Day 66: Napier

Today was football, football, football, from morning to night, interspersed with three meals in the DaVinci Dining Room, a Captains Circle Party, and a nice walk in the Art Deco town of Napier, on New Zealand’s North Island. Add to it stellar weather, and both of us feeling significantly better, and you’ll know it was a good day. . 

We were at breakfast with Samuel and Arjun when the DaVinci Dining Room opened at 7am. We love having this table by the window from which to watch our sail ins; the downside is that we don’t want to take it for granted, so we are there, like clockwork every morning. It’s a bit like working again, this having to be somewhere first thing in the morning. We feel it’s worth it. And Samuel and Arjun are the best.  We are very, very spoiled.  

Day 8 breakfast menu

Starting my day with lots of vitamin C

I still couldn’t taste my food at breakfast but could feel I was on the very edge of a breakthrough. It wouldn’t be long, I knew, and I couldn’t wait. This has been a long almost two weeks!  After breakfast, we returned to our cabin to find the first of three NFL games on ESPN2, those games being played in Thanksgiving Day at home.  Now, we have been seriously football deprived, which, considering how our Broncos have been playing, is more of a blessing than a curse.  But we stayed in and watched until the end of that game, and then walked off the ship onto a waiting (free) shuttle to town. 

In Napier, the ship docks at a commercial port, but it’s just a short distance from the city (it’s actually a small town). Within 5 minutes we were dropped off at the i-Site, the New Zealand version of a tourist information center, right on Marine Parade Road along the beach. Napier’s primary claims to fame are as a gateway to the Hawke’s Bay region, with its many vineyards, and its Art Deco design. When the city was razed by an earthquake in 1931, it quickly rebuilt in the style of the day, and Napier plays this up to the fullest. Antique cars offer city tours, locals are dressed in the attire of the 30’s, shops offer vintage clothing and local musicians play the music of that day on the streets. 

We walked through the town for about an hour, soaking up the ambience, but, honestly, a little of that goes a long way, and I was ready to see Napier’s natural beauty. And it’s right there, as a black sand beach lines the entire western edge of town for miles.  It’s spectacular. 

There is a boardwalk that runs along the beach all the way back to the port, and the day was so beautiful that we decided to walk back to the ship, just as we did two years ago. ‘That foot’ is feeling the best it has felt since I injured it 27 years ago. I’m sure part of it is the prednisone that I just finished taking this morning, but I am like an 18 year old with a brand new car,  I want to try it out and see what it can do. And what I really want is to walk long distances on level, even surfaces with a view, and this boardwalk was a perfect example of that. We could see thousands of recently planted annuals in flower beds along our walk; my only disappointment is that we won’t get back here again to see them at the height of their season. 

A perfect bird of paradise 

Once we reached the port security gate, we had to wait for a bus to board to take us a couple hundred feet to the ship. That’s ok, we knew from two years ago that we would need to do that. Napier has cruise ship visits down to a science. They are extremely well organized, very friendly, and offer a spotless town with a unique experience. It is a bit like Disney Does Art Deco.

We arrived back at the ship at noon, and went directly to the DaVinci Dining Room for lunch. The dining room was open for lunch today because we were sailing at 2pm, and all guests had to be back on board by 1:30pm. Hot and sour soup was on the menu, and I had three bowls of that as my lunch.  Frankly, that’s my favorite ‘cold food’ at home, hot and sour soup from the local Chinese restaurant. It always makes me feel better, and so it did today, too. 

Day 8 lunch menu, page 1

Day 8 lunch menu, page 2

It was a beautiful day, and the outside decks were full of sun bathers and swimmers, but we returned to our cabin.  We wanted to continue to watch football, plus we needed the rest. This short port day is well timed on this itinerary, and gives passengers a little break right in the middle of the cruise. We watched the games and texted friends at home until it was time to get cleaned up for dinner. 

Day 8 dinner menu, page 1

Day 8 dinner menu, page 2

Day 8 dessert menu

I had salmon, broccoli and a slice of quinoa loaf (I love that and need to find a recipe to make it at home) for dinner. And, for the first time in several days, I had sorbet for dessert. My taste buds are working at about 75%, and 75% of the taste of pina colada sorbet is still pretty darn good. 

We asked new friends Helen and Allen to join us as our guests for tonight's Captains Curcle Party.  We were honored to be this cruise’s Most Traveled Guests.  The top three ranged from the 700’s to 1100’s days, and Michael and Leone were second most traveled. It was the Golden Princess all over again. We missed the 7:30pm Princess Theater performance, and didn’t want to stay up for the 9:30pm show, but I think we’ve seen multi-instrumentalist Michael Young before, maybe even this year (I need to search my blog, because performers are kind of starting to blur together). We have a long day tomorrow in Tauranga, and then two more port days after that, and I have some major walking plans. ‘Cause I’ve got places to go and the feet that will take me there. 

Life is very, very good. :-)

Napier Port Guide, page 1

Napier Port Guide, page 2

Napier Port Guide, page 3

Napier Port Guide, page 4

Day 8 Princess Patter, page 1

Day 8 Princess Patter, page 2

Day 8 Princess Patter, page 3

Day 8 Princess Patter, page 4

Day 40: Napier

Like yesterday’s port of Picton, today was the only time this season we’ll be in Napier, our first stop on New Zealand’s North Island. Fortunately, though the morning offered the predictable low cloud cover, it burned off rather quickly and by noon became mostly sunny. For the first time in New Zealand, we left behind the coats and wore just fleeces. 

After a quick breakfast in the Horizon Court Buffet (apple wedges with peanut butter and pumpkin seeds again for me), we went to the Bernini Dining Room to get numbers apportioning us off for a shuttle ride out of the port. Like all of these ports so far in New Zealand, the Golden Princess docked at a working freight port, and, just like in the other ports, there were hundreds of piles of logs, with trucks bringing more in all day. 

We were dropped at the tourist information center on the waterfront. The water color was the same amazing opaque blue-green color we had seen in Akaroa, and there we were told it was caused by glacial silt. Along with the black volcanic sand beach, it made for stunning views. 

Akaroa has just over 50000 residents, and is known for the extensive use of Art Deco styling in its buildings. The reason for this is simple: the town was basically wiped out by an earthquake in 1931, but the residents valiantly rebuilt in the style of the day, which was Art Deco. There were several cars from the 1930s being used for city tours, and local volunteers were dressed in period clothing.  

The surrounding region features many vineyards, and, in a previous life, we would have enjoyed taking a wine tour, but today we simply spent a couple of hours walking around the town (I was most impressed by the city square carillon, which played every 30 minutes). There were a lot of shops and restaurants, and a small aquarium and not a lot else. Most ship excursions offered city tours or winery tours or adventure tours in the surrounding area, such as Class 2 river rafting (not too adventurous). 

It’s kind of kitschy, but they take it seriously...

The waterfront was so beautiful that, when it came time to return to the ship, we opted to skip the shuttle and walk back on the adjacent boardwalk, which is part of the extensive multi-use Hawke’s Bay trail system. No need to go to the fitness center to get the daily steps in!  We had no trouble at all until we reached the port security gate, and then we were asked to board a returning shuttle for the last 150 yards or so. We were back on the ship for lunch, and, because today was a short day (on board time was 2:30pm for a 3pm departure), lunch was being served in the Donatello Dining Room, so we dined there (salmon on salad with green beans and new potatoes). 

That’s a truly black sand beach!

View from the Terrace Deck

The day had turned really nice by then, so I sat in the shade on the Terrace Deck and phoned Mom and used cellular internet while G held down a hot tub up above on Deck 16.  Sail away was beautiful;  Captain D remarked again today about the stellar weather we’ve enjoyed this cruise in New Zealand. Some clouds, sure, but no heavy rain and no wind. We’ve been very fortunate. 

I had missed the fact the today was a formal night, but G spotted it in the Patter, so we had another major clean up for a formal photo and went to dinner in the Bernini Dining Room with a beautiful view of the eastern New Zealand coast right outside our window. We love the late sunsets we’ve been enjoying on this cruise! Headwaiter Dian told me my entree choice tonight couldn’t be made vegan so he brought me a large plate of roasted vegetables. I’ve only had that issue once before, on our first cruise, and I suspect it was with the same entree item. I’m glad that they are taking my dietary needs so seriously. 

Smoked salmon rosette

New Zealand vocalist Chris Powley was back tonight in the Princess Theater. We had seen him perform on our first cruise, and were blown away by his talent. He received another standing O tonight, and will be doing a different show again later in the cruise. G is out watching Irish comedian George Casey’s show in the Vista Lounge, but we had seen him perform last year on the Pacific Princess and I opted to skip it (‘nuff said). Instead I am tucked into bed to recharge for three more ports this cruise. Fortunately, we have already visited two of them in the past, and won’t feel like we’ll need to have long days of sightseeing.  

Princess Festivals of the World

Maori Matatiki festival in the Piazza

Tomorrow, November 23, is American Thanksgiving Day, and this is the first time we’ve celebrated it on a ship where Americans make up a small minority of the passengers (150 out of 2600). I don’t expect that we’ll see any celebration of the holiday on board, and that’s fine with us. We don’t need public acknowledgement of the day to know that we have a lot to be thankful for this year. But I wish all of you who celebrate the holiday a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!