Sunday 10 January

Seas are expected to be rough today. Looking forward to some rocking and rolling.

Monday 11 January

Today we have some immigration matters to attend to. But we also have a lunch to look forward to.

Seventy-five people have signed up for lunch from our Cruise Critic group which we are looking forward to.

What a lovely gathering we had. Everyone seemed to enjoy chatting to people they had ‘met’ online. It is one of the joys of cruising – talking to others who enjoy travel from so many parts of the world. There were Americans, Canadians, English, German and a sprinkling of other nations.

I was very pleased it went off so well.

This evening we had this remarkable young man (he's older than he looks!) entertain us

He called on another Australian entertainer to join him - the show was really great

Tuesday 12 January

Today it was an early start. The Sounds! As members of the Captain’s Club we were invited to view the entry to Milford Sound from the helipad. 7.15am everyone was gathered to be ushered to the entry to the helipad on deck 6. No passenger access is allowed, unlike on Radiance of the Seas.

The weather was very gloomy approaching the coast. However, as we entered the sound and started changing direction the sunlight really gave Mother Nature an opportunity to put on a show. Clouds swirled around and the light provided an almost magical, surreal atmosphere. No wonder The Lord of the Rings franchise was such a success being filmed in New Zealand.

Milford Sound is only very short. Once we reached the end and offloaded passengers who were taking the excursion across country to meet up with the ship again in Dunedin, we headed out to sea again. This pause in the proceedings really also gives passengers a great opportunity to take in the sights of probably the most famous of the sounds.

Mitre Peak was shrouded in swirling clouds, not quite showing its peak. The waterfall was flowing steadily and the hanging valleys changed colour as the sun appeared here and there. There was some snow still hugging one of the more sheltered valleys where a glacier still carves its way through the landscape.

Next ‘stop’ Doubtful Sound. We have fond memories of an overnight journey on a small ship like the ones we saw when we were entering Milford. Only 70 passengers; it was a spectacular journey.

We joined other passengers on the helipad again, but did not stay long as the rain came. Never mind for us, but others who had not been before it was a pity.

After Doubtful we cruised further south and the weather did not abate. Dusky Sound was wet and windy. The helipad was closed, so we simply crossed from one side of the promenade deck to the other to view what we could.