27 March 2006:

The day broke bright and sunny, but soon turned grey and rainy. By lunch time we had mostly clouds with occasional patches of blue sky peaking through. The sea has gone from ‘slight’ to ‘moderate’ with waves at 7.5 feet, but this mostly produces a pleasant, gentle rolling sensation….just an occasional bump into the walls while walking down the corridor to my cabin…..or was that due to the beer I had while I was checking email?

Once again, I began the day with a trip to the gym where I rightfully claimed the treadmill that I had signed up for yesterday by mistake. After a quick shower, it was time to line up for New Zealand customs inspection. We had to pass through 3 checkpoints (paperwork check, immigration check, customs check). The first two went quickly. On the customs form I had indicated that I had food being brought in (my stolen Vegemite packets and a pack of cookies). These were accepted without a problem by the inspector…..so, future Australian-New Zealand travelers, be of good cheer, you can probably bring your snacks and pilfered hotel Vegemite across the border….just make sure you declare it on the customs form. But, before we got loose from customs they did ask if we had been to any animal parks in Australia (of course you’ve been to an animal park in Australia….that’s why you go there….it’s a trick question). We said “yes”. He asked if we were wearing the shoes we used at the animal park. I was; Pam was not. He asked to see my shoes…..they were inspected and passed. He then quizzed Pam on the status and cleanliness of her shoes. At length, she was given the green light and we were done. However, on the way out we saw a lady coming back in the inspection area carrying a pair of shoes. She apparently got a different inspector or answered her questions in a manner which did not inspire confidence and had to go back to her cabin, retrieve her shoes and return for a visual inspection. So, a word of warning to Australia-New Zealand travelers: if you have been anywhere that you might have encountered kangaroo poop, please wear those same shoes to your customs inspection.

After that, it was time for another lecture: “Captain Cook in the Pacific” by our cruise director John Lawrence. I thought it was a very nice lecture. Generally, I think of cruise directors as being pretty light-weight……their job is to encourage shuffleboard tournaments, host 1950’s dance contests and push the “Cocktail of the Day”. So mostly they give the impression of being pleasant, easy-going socializers without much depth. But John Lawrence seems to be different. He has written books about the Russian Czars and the Baltic…perhaps on other topics as well….it wasn’t clear. But, he speaks like someone who has a great deal of knowledge about history. So, attending one of his talks is like auditing a college class that is taught by popular professor…..except that you can go to the lecture with the Cocktail of the Day in hand…..which for today is the Passion Daiquiri.

But moderation is the order of the day today….we don’t want to peak too early. We have another wine tasting this afternoon….this will be the “major wine event of the cruise” or at least that’s what the guys selling us the tickets say….it is the “Maitre’D’s Wine Club” event. 

……later…….

The Maitre’D’s wine tasting was a fine event.

(Note to Joe Underwood: Eat your heart out wine-o-phile…..we tasted Veuve Clicquot Brut, Pouilly-Fuisse, Cuvaison Chardonnay, Murrieta’s Well Meritage, Luce Della Vite and……are you ready…..Opus 1.)

…….actually, I didn’t know Luce Della Vite from Thunderbird before today, but even I had heard of Opus 1 and Murrieta’s Well. Very nice stuff….but a little pricey for the unemployed.

The only excitement (and I use that term loosely) was about 30 minutes spent in the casino after dinner where I was on a bit of a roll and attracted a following of 4 or 5 Brits….the women in their low cut gowns and the men in their jackets were cheering me on….it was quite an experience…..particularly since I was playing the $0.25 slot machines not the $100 a hand blackjack tables. But, then they were Brits looking for a good time so they weren’t too picky.

As I type this the waves have picked up and the ship is rolling a bit more than earlier. Hopefully that will ease up before we reach Milford Sound in the morning.