Once each cruise on Seabourn, they have what they call their “World Famous Galley” luncheon. This is the only time any guests are allowed in the galley. The chefs pull out all the stops for this one. The galley is u shaped and quite large. The first thing you have to do when entering is wash your hands. Then you are presented with the largest buffet lunch in the World. Both sides of the aisle are loaded with food. Of course, there is a huge salad bar, dessert bar, caviar, and bread stations.
The highlights for me are prime roast beef, spit roasted whole suckling pig, Fried shrimp, calamari, and cod. Grilled shrimp and fish. Sushi, Chilled shrimp, crab legs and lobster (no limit).
The highlights for Kim, well, look at the picture.
Our last day in New Zealand, for a couple of years. It was just another day until……..wait, let me back up a little.
Throughout this entire Cruise, we have always docked with the starboard side of the ship to the dock, leaving us with a great view of the harbor all day, But, today, we docked with the port side to the dock, so I got to watch cargo ships and fishing vessels come and go.
We weren’t scheduled to set sail until 11:00 PM, so after dinner, we sat out on our veranda and just watched the activity around us. About 9:00, a heavy-duty looking flatbed truck with a crane on the back showed up. Soon after a pickup truck with advertising identifying it as a diver and salvage company, parked next to the truck.
The crane backed up to the edge of the dock and set out his stabilizers. The diver put on a wet suit and tank. We were wonder what in the world we were watching.
The crane operator signaled to the diver that he was ready, so the diver stepped off the dock and into the water. The crane operator was moving the crane around, but we couldn’t see anything. Soon, the diver showed up back on the dock. So, now it’s becoming quite obvious that the diver hooked the crane up to something. But what? Did a boat sink? Did something large fall off a cargo ship? All the dock workers were positioning themselves for a good viewing platform. What could it be?
Soon, we saw it, it was a car. Not an old piece of junk, but a late model silver sedan! Wow, what’s the back story here, how did it get off the dock and into the water? Was there going to be a body? Was it stolen? There are a million questions we are asking each other. But sorry, No clue.
By now at least my Liars Club friends are calling B.S. and probably some other are too. But I have photos! It really happened.
Happy Valentine’s Day all. We spent the day in the small town of Picton. When Kim came back to the ship for lunch, she said she wanted me to go see this city park, it was beautiful. So, after lunch (spoiler alert for those participating in the over under how many times will Steve leave the boat) we went to the park, as you can see from today’s photo choice it was a beautiful place.
Let’s get right to the Pool Chronicles. Nothing funny today, but educational. A lady is on the World Cruise and wears about twenty silver bracelets, she says she never removes them. They were given to her by her grandmother, who would bring her one every time she traveled. Every one has a story to tell. Anyway, we learned she is married and her husband does like cruising. She goes on a world Cruise every year, without him. Now, I’m kind of missing my friends, I can’t imagine if Kim weren’t here. On one such Cruise she met a man from Switzerland who had a different girlfriend for each of the three segments! Wow, that’s an aggressive schedule.
I also heard a man from Calgary, Canada talking with a couple from Halifax, Canada. He said when his wife died he retired and started cruising, He met his current wife on that first cruise and now they do a World Cruise every year to honor their marriage. How sweet is that! Just Valentine stories.
Our last day in New Zealand is spent in New Plymouth. Followed by a 3 day sail in the Tasman Sea to get to Sidney, Australia.
With the Super Bowl in the rear-view mirror, we spent the rest of the day cruising to Wellington. As usual, Kim shall go exploring and I will go on watch (for what I don’t know yet) and let others entertain me without them having a clue that they are giving me really good material for my next blog. Today has a high of only 66 degrees and a low of 62. Kim is going to freeze. Good thing she brought her winter garb.
Today we booked ourselves on the 2026 World Cruise Ring of Fire Hidden Gems Cruise. Once again it starts in Los Angeles and goes briefly to Hawaii then spends a few days in Tahiti and through a bunch of Islands we have never heard of before it swings up to Hong Kong. From there it takes us up through Japan then on to the Aleutian Islands and Alaska before dumping us off in Vancouver BC. 129 days on board and there should not be any war conflicts. So, are we hooked? Maybe, but we are telling you this now, so you too can join us for the Cruise of a lifetime part two.
It turned out to be a very windy day, so all the stupid stuff got blown away before I heard it.
This photo, as with many of the photos that I post are taken by Kim and I will try to give her credit each time I use one of hers.
