as I did not want to pay another $72 just to get in when we were not going to go there! Done! Good girl.

Tonight we will go – well, not sure if Ken wants to – but I definitely do – to The Theatre to watch Jarred Feel. He is a comedian magician and has performed on TV3 and NBC – should be interesting. I think we (or just me) may have to attend the late show as our mealtime may clash with the first show unfortunately.

Yes, we both went to the late show and it was great! Over dinner we met another couple and had a good chat and then the evening ended for us at the show which was well worth attending.

What lesson did I learn today? To just give it a go! So I did!

What am I grateful for today? The exquisite weather we have been having on this cruise.

My saying for today is …