SeaDog-46

The sharp rise of cases in Singapore in early April has been caused by 5 foreign worker dorms., the Mustafa Centre & a building site.  These workers will be quarantined in Army camps, spare housing & floating accomodation!

I have not heard anything about them going to other ports.

These 4 ships did not do any ship to ship transfers of crew so they could do some in Manila.

Good news -  Pacific Explorer,  Queen Elizabeth,  Sun & Sea Princess  have been allowed into Manila Bay & are now anchored off the port of Manila.

The Spectacular  Vocalist  NIKKI BENNETT   -  joined our cruise in Auckland & will be doing several shows.

This Australian star of stage, film and television shines in unmissable shows. 

At the Auckland War Memorial Museum - with its scenic view of the harbour - see the reconstruction model of the flightless Moa.

They had a height of 3 metres & weighed 250 kg.

After Pacific Islanders arrive in NZ about 1250 AD they managed to wipe out the Moa in 200 years as the latest remains have been dated at 1450 AD.

You can get to see the the real small cousin - the flightless Kiwi bird at some zoos & there is one at Rotorua. 

Another cruise ship berthed stern-in.  Can't get much closer to town.

It is now just over 250 years since Cook first arrived in NZ.

I thought the attached photo of a plaque on a memorial in Gisborne was well done & correct.

It states :-  "A fine seaman an outstanding Captain & an honest man. Capt Cook was one of the last of the great explorers - navigators & the first of the scientific expedition leaders.  After the 3 global voyages of 1768-71,  1772-75, & 1776-79 the map of the world was substantially complete.

Here on the 9th & 10th of October 1769,  Cook walks with men from HM Bark Endeavour seeking fresh food & water.  Nearby on the river rock Toka-a-Taiau, Maori chief & English Captain greeted one another. When traditional challanges were misunderstood, Maori were killed, the ship sailed without provisions and thus Poverty Bay received its name.

From here Endeavour circumnavigated New Zealand & Cook plotted the first map of the country.

This meeting of the two peoples marked the beginning of the New Zealand nation".

Don't miss tonights Maori show.

As master I have done several casket ash burials at sea.

But no mater whether ship is stopped or going slow - I always managed to get ash in the face!

Not nice.

Napier - Locals are very good to cruise ship passengers.

Free port shuttle to Visitor Centre in town.

Has there been confirmation that crews were dropped off at Bali?

Saw a report that Sun Princess refused permission to land Philippine crew as no where to quarantine them.

Sapphire leading her big stable mate Majestic on way to Manila.

Radiance left Singapore after bunkering & is anchored NW of Port Klang, Malaysia.

Don't miss the ship!

Notice the world cruise on Sea Princess is cancelled.

Sun Princess - new / additional cruises - as she will no longer be used for Olympics.

NZ road hazard.  SHEEP JAM

NZ is getting more carefull about renting cars to O/S drivers who drive on right.

Cases of companies calling police when they are alarmed by the way their vehicle is driven away.  One instance police brought back a Chinese family & told the rental company the driver was unfit to drive.

Aotearoa - Land of the Long White Cloud.

Crew often do not take safety seriously because life is cheap where they come from.

By the time Amsterdam reaches Manila she will be about 10th in the line for disembarking crew.

So far there are Sun & Sea Princess, Pacific Explorer waiting outside the bay.  Queen Elizabeth in area. Sapphire & Majestic on way from Singapore & some RCC coming up from Bali.

Sapphire Princess is underway in Johore Strait - AIS Manila.

Majestic Princess is in the eastbound traffic lane Singapore Straits also AIS Manila.

UK ports of Tilbury, Dover, Portsmouth & Southampton all have local cruise ships laid up alongside.

MSC Magnifica is south of Crete with AIS Marseille.  Port of Fos 20/4

Tauranga is the KIWI FRUIT capial of the world.  KIWI is a New Zealander.

It is also the main storing port for the US based cruise ships in Oceania.

The port is actually right beside the town of Mount Monganui.

If you want some exercise climb the mountain.

Your relative was very lucky.

If you want to know why Titanic sank - read book by 2nd Officer Commander Charles Herbert Lightoller - "Titanic & Other Ships".

He dedicated the book to "my persistant wife who made me do it".  She was an Aussie whom he met when she was aged 17, on ss Suevic a ship going to Sydney.

Suevic returned to UK with 2nd officer & Mrs. Lightoller aged 18. 

The whole book is his life story but was not written until 1935 & there are few dates included. 

He went to sea as an apprentice aged 13 - before the mast in 1888, & was involved in the Fort Denison incident 10/1900.

When WW1 started he was 1st Off. on ss Oceanic & became 1st Lieutenant RNR on HMS Oceanic.

1st command was HMTB 117 [torpedo boat] in 12/1915.  Left RN as Commander RNR in late 1918 with DSC & Bar.

In July 1939 RN Intelligence asked the Lightollers to survey part of the German coast in their motor launch Sundowner.

1-6-40 Lightoller, his son & a sea cadet take Sundowner to Dunkirk & rescue 127 men. The boat is in Ramsgate maritime museum.

In all he survived 4 shipwrecks & multiple other adventures plus 2 world wars - died at age 78.

Singapore - Radiance ots has anchored 2 nm east of the new naval harbour at Changi.

Amsterdam in the Indian Ocean - AIS now Singapore.

Sun & Sea Princess waiting outside Manila Bay.

Shopping with my Princess ban.