Let's go on a virtual NZ and Australia cruise

[By The Bay]

11 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

House rule you have to move to a regular table after 15 minutes so everyone can get that up close vibe for a while.

That would be great.

Edited April 22, 2020 by By The Bay

[OzKiwiJJ]

Yes, Crooners always has grand pianos. Some entertainers use electronic keyboards as well.

 

Yes, if the piano was just off to one side of the bar then having the cocktail bar alongside would work. I recall some great evenings in the piano bar of Carnival Legend sitting up at the cocktail bar, thumbing through the song list trying to find obsure jazz numbers for the entertainer, Jade Leonard  to play. Luckily she majored in Jazz so had a great repertoire.

[Blackduck59]

Thanks for the photo of Crooners, pretty much as envisioned it would be. I used to frequent a piano bar about 35 years ago and it had the bar stools around the piano. There were a couple of lounges with live soft rock music back then, some pretty talented local musicians.

[Sarnia 432]

I would like a coffee lounge, cozy intimate seating, quiet atmosphere.  This would be somewhere to sit back, read a book, do some people watching and enjoy a coffee or tea.  There would be tasty snacks, cookies, cakes pastries nearby.  Music would be subdued, so as not to drown out conversation.  A nice area for those of us who value quieter areas and enjoy a good conversation.

[Blackduck59]

2 minutes ago, 4HeatonsGal said:

I would like a coffee lounge, cozy intimate seating, quiet atmosphere.  This would be somewhere to sit back, read a book, do some people watching and enjoy a coffee or tea.  There would be tasty snacks, cookies, cakes pastries nearby.  Music would be subdued, so as not to drown out conversation.  A nice area for those of us who value quieter areas and enjoy a good conversation.

 

Sounds like Cafe al Bacio, without the friggin martini bar across to open Grand Lobby.

[OzKiwiJJ]

14 minutes ago, 4HeatonsGal said:

I would like a coffee lounge, cozy intimate seating, quiet atmosphere.  This would be somewhere to sit back, read a book, do some people watching and enjoy a coffee or tea.  There would be tasty snacks, cookies, cakes pastries nearby.  Music would be subdued, so as not to drown out conversation.  A nice area for those of us who value quieter areas and enjoy a good conversation.

Try the forward viewing lounge - all that and great views as well.

[OzKiwiJJ]

7 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

 

Sounds like Cafe al Bacio, without the friggin martini bar across to open Grand Lobby.

The problem with al Bacio is it is open to the centrum so anything that goes on there blasts right through the cafe as well. 

[Sarnia 432]

10 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Try the forward viewing lounge - all that and great views as well.

Heading there now, sounds just what I want, and with great views as well.  I am enjoying this cruise.

[Blackduck59]

3 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

The problem with al Bacio is it is open to the centrum so anything that goes on there blasts right through the cafe as well. 

 

Indeed it is a problem especially the Martini Bar, that should be closer to the casino.

Looks like Ocean Pearl has placed the equivalent to Al Bacio in the forward viewing lounge. I see that it is not open to that central lobby.

[OzKiwiJJ]

27 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

 

Indeed it is a problem especially the Martini Bar, that should be closer to the casino.

Looks like Ocean Pearl has placed the equivalent to Al Bacio in the forward viewing lounge. I see that it is not open to that central lobby.

That's exactly why I placed it there. A few cruise ships have viewing lounges up forward but they are often large, used for all sorts of events for which the view is irrelevant, and noisy. I think quite a few people would enjoy a quiet cafe with views rather than the usual small, noisy crowded ones on most ships. 

 

BTW did you notice that all the bars around the ship also serve hot drinks including a full range of  coffees and teas. Not all of them have food though. 

 

I was quite cross on Ruby Princess when I discovered the only place to get espresso served in proper cups was the very crowded International Cafe, the MDR and the buffet and the latter two were very hit and miss.

Edited April 22, 2020 by OzKiwiJJ

[Blackduck59]

2 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

That's exactly why I placed it there. A few cruise ships have viewing lounges up forward but they are often large, used for all sorts of events for which the view is irrelevant, and noisy. I think quite a few people would enjoy a quiet cafe with views rather than the usual small, noisy crowded ones on most ships. 

 

BTW did you notice that all the bars around the ship also serve hot drinks including a full range of  coffees and teas. Not all of them have food though. 

Excellent concept, we enjoy a good cocktail but are not booze hounds, so it's nice to enjoy a beverage without feeling it has to alcohol. It's nice to have the option.

[boeckli]

As we are making our way from Tauranga to our next port of Napier, we are passing volcanic White Island where several people were killed following an eruption on December 9, 2019.

(I took these photos three days later as we sailed past on Norwegian Jewel. At that stage the rescue efforts were still ongoing and it was a somewhat eerie feeling at the time.)

 

 

 

 

 

[OzKiwiJJ]

Such a tragedy. 😪

[OzKiwiJJ]

Itinerary Item 7 – Napier

 

Art Deco and Wine - what a combination!

 

The town of Napier was flattened by a major earthquake in 1931 and rebuilt in the popular style of the day – Art Deco. Luckily NZ woke up to what a classic gem it had before redevelopment in the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s destroyed too many of those beautiful buildings. So Napier remains one of the best preserved Art Deco towns in the world. The buildings are now heritage listed and have been lovingly restored, and Napier now celebrates its Art Deco heritage. When a cruise ship comes to town you'll often see locals in 1930's costumes, and also some beautiful vintage cars which offer (rather pricey) tours.

 

Napier has a lovely sea-front esplanade with a swimming pool complex, aquarium, and the iSite information centre where you can find out about guided walking tours of the town. Look out for the beautiful statue of Pania of the Reef.

 

Napier is also part of the Hawkes Bay wine region, the oldest and second largest wine region in NZ, and there are many of NZ’s top wineries here.  

 

We’re only here for the day, so make the most of it.

 

If you’ve just joined us, please read the first post which contains the rules for this thread. Note this is a luxury all inclusive ship - all drinks, restaurants, internet, excursions, spa, beauty salon.

 

Our next port of call will be Wellington.

[OzKiwiJJ]

We're heading off on a wine tour. I hope it includes Mission and Church Road wineries, even better if they go out to Te Mata Estate. The tour will probably include somewhere lovely to have a delicious lunch from the local produce that Hawkes Bay is also famous for. I think there is still a few places left on this tour if anyone wants to join us. 

[shipgeeks]

OzKiwiJJ,  You are the best cruise organizer/naval architect/excursion adviser!

I'm especially loving how, while walking through the ship in the evening, we can see and hear what's going on in each lounge, but not be overwhelmed by it.  Piano Bar and the Big Band and Latin dance area can be pretty loud sometimes, but they don't intrude on the quieter classical trio space and the beautiful Sky.  Good job!

 

I hope people will post photos of dolphin sightings, as well as lots of photos of our day in Napier.  

[boeckli]

 

This is Pania of the Reef

Edited April 22, 2020 by boeckli

[shipgeeks]

I'm loving following the geography of this cruise on the big maps on the walls of our cabin, as well as the atlases and other guidebooks left for us in the reading area of our cabin.  This ship has the best amenities!

[By The Bay]

[MicCanberra]

[MicCanberra]

[MicCanberra]

[Blackduck59]

So excited to be in Napier, I love Art Deco design. Back when public buildings were required to be Aesthetically pleasing. Lynn and I are looking forward to our Vintage car tour. We chose to go with the Art Deco society and requested a Packard (I hope they have a 12). We will have them pick us up at the ship and tour the town I hear the presentation they do in the theatre is quite good. After the town we will head out to wine country. I think we will trade the vintage car for a nice air conditioned Sprinter Van, anybody want to come for a wine tour with us? there is room for 4 more. We have enjoyed the photos everyone has posted and looking forward to seeing more.

[By The Bay]

Your car awaits.

[Bubbeh]

18 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

After the town we will head out to wine country. I think we will trade the vintage car for a nice air conditioned Sprinter Van, anybody want to come for a wine tour with us? there is room for 4 more.

Hey that sounds like fun.  Still room for a couple of extras?  I promise not to get giggly and embarrass you on the wine tour.