Running Out of Words to Describe Stunning Landscapes
Day 40, South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand Cruise
Friday, Nov. 11, 2022; Milford Sound, South Island, New Zealand.
Today’s destination is acclaimed to be New Zealand’s most famous tourist destination, a world’s top travel destination and the eighth Wonder of the World (the latter according to Rudyard Kipling). And I had never heard of it. It is Milford Sound, which really is a fjord in the southwest corner of New Zealand’s South Island.



For once I actually sketched on site (from the ship) and painted the sketches on the same day.


This is my third visit to New Zealand, but previously I’ve only been on the northern part of the North Island – Auckland, Tauranga and the Bay of Islands. After leaving Sydney on Tuesday, we spent two days crossing the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand. Now we are circling to the south. For the next eight days we will cruise up the eastern side of the country’s two main islands. Then we will circle back west to Sydney, where I will disembark.
Eight port days in a row will be exhausting. I’ve booked four ship excursions in an effort to use up the onboard credit Holland America gave me as a mea culpa for canceling the 16 weeks of cruising in Europe I had booked for last summer.
In Sydney we picked up several hundred new passengers, many of whom are Australian. We can recognize them by their accents, of course, and by the fact that hardly any of them wear masks. I don’t think they realize that we had an outbreak of Covid before they came aboard. And I read that New Zealand will require anyone who tests positive to isolate for a minimum of seven days, not counting the first day. That would mean missing all the New Zealand ports. I’ll continue to wear my mask in the elevators, in the shows and anytime there is a big crowd.
Because this is technically a new cruise, our Cruise Critic group had another meet and greet the first day out of Sydney. Everyone introduced themselves and some shared some great tips about exploring the New Zealand ports on our own.
I don’t normally blog on sea days, but I thought I would share a few things about the ship. One of the many things I like about cruising is the laundry, which I get for free due to my repeat status. Holland America has made a concerted effort to reduce its use of plastics, so instead of receiving laundry in dry-cleaner plastic bags, it comes back in reusable garment bags, with underwear still folded and wrapped in tissue. There is usually a nice note from the laundry department. My challenge has been to find and remove the laundry tags. Occasionally at home I would run across one I missed originally.



They have changed our daily program from the old When and Where tri-fold format to a double fold called The Daily. I’m struggling to get used to it. In the previous version, all the activities were listed in chronological order. Now some special events are not part of the chronological list, but instead featured in different parts of the program according to theme. It’s easy to overlook key activities. Plus we lost an hour each of the last two nights, so I am rising later and later.


The Navigator app on our phones still has the entire list, so that’s my go-to for what’s happening next. I miss a lot of scheduled activities, as I spend sea days working on the blog and catching up on sketching and painting. Here are a few recent sketchbook entries from Sydney’s Chinese Garden of Friendship.


I’m experimenting with different styles, so they can be hit or miss, I think. But I enjoy the practice.
Hi Jo, I’m following your blog. We are on the Grand Africa. Sone COVID here too but they never tell us how much. Kate Ross is on board as a guest speaker till Cape Town. I’m so enjoying hanging out with her. She is amazing. There are a few Grand Asia folks I remember on here from when we were on with you. Stay well. Your sketches are impressive. Beth Davis
Beth, I hope you and Dan are having a great cruise! I have been following Kathi’s blog (Scrapnana) and it sounds like a lot of fun. She did have covid early in the cruise — no symptoms. I’m sure Kate is doing a great job as speaker. She is a lot of fun and very knowledgeable.
The captain just announced we are going to masks required, as there was a Princess cruise ship that docked in Sydney this morning from NZ with 800 cases. Yikes!
Gorgeous!
We (Australians) will most certainly be wearing masks when we board the Westerdam on November 23. I don’t know whether you’ve heard but there were 800 cases of Covid when the Majestic Princess berthed in Sydney this morning. The South Island of New Zealand is spectacular, isn’t it?
Daphne, I just heard that news about the Majestic Princess. And while the captain didn’t mention that case, he did just tell us we are going to mask required on board, which is a company requirement for all ships in this region. Currently we have 3 people on board in isolation, he reported.
Don’t all new passengers have to take a COVID test ?
They did before boarding. But there are multiple windows when someone could get it, and then spread.
Write. Sketch. Enjoy.
Just wow! Your days seem quite filled.
Again thank you for sharing the scenery and your creativity!
I thought the bonsai was particularly well-done.
I’m–believe it or not–excited about settling back into my “normal” life after three weeks of election madness and having to show up someplace every single day. I had a “sea day” on Thursday watching Hurricane Nicole blow and cry across the backyard and didn’t even bother to get dressed. I needed the break!
Much approved sea day plan! And I bet Callie enjoyed the time with you, as well.
Such gorgeous countryside and your sketches are beautiful!!! You’ve come a long way from our first watercolor classes with Jack on the Grand Asia cruise in 2017!!!!! Keep healthy!
Thanks, Pam. It was Jack’s classes that hooked me on watercolor.
Milford Sound is beautiful and it looks like you had a nice clear day. When I was there it was very overcast and a little foggy. I too miss the old When and Where, I did use the Navigator app on my recent, short cruise from Montreal to FLL. But it didn’t always work well (may have been operator error!). I love your watercolor sketches. These were really nice. I enjoy your blogs so much.
Where are you off to after Sydney? I think I remember that you are on the 2023 World Cruise, but that isn’t until January.
Now I need to catch up on your later posts!
I’ll spend a few weeks with my sister in Arkansas, and some time back in Dallas seeing doctors, dentist, hairdresser, and friends.
loving the sketches! I don’t seem to be getting all your posts. I’ll have to pay close attention.
Simone
Simone, I’m not sure why you aren’t getting them all. I don’t post every day, but mainly on/about port days. You can always go to the web site, https://www.writerondeck.com, and they will all be listed on the home page.
I have had the good fortune of visiting Milford Sound twice – once on a land based trip and the second time on the 2018 GWC.. An absolutely beautiful and amazing place. So glad you enjoyed it.