Dockside Serenades When Cruise Ships Arrive in Port

An Istanbul Welcome

Brass bands, ethnic dancers, school choirs, bagpipes, drummers.....who have you been serenaded by as your ship docks? I love this part of arrival in a new port. The music really adds a bit of life to a dockside scene and gets me interested in finding out more about the port and the people.

Here is a photo gallery of some of my favourites.

Istanbul, Turkey

Lifou, Loyalty Islands, South Pacific

Noumea, New Caledonia

Savusavu, Fiji

Burnie, Tasmania, Australia

Port Klang, Malaysia

I hope these photos remind you of some interesting port arrivals on your cruises. Here's to many more!

Dining Options for 'Dining like a Norwegian' on Norwegian Spirit

A cover charge applies at the Asian restaurants

Would you like to dine on Asian food, French cuisine or hamburger and fries? How about pizza delivered to your stateroom or waiter service in the main dining rooms? Whatever you choose, you're sure to find something to tempt your taste buds on Norwegian Spirit as you 'dine like a Norwegian'.
   Complimentary Dining is included in your fare and there is a range of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as snacks in between times.
  There are two main dining rooms - Windows and Garden restaurants, both on Deck 6 - with menus that change daily as well as some popular dishes that are always available.
  The self-service buffet is Raffles Court open from early morning for breakfast till midnight for late night snacks. Outside that is Raffles Terrace on Deck 12 aft.
  In fine weather the outdoors Bier Garten serves snacks in the late afternoon, and the Blue Lagoon Cafe has American-style diner meals till the early hours of the morning.
  Cover Charges for Speciality Dining apply to several of the dining venues that are open for dinner.
   For Asian meals you can try the Sushi Bar, the Shogun Restaurant or the Teppanyaki Japanese restaurant where the chef cooks your food in front of you.
  Fine French fare is presented at Le Bistro gourmet restaurant with its elegant decor and the Cagney's Steakhouse seemed to always be a popular choice for many passengers.
  But if you feel like just a tasty light meal after a day's sightseeing, you can have a pizza for $5 in your stateroom.

Chocolate everywhere

And how could I almost forget to mention this! The super-scrumptious Chocoholic Buffet!

About Norwegian Spirit

Cruising with NCL

I was already familiar with the layout of Norwegian Spirit as I had cruised before in Asia on her sister ship, Superstar Virgo. The things I liked best on the ship were the extremely spacious public areas. The foyer on Deck 7 is a very large open space with a grand staircase leading up to a mezzanine floor of shops, restaurants and the Champagne Charlie's bar.

The foyer on Norwegian Spirit

The Grand Staircase with 3 elevators

Another favourite place of mine was the library with its comfortable chairs and large picture windows. There was a good selection of books in several languages.

Library on Norwegian Spirit

Some facts and figures about Norwegian Spirit:

• Passengers - 2,018
• Crew - 949
• Cruising speed - 24 knots
• Bars & lounges - 10
• Swimming pools - 2 & 4 hot tubs. On Deck 10 there is Buccaneer's Wet & Wild, a pirate themed swimming pool & play area for children.
• Dining options - 14. 

I'll write more about these in my next blog post. There were lots to choose from.

Renew Your Marriage Vows on a Cruise

Reaffirm your vows at sea

Here we are, just in time for Valentine's Day, an account of a 'Renewal of Marriage Vows' ceremony on Sea Princess.
   At the appointed time a large number of passengers gathered in the atrium. Some were couples ready to participate in the group ceremony; others as onlookers. The atrium was decorated with an archway of greenery and white ribbons and the string quartet and pianist played softly.
  It began with the cruise director, Peter Roberts, speaking about what reconfirming your marriage vows can mean to your partnership. Then a poem about love was read and the musicians played again.
  Captain Mario Ciruzzi then took the microphone and the ceremony proper commenced. The couples were asked to face each other and join hands. As the captain read the vows, the husbands repeated them. Next it was the turn of the wives to repeat their words after the captain. Then all repeated a verse about renewing their promise to each other. With that, the captain pronounced them husband and wife and gave the age-old instruction, "You may kiss your Partner."
   If you're on a Valentine's Day cruise maybe you'd like to do this, if you don't mind the ceremony being very public and in the company of strangers.

Celebrate Valentine's Day on a Cruise

A Valentine's Day Display on a Princess Cruise Ship

Celebrating Valentine's Day at sea involves as much (if not more) chocolate and hearts decorations as you'll see on land. So if you're a chocoholic, don't worry - you won't miss out!
  We were on Sea Princess last year on February 14th. Luscious-looking cakes featured in displays throughout the ship. Each passenger was given a Happy Valentine's Day card from Princess Cruises with the message 'From ocean to ocean... love knows no limits'. With heart-shaped chocolates, of course.
   

A Special Treat 

If you woke up hungry you could have a 'Saint Valentine's Day Champagne Breakfast' (charged for) as a special treat. The menu was for a half bottle of French champagne, breakfast pastries, fresh fruit and berries medley, smoked salmon on a brioche, and Quiche Lorraine.
  I don't know if it was my imagination, but everyone on board seemed extra smiley that day! The spirit of love was in the air!
  In the evening there was a Renewal of Vows ceremony. More on that in my next post.
  

First Time Cruising

P&O's Pacific Pearl 

My neighbour Jane's holiday on Pacific Pearl was the first time she'd been on a cruise so I was keen to hear her impressions. She made the most of her time on the ship, going to talks, shows and demonstrations. Here are some of the highlights:

• The Circus performances with acrobats, trapeze artists and jugglers putting on a great show in the atrium and outside on the top deck. Jane was interested to find out that there is a circus training school in Brazil and most of the performers were Brazilian and Columbian.
• The Captain's talk about the ship where she learnt about how the Pacific Pearl operates and the parts of the ship the passengers don't see.
• A cooking demonstration that was fun to watch as the chef and staff had a bit of a comedy routine going as well as making tandoori prawns, grilled steak and creme brulee.
• The night time entertainment. Jane was especially impressed with the 'Please Don't Stop the Music' show, featuring music from the 1980s and 1990s, with the singers and dancers having nine costume changes in the hour long production.
• The Galley Tour, a behind-the-scenes look at the food preparation areas.

Apart from a rough first day out from Sydney they had lovely weather and Jane, Derek and Gemma really enjoyed going ashore at Mystery Island and the Isle of Pines to swim and snorkel.

On the galley tour of Pacific Pearl

Thanks to Jane for sharing her thoughts and photos.

So, would she like to go on another cruise? Yes, yes, yes!

Children's Activities on P&O Cruises

Gemma and her dad, Derek, at Port Vila

Our neighbours have recently returned from their first cruise and loved it. They went on P&O's 'Pacific Pearl' on a 9 night itinerary that was a round trip from Sydney and visited Port Vila in Vanuatu, Mystery Island and the Isle of Pines.
   I was very interested to hear what 6 year old Gemma had to say about the children's activities on board. She was bubbling with excitement as she told me what she'd been doing in 'Turtle Cove', the programme for 3 to 6 year olds.
   "My really favourite part was watching the Sponge Bob movie. And the best part of all was the Talent Show. Oh, and the Ice cream Party. And my favourite food was the pizza, and the pancakes. And we did lots of art. And we did cheer-leading with big pompoms. We learnt a song about crabs and seashells and dolphins. And there was a dancing video game and playstations for pretending to drive a racing car and the kids had their own swimming pool."
  As Gemma was telling me all this, she was acting out the things she'd done, singing the songs and telling the jokes. She was one happy cruiser!
  

At Port Vila

On P&O ships, the 'Turtle Cove' programme is for younger children with hours from 9 am to noon and again from 2 pm till 10.30 pm. There is a children's dinner in the buffet each evening from 4.30 till 5.15 pm. Night time child minding services from 10.30 pm to 1.00 am can be arranged if registered before 8 pm. 
   For older children (7 to 10 years) there is the 'Shark Shack' activity programme.
   Gemma's mum, Jane, was impressed with the children's programme and the  kids' area. She said it was very clean and well-organised with a great range of things for the little ones to do. That's a good recommendation for any of you planning a family cruise.
 

Celebrating your Birthday on a Cruise

The Birthday Boy

My husband was really looking forward to his birthday this year. He would be celebrating it while we were on the cruise. I had put the date in the 'cruise personaliser' part of the online registration, so then it was a case of wait and see what the day would bring.
  Well, it brought a cluster of balloons outside the stateroom and a big 'Happy Birthday' poster stuck on the cabin door. Of course I had to take a photo!
  At dinner that night, some of the waiters gathered round the table and sang a rousing 'happy birthday' to him. He also got a delicious chocolate cake and a birthday card.
  However I didn't get to see all that. I was in the ship's infirmary hooked up to an intravenous drip! But he did save some of the birthday cake for me. I had it for breakfast the next day! It was delicious.

Fruit Carving - Fantastic!

Carved fruit with a Japanese theme

I love this! It is the most exquisite example of fruit carving I've seen. One lunchtime on 'Sea Princess' there was a Japanese themed meal. This carving graced the sushi display. Fantastic!

Observing Sunsets at Sea

You see beautiful sunsets at sea

One of my favourite times of the day onboard ship is sunset, especially in the tropics. I like to go out on deck, on the bow if possible, just before the sun is due to set. I've seen some truly wondrous sights then. The colours of the sky as it flares and reddens into stripes of oranges, pinks and scarlets; the sea as it deepens in colour and reflects the hues in the sky; and the fantastic cloud formations.

   I always take my camera with me to capture the fleeting spectacle.

  One spectacular sunset was when I was on Superstar Virgo, just as we were leaving Port Klang. The sun was an enormous red globe, the red as bright as traffic lights, and it seemed to hang in the same spot for ages before sinking over the horizon.

  This photo I took at sunset somewhere in the South Timor Sea. I'm hoping I'll see lots more beautiful ones as we cruise around the Pacific Islands - not long to go now!

Take a Hands-on Cooking Class at Sea

Get the apron and the recipes at a HAL cooking class 

On a cruise, one of the things I like doing is attending the cooking demonstrations. It's a chance to pick up some new recipes, learn some handy culinary tips and sample the dishes prepared by the chef. Sometimes it is fun to take things one step further and be part of a hands-on cooking class.

   On one Holland America Line cruise I did exactly that. The cost was $29 for a three hour lesson  in the Culinary Arts Centre, taken by the head chef of the Pinnacle Grill. There were 10 of us in the class, ready and eager to start cooking three dishes. Once we had all donned our aprons and collected our recipe cards, the chef explained what we would be making: Stuffed Turkey Roulade, Winter Squash Risotto and Pannatone Tiramisu. Yum! 

  The staff had pre-prepared some of the ingredients, such as roasting the squash and cutting the turkey breasts into slices. Now the chef divided up parts of the recipes between us so we were all chopping, peeling, and slicing. He was kept busy going around making sure that the risotto was being stirred the right way, that the stuffing for the turkey breasts was well combined, that the egg whites for the tiramisu were whisked to soft peaks.

   Then he got a bit creative with the dishes, adding ingredients that weren't written in the recipes - finely chopped rosemary in the risotto, a dollop of cream cheese in the turkey stuffing, spreading a thin layer of mustard on the turkey breasts. I had to keep putting my knife down to pick up my pen and write the extras down.

   The chef passed on some handy hints to us keen students. He showed us how to use just the one large knife, depending on how you held it, for all cutting, dispensing with the need for vegetable peelers or cleavers. His demo of dicing an onion was an eye opener for me. I couldn't believe how I had got to be this age without knowing how to cut one properly!
   Somehow or other, under his expert guidance, all the dishes came together beautifully at the right times and at last we were ready to 'plate up' the food.
  Then we adjourned to the Pinnacle Grill, the waiters brought our food to our tables, and we enjoyed a relaxed and delicious lunch. The woman who had been in charge of pouring the Amaretto liqueur onto the tiramisu had done her job very enthusiastically! I left the table feeling as if I was breathing fire!

Rugby Moments on the 'Rugby Legends' Cruise

A bar on the Volendam

The passengers on the 'Rugby Legends' cruise were mainly South African and Australian. I was expecting hordes of supporters to be roaming the decks wearing their countries' rugby colours and singing their national anthems - loudly. But it wasn't like that at all on the days we were onboard. Apparently the ship was awash with green and gold jerseys on the Sunday, but by the time we boarded on the Monday, the All Blacks had beaten the Wallabies and there wasn't an Aussie outfit to be seen! All was very quiet!

   The Piano Bar was designated the Springboks bar, the Crow's Nest was for Australians and the Ocean Bar was renamed the All Black Bar. Each was decorated with banners and flags both large and small, so they were very colourful. Large screen televisions continuously showed games from this Rugby World Cup as well as matches from the past.

   The Wallabies versus All Blacks game, which New Zealand won, seemed to be replayed a lot and had some of the Australians complaining that having to see it over and over again was 'rubbing salt into the wounds'!

Famous rugby people

   On the sea day there were several rugby themed events. People queued to have their photographs taken with the 'Rugby Legends', including famous Australian players Nick Farr-Jones and Mark Ella; the coach of the team that won the 1991 Rugby World Cup, Bob Dwyer; and the veteran sports broadcaster, Gordon Bray.

  In the afternoon there was a 'Legends Panel Discussion' and early evening was the time for a competition, Rugby Trivia.

  The 'Volendam' berthed at Captain Cook Wharf in Auckland, right next to all the action of the 'Fan Zones' created round the downtown area so those passengers who didn't go to the Bronze Final game on the Friday night could easily go ashore and soak up the party atmosphere that has been such an amazing feature of Rugby World Cup 2011.

Get Crafty on a Cruise: Make a Journal

The travel journal I made on a cruise

I love doing craftwork and so, when on a cruise, I often join in their craft classes. Give me some paper, glue, beads, wire and paint and I'll keep busy for hours!

  Paper blossoms, wine charms, earrings, ceramic painting and scrapbooking are some of the things I've tried at sea.   

  On one Holland America Line cruise I made a journal. We were provided with the actual book and a whole selection of scrapbooking papers, stickers and other bits and pieces. I didn't finish it during the class so at our next port of call I rushed ashore to a stationery shop to buy some glue so I could continue making  it.

   That journal is one of my favourite 'souvenirs' now. Each cruise I write in the funny moments and the magical ones. Leafing through the pages when I'm back on dry land after our holiday reminds me of  lots of pleasant memories. I can imagine myself being at sea all over again!

  There's quite a range of art and craft to try at sea. Have a go! Bringing home a souvenir of your trip that you have made yourself makes it extra special.

A Typical Day on Board Orion

Delicious food on board Orion

On the Orion Kimberley expedition, Lynn told me about a typical day on board. "There was a choice of three venues to have breakfast, all of them excellent. Freshly baked muffins and brioches were put out on the bar to have with coffee throughout the day. There was usually something on in the morning, either a shore tour or exploring in the Zodiacs. Then back to the boat for a sumptuous buffet lunch and another activity in the afternoon."
   The afternoon's activities could be: another shore excursion; a lecture about the history, environment, art or wildlife of the area; a presentation such as cake decorating and sugar craft, about mineral make-up or Paspaley pearls where passengers were shown how the pearls were grown and the shells opened; a tour of the navigational bridge or the galley.
  4 p.m. was afternoon tea time, followed by a game of trivia. Passengers met in the Leda Lounge before dinner for a drink and a briefing about the next day's destination.
   After dinner, which was a degustation menu, different every night, there was music and dancing to while away the evening.
   No wonder Lyn and Brien enjoyed themselves so much on the cruise! Eating all that wonderful food, visiting all those interesting places and being looked after by the friendly, knowledgeable and helpful crew.
  
  

Temptations Galore: Food on a Cruise

Cakes, cakes and more cakes on the Volendam

Look at those cakes! Could you resist them? All that sugar, butter and cream, you're thinking. But don't they look delicious. Aren't you tempted? You'll have just one. But when the waiter puts two on your plate it would be rude to refuse, wouldn't it?
   Every day on a cruise the food temptations are there. In the buffet, in the restaurants, out on the deck at the barbecue, beside the pool at the pizza parlour, at a themed dinner, during a formal high tea, not to mention the afternoon cookies and ice cream. What would you have?
   Some people go on a cruise and pile their plates high at every meal, determined to get their money's worth. Others are more choosy, picking the healthier options at the salad bar and declining cooked breakfasts in favour of fresh fruit and cereals. Still others eat more or less the same amount as they do at home, with a few extra treats gobbled up along the way.
   The enjoyment of food is a huge part of a cruise. You may be watching a culinary demonstration, taking a hands-on cooking class, perusing the menu at dinner, or lying in a deck chair thinking about your next meal.  But you can be sure that the chefs, the bakers, the pastry makers and the kitchen staff have all been working very hard to produce delicacies to enhance your cruise experience.  
  Now, which cake shall I choose? 

On SuperStar Virgo: What to do When the Sun Goes Down

Lido show lounge on Superstar Virgo

Once the sun goes down, the music, dance and magic come alive on SuperStar Virgo. There are several venues for evening entertainment and I wandered between them, enjoying the contrast between Broadway-style shows, piano music and dance parties.
   The Grand Piazza was the setting for pianist Shunmin to play oriental ballads on the grand piano. On the next night, the Santinig Trio entertained with 'Evening Melodies'.
   In the Galaxy of the Stars things were hotting up on the first night of the cruise with an Adults Only 'Hot Strip Off' party at midnight, promising that you could 'go crazy, feel sexy and be naughty tonight'! Hmmm!
   At other times in the Galaxy, there was a dance party with the Sound Clippers Lounge Band, easy listening music in the wee hours of the morning with the Elan Show Band, ballroom dancing, game shows and bingo.
   The Lido is the huge show lounge, seating over 850 people. I saw two of the best shows I've seen at sea there: a magic show and a Broadway-style production of song and dance.
   The magician was Philippart and his assistant, Anja. Direct from Monte Carlo, they combined comedy with tricks that were amazing. Colourful, kooky costumes, lighting and sound effects made their act quite a spectacle.
   'Reflections of Russia' was a stunning show with performers from Russia, Belarus, the Ukraine and Brazil. Acrobatic performances of skill and strength, and classical and modern dance numbers were all performed with grace and high energy. Add to that the visual effects beamed onto a huge screen background, the fantastic costumes and the rousing music. It was truly a spectacular performance.

SuperStar Virgo: The Grand Piazza

The Grand Piazza on Superstar Virgo

Statues in the Grand Piazza on board

The Grand Piazza on Deck 7, is aptly named - it certainly is grand, and enormous. Colourful stained glass ceilings glowed brightly and glass-fronted elevators rimmed with lights rose and descended on one wall. Sweeping staircases led past huge statues of a man and woman dressed as in ancient Rome. There, on the landing, was a stunning centrepiece - a trio of larger-than-life carved horses, frozen in mid-gallop with manes ruffled and nostrils flared. All very dramatic.

  On boarding the SuperStar Virgo, I was escorted into the Grand Piazza by a crew member and offered a choice of a glass of champagne or fruit cocktail as a welcome drink.  He then proceeded to go through the information sheet, point by point, with me. But all I wanted to do was look around and soak up the festive atmosphere.
   Cameras flashed, passengers raced up and down the stairs to have their photos taken in front of the horses, the band was playing - all was light and noise and colour. It was great!
   Those glass-fronted elevators gave me the heebie-jeebies though. I made sure I always stood close to the door, with my back to the transparent wall so I couldn't see us going up and down. Have I told you I'm scared of heights?!

Food, Food and More Food on SuperStar Virgo

Display at The Samurai Restaurant on Superstar Virgo

Food is always important on a cruise. Life seems to revolve around meal times and snack times and fancy afternoon tea times. Not to mention supper times and party food times and chocolate extravaganza times.
   On SuperStar Virgo there are 12 eateries. Three of them are free; at the others you have to pay for your meals.
   The Bella Vista is an enormous (free) restaurant, with seating for 586 people and serving European food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
   A 330 seat Chinese family-style restaurant called The Pavilion is also free for those meals. As its menu featured double-boiled pig's stomach and fish head curry for breakfast, I decided to stick to my yoghurt and muesli at the Bella Vista!
   The Mediterranean Buffet is the free, serve yourself restaurant with a wide range of dishes that are pork and lard free, catering for the religious dietary restrictions of many of the passengers.
   If you want to, you can pay a la carte and eat at more intimate venues. The Taj is an Indian, certified halal buffet. Or choose Noble House for Chinese, the Taverna for snacks, Blue Lagoon for Asian fast-food open 24 hours, or enjoy an ice-cream sundae at the Gelato Cafe. The Samurai, with this eye-catching display at the entrance, has Japanese food served by kimono-clad waitresses.

   At 11 p.m. on the first night my taste buds were tempted by the 'Choco Madness Party'. Luscious desserts were set out by the Parthenon Pool and we munched on chocolate treats while the band played at Sail Away.                                                       

At the Palazzo

   The Palazzo is a stunning, Italian, fine dining venue, done out in red and gold with a genuine Picasso painting hanging in pride of place. I got talking to the maitre d'. When he showed me the menu, I gulped at the prices. He didn't mind that I couldn't afford to eat there. "Come in and have a look anyway," he said. 'Sit down and I'll take your photo and you can pretend." So here I am, pretending to be champagne-drinking, caviar-eating rich!

Cruising in Asia with Star Cruises

On Superstar Virgo

Yes, I know it's not 'cruising the Pacific'! But I've been in Singapore for two weeks and while there, took the opportunity to go on a two night cruise on SuperStar Virgo. This is Star Cruises' largest ship, based all year round in Singapore. What a difference this cruise was from the other cruises I've been on.
   I think the average age of the cruisers would have been about 40. Most of the passengers were Asian and Indian, travelling in large family groups, from toddlers to grandparents. There were also many young Singaporean couples with babies and pre-schoolers. About 50 Australian and South African couples were on board - and me, on my own!
   The crew were great. Several took me under their wing, calling me 'Madam Wendy', putting me at the front of queues (despite my protests that I was happy to wait in line) and seating me by the window in the dining room. One even rushed over and gave me a hug as I was disembarking.
   The public areas of the ship were quite grand, with an enormous Grand Piazza (I'll write more about that in another post), two huge dining rooms and several themed smaller restaurants. There were the standard cruise ship features such as a show lounge that seats hundreds of people, bars and disco. But this ship also had private karaoke rooms, rows of slot machines for gambling in places other than the casino, and hardly any deckchairs. I think people in this hot and humid part of the world so close to the equator love to be inside in the cool air conditioning. Not many walked out on the promenade deck.
   I found the cruise fascinating for people-watching! Many cultural customs, family interactions, and senses of humour were different from what I am used to. I was glad I'd gone on this cruise for the experience of cruising with people from Asia and India. But would I go on one again? Probably not.

Holland America Line's Crew Training

Crew members on board Volendam

Smiles, courtesy and a desire to please are common traits among the largely Filipino and Indonesian crew members on Holland America Line cruise ships. How they remember passengers' names and favourite tipples is a miracle! One sweet waitress, who served us at the Pinnacle Grill one night for dinner, greeted me with "Hello, Miss Wendy" every time she saw me from then on around the ship - and I was only one of over 1400 cruisers on board.
     When I went to a talk on 'Life Below Deck', I was interested to learn about the crew training programmes. Holland America has built two schools for that purpose, one in Manilla, the other in Jakarta. Here crew members learn their jobs in conditions that simulate a real cruise ship. They live in cabins, cook in galleys, learn waiting, bartending and housekeeping skills in real restaurants, bars and staterooms.
   This gives them a chance to see if they are cut out for a life at sea - on 8 month contracts, working split shifts with no days off, living in a small space, always with other people around. As one of the officers said, "You might be the best chef in the world but if you can't handle the living conditions, you're no good to us!"
   Perhaps life on the ocean wave is not as glamorous as it first seems!