Friday, 25 November

Sailing to Tasmania, Australia

Since today is a sea day as the Westerdam sails from the Emerald Coast south to Tasmania for a two-day visit, I will provide some data from the first 23 days of my journey, including 16 days on the ship so far—before an account of my day in Eden (a’den) and Merimbula.

# photos / videos taken = 1,522

# photos posted on LFLatSea = 266

Which means I have many more photos and videos to share with anyone interested. Of course, some of these are duplicates or of poor quality. They will eventually be deleted.

Fitbit Results

# steps walked per day / location 

Day 01: Tucson to LA / 6,248 steps / 0 floors / 2.81 miles 

Day 02: In Transit

Day 03: Arrive Sydney / 6,479 steps / 5 floors / 2.81 miles 

Day 04: Sydney / 18,538 steps / 9 floors / 8.46 miles 

Day 05: Sydney / 21,852 steps / 13 floors / 9.97 miles

Day 06: Sydney / 22,536 steps / 33 floors / 10.27 miles

Day 07: Leave Sydney / 22,473 steps / 33 floors / 10.26 miles

Day 08: At Sea / 18,538 steps / 9 floors / 8.46 miles

Nov 09: At Sea / 15,237 steps / 23 floors / 6.91 miles

Nov 10: At Sea / 6,938 steps / 66 floors / 3.16 miles

Nov 11: Milford Sound / 9,739 steps / 67 floors / 4.43 miles

Nov 12: Dunedin / 11,065 steps / 9 floors / 5.01 miles

Nov 13: Christchurch / 9,096 steps / 3 floors / 4.12 miles

Nov 14: Wellington / 20,681 steps / 12 floors / 9.44 miles

Nov 15: Wellington / 9,146 steps / 5 floors / 4.17 miles

Nov 16: Napier / 12,388 steps / 2 floors / 5.63 miles

Nov 17: Gisborne / 10,302 steps / 11 floors / 4.68 miles

Nov 18: Tauranga / 9,922 steps / 6 floors / 4.52 miles

Nov 19: Tauranga / 17,736 steps / 14 floors / 8.08 miles

Nov 20: Auckland / 16,513 steps / 5 floors / 7.5 miles

Nov 21: At Sea / 6,025 steps / 36 floors / 2.74 miles

Nov 22: At Sea / 5,098 steps / 29 floors / 2.29 miles

Nov 23: Sydney / 18,658 steps / 15 floors / 8.50 miles

Nov 24: Eden / 12,913 steps / 14 floors / 5.88 miles

New Zealand Impressions

Besides the various beauties of the landscapes, the friendliness of the people and the number of sheep, I was most impressed by how far New Zealand has advanced to a cashless society (Australia as well, but a little less so than NZ). It is difficult to find a business or service that is willing to take cash, even for the smallest amounts--sometimes even less than two or three dollars. Credit cards do everything, even on public transportation. In both countries, you tap your credit card on an electronic reader before getting on, and then tap again after you get off--that's it!

I have hardly used any of the NZ$ or A$ that I brought with me and will have to trade them back for US$ before I leave for home.

Holland America Impressions

I am saddened to have to report my disappointment with HAL. The food is well-prepared and usually hot, but the choices have become very limited and no longer served with the flair of the past, even in the Main Dining Room, where I have a solo table reserved for me every evening at 7:45. On past cruises I wouldn’t be finished before 9:15 on most nights. On this cruise I am usually finished in 45 minutes at most. Yes, it is efficient and the serving people are friendly and helpful, but the whole experience has changed. Call me a snob (snob!), but pleasant, extended dinners are one of my great pleasures when sailing.

HAL has also become very de-personalized. If you wish to do something on the ship or a shore excursion; if you wish to find out any information, or make any reservations—it all gets done on your smartphone. In fact, it isn’t easy finding any staff to engage with.

But the worst? It feels like I am on a 28-day shopping trip. There are a few activities of interest—a retired linguist gave a talk about how languages change today—but 2/3 of every day’s activities are about buying things. And the other 1/3 involve physical exertion. I know cruise lines lost a lot of money during Covid, but the constant nickel-and-dimeing for everything outside the dining venues—including paying for water—is really too much.

Last November when Covid was a much bigger problem, I cruised for 16 days on Oceania, from Rome to Miami. Other than special precautions for Covid, including a reduced population, everything was the same as pre-Covid. But Carnival, which owns HAL and 10 other major cruise lines, is desperate to make up their loss.

And another almost worst:  no more chocolates on your pillow at night unless you make a special request. And then a few days later the room steward conveniently forgets your request. (Snob! Snob!)

There are other deficiencies as well, but I will save them for later. It’s a good thing I am enjoying the ports.

Thursday, 24 Nov 2022 

Eden and Merimbula, NSW, Australia

The Westerdam docks in Eden on another beautiful morning. Eden and Merimbula, 28k north, are small bay-front towns notable for oyster harvesting and hosting summer vacationers. Neither town has much of cultural or historical significance. But it is nice to visit places outside the large cities. So here are some photos:

Views of Eden

View from My Veranda as Westerdam Docks in Eden

On the Shuttle from the Port to the Town

Traditional Eden Residential Architecture

Restored Australasia Hotel

Views of Twofold Bay from Eden Lookout
(above and below)

Views of Merimbula

Mural Outside Public Toilets

After my day on the Emerald Coast I return to a very nice Thanksgiving Dinner on board the Westerdam as we sail toward Tasmania. I'll post some food pictures next time.