So on to Dunedin. This will be the last port of call before scenic cruising in the Fjordland's National Park then a 2-day crossing to Australia. Once back on this ship this evening, the next time Chris and Roisin disembark will be with their luggage!Dunedin port is not big enough to take a cruise ship so the Sapphire Princess tied up at Port Chalmers and shuttles were organised to take passengers the 20-minute drive to the centre of Dunedin.Scottish settlers ...

What a difference a day makes. Chris and Roisin woke up to glorious sunshine as the Officer of the watch announced the Sapphire Princess's arrival in Lyttleton, the port that serves Christchurch.Chris and Roisin had arranged to meet Donny and Marie together with an American couple Kaye and Charlie from Kansas. Kaye is a regular quizzer in Donny’s team, the Delta Delays.The shuttle bus from the port of Lyttleton to the centre of Christchurch takes about ...

Wellington is the Capital city and administrative capital of New Zealand despite being only NZ's second biggest city next to Auckland. It may not take the gold in size but it wipes the floor with the other cities when it comes to being the windiest and wettest.A day at sea prior to arriving in Wellington and at about 4pm a message came from the Bridge announcing a POD of Whales on the port side. Chris and Roisin rushed to their balcony fighting over the binoc...

And the rough weather continued. Being at the bow of the ship and deck 10, Roisin and Chris have probably felt the motion of the shop more than most. The bad weather must have lasted for about 30 hours. On the day before we were due to arrive in Auckland the weather, as predicted, subsided and the status of the sea condition was reduced to moderate. Chris had been advised by one of the deck officers that in rough weather, the stabilisers of a ship are pulled in a...