Australia/NZ bucket list trip 2023

 January 15, 2024 Needed to add this coda to the trip.  We arrived home safely on Saturday, January 6, 2024. I ran out quickly before snow really started falling to pick up accumulated mail at the Post Office and pick up a prescription for Carl at the local CVS.  I came home, took off my coat and went to put Carl's medicine in the refrigerator. I stepped into the kitchen and my right foot stuck on the linoleum but I still had forward momentum and I fell, landing on my right leg and arm and banging my head on the corner of the refrigerator!  I broke my right wrist - both the radius & ulna bones. After a few minutes of trying to figure out how to get up off the floor without moving/using my right arm, I was able to get upright and Carl took me immediately to Urgent Care. X-rays confirmed the break (and no breaks in right leg although I've got lots of soft tissue damage/bruises) and I got splinted up for the weekend with a referral to orthopedics on Monday, Jan. 8, I also got

 January 5, 2024 Sydney, AU Friday, Jan. 5, 2024 we docked early back in Sydney, AU. It was a little strange seeing buildings, like the Opera House, that now seemed familiar and like coming 'home.'  From the dining room at breakfast, I could see a carnival set up along the harbor, with a great big sun sculpture. Seemed a good omen (ha!) for our trip home. Carnival at Sydney Harbor After breakfast in the Allegro Dining room we reported to the Princess Theater to wait for our luggage group to be called. Brown 2 was the group for those with a Princess transfer to the airport, Apparently, the buses were delayed because of downtown traffic (not surprising for Sydney) and it was close to 10 am before we got off the ship. Before boarding the buses we had to clear AU customs and claim our luggage. Both went surprisingly smoothly. The bus ride to the airport took 20-30 min. and suddenly we were back where we had arrived 3 weeks ago!  There were hundreds of us all needing to find our fli

 Jan 4, 2024 Well the trip finally wound down. Typing this on Jan 15, 2024. There's a reason for the long gap, but I'll get to that later. The last day aboard the Majestic Princess was pretty relaxed as we chugged back to Sydney, AU. We spent time up on Deck 17 at the Hollywood Pool and the hot tubs as had become our custom. Small noisy children arrived around 11:30 am so we decamped for our final lunch aboard ship. We decided to try lunch in one of the formal dining rooms (the Allegro) for the first time,  We got seated next to a couple from near Brisbane, AU - Loretta & Michael.  Loretta was a hoot and we chatted all through lunch.  She is a breast cancer survivor with lots of stories to tell. We commiserated over the problems with trying to get coffee served and refilled in a timely manner throughout the cruise!  See - it wasn't just us! The afternoon was spent packing up our suitcases & carry-ons. Our assigned luggage group was Brown 2. We had to have suitcases

 Wednesday, January 3, 2024 The cruise is winding down.  Tonight we'll have our last big production show by the Princess entertainment crew, called "Encore."  Should be fun. It's been a good cruise - we've seen lots of New Zealand and covered lots of nautical miles - I need to ask the front desk just how many miles we've sailed on this cruise.  The ship's passengers have been mostly Australian, a small contingent of Kiwis (New Zealanders), and a smattering of British, Indian, Japanese, and a group of about 100 of us Americans!  As I've mentioned before, I've felt rather outnumbered all week.  Don't get me wrong, most everyone has been pleasant and friendly (except for the hordes of young children onboard who have no sense of a "quiet voice" or of personal space).   During our time on the cruise, we've actually managed to run into ALL of the folks who were on our Australia tour ahead of the cruise, at least once.  The last couple w

 Wednesday, January 3, 2024 Yes - I'm writing this post on January 3, but it's all about yesterday, Tuesday, January 2, 2024, and our cruising through New Zealand's Fjordland National Park around the southern end of New Zealand's south island.  In Maori it is called "Te Rua-o-te-moko" (the Shadowland) and includes 14 fjords on the western coast of NZ.  the fjords reach up to 40 km inland, along 200 km of rugged western coastline. Rain falls in Fjordland over 200 days each year and yesterday (January 2) it was certainly cloudy, rainy (a bit) and very cool and windy!  But the views - oh the views were spectacular! First views of Fjordland National Park from Deck 17 of the Majestic (windows are a little streaky) Sailing by the fjords Majestic fjords from the "Majestic" Waterfall at the fjord Leaving the fjord We cruised in/around the fjords all day, but getting there presented its own adventure, as our ship's captain was really bookin' to get us