Cruising from Sydney to Vancouver 2023 with Norwegian cruise 🛳 lines
10 May 2023
Day at sea
9th May 2023 Slept in and went to brunch with Dean and Ginger at the trough. Went back to the room and packed then went to the casino, played roulette and mark was having a good win, then we moved to craps and lost it but we had fun. Had dinner at the trough with mark then met Ginger and Dean for the show. Went to the Spinnaker lounge, had a bit of a dance with Ginger.
Ketchikan Alaska
8th May 2023 The deadliest catch. We started with a bus ride to Ketchikan the historic fishing port and the gateway to Alaska. The boat was so cool the seats were heated. We headed out to the indoor passage where the waters are calm, the crew said that there was a difference between fishing and catching fish. We took off and it was a bit fresh up the top but I suffered it. We saw 2 whales on out way out. They had this tank of crabs which were huge. It also had some shellfish, starfish and prawns in it. The prawns are red up here. As we were walking around the boat, I saw them make put bait on a lot of hooks and put them to the side. The first line that was bought up had a rock fish and that was that. The we went a bit further and they fed the eagles and there was about 20 of them swooping down and getting the fish with their claws. They are a beautiful animal. Then the lifted up the prawn net which had starfish, prawns and shellfish. We got to hold all three of them until we threw them back into the river. Then they bought up what looked like rock crabs and small king crabs. We got to hold these crabs. Interesting fact, the crab sheds its skin once a year. The next line they bought up was the king crabs and when it came up I though it was full to realise that they were rubber as those crabs do not swim there anymore and the trap is for tourists. We headed back to shore and saw more whales on the way. Had dinner with Ginger and Dean
Juneau Alaska
7th May 2023 Juneau is the capital city of Alaska located in the Gastineau Chanel and the Alaskan panhandle. We didn’t do much today, we walked the town, went to the big dog saloon and then back on the ship.
Skagway Alaska
6th May 2023 We rode on a dog sled pulled by a team of Alaskan Huskies at the summer training camp. We started our trek with a 30m bus trip to the mushers camp in Dyea Valley. Then we got into the Multi-purpose 4 wheel drive for the ride through the rainforest and up the mountain to the dog team where 16 Alaskan Huskies were barking and carrying on and ready to take us on our ride through the rainforest. We then got the meet all 16 Huskies and give them a pat. Their fur was very thick and soft. They had settled down by then, but when we went to leave they flared up again with barks and restlessness. We then went back down to the camp and cuddled the puppies. Their fur was very very soft and not as thick as the older dogs.
Glacier Bay Alaska
5th May 2023 Day at sea and looking at Glacier Bay National Park. In 1980 the area became a national park and preserve, and 3.3 million acres received wilderness designation. It is now a World Heritage Site and occupies the northern most section of the southeastern Alaska coastline, between the Golf of Alaska and Canada.
Icy Strait Point Alaska
4th May 2023 Ziplining, how mush fun was that. It was in a line of 6, first was Ginger then Dean then me and Mark was 5th. We got strapped in and it was like we were sitting in seats, kind of cramped up. We were all waiting and then the gates opened and then we were on our way and it was so scary going down the face of the cliff where there was snow then the cliff dropped and so did our seats and we were soaring through the air. I had a poncho on and I opened my arms so it looked like I was a bird or flying with my batman cape. All 4 of us were laughing and laughing when we got to the bottom. The ride was for about 90 seconds. We then went for a walk into town where we passed some shops on the way that had a lot of souvenirs, we decided to carry on into town and when we got there, we saw everyone get off the bus, so we knew we were in the right place. We stopped into the first brewery, and I had a shandy. Nobody has heard of a Shandy, so I taught them how to make it and gave Ginger and Dean a sip. We walked alone the path and saw a man doing a totem pole and he told us the story of the pole. Then we saw 2 little tents where they were selling arty stuff and we bought a brownie. And that was the town so we headed back and saw about 4 whales playing out in the water, they were blowing out air, diving under the water and having a whale of a time. They entertained us all the way back to the chair lifts. Then we caught the gondola back up the hill and took a few pictures and went back to the ship.
5 days at sea
3rd May 2023 Had breaky with Ginger and Dean. The swell is still pretty big but the boat is not rocking as much. We went to the casino with Dean and watched Ginger play a game of poker. Then Dean played. They both got bombed out. Went to the gym and lifted weights. We had Teppanyaki for dinner tonight, watched the singer in the stardust and then went to the casino. I played craps, roulette and Texas hold’m poker I lost all my money, but I had fun. The nights are getting shorter, sunrise is at 5am and sunset is at 9pm.
2nd May 2023 our 4th day at sea and it is getting really cold now. We are in the middle of nowhere and heading for the snowy area. We had Breakfast with Ginger and Dean. Our cruise is coming to an end with 10 days to go. I want to go home but I am going to miss all the people who I have met and have had good times with and made everlasting memories with. I am not feeling that crash hot today as the waves were really big the boat was rocking it was freezing, we didn’t go for a walk. French for dinner I had the duck.
1st May 2023. Breakfast with Ginger and Dean at the Local watched cake masters and did trivia. It has dropped further in temperature I am wearing jeans and a thin jumper. We made it ½ way around the ship on our walk and had to resort to the Gym due to the cold and overspray gushing up over the sides. Went to the casino and checked out some tables. Called Jess for her birthday. Had Cagney’s for dinner with Deborah and Ken and watched to Comedy show and he was an Australian and I gave him a Coowee.
30th April 2023 At sea again, clocks an hour forward and missed breakfast with Dean and Ginger, but we made it for lunch. The swell is very big and the ship is rocking a lot. It has dropped in temperature. 8 laps of the ship.
28th April 2023 went for breakfast with Dean and ginger 🫚. Did 8 laps, gym workout, lunch in the trough, art auction, 🎨 wine 🍷 tasting, latitudes party, teppanyaki, illusionist show then bed.
Hilo Hawaii
27th April 2033 went to wallmart and bought all the kids their Hawaii presents. Met Dean and ginger 🫚.
Hahiliui Hawaii
27th April 2023 going on a bus trip to Lahaina we went to this pizza 🍕 place and they were beautiful.
Nawiliwili Kauai Hawaii
26th April 2023 we are back to the iceman's close shave.
Kona Kailua Hawaii
25th April 2023 mark went to ANZAC day at 6am. We went to the shore and bought an octopus 🐙 toilet roll holder. We wanted to go to the seahorse farm but the booking was too late and we didn't make it. I still cant remember this stop.
Honolulu Hawaii
24th April 2023 Red lobster the last lunch with tickets 🎟 and April. I will miss you two.
Nawiliwili Kauai
23rd April 2023 Waimea canyon hired a vehicle and went with tickets 🎟 and April to the canyon and the spouting horn blow hole and a lovely waterfall. We got to see it working this time ⏲️ and we saw some turtles. Had subway on the way back to the ship 🚢. We bought a 4 pack of rum to drink in the car. Mark spilt his in the back seat floor.
Waimea Canyon was a breath-taking experience, in the middle of the island we drove to see the most natural attractions. We drove through the tunnel of trees along the Kauai’s south coast. The canyon has an array of colours created from the reds and browns of the exposed volcanic rick mingled with the blues and greens of the lush vegetation. The magnificent gorge is 10 miles long 1 mile wide and 3000 feet deep.
The blow hole was a flat piece of volcanic rock with a small hole in the middle which was blowing a lot of water at the time we were there.
Tickets realised that we could not get around the island so we turned back and what I thought was going back to the ship so I shut me eyes for a little nana nap and when I woke up I could see the gulf course and then we were going through little towns and I thought we were nearly at the ship so there was not much chatter in the car but April was unwrapping lollies for tickets and feeding them to him. So we get about ½ an hour along the road and Tickets decides to turn around as we were past the port. We stopped at a little shopping area where Tickets and April went to get some shaved ice. April came back to the car whilst we waited about ½ a hour for tickets to return. We were all very quiet and starting to get a bit anxious. Tickets then realised that we needed to get back to to the ship as time was running out. We headed off and April was feeding Tickets his Shaved ice and it starts raining. Then the traffic starts slowing and comes to a stop. April and Mark are very quite and were looking at Google maps to see where we were. Time was ticking and we all were getting very nervous. The traffic cleared and we got some speed up. We made it to the Airport, dumped the car and ran to the shuttle bus that dropped us at the airport terminal. We had to ring a cab and waited. It was 5:15pm and the ship left at 5:30pm. We were all nervous and was not saying much to each other. April was staking in the middle of the road waiting for the taxi. The taxi came and the driver must have been the oldest driver ever. He was about 80yo, he did not hold the steering wheel at all and he drove about 10mile under the speed limit. Still, no one could talk. But at least he drove us the ship. As we approached the ship, we could see that all the ships equipment was packed up the security was standing around the gangway looking like they were ready to pull it up. We all jumped out of the taxi and ran for the boat. We had to go through security and Mark had to be wanded but the others ran and got on the boat. Mark followed up behind up and he was told 30 seconds to go. We got clapped from the guests. As soon as I got on I felt a load off and everyone started talking again and I hope Tickets does not get another Shaved Ice again.
Day at sea whilst heading to
23nd April 2023 Went past a big island whilst doing our 8 laps. Went for a spa, had lunch in the troff with tickets 🎟 and April and then tapinyarkie for dinner 🍽. Watched the movie 🎬 marry me J Lo and Owen wilson in it.
Maui Hawaii
21st April 2023 we docked and could not recognise where we were. We caught a taxi to the airport 🛫 with tickets 🎟 and April, hired a car and headed for the summit via Lahaina where we got a pineapple 🍍 soft serve. Then we headed up the mountain ⛰️ side Haleakala Crater the temperature 🌡 was beautiful and as we were climbing around the winding road it was getting colder and 🥶 we made it to 10000 feet above sea level, got out, ran around, took some photos 📸 then left. On our way back to dropping the car 🚗 back we stopped ✋️ at sonic a burger joint. 🍔 where you park yr car and order and they bring it to the car and you eat it there. 😋 we even had to order outside and they bought the food outside to us. The waitress asked if we were visiting. Then we went to rich dead peoples stuff for sale which was a very expensive 2nd hand store.
Hilo Hawaii
20th April 2023 firstly immigration then we decided to walk into town 7.6 km. We shopped 🛍 around and caught the bus back to the port.
Day at sea
19th April 2023 played shuttleboard, went to windows 🪟 for lunch, taste for dinner and watched 👀 the Russian acrobatics. 7 laps. The sea is very rough and the boat 🚢 is rocking enough to make me slightly ill. My face is peeling 😩
Day at sea
18th April 2023 played ▶️ cards with mark, Tickets 🎟 and April, had Asian for dinner watched blazin boots 👢
Day at sea
17th April 2023 my forehead and legs are still pretty red and sore from sunburn. Went to the gym for a workout 💪 with mark. Watched the comedian. Now we are in Spring.
Day at sea
16th April 2023 Went for a workout then met tickets 🎟 and April and played may I. Had dinner at taste and watched the illusionists show again. Watched the movie 🎬 by the pool.
Raiatea French Polynesia
14th and 15th April 2023 mark is sick 😫 today. So I went shopping 🛍 not many locals spoke English. Bought some presses for the kids. I arranged to go quad bike riding tomorrow. Got up nice and early to go quad bike riding and the lady was not there so we went jetsking instead. We got to swim with the sharks again, went to a island where our guide peni cracked open 2 coconut 🥥 one had a fluffy treat inside and the other had milk. I rode to the island 🏝 and mark drove back. Carney's steakhouse for dinner.
Moorea French Polynesia
13 April 2023 went swimming with the sharks and stingrays. They came right up to us and swam around. Snorkelled further out and seen lots of fish. It's quite pleasant ☺️ weather today. The water 💧 is a beautiful 😍 temperature. The stingrays feel like wet velvet there were 3 of them swimming around, coming up under the table. There was 1 shark 🦈 swimming around wanting pats. When snorkelling out further there were schools of different fish 🐟, big ones small ones and multi coloured ones. We had lunch. I has the fish 🐟 and rice 🍚 mark had chicken and chips. Now this fish was caught local and fresh delicious 😋. Once lunch was over we caught the boat 🚢 back to the ship and met up with tickets 🎟 and April for dinner 🍽. I still not eating much due to last night's episode but feeling better 😋. Today was just picturesque like just in a movie.
Papeete French Polynesia Tahiti
12 April 2023 we went ashore with tickets 🎟 and April walked to the markets. We then found Avis and hired a car. April and I went to the toilets 🚻 and oh my gosh they had the males troff in the hallway next to the shower and then a toilet that had no seat and was really small. We drove around trying to find the tourist attractions on the map but got lost. We went to where I thought was the end of the road blow hole but the map was wrong. We then tried to find a lookout and went down this back ally and saw someone doing their washing in the creek and it ended at someone front yard. The next stop we did find the blow hole but it was raining and we didn't get to see it. On the way to the scenic lookout 🎟 chucks a uturn and stops ✋️ on the side of the highway 🛣 gets out and approaches the police vehicle and asks to swap a patch. The officer had limited English and was could not understand what tickets wanted. 😳 ticket's continued to wave the patch in his face and out of frustration 🫤 the poor officer rips the patch off his sleeve and gives it to ticket's. Tickets 🎟 gets back in the car and told us we need to get off the road as a funeral prosession was coming through and the police were there to lead it. Then we went to find a scenic lookout and drove up some dodgie goat track. All the way up, took a photo 📸 and turned around and went back to the ship 🚢 . We dodged the pot holes and wound up and down reversed back to let other cars through as we were going the wrong way down a one way goat track with a mountain ⛰️ on one side and a cliff on the other. The markets were closed. Pissed. On the way back to the ship we had a smoothie which was delicious. Within 1/2 an hour my stomach was starting to hurt. I had some soup for dinner 🍽 and had to go back to the room where I was violently ill 🤒. Not a good night for me.
Moorea French Polynesia
11 April 2023 so I got up and left without mark, had tea 🍵 for breakfast and went to the island where I milled around for a while there were market stalls but no place to go walking. There were tours. So I went to go back to the boat and tickets 🎟 and April got off the tender. We went for a tour around the island 🏝. It is so beautiful 😍. There are no spiders or snakes on the island. We saw the bungalows and chickens. I sat in the back with the 4 Asians from Sydney who were taking their 84yo mum on a holiday. We went to a pineapple 🍍 plantation then to the factory 🏭 😋 where we tasted their delicious liquor 😋 😜 and fruit juices.
Raiatea French Polynesia
10th April 2023 we went to the pearl farm today and saw then cut the edge from a oyster then put the cuttings into another oyster to get another coloured pearl. They took the pearl out of an oyster and replaced it with the same sized middle bit to make another pearl. This process takes 2 to 8 years to complete. Tahiti is a beautiful 😍 place. It is neat and tidy. By the time we got back from the pearl farm most places were shut. We had Italian for dinner 🍽 I had some tomato 🍅 red and green with this big blob of cheese and cream and ham for starters and then lobster 🦞 pasta for main. No dessert tonight. Mark got very drunk 🥴 and he was degrading me at the top of his voice. I was going to tip his chair 💺 over but April changed the subject.
Day at sea
9th April 2023 Easter Sunday. Got up at 9am. Missed breakfast headed straight for lunch. Played cards in the spinnaker lounge and April and tickets 🎟 found us. Watched the acrobatics in the stardust theatre 🎥.
Day at sea
8th April 2023 went for a behind the scenes tour. We got to see back stage, through the galleys, the laundry, engineers room and the bridge. Played cards with mark. Had dinner with Valerie and Ian, April and tickets 🎟 at Windows. The boat is really rocky and it is very windy.
Pago Pago American Samoa 🇼🇸
7th April 2023 ship 🚢 tour Essence of Tutuila. Firstly we went to the beach ⛱️ that grew rocks. Then we went to where in the olden days the males used to catch all the pigeons to give to the fathers for their daughters hand in marriage. This place was a bit dirty. Actually the whole island 🏝 is full of junk. Then we stopped ✋️ at a beach ⛱️ where there was some houses which the front yards are a big covering and the graves in the front yard. They still have villages with chiefs who up until about 100years age they ate the villagers babies. They have prayer time between 615pm and 7pm. There is no person allowed out of their house and curfew for under 18s at 9pm till dawn. The drugs are pretty bad and the suicide rate is up.
Tia Seu Lupe
Fatu ma futi
Day at sea
6th April 2023
Apia Samoa
6th April 2023 we went into the fruit and vegie market with April and tickets 🎟. The only fruit they have is star fruit, green oranges 🍊 banana 🍌 and it's trunk, some sort of root thing, lots of pumpkins 🎃, avocado 🥑 and they were huge, cacao, turmeric, charcoal and kava. I bought some kava to take home and I bought the chiefs wishing well over the shoulder thrower for when someone dies. Then we went into a supermarket where the small jar of Maccona coffee ☕️ was 62taro. We then went to a little Cafe. I had a scone which tasted like a cross between a scone and damper. We didn't really mix with any of the locals as when we were walking around the markets and we spoke the didn't understand what we were saying especially the kids, they just stared at us. We got in the taxi to go the the Cafe and the driver didn't understand a word of English and headed back to the ship. Cagneys steakhouse for dinner tonight.
Day at sea
5th April 2023 we didn't get out of bed until 1130 but in my defence we have put our clocks forward 3hrs. We met tickets 🎟 and April in the pigs 🐖 troff and had some lunch, then went for a spa and I started with the mudslides and mark started with his long Island 🏝 iced tea. We did 4 laps of the deck. Went back to the pigs 🐖 troff for dinner 🍽 and the drinks kept coming. Watched blazing boots in the theatre 🎥. The boat was very rocky and the pool was like a wave pool.
Dravuni Fiji
4th April 2023 This is a little island paradise where the water is crystal 🔮 clear. I bought a syrong just to give the locals some money 💰 we ate at the pigs troff for dinner 🍽. We went and saw the show which was Freddie Queen 👸 did 4 laps.
Lautoka Fiji AKA Bullseye 🎯
3rd April 2023 i got off the boat and got swamped by the Fijian tour guides which lead to a flashback to Bali. Ziplining through the Fijian jungle. What a day. There were a huge amount of steps to climb. One guy was vomiting 🤢. The tour guide did the whole tour with no shoes. We went to the cave but didn't go in. They still have villages with a chief who is the boss of the village. We had French for dinner and I had the raw mince. It tasted a bit like mince patte.
Day at sea
2nd April 2023 Slept in played deal or no deal did 5 laps of the deck. Watched the show.
Mystery Island
1st April 23 what a gorgeous, gorgeous 😍 island 🏝 the water was a beautiful crystal 🔮 clear 28 degrees. The island 🏝 was vary small possibly where Giligan lived with the skipper, movie 🎬 star, the millionaire and his wife, professor and Mary Anne. My knee is a lit better and hardly any pain. I have no back pain at all. I have been taking a sleeping tablet at night. My heart ❤️ burn 🔥 has gone and I have more and more energy now. Mark is going well. Had tapinyarkie for dinner.
Lifou
31st March 2023. The island 🏝 Lifou. The water is crystal 🔮 aqua, the air is muggy and there are a lot of hills. We walked up to the small cathedral which was a hike 🚶♀️. The beach was closed but we found another one which was a bit of a treck down. We didn't go swimming 😕 due not being able to get out of the water 😒. The place is very overgrown since I was here with Nancy a couple of years ago. Mark and I got wet because of the rain. Probably first time it has rained on a cruise 🛳 but it is the first time mark didn't bring an umbrella. DRINK OF THE DAY: CUP OF TEA WITH BAILIES MMMMMMMMK
29th March 2023 SEAS THE DAY all day at sea. It is overcast today and it rained in the afternoon. We met John and Gretchin from California and we are having dinner with them, Tickets 🎟 and April. Toured the ship. This is a nice ship 🚢. Dinner with tickets 🎟 April John and Gretchen.
29th March 2023 We are on the Norwegian spirit ready to set sail. It is slightly raining but it is still hot. We went for lunch with mum and dad and shelby. Tickets 🎟 and April are already enjoying a beverage. We sailed under the harbour Bridge
28th March 2023 We got off to a good start. 👍 got up at 4am showered and off to the airport. Booked our luggage in and went to line up at security. Now this line was 10 times longer than usual. Security told us that we could go to priority check in for virgin members. So we decided to go down there and they wouldn't let us in and they didn't have our flight details. Anyway we went back to the long line and security took us to the front of the line THANKYOU so we make it to the virgin lounge to find our our flight had been cancelled. Thankyou to the ladies at the front desk who sorted that out for us. So we fly into Sydney to catch the train to the cruise 🛳 terminal. Mark decided to take the lift and I took the escalators. Mark got lost and eventually got on the escalators and found the train station 🚉. So we are on the way to circular quay to meet mum, dad and shelby for lunch to find out we are at the wrong terminal. We had lunch at circular quay and rushed off to whites Bay the correct terminal where the line was massive but this time ⏲️ we did get priority boarding and skipped the line up. Even though we had a few hiccups it was a good day and we made the departure to set sail ⛵️ into the overcast.
