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As it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere, this is the perfect time for a cruise or visit to New Zealand and Australia… I just spent three glorious weeks enjoying the hospitality of this beautiful and unique destination. After a 13 hour flight from Los Angeles to Brisbane on the outstanding airline, Virgin Australia, I was ready to see the sights and sounds of this sub-tropical city since I had a full day layover before a flight to Auckland, New Zealand where my 14-day cruise was to begin. Brisbane is a cosmopolitan city that has an amazing river, beaches, mountains, and teaming with natural wildlife. It is the perfect blend of provincial Aussie life and the 21^st century. Brisbane did not disappoint! I could live there-a great start to a trip indeed… After leaving my day room at the ultra-hip Emporium Hotel, it was time for a 3-hour flight to Auckland on Air New Zealand…

 I was ready to embark the Holland America ms Volendam and unpack. This venerable and classic-style ship was built in 1999 and recently completed a partial makeover which focused on a complete redecorating and refreshing of the ships staterooms as well as lots of new carpets. The ship at 12 years old has a retro style of old world meets modern. It is eclectic but frankly, needs some more updating and refurbishing to compete with her newer fleet mates and some parts of the ship were plain tired! My suite was incredible with nearly 550 square feet of elegant spaciousness and access to the concierge Neptune Lounge was a huge plus. The ships staff and food did not disappoint and lived up toHollandAmerica’s “Signature of Excellence”. I was impressed by the gracious and very polite ever-smiling staff. The chef gets special kudos as the food was consistently delicious in all the dining venues including the main dining room and alternative venues. The shows were low key and held at the odd evening hours of 7 and 9pm. This did not bode well for those of us at late seating (8:00pm). One had to forgo the pre-dinner cocktail hour if you wanted to see a show. The passengers were a mixed  blend of American, Canadian, and Aussies. The average age was 70+ which also made the ship quiet at night. Those of us in our 40’s and 50’s found it hard pressed to find any life after 10pm other than the Casino. It was a very quiet crowd and a very quiet ship. I will add that bar drinks and wine are priced very fairly compared to many other lines including its next major competitor, Celebrity Cruises… The service and food definitely fared better than recent Celebrity Cruises experiences so kudos to HAL for keeping a high quality experience on the ms Volendam. The ship carries just under 1400 passengers and is easy to get around with three staircases and elevator banks. All cabins are very spacious and some of the largest in the cruise industry… There is never a wait to get around. The ship is easy to navigate and there are rarely if ever a line to stand in on this ship-a HUGE PLUS! I hope HAL takes notice and spends a few more dollars refurbishing this GEM of a ship to keep her a true premium class ship…

 The cruise around New Zealand is absolutely brilliant with soft-adventure tours, cruising past active volcanoes, fjords that rival those ofNorwayandAlaska. Each port offered and exciting array of tours of scenic wonders, adventure, beauty, and wildlife. I loved every stop especially the NEW port of Akaroa which as the substitute for Lyttleton ( earthquake damagedChristchurch). Akaroa is one of the most scenic ports in the world and framed by gorgeous mountains and white limestone cliffs.  The town with its French theme reminded of an Alpine Village in the Alps. It was beyond charming! After a week of non-stop New Zealand ports-of-call and a perfectly clear day sailing the incomparable Milford Sound, we crossed the rocky Tasman Sea for 2-days heading towardsTasmania.Tasmania offered all the wildlife one expects fromAustralia including Koalas, Kangaroos, Emu’s, crocodiles, tropical birds, and the famed Tasmanian Devils. Yes, they live up to their reputation as vicious little creature especially when they are fed… I loved the wildlife and event took a tour of an amazing series of underground caverns that were remarkable. After visiting cosmopolitan Melbourne, the cruise ended two-weeks later in Spectacular Sydney, Australia… I was sad to leave the ms Volendam but ready to see the sights and sounds of one of the best cities in the world. I recommend this trip to any cruiser looking for an exciting place to visit and the flight isn’t that much farther from the West Coast than it is to go toEurope. If coming from the East Coast or mid-west, a stopover in LA orSan Francisco helps make the flights more palatable.

 Amazing Sydney with the most spectacular harbor in the world was just as delicious as I remembered from my last visit in 1994. I was fortunate to stay at the Orient Express owned Observatory Hotel which is one the cities most luxurious boutique hotels and a haunt of the cities elite to visit its exceptional restaurant, Galileo’s…

 After getting a taste of early summer inSydney, watching the city prepare for Christmas-although it was odd to see summer attire and Santa caps. My favorite memory was  visiting a beach during a balmy Sydney day and hearing Let It Snow play over the loudspeaker…

 Sydney does not disappoint and offers some of the best of old style architecture and the most ultra-modern style. Its harbor may be the most beautiful on the planet. It is filled with parks, gardens, marinas and elegant neighborhoods. This is a social city and very friendly. This part is most amazing considering the population is teeming at nearly 4.5 million inhabitants.

The highlight of my trip was a 3-day visit toCairnsfor a trip to theGreat Barrier Reef. This trip will be covered in my next blog!

Happy Cruising…

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