Sunday February 18, 2024, Dunedin New Zealand

Arrival: 08:00 All Abroad 16:30 Departure: 17:00

This is our final port stop in New Zealand. What a great time we've had.

Dunedin is tucked in at the end of Otago Harbour well protected from any storms that may arise. The length of the body of water is 21 kms with Port Chalmers located halfway and Dunedin at the end of the Otago Harbour.

Janice and I had booked a private tour with Otago Water Taxis to visit Larnach Castle and then to drive us to Dunedin. We left the cruise port/ cargo port in Port Chalmers to meet the water taxi at the assigned spot. The owner of Otago Water Taxis, Rob, brought us over to the other side of the bay where his wife Holly was waiting for us to drive us to Larnach Castle. Janice thought we might be able to walk up but the distance was 3 kms all up hill on narrow roads.

The ship tour to the castle would take 1.5 hours one way while we took 10 minutes by boat to cross the bay.

Larnach Castle is considered New Zealand's only castle which was built by William Larnach, an entrepreneur and politician of the day. Construction began in 1871 and was completed in 1874. It remained in the family until 1906 when the house was sold. Larnach Castle had many owners until 1967 when the Barker Family purchased it with the intent to refurbish it back to its previous standards. After completing the tour of the castle, it was back down to the dock where the water taxi took us into Dunedin.

Walking towards town we came across the Dunedin Railway Station which is supposed to be the most photographed building in New Zealand and I can see why. Outside the train station a street sign had the distances to Edinburgh, Scotland 18,869 kms, Otaru, Japan 10,301 kms, Shanghai 9,865 kms and Portsmouth, England 14,502 kms. We may yet get to Portsmouth where I was born! Stay posted.

It is time to find a place for lunch. Janice is wearing a baseball cap covered with maple leaves and the server at the restaurant asks us where we're from. We say Victoria and she is also from Victoria, what a small world.

After a stop for a few groceries like chips, crackers and chocolate it is time to get the shuttle bus back to the ship.

On the way back the bus driver indicated that the Insignia and other cruise vessels must dock at Port Chalmers. The reason was due to the tides in the bay that create sand bars and it is not deep enough to continue down Otago Harbour.

Shortly upon our return at 16:00, Captain Brajcic just came over the intercom straight into the cabin. This is not a good sign when the captain addresses the passengers directly through the cabin. Our planned sail of the New Zealand Fjord National Park and Milford Sound has been cancelled due to strong winds of 50 knots and expected waves of 6-8 meters tomorrow.

In its place we will travel North through the Cook Strait before making our way over to Syndey, Australia. The safety of the guests and the crew is always the number one priority of the captain and Oceania.

It is a little sad to leave Dunedin and New Zealand. The people were very friendly and helpful. The scenery was fabulous, it is too bad the Fjord National Park was not a go.

The distance to reach Syndey on February 22 is 1,318 nautical miles but this might change due to our deviation.

Subsequent Day

Monday February 19, 2024

It is a beautiful sunny day as the sun rises unlike what might be happening on the West Coast had we continued the original plan. The seas are rather calm and New Zealand's East Coast can be seen on the port side of the side as we make our way North.

We will see what happens when Insignia turns westward into the Cook Strait and later into the Tasman Sea.

All New Zealand information regarding taking food off the ship has been removed and replaced by Australian information.

As the day progresses the weather begins to turn. The wind has been strong through the day and all deck chairs have been moved to the sides and tied together. The pool deck is deserted.