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Kristofor Mallegrom
Kristofor Mallegrom

Kristofor Mallegrom

Long term travel enthusiast entering a new phase of travel with a young family of three boys ages 7, 5 and 1. Читать далее🇦🇺Melbourne
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  • Kristofor MallegromA Little Queensland Escape 23Путешественник

    I Like the Sting Ray

    3 августа 2023 г., Австралия ⋅ 🌬 20 °C

    After a big day of travel, a relatively quiet day planned today, settling in, waking up to some warmth, exploring the area.
    Today's activity was to the Reefworld Aquarium in Urangan, just a 15 minute walk or so from the hotel.
    This may be our last family trip with a pram equipped, so we made sure to utilise it. Nonetheless, Ryland's excitement got the best of him and his feet weren't able to keep up with a crash, grazed knee and tears the tragic result. This laid waste my plans to pay for a turtle swim with him.
    Fortunately, this wasn't needed as good timing and fortune favoured us. On arrival at the aquarium, they were just preparing to have visitors not only hand feed, but pet their Green Sea turtles.
    This was an amazing experience, getting up close, feeding the turtles some lettuce and getting to touch their shells and fins. The kids loved it.
    Whilst the aquarium itself was small, it still boasted some lovely fish, sharks and rays. On completion, staff welcomed us back for the afternoon to return for a complimentary fish/ray feeding session.
    After some beach, playground and lunch time we returned. Each of myself, Nat and the boys got to climb up over the tanks and feed a variety of sharks, Sting Rays and fish. The boys loved it!
    After a casual day, we ended up driving into Hervey Bay that evening for Hogs Breath (a kids favourite).
    Still time for a spa, before bed and a big day to Fraser Island tomorrow.    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromA Little Queensland Escape 23Путешественник

    Blast Off and Big Drive!

    2 августа 2023 г., Австралия ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    A much needed little getaway!
    Around 18 months ago, we moved from our little Officer home to upsize to accommodate our growing little fellows.
    We expected a 6 month stay with my parents before moving on to our new family home in Junction Village.
    Things didn't quite pan out that way however, our builder Porter Davis going bankrupt 75% through a tired and ragged journey.
    As we now edge closer to home with our new builder, a little rather impromptu family adventure was on the menu.
    Early 6am start today, on the road by 6.30 for a 9.00am flight from Melbourne to Brisbane.
    Following that 2 hour flight, we'd pick up a white ISUZU 4WD for a 4 hour drive north from Brisbane to Hervey Bay via the Big Pineapple.
    Smooth sailing for the most part! The boys both driving their hand luggage bags around like (semi) pros now.
    Flight number 5 for each was fairly comfortable.
    Our accommodation for 5 nights - Akama Resort, level 2.
    Very comfy, spacious two bedroom apartment overlooking the pool.
    Not scorching weather for our escape from wintery Melbourne, but some sunshine warmth (around 21c) was still certainly welcome!
    We continued our tradition of everyday/evening spas and utilised the kitchen for our first dinner.    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromNew Zealand 2022Путешественник

    That's a Wrap

    8 декабря 2022 г., Австралия ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    .. annnnd we're done!
    That was the biggest group I've travelled with and had to help organize. A group that size, obviously has its pros and cons. It's harder to keep in touch, be on the same page, cater for all styles and preferences... but when it works, it's lots of fun to share the experience with more. More sharing is more fun right? Well, most of the time, sort of!
    Ultimately, I think most of the group would agree the cruise itself was a little underwhelming, but I'm sure everyone still enjoyed themselves as a whole. I think my brothers found the experience of travelling with kids as challenging as it was rewarding. Just wait until they have two! ha-ha. It was certainly a further step up for Nat and I having the duo, compared to our trip with Ryland in 2020. We did get a little practice in Queensland in July this year, and I gotta say we coped better and better as we got used to it this time round, finding better ways to manage and strategies. It was still no cake walk, but I expect it gets easier as the kids grow, and we all gather experience.
    Overall, I still loved the trip, it refreshed my passion for travel and made me remember that adventure actually isn't that hard. We can all do more than we think, easier than we think. There's still plenty ahead for us to do. I'm not sure cruising with young kids is the way to go but travelling with them is so rewarding. If we can swing it among moving into our new home next year, perhaps a couple weeks in QLD or Perth or SE Asia, and maybe 2024 Japan would be great. I do miss Europe but that may have to wait a while
    For now, reflecting on this trip.. what were the best experiences... here's a top 5 -

    5. Waiheke Island, Auckland
    My second trip to this place. We spontaneously decided to return here with Brody, Alyssa and Myles on our stop at Auckland. We were a little rushed for time, but still managed to hoof it from the ferry to Oneroa and back. It's a gorgeous island with great beaches, cafes and wineries.

    4. Waiomio Glow Worm Caves
    The cruise tour here wasn't great, but it was a memorable experience to see a place like this. I've been to plenty of caves before, without ever seeing glow-worms, and so many of them! (not my photo as none permitted - but an example of how they look)

    3. Zealandia & Wellington
    I was really impressed with Wellington. I loved the city and hilly surrounds, and our few hours at the hilltop bird sanctuary Zealandia there, was a great start to the day. I also loved the walk from there, through the hilly suburbs to the tram, and a whirlwind visit of te Papa Museum on the waterfront.

    2. Rotorua
    A bit of a unique experience seeing erupting geysers, bubbling mud and volcanic landscape different to other places I had visited. A little Mouri culture and getting up close with Kiwis added to the experience.

    1. Hobbiton.
    Despite being a fan of the Lord of the Rings (and similar franchises/games etc) I was a little reserved in my expectations of this place, expecting it to be touristy and gimmicky. My expectations were definitely exceeded, and it was a lot of fun to immerse ourselves in this place. The weather, detail and quality of the set really felt like stepping into a fantasy world. A great day.

    That's it for now. Until our next adventure!    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromNew Zealand 2022Путешественник

    Getting Home

    7 декабря 2022 г., Австралия ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    We woke to the surrounds of the beautiful Sydney Harbour. Mostly packed from the night before, we were up around 6am and by 7.30, saying goodbye to Cabin 9538. We waded through crowds of queues, to the back of the ship, grabbing breakfast at our usual spot, before waiting for our 8.30am disembark call.
    Alas, a prompt and efficient disembark was not to be. For we were a Category something-something covid ship you see, the port has insufficient staff available and something-something else, meaning lengthy delays, standard shambles and incompetence and clogged exits.
    We had a sneaky ambition to tour the aquarium this morning, but with the delays and such, that ambition was laid to rest. I think we were off the ship eventually by around 10. We'd opted for 'assisted luggage disembark' to help with our three jumbo bags, but the problem was, every other cruiser had done the same, and the bag-reclaim spot might as well have been a 1000 foot flaming pile, with no organization or structure to pick up, and cruisers colliding left-right and centre. Bloodied and tired, we finally cleared the ship and its surrounds. Now adept at mass luggage transport, we slowly, but much more surely made our way to the Circular Quay station, picked up some tickets and had our way to the airport by around 11am.
    We opted to check in this time with prams taken to the gate. Never done that before, but gave it a whirl. Had it's pros and cons. Clearing security was hectic, but it was handy keeping the kids rested and apart, especially given our flight was delayed from 2pm to 2.50.
    The kiddos again loved the airport, and I spent a couple hours wandering with them, showing them the planes. They were both fantastic on the flight back when we got aboard, Axel having his best flight yet (of 4 this year).
    It was smooth sailing back in Melbourne, for an hour peak hour drive back to bring our holiday to a close.    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromNew Zealand 2022Путешественник

    Two Sea Days Homeward Bound

    6 декабря 2022 г., Tasman Sea ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Sea days with kids haven't been a holiday highlight, but I felt we made the most of/ enjoyed these two days more than the first two.
    Overall, I didnt find Ovation of the Seas to be a particularly amazing or memorable ship. It was the 13th cruise I'd been on, 5th with Royal Carribbean, the largest ship I'd been on but would probably rank around the middle for design, excitement, activities..
    There wasn't any fundamental issue or gripe with the design, just little unique features or grandeur.
    The cabins have been excellent, among the best I've had. Efficient space layout, great storage, comfy beds, nice balcony, even enjoyed the colour themes. The staff have generally been pretty good as expected, friendly and helpful for the most part.
    The entertainment has been clearly the worst, least exciting and laziest Ive ever experienced on a cruise ship, period. The ship boasts two great theatres, the main enclosed, double storey at the front, and a smaller, windowed boutique theatre at the back.. both dominated by b grade comedy and tumbleweeds. Across the 11 nights (22 show opportunities over both venues), we had about 6 comedians, one burlesque dancing show, one jazz show, one great but weird light/dancing show, and a comedy juggler... three nights the main theatre had nothing, whacking on old movies... and most nights the rear theatre had nothing...
    For kids aged 1-4, there was very little for them to do, unless you wanted to discard them for a high cost at childcare.. which wasn't the objective of a family trip. There was only one "swimnappy" permitted "splash" area about 5m long, closed at least half the cruise.. the kids waterslides and whirlpool was closed as well at LEAST, half the cruise, more I think.. leaving us to have to lie about toilet training to get some younglings into the 10cm deep indoor pool... who knows why it wasnt toddler designated... you'd raise an eyebrow and want a working with children check for any solo adults without kids lurking in there.
    The kids play area was weak... one tiny playground with about 4 toys and a slide.
    Overall, food was fairly plentiful but substandard. The restaurants were separated into four small segments, rather than a grand dining hall. Service was friendly but always super slow and atimes, when not with our regular attendants, incompetent - bringing wrong orders.
    Only a handful of dishes would have been better than 6/10... as many would have been worse than 4/10.
    Another big issue was the onboard cost hikes... beers $10US, cocktails $15US, no happy hours (there used to be) photos $130US for 20... and shore excursions, usually pricey, now extortion.. I think they ended up wanting $800US for a Rotorua or Hobbiton tour and they cancelled all those.
    We had some fun at sea the last two days though, my brothers dad and I (with a filler) competed in a 6 a side soccer comp, air hockey with Ryland, lots of pool and spa time, fish n chips, a few cocktail evenings with the kids dancing up a storm, dodgeball comp for me, and Nat Ryland and I took a ride on the North Star, a gondola on a mechanical arm that rose 300m above the ship.    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromNew Zealand 2022Путешественник

    Wonderful Whirlwind Wellington

    4 декабря 2022 г., Новая Зеландия ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    I think Wellington ended up being my favorite city in New Zealand. It was a bit of a shame our Picton and Wellington days got switched and we ended up with such a tight window here. We were docked around 7.30, with a 25minute shuttle required from port to town centre, and final shuttle back at 2.30pm..
    I was up 4-6am for Netherlands Vs USA in the World Cup. We grabbed breakfast and caught most of the first half of Australia vs Argentina, before heading ashore to make the most of our time in Wellington.
    The shuttle dropped us at the city I-Site (Information Centre) where we could purchase tickets and jump on a free shuttle to our first stop; Zealandier.
    This was basically a huge open range, jungle, bird sanctuary. I gotta say, I was really impressed with the surrounds as well as amount of birds we saw, even with a noisy group of kiddos - **specify birds** The most spectacular were the Kaka parrots, swooping about us and on clear show earning food from pedal-operated lunch boxes. We spent about 2 hours here before taking a 25minute walk along the hilly suburbs of Wellington. I never realised how mountainous this city was, homes by the hundreds scattered about on all arrays of slopes, many super steep, near all with great views.
    Eventually we ended up atop the Wellington Gondalas, basically a steep tram descending the mountainside down to the harbour. Great views, $5 tickets, fun for the kids and largely pram friendly. From the base, we had a 15minute walk along the waterfront to the te Papa Museum.
    This was an amazing museum, we had to rush to get through even a few sections. The Ww1 Gallipoli Exhibit and Nature area (animals, geothermal, sea) were both very impressive. It really blew Melbourne Museum away.
    All we had time for from there was a quick McDonalds stop, a couple souvenirs and 2.30pm shuttle trip back to the ship with the hoardes.    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromNew Zealand 2022Путешественник

    Picturesque Picton

    3 декабря 2022 г., Новая Зеландия ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Curiously, today's location was the quietest, with the least enticing activities, but the longest port time. We docked at 9am, and had until 7pm to explore.
    My prefferred activity for the day was Waipupu Wildlife Sanctuary. Only accessible by boat/jetty, ironically the trail for this location passed within about 200 metres of where our ship was docked. You could almost see and touch the trail from our cabin, but no access.
    Too bad we couldnt get access to some of the timber here at this working port after the huge delays we experienced this year for our new home build.. After a short shuttle transfer, we were in the heart of Picton.
    The harbour area here was really just as I remembered it eight years ago when a younger Nat and Kris couple drove in here on a South Island road trip. Only then, we shared the grassy lawn here with ducks, this time, we had a thousand cruise passengers for company... I know which I preferred. The ducks were in agreement.
    I grabbed Nat and I some coffees and scouted for and secured ferry tickets to Waipupu. The whole family opted to follow. While waiting for our noon departure, we wandered the waterfront, main street, stopped for pies at a bakery and browsed and a small market.
    The 5-10 minute ferry dropped us at Waipupu, a little after noon, giving us a couple hours to walk the hilly jungle island, with prams, which presented a small challenge. A few huffed and puffed here and there but we made it around without any major incident. There were dozens of penguin boxes you could peek inside, but we found all 10-15 empty and unoccupied. We didnt see many other birds, a couple here and there. The track was thick forest, offering nice panoramic views.
    A couple hours later we were back in town via the ferry. Disembarking the ferry, the kid's lunch bag slipped out into the water.. but fortunately the ferry operator was able to fish it out.
    With plenty of time we decided to amble along the shore accross to the aquarium.
    Itd be hard to be positive about that experience. Nat and I avoided it on our visit 8 years ago, and it wasn't hard to see why. The $26 adult admission was way overpriced. The 3-4 rooms were dated, shabby, mouldy, in disrepair, containing a dead squid, couple lizards, turtles, rabbits (for some reason?? - possibly the least aquatic animal possible) and maybe 10 types of fish total. There were a couple big ones in the last tank and very cool porcupine fish.
    That was enough for the day and we headed back to the ship via shuttle.
    A nasty cold has dogged me from the start of this trip, and our entire group is basically sick now... there's talk of covid aboard and mask wearing has increased notably.
    No show tonight, just an old movie in the theatre for some reason. Probably just as well as we all need rest and relaxation for our last day in New Zealand tomorrow.    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromNew Zealand 2022Путешественник

    Cancelled

    2 декабря 2022 г., South Pacific Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    The Port of Tauranga imposes restrictions of winds to be no greater than 20 knots for ships to depart.. Evening winds of 22 knots, meant we were held there until 2am, and unable therefore to make it to our next port of Napier in Hawkes bay by 1pm the next day..  Napier would be cancelled entirely.
    Super dissappointing. I write this from our stateroom balcony, after another boring sea-day, its 5pm, we're southbound, watching Hawkes Bay pass in the distance with not 20, but 50knot winds and the ship and sea are hardly moving. The waves wouldnt even be a metre high. I think this is our 13th or so cruise and we've never had a port cancelled entirely. Once, our last with Ryland had a port change due to covid, but never cancelled. Seems ironic it happen now, on our biggest ship yet, for such paltry, conservative wind restrictions. Weve been on ships with 100knot winds before, choppy seas, and a nasty storm or two, but here we are.
    The day has really highlighted how sea days on a cruise ship with toddlers, are more chore than fun.
    There's the pool issue, no real access to kids in diapers, you cant exactly stop for drinks, or shows, or relax and unwind. Kids dont allow for that, they scream, fight, fuss and constatntly require attention.
    Further, whilst this isnt a bad ship, for the biggest we've ever been on, its unremarkable/nothing special. It doesnt have anything of real note others ships havent had, and really lacks any grandeurn or spectacular elements.. the shops, cafes, promenade, theatre and decks are a little plain and uninspired. The restaurant has been our least ever enjoyed, rather than a grand locale, this ship separates its main dining into four separate themed, smaller spaces; Silk (Chinese), American Icon (American), Chic (Designer) and Grande (European). We're allocated to the former. It'd be nice to try others... the staff have been lovely, but the seating arrangement not great, food very ordinary and service slow.
    We tried a bit of a swap today, I spent 45min in the adults only pools while Nat took kids to the playground and then she took Ryland to the pool whilst I sat with Axel for a nap.
    Weve had zero time together, and no relaxation. Time ashore has been fun, sea days not so. Bring on Picton.    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromNew Zealand 2022Путешественник

    The Big Day

    1 декабря 2022 г., Новая Зеландия ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    The two standout destinations of this trip were locked into the one tour, departing from Tuaranga - Hobbiton and Rotorua. Fortunately I booked this independently as for whatever reason, Royal Caribbean had cancelled all exorbitantly priced tours to each of both destinations (they didn't offer any trips to both), claiming a lack of drivers.
    This was interesting as on disembarking, there was a tourist desk offering trips to each location, but not both. It took a fair effort to preorganize ANY tour that covered both destinations so it was great to find such a well reviewed private operator with 'Auckland and Beyond' for all 12 of us.
    We met our guide Warren waiting for us at the pier at around 9.15am. We piled 4 prams and 12 people into our private Mercedes minivan and set on our way for an hour drive to Hobbiton.
    Warren advised that a booking mix-up meant our group had been split into two for Hobbiton, 6 at 10.30 and 6 at 11.15. By the time we made it for a photo finish at 10.30, that had been rectified with all 12 of us to go at 11.15. This gave us time for a coffee and snack at Hobbits Rest before setting off to explore the Hobbiton set.
    Our day at Hobbiton consisted of about a 2 hour guided tour and walk around the village straight out of the Shire from Lord of the Rings. The place far exceeded expectations, with the tiniest details and props making you feel like youd stepped into the movie.
    Sadly none of the little homes/ hobbit holes here were more than an exterior facade, with interior scenes shot elsewhere. Nonetheless we visited/saw dozens of them before crossing the site of Bilbos farewell party, over mill bridge to the Green Dragon for refreshments (pale ale, amber ale, stouts or non alcoholic ginger beer for the kiddos).
    The gorgeous sunny weather further added to the immersion and atmosphere of the village, truly picturebook.
    After a stop in the gift shop we returned to Warren and piled into the bus for the journey to Rotorua. Whilst the kids had been fantastic for the first leg journey, Myles and Axel, side by side, opted to engage in a screaming match for the entirety of the drive to Rotorua. Whilst our guide appeared to be a wealth of information, this was sadly unable to be utilised for the day.
    The site of Te Anau at Rotorua offers unique geothermal geysers, a kiwi sanctuary and cultural site. Again, we were received by a private guide to take us through the area for a couple hours. Firstly to a kiwi sanctuary to view the iconic local birds. Despite being clearly advised not to photograph the animals, a certain someone was unable to resist and received a deserved scolding and ejection to the embarrassment for us all. That aside, it was great to see these birds up close, much rounder and larger than I remembered or expected.
    Onwards to the geothermal site, to feel the heat, observe the bubbling earth and behold the erupting water abound.
    Ryland enjoyed laying out and warming himself on some smoith, naturally heated stone faces. The kids all ran amok as our guide regaled us with stories and information about our location.
    Sadly, no haka on show today I thought the kids would love, but we did wander over to observe and learn about Mouri crafts such as woodworking, carving and weaving.
    With the kids tiring (and Myles bleeding from a nasty fall) we grabbed our souvenirs and via a supermarket stop at Woolworths (New Zealand dubbed - Count Down) for child related supplies, made the hour scream-a-thon drive back to the ship by 6.30pm.
    A big applause was due to our guide (at wits and exhaustions end) for getting us around on todays grand adventure. That tour company, and our guide are based out of the Auckland area (requiring our guide to depart there at 5am and return by 10pm) and had, prior to my request, never taken a group to both Hobbiton and Rotorua on the one day, from Tauranga port. Keep 'Auckland and Beyond Tours' in mind whenever you're on in the area in New Zealand.
    The majority of us headed to an impromptu dinner at a different restaurant segment, 8 of us fitting on a circular table, much better for conversation than our regular long table.
    Dinner was again, just ok, and again, extremely slow going.. over two hours from arrival til walking out... long dinners with tired kids prone to screaming is especially rough for tired parents when glaring cruisers get their a game on..
    Still, we returned to our cabins happy, (a little sunkissed) and thankful for a great day, with plans of a relaxing, leisurely beach stroll and aquarium visit at Napier tomorrow. Or so we thought until the announcement..    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromNew Zealand 2022Путешественник

    Worms and Forest

    30 ноября 2022 г., Новая Зеландия ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Back North from Auckland today to anchor right in the heart of Bay of Islands. Today was our one and only cruise-associated tour - a five hour trip through the countryside to Waiomio caves to see glow worms, then further afield to Kauri Forest.
    We were up 7.15 for an 8.30 group meet in the theatre. Getting the kids sorted, in prams, gathering food and a place to eat, made it a tight affair. Spotting dolphins from the Windjammer buffet was a nice surprise!
    We met Brody, Alyssa and Myles in the theatre, then piled onto a tender with our group of 40 or so. It was quite a lengthy one, it felt like around 20-30 minutes from ship to shore.. though both boys seemed to enjoy it.
    About 30minutes to the first stop - Waiomio Caves
    A short walk from the carpark, pram drop off and into the caves we went. The caves themselves were spectacular.. great waxy textured faces of stone and stalactite.. with a stream running alongside the boardwalk, deep underground. We carried kids with our group all in all around 400m down into the dark, equipped with a few lanterns. At a couple spots, we turned out the lights for the spectacle of a bizarre "starry sky" underground. Thousands of glow-worms reside here, spidery creatures that light up and glow in the dark. The scientific explanation has been omitted in lieu of the sounds of screaming children blotting out education from the realms of possibility. All kids present enjoyed/were amazed and confused by the glowing worms, but simultaneously none too fond of being subjected to lengthy cave darkness.
    Next up a further 45minutes to the Kauri forest for a 500m guided boardwalk circuit. Again, any education was impossible at the back of a hoarde with a screaming child, but there was plenty of gorgeous forest to take in, in its simplicity. Some of the trees were huge and impressive, I think I heard a top 5 in size for wood girth. This entertained Ryland for about 5 minutes before he leaned back to sleeps embrace and the heavens opened up for a good downpour half way along.
    All that remained was a good hour bus return to the tender port with two, well three including Myles, hungry, tired kids..
    The countryside was nice, but driving volume portion to experience pretty dissappointing, especially with no snacks or opportunity to shop for kids 9-2.
    Then, after another 30+ minutes on tender we were able to feed the famished pizza. Feral Axel regained himself with a self-declared "happy beLLy" complete with satisfied pat.
    We were all in attendence for dinner, as we look forward to our major family group tour tomorrow.
    Nat myself, sleeping Ryland and energy/experience overloaded Axel took to a 7pm light/dancing theatre/music show. This further overloaded Axel into trance mode, which meant putting him down at 8.30 impossible. After taking turns to walk it off, the only solution to over-stimulation was more stimulation.. after taking him back for a second dose of show hes finally down.
    Heres hoping it's smooth sailing tomorrow.    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromNew Zealand 2022Путешественник

    Arrival Auckland

    29 ноября 2022 г., Новая Зеландия ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    After a few days in the deep blue of the Pacific, we spotted land on waking this morning.
    There was a slight time-clock malfunction this morning. We woke at 7am, and I had us up and scrambling to make breakfast in the restaurant by 9.30am.
    Arriving at 9.29.59, I was pleased to see it quiet, and parties still arriving after us! Then parties kept coming and the restaurant filled. Little did I realise my international roaming had kicked in, auto adjusting the time by 2 hours forward.. too bad Id already manually done that... meaning We were up 5am and rushed to breakfast by... 7.29...
    We didn't have a set itinerary today, planning to get a ferry out to nearby island and explore the city and thats what we did.
    Getting off the ship at 1.30pm, we were docked at the Auckland commercial port. All passengers needed to be shuttled to the citys tourist harbour/waterfront. I made impromptu enquiries at the ferry terminal, and organised a trip out to Waiheke Island for the four of us, with Brody, Alyssa and Myles to come along.
    We caught the 40minute, 3.00pm ferry and off we went.
    Without a lot of time or prebooked transport, we set off with prams for a 25minute walk to Oneroa. We had time for a scenic coffee, wander through the town and down to Little Oneroa beach for playground and beach time.
    After which, a 35minute walk had us back at the 6.00pm ferry with 4 seconds to spare!
    Being back at Auckland before 7 gave us time to have an hour stroll through the heart of Auckland up to the skytower and back to port, grabbing some souvenirs and dodging homeless along the way. All in all it was a pretty place, super clean and modern.
    Back aboard the ship via shuttle and a haphazard full body cavity search on reboarding, we (the 4 of us) opted to chance our luck for mytime restaurant dining at 8pm. The kids were fantastic and we just about pulled off 3 courses and slow service without significant incident or embarrassment and have Axel down by 9.30 and Ryland 10.
    We have our sole cruise excursion to a glow worm cave starting 8.15 tomorrow (not 6.15). So time for sleep for an early start!    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromNew Zealand 2022Путешественник

    Cruising East

    28 ноября 2022 г., Tasman Sea ⋅ 🌧 18 °C

    Two days at sea, eastward bound towards New Zealand.
    Cruise cabins are never huge but they do have loads of storage space. Its part of the fun, finding a spot for everything, maximising space efficiency so the room still feels big. Despite our truckload of luggage we managed to unload efficiently.
    The ship has 16 decks including a dozen restaurants, shopping esplanade, multiple theatres, bars, cafes a casino, bumper cars, basketball/soccer courts, a casino, three major pool areas, spas, gym, lounges, arcade, table tennis, surfing simulator, rock climbing wall, theatres, big screens, jogging track, scenic viewing arm and much more.
    Theres around 4000 passengers on board, but hasnt really felt overwhelmingly crowded yet apart from the main theatre.
    We've always preferred to try get to restaurants when cruising as opposed to buffets, and with kids that trend has continued.. its even harder juggling kids and gathering plates in an endless rotation relay.
    We've spent plenty of time both afternoons around the pools with the kids, though child access is a bit of a bureaucratic mess, policed mercilessly by veteran operatives authorised to save or end lives. So the rule is: fully toilet trained and no swim nappies can access everything. Failing this, theres one pool of filth and shame, ankle deep, with a few hoses for the toddlers.
    So of all the kids, we approved a "free-range" licence for Ryland, but of course the toddlers swamp is 'exclusive' to the unclean ones, so any attempt for Ryland to water play with his cousins was met with swift and savage intervention from the fun police.
    Next, theres a 42 inch height requirement for kids to ride water slides.. day 1, Ryland was failed by the officer in charge, interpreting his height to be 0.000000000001mm below requirements. Day 2, after a 1000 point check, and analysis from a quantum physicist, he was cleared to slide. Guess he grew a centimetre overnight....
    The restaurants have been a little underwhelming thus far really, in service, speed and the food itself. The wait staff have been friendly and kind as always.
    The first couple theatre shows weve ducked into havent been too exciting, a comedy show and a burlesk type thing.
    Ryland loved a hit of air hockey, and we've done plenty of laps. With two kids theres little you can really stop to enjoy. Weve spent a few sessions in the sole kids playground area.
    Sea days are a little challenging and hectic with kids 2 and 4, but some onland adventures should be a lot of fun.    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromNew Zealand 2022Путешественник

    Ovation of the Seas

    26 ноября 2022 г., Австралия ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    With all twelve of us seated at dinner, sailing east of the coast of Sydney, it was almost hard to believe it had all come together - passport applications, covid protocols, bureacrracy, decisions, travel plans, group collaboration, customs, boarding and checkin and everything else and here we were... and you know what, nothing is ever as hard as it seems, people say, or you might expect.
    It was no walk in the park (why should anything be), well at least after Taronga zoo, which basically was just that, but its been a great reminder of how much you can do, easily, if you want it, and how satisfying it is when you pull it off, even moreso if it is challenging.
    With the cruise checkin at 3pm, we opted to leave our vast warehouse of bags at the Sebel for safekeeping, whilst we headed out to the Taronga Zoo via ferry. "Exactly how many bags do you have? You don't know exactly??" - the polite Sebel conceirge query as we set off.
    The morning to afternoon ran beautifully, ambling downhill with boys in prams, seamlessly onto the ferry via a Subway breakfast and off to Taronga Zoo about 15mins away. The boys loved the ferry ride over and gondala up to the top of the hill where you enter the zoo. Free entry for us Victorian zoo members we set about worming our through the zoo, down the hill, in glorious sunshine.
    It wasnt the most prolific exhibitionism display from the zoo residents, but that wasnt really any bother to us enjoying the weather and surrounds.. Ryland spent most his time in the pram whilst Axel ran amok.
    The Gorillas were a major highlight, along with the endangered Bongo.
    Getting back to circular Quay was another breeze without incident or delay, and returning to the hotel was no big deal.. now for just 7 minutes from hotel.. this time its downhill and Im used to pushing three big bags, easy surely?
    I can proudly say I made it 90% of the way without collapse... the last street was a fairly steep decline, and whilst momentum can be your friend... too much can be an avalanche.
    With another unrequested (but welcome) stranger assist, we were down the hill in front of our home for the next 11 nights.
    For all the prefilled, overwhelming admin and bureaucracy, checking in and getting aboard was a breeze really. Axels patience ran a little thin, but we made it.
    Our room is 9538 on deck 9. A balcony room, for four. This would be a first, all of us sharing one room to sleep. Cruise rooms arent huge, but offer excellent storage space. Being tidy and space efficient is part of the fun really and we set to it.
    The plan is a balance of direct and extended family time, with couple and individual time perhaps an outside chance given the opportunity.
    All 12 of us plan to meet daily for dinner booked 5.30pm. We managed it tonight for a great start. The kids were fantastic today 8/10each, and whilst settling in for sleep for the first night wasnt flawless, nor was it catastrophic.
    The next few days we're at sea, New Zealand bound which will give us ample opportunity to explore all 16 decks of this 4000 passenger liner.    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromNew Zealand 2022Путешественник

    Plaaaaan

    25 ноября 2022 г., Австралия ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    The largest extended family trip yet. Twelve of us. My family of four, my parents and my two brothers parties of three; with wives and young ones.
    It feels like more stress, thought, drama, planning and incident has gone into this trip than our 7.5month duo adventure many years ago.
    The packing took an eternity too, it felt like it took days, and a miracle we ushered it all into the car and to the airport. Three jumbo bags, two wheelies and a duffel, totalling around 70kg.. two single prams, three backpacks and a lightning mcqueen pullalong...
    The kids both love airports already. Its "Plaaaaan" from Axel and "whats that one whats that one" from Ryland.
    Aboard the little Virgin Australia plane, we had four adjacent seats in rows of three. From left to right; Ryland on the window, me in the middle, Axel aisle right and Nat aisle left.
    Next to the comfort of dad, Ryland lovvvved the flight from boarding, to take off and landing, never deterred by bells, beeps, rumbling or turbulence.
    Axel enjoyed his own seat, being 2 days past his second birthday.. he was mostly cooperative whilst occupied, except wanting cuddles from mum on the landing and falling asleep just before that occured.
    An on time flight and easy bag collection, led to our first major challenge... moving those bags, and kids, without a trolley.
    First, the reminder of our mandatory relationship with lifts... and ramps.. a theme that would resound throughout the trip..
    Rolling a giant duffelbag on top of two wheelie bags makes a fine, movable 70kg bundle of fun, so long as youre on a "pure-level" surface, without crowds, or obstructions, going in a straight line, on a sealed surface, with no cracks, distractions, bumps, drains, dirt, wind, air movement or insects and you maintain a precise amount of momentum.
    Two collapses en route to the Sydney bound train was a decent effort. Once we clogged a carriage and scrambled with relative grace and dignity off at Circular Quay, we were just "six minutes" walk from rest and relaxtion at The Sebel West Quay hotel. Six plus... minutes, 1-10 bag collapses and 1-3 good Samaritans overcome with pity later, we made it, a little ragged and soaked.
    We were grateful for a lovely upgraded apartment with great views of the harbour bridge.
    We had time for a breather before catching up with an old friend of mine at Pancakes on the rocks for dinner.
    We're almost off now. A challenging but rewarding day behind us.
    Ryland was remarkably well behaved. Axel had a bit of a Jekyl and Hyde day, as is his style between adorable charm, and screaming frustration at not getting it his way.
    Its all downhill from hotel to ship tomorrow! What could go wrong?    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromNew Zealand 2022Путешественник

    A New Dynamic of Travel

    24 ноября 2022 г., Австралия ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Ive enjoyed plenty of travel over the years. Its been quite an evolution. As a kid, and teen, I have memories of the US and South East Asia with my parents and brothers. My travel bug really hit in earnest in my early 20s, when I set off to Europe by myself for a couple months. A memorable part solo, part with friends World Cup trip in 2010 broadened my confidence and experience. Following that, in 2011, I signed up my wife-to-be in as my new adventure companion.
    That was the first big change, from flying solo, following your own feet and whims, to a collaborative endeavour. That colloboration comes with restrictions sure, but the sharing of experiences and exploring with a loved one makes for a more memorable and rewarding undertaking.
    What adventures we experienced since. Two adults, two giant backpacks. 2011 - South East Asia, 2012 Africa, in 2013 - 38 countries, circumnavigating the planet in 7.5 months via all continents (except Antarctica), 2014 - New Zealand South Island, 2016 South America and 2017 Japan.
    Then in 2018, things changed. We became parents. Our eldest was born at 24 weeks (very premature) and priorities shifted. I spent a week in China for my brothers wedding, but none of us thought we'd be dragging a premature infant around any time soon. It seemed unrealistic and inconceivable.
    Maybe not. In 2020, we thought we'd give a Pacific cruise a spin. Ryland was 18 months (approx), the cruise left out of Melbourne, no flights required, why not?
    Our two backpacks changed to wheelie bags. Weight limits for plane baggage was pushed, we met the oversized baggage checkins, personal clothing luggage changed to nappies, bottles, wipes. Cruise routine shifted from interior state rooms, late daily dinners, drinks, socialisation, pool and spa time and shows to balcony rooms, early nights, rotating pool time and isolation. It was a challenge.. but not all bad.. as before that extra share of experience was so precious.
    I conceded perhaps a short-term travel haitus might be in store following that cruise to allow Ryland to grow. Covid comprehensively agreed with impecable timing, announcing itself towards the end of our February 2020 cruise (even altering our itinerary to give us a bonus unplanned taste of Vanuatu).
    With the pandemic in full swing, we opted to use the time to tinker our three-person trike, adding an Axel to make a four wheeler in November 2020.
    ... and here we are again. As 2022, we're sitting here in Sydney ready for a new adventure. We board Ovation of the Seas tomorrow for 11 nights around New Zealand.
    We're a party of four with Ryland 4.5 and Axel freshly 2 (2 days ago), with with eight others, my parents, brothers, sisters in law and their boys Flynn 3, and Myles 1.5.    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromSouth Pacific 2020Путешественник

    Disembark

    7 февраля 2020 г., Австралия ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Pulling open the drapes of our cabin today was less inspiring. Melbourne presented a dreary, foggy, overcast welcome. We were mostly packed and ready to go, just Rylands cot and a few bits and pieces to throw together.

    Time enough for one last breakfast, just, after how long and sketchy it was with service. The disembark process wasn't one of the best... slow, congested, disorganized. At least it gave Ryland some exercise time to have one last run around decks..

    Eventually we were off.. but with no trolleys or pick up access to the terminal I had to enter hulk/beast mode to pack-mule bags and Rylands cot to where dad was waiting with our car around 10am.

    We've enjoyed the trip overall, and glad we did it. Travelling with a young one was a real challenge and eye-opener but also very rewarding. We wouldn't prioritize cruising with Carnival again, nor prioritize the pacific/ same ports again. I feel like I need a holiday to recover from this holiday! (Though I've said that before!).

    We're proud and happy though that we can confidently say Ryland enjoyed himself. It was a great test/learning experience for him and I'm proud how adaptable, open, inquisitive, excited and fearless he was about everything. I feel things will get easier with him as he grows older. Overall trip review, probably a 6/10.

    Until next time, I'll look forward to our next adventure, when/wherever that may be.    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromSouth Pacific 2020Путешественник

    Around Victoria and Wilsons Prom

    6 февраля 2020 г., Австралия ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Smooth seas overnight as we reached the coast of Victoria, just 40 nautical miles from shore. Again, cloudy skies and light rain the morning view - we haven't had the extent of summer weather I'd have hoped for.

    To break things up this morning, I decided to shell out the $12pp for a "Dr Suess" themed breakfast I hoped Ryland might enjoy. It turned out to be a good move, with plenty of wacky characters for him to meet, some eye catching decorations, bright food and even an activity book. Nat and I enjoyed the lark of tucking into some green eggs and ham of our own.

    Next up, the joys of packing and being extorted for overpriced photos.. It looks like there's a few nice ones to choose from too, especially from formal nights. We ended up buying 10 photos.. and getting them on usb. It wasn't cheap.. ($280)

    The pool was surprisingly (and disappointingly) emptied today, but I did spend some time in the spa to get some more sun. We did enjoy some spectacular views of the Australian coast from our balcony this evening.. really within touching distance of Wilsons Prom.

    We just about got Ryland through dinner asleep before the "Showtime" woke him.. The cruise has run it's course, and we're not shattered to be getting off. We put the majority of our packed luggage outside our room, and lay down for our final sleep on the Carnival Spirit.

    Review of Food/Beverage -
    As far as the restaurant goes, we've been largely pretty impressed with it across the board.. dinners and breakfasts have been pretty delicious, with a different international theme each night. The buffet/bistro option we've tried to avoid for ourselves, mostly using for Rylands lunches and dinners - Options and times of service/availability here have frustrated Nat... especially for kids... It's roast (non kid friendly vegies), pizza, or chips.. not once have they had spaghetti or pasta. Variety of wines and beers has been a bit light/underwhelming compared to other ships (I haven't had a single beer) and that typically bit overpriced. For once we didn't pay for the specialty restaurants this time (there was only steak or sushi), it didn't look like anyone did. There's a burger place and burrito/taco place by the pool.. but queues for anything are often very long.. again, layout and organisation has been wanting. Overall, 5.5/10 for food/beverage.    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromSouth Pacific 2020Путешественник

    Sailing at Sea - Family Photo Shoot

    5 февраля 2020 г., Coral Sea ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Another routine day at sea, heading down the east coast of Australia. It's a bit lackluster at this point, the trip coming to an end in a couple days, and nothing really new to do - Breakfast, wander around, light lunch, pool/spa, dinner, show, bed. Not that this is the worst routine, but it's frustrating we can't do much all together with Ryland.

    Today's routine was the same, Ryland was given heaps of running time around the Jungle circuit, the Warehouse video game arcade and the mini golf course on top deck.
    We rotated time at the adults only pool, and spruced Ryland up for the second and final formal night. He was a little stroppy and tired for this one, but we just about struggled through.

    He then made the professional photographers around the ship work very hard to get a smile out of him. We'd end up being pretty happy with some of the end-products!

    The show tonight was the best of the lot - Miss Houdini - a magic and acrobatics show. Ryland made it hard watching, especially for Nat, but we saw a lot of it. I have no idea how they create illusions like switching places in a second, twisting bodies around and exposing it or disappearing into impossible boxes. Very impressive.

    Onto other overall reviews; Entertainment - well tonight's magic show was by far the standout show on the ship... Streets ahead of anything else.. Prior to that point itd been underwhelming.. some dancing, prancing, singing, juggling/comedy.. The piano man at one bar was pretty good. There were scattered games; trivia, bean bag toss etc. We weren't really able to participate in. "Showtime" at dinner each night was mostly a bit obnoxious and tacky and just a risk to waking Ryland.. There was a theatre session on the big screen on deck most days we didn't watch (Ryland wouldn't sit still/ not allowed to swim). Most ships show/replay the theatre shows on tv but this one didn't unfortunately. Overall, 5/10 for entertainment.

    Next up - Service -
    Well I definitely wanted to wait a while before talking about this. There also needs to be a specific distinction between room stewards, and the rest of the ship.
    I really hate being super-critical, and nobody enjoys reading someone whinge.. but for the first 3-4 days, the dining/bar/general ship service was definitely the worst we'd ever experienced on any cruise.. that's the best I can say about it. Something as simple as communicating a message or ordering off a menu was a disaster.. mains, starters, you want what? Why? I guess? Here's your wrong order, im not really interested. Zero enthusiasm, slow, non-attentive.. often non-existent. Shore excursions staff were particularly dull, and unhelpful. After a few days, it's like a switch was flicked to activate decent service. It's been ok since.. Some staff have been at times friendly, especially interested in Ryland.. but as a whole, it's still been probably the worst service we've had on a cruise - with exception of cabin cleaners who have been top notch it's a 3.5/10 (boosted from 1 early days to a 6 by the end).

    Review - Itinerary - l think I'm just about done with these South Pacific Islands. It's the first time on any sort of trip I've been on, that the itinerary has been altered, especially on such short notice. It was a bit of a shame that it was the two NEW ports for us that were scratched, but overall, few (ourselves included) were too disappointed with the alternate ports that were organised for us, it meant another country afterall, and still at least one new port. That Port activity (Snorkeling in Port Vila) probably ended up being the favorite stop/activity for all three of us, which was fortunate.

    I'm keeping it in perspective - this holiday destination (the Pacific), the holiday method (a cruise to and from Melbourne with no flights) and the holiday pace (slow and limited) was all chosen specifically to accommodate an infant child. Fitting those parameters, it was a success, and a well-enjoyed, fulfilling experience. Beach holidays aren't really my thing (though I do love snorkeling), and most of the Pacific stops for cruising focus on just that. The greatest allure to me of these locations is the awe-inspiring untouched beauty of some of the isles around us.. and the conundrum of that, is the adventure I'd seek exploring and immersing myself in these places is denied by a) being on tourist cruise ship with a couple thousand people and b) travelling with a young child..

    Overall, given the opportunities, experiences, excitement and places visited, the itinerary itself was probably a 5-5.5/10.    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromSouth Pacific 2020Путешественник

    Southward Bound

    4 февраля 2020 г., Coral Sea ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Mostly a much needed day of rest and recovery today. After breakfast, I spent most of the morning and early afternoon in bed sleeping or resting, which helped me bounce back a notch from my cold.

    Good timing too on that front as rumors circle the ship about possible containment of coronaviris infections. Apparently crew are directing any ill/coughing passengers to the medical department.. All non-major ports/smaller islands in the Pacific have now been closed, recently visited Isle of Pines included. Word is many Pacific cruises are being cancelled. There's talk of Chinese passengers being denied access to Port Vila and others being confined to quarters. Others suspect we may be subject to quarantine upon arrival in Melbourne. We shall see.

    Feeling spritely and somewhat renewed in the afternoon I spent 90mins or so in the adults retreat (Nat visited earlier) where I gathered much of the above gossip. Tonight was the first where Ryland struggled to get to sleep.. still fussing as we finished dinner at 9pm (very noisy spot tonight though!). We checked out the earlier theatre show.. which was more balloon making than juggling.. and didn't hold our interest. Finally, jnr just collapsed about 9.45pm in his cot... The sound of snoring and dummy movement is music to our ears!

    Before I go on, I have to give a shout out of thanks to Bananas in Pyjamas, who have chipped in to help us with Junior now and then. I don't know what we'd have done without them!

    With little else of significance to report on our last days at sea see, I'll probably sum up/review the ship, the rooms, the service, the entertainment and the ports/itinerary in the final few entries.

    I'll start off with the ship as a whole -
    I'd read that this ship, Carnival Spirit had been refurbished a couple years ago.. but you wouldn't really think that. It's our second Carnival cruise and one of the smallest we've boarded. Overall, I've been pretty underwhelmed/disappointed by the design, layout and variety of the ship and features, it's a bit of a tub. Lots of narrow spaces, tiny pools, weird designs (things like view restricted theatres) and the same generic bars/spots with different names. The jogging track/sports court and mini golf are all tiny and seldom used. The main foyer and glass lifts are elegant but the ship lacks that as a whole. Below the top decks (There's only 10), it's generally rather quiet (outside main dining areas) with only decks 2 and 3 to wander with bars and a couple shops. (Decks 4-9 are staterooms). Overall, probably 5.5/10 for the ship.

    As far as the rooms go -
    We're on "Upper Deck" 5, a balcony room, number 5225. I've actually been really happy/impressed with the room as a whole. It's decently spacious for a mid range cruise cabin, with a fair size private balcony with deck chairs. The balcony is very child proof and secure enough with Ryland out there supervised, sturdy 1.2m glass from ground to banister. Beds are comfy, a small tv and good size bathroom. Our travel cot fits snugly by the fold out couch. Loads of space for clothes storage and luggage fits neatly under the bed. The weakness would be the shower.. which comes out as a trickle with an alternating acid or ice temperature, making for a thrilling and unpredictable experience. The room temperature/aircon set to minimum setting is pretty decent. The walls are magnetic and there's plenty of space for Rylands toys and hooks for hanging things. The other slight con is only 1 power point and no power boards allowed. Position of the room is fantastic, on a corner with only 1 neighbor (lifeboat other side) close enough to elevators but far enough to have no thoroughfare and we've had basically no noise pollution at all.
    Its not luxury, but for what it is, 8/10.    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromSouth Pacific 2020Путешественник

    France in the South Pacific

    3 февраля 2020 г., Новая Каледония ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Our final port of call wouldn't be out of place in the South of France. Unlike our other stops so far, Noumea is a large Westernized city, one of the largest in the South Pacific.

    A swim free day today. Instead, a leisurely, family friendly rise on the Tchou Tchou train. This was what it sounds like - an open, slow moving train that would take us around the city and stop off at a couple lookout points. Ryland loved it, again his little brain took to absorbing the unfamiliar sights, smells and sounds all around him.

    The first lookout stop sat between the two days of the island, with a view of Duck Island, where Natalie (Hendrik) and I snorkelled some three years ago. We were treated to a glorious 32c day today, with mostly clear blue skies.

    From here, further through town and up the hillside for spectacular views overlooking Noumea. Ryland got some time to run around and stretch his legs here before we made the 40minute journey back. From the ship, we went on to catch a free shuttle into the city centre to explore on our own. This took us around Coconut Square (central gardens), some side streets, shops, supermarket and port side market place.

    We spent a couple hours enjoying our last free time on dry land, buying a couple small souvenirs and some crepes and cold drinks before heading back to the ship. I'd enjoyed learning about the Kagu bird of New Caledonia (on the Tchou Tchou Train) - a bird that forgot to fly over the years (due to no predators) and now uses its wings to climb trees.. and barks like a dog, so I bought a nice small painting of one. I can't help but think I'd much rather explore the rest of the island (the Grand Terre) rather than just wander the now familiar-ish streets and patterns of the largely Westernized city of Noumea. Grand Terre is actually a huge island, and from the ship, so much of it looks so wild/untouched and enticing.

    Showers, lunch and an afternoon nap set us up for our usual evening routine. Feeding Ryland in the buffet 5.30-6, then bathing him in his inflatable bath in the shower base, dusking, and getting him to sleep in his pram for dinner in the restaurant - "island theme" night tonight.

    There was a slight delay in the ship departing Noumea tonight, due to a passenger requiring medical attention and hospitalization on the island. I feel on track for that myself, really struggling with a cough/head-cold right now. It hasn't impacted my enjoyment of ports, but is really draining me.

    Three days at sea ahead still to enjoy, before we're home again in Melbourne.    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromSouth Pacific 2020Путешественник

    Windy Beach Time

    2 февраля 2020 г., Vanuatu ⋅ 🌫 31 °C

    Another surprise addition to our itinerary was Mystery Island. A small, uninhabited island, just 1.5sq km in size, the most southern part of Vanuatu. It's uninhabited, allegedly, as the locals believe it to be haunted after dark. Instead, they travel from a larger neighboring island whenever a cruise ship is in town, to sell goods/tours/services to make a living.

    Everything happened at a snails pace this morning. My throat kills and kept me awake a lot but I'm hanging in there. Ryland slept in a little so we didn't get to breakfast until 9ish.. Everyone else was on the same schedule so there were delays getting tendered and we didn't set foot on Mystery Island til around 11am.

    Nat and I traveled here just under 3 years ago. That day it was two of us, first ashore on a still sunny morning. Today was a much different affair. You can walk around Mystery Island casually in about 45 minutes. In our circumstances, with our luggage and dual-towing little lordling around in his pram over sand-paths like overworked huskies, in strong winds, we may have met the evening spectres of local legend. It was also hard to find a tree without 4 people under it. Nat was quick to find the spiders though, I calmly noted a large white stowaway climbing down her dress. She was quick to ask him to disembark.

    You could easily call the location spider island. Every other tree has a giant network with tropical eight legged occupants the size of your hand. We eventually mushed our way around all the local salesmen and tour guides to a beach on the far side of the island, still packed, still very windy. Nonetheless we set up camp here under a palm tree to enjoy some family swimming. The water was perfect, though the winds made it very, very choppy and... full of seaweed, pulled up from the seabed.

    Ryland still loved his time here swimming with us in temperate turquoise waters. The weather remained windy and rotated from clouds, to sunshine, to some scattered showers which were actually warm and refreshing.

    I did take the opportunity to test out my snorkel here again for half hour or so, managing to reduce leakage. I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of fish I saw, just standing distance from the shore.. Angelfish, parrot fish, large white, and blue ones.. at least 20-30, from 15cm-1m in length. Way better viewing than Isle of Pines, much less quantity than Vila, but a few bigger ones.

    At this point, Nat had her fill with snorkeling and her burns, so we moved on to wander the market stalls on the island. I picked up a nice seashell that you can hear an echo within (sound of the sea). Ryland loved it as expected. I paid a couple dollars to hold some local lizards, which was fun. We tendered back relatively painlessly to be back aboard by 2.30pm, burn free!

    It was a low key afternoon, some lunch, a small snooze and a wander around decks. I was in awe of the larger vast island on our port side, named Aneityum (opposite Mystery Island) - sparse homes scattered the shore, but beyond, dense tropical jungle that stretched on for miles to the base of a looming mountain range. There was little to no signs of habitation beyond the shore, it looked almost untouched wilderness.

    Rylands late nap meant a few laps of the ship were required to get him to sleep. I decided I'd get some sleep after dinner to get up and watch Arsenal play live at midnight in the sports bar. Turns out it was a 1am kick off... and with the game goalless at half time at 1.50am right now (and FINISHED 0-0), I'm more than half regretting that decision. We're up at 8am tomorrow to do a tour on the Tchou Tchou train in Noumea.    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromSouth Pacific 2020Путешественник

    Welcome to Vanuatu

    1 февраля 2020 г., Vanuatu ⋅ 🌧 31 °C

    Lush, vivid green jungle welcomed us from all sides as our ship rolled into Port Vila at around 8.30am. This would be a new location for all three of us!

    Vila is actually the capital of Vanuatu. The docking port itself is nothing remarkable, being largely industrial, for shipping/trading. After breakfast we rolled off the ship for our tour just after 9.

    Small group today, just the 5 of us to be transferred by shuttle to our semi-submarine tour. This was just another city where what seems like crazy driving to us, works for them. It's right side of the road driving, give way sometimes, check your phone while driving and use petrol stations as short cuts to overtake traffic.

    The "semi-submarine glass bottom boat" looked a bit alarming at first glimpse (now analyzing everything through a parents eyes.. - small motorboat with no secure railings). All would work out fine though, we'd have a fantastic time. Having the other 2 passengers (Hayley and Skye - friends in their mid 20s) helped a lot managing/juggling our bags and Ryland.

    Not unlike yesterday, a brief shower of rain belted down on us. This was well timed for us to head below deck into a lowered couch/seating area surrounded by windows for our personal moving aquarium. A great secure spot for Ryland. There was LOTS to see from this viewpoint.. coral formations, clown fish, angelfish, parrot fish, starfish and more! Junior loved it.

    After a half hour or so, we reached a spot to drop anchor and go snorkeling. Gear was provided today so we didn't need our own. The rain had just about eased off as I jumped in to snorkel. I was braced for a freeze, but that wasn't forthcoming. The turquoise waters were a pleasant 26c... just perfect.

    I spent half hour or so snorkeling around the boat, hand-feeding fish and having them swim all around me. Great viewing all round. Especially facing the boat I could see Ryland staring and giving me high fives through the glass. Before long, we switched turns and Nat snorkeled while I watched junior.

    When time was up we headed back to the port by boat and van. There was an extensive market set up here we could wander through. Nat and Ryland picked up some clothes. Local currency and a magnet was good enough for me. There were a few scattered local music performances here and just a chance to chat with some locals was nice. The weather has been so erratic. The sun seems to ignite the humid air into a BBQ when it appears, then sudden downpours bring some wind, soaking and refreshment.

    We spent most the late afternoon onboard, Ryland snoozing and us enjoying the temporary jungle backdrop to our balcony. By about 7.30 junior was out like a log in his pram allowing us to keep our perfect record of dining out at the major restaurant for dinner.

    I'm actually fighting off an illness now.. my throat is majorly inflamed and scratchy/uncomfortable. Maybe it's the onset of coronaviris and I'll soon crave human flesh, we'll see.

    Tomorrow we arrive at Mystery Island (Vanuatu) known for its beaches and turtles. Nothing booked here but beach-side, so we're happy today to have enjoyed such a great day with no additions to our burns.    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromSouth Pacific 2020Путешественник

    Landfall and an Itinerary Change

    31 января 2020 г., Новая Каледония ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    It was an eventful day that started at breakfast with a significant announcement - Our itinerary had changed.

    Our upcoming stops at Mare and Lifou were cancelled due to health precautions..

    A day or two ago, there was an announcement for anyone showing flu like or "coronavirus like" symptoms, especially anyone who had recently visited mainland China to report immediately to the medical centre..

    This leads to only one conclusion. Someone has contracted coronavirus, and began their transformation into a vicious, flesh craving zombie, and is currently held securely in a holding cell, deep in the bowels of the ship in top secret.

    Lifou and Mare aren't comfortable with this, so we're denied access to these places. Disappointing, given these were the two NEW ports for Nat and I, not yet visited. On the flip side, in lieu, we'll head to two other ports; tomorrow to Port Vila, and Sunday to Mystery Island, both in Vanuatu. So at least that's a second country for Ryland and one new Port for Nat and I.

    Ryland loved his visit to trip to Isle of Pines (starting 9am by tender). He was incredibly well behaved really. It was a difficult task though... We had to bring two backpacks, towels, snorkels and fins, a pram and have two hands on a wriggly youngster.
    Straight off the bat, he was more than happy to dish out high fives to the locals, putting on a traditional/tribal dance display.

    It was a hike to our swimming beach.. The pram struggled with sand and routes underfoot. We were initially greeted with a gentle rain, which cleared soon into a mostly sunny, warm day. We set up on the beach under the shade of a palm.

    Ryland LOVED the beach, he was all smiles and making a constant dash for the waves. He's a very hardly, open, resilient little fellow that takes well to new things. He spent a lot of time happy in his pram on the beach watching the world go by. Today wasn't easy though juggling everything. Junior actually got very cold very quickly in the water so we couldn't swim together. We took it in turns snorkeling but didn't see much.. I was especially frustrated by my snorkel leaking terribly despite trying to adjust it.

    Travelling with a young one, it's doable but not all round desirable. It's hard work, but rewarding. It's limiting but you do get those diamond in the rough moments that are so precious and probably better than moments you'd have as a couple. The look on his face on the beach today was priceless.

    There was a huge queue to catch the tenders/ lifeboats back to the ship around 2.30. By the time we boarded Ryland was absolutely cactus.. a minute after setting off, he'd fallen asleep in my arms, limp as a dead carrot.

    By the time we were back on board, an overdue lunch gave junior a second wind to take him through to a dinner and sleep time around 6pm. We counted the cost of some rookie sunscreen errors.. Nat forgot her back (or to ask me to do it) and I forgot my shoulders.. both scorched. Ryland was just a little sun-kissed about the face and belly.

    We decided to lock in a spontaneous semi-sub ride and snorkel for tomorrow's new destination in Port Vila ($69.95pp/ u3 free). Dinner was a breeze tonight with Ryland passed out in the cot by 6. Looking forward to something new tomorrow!

    ** In absence of a video on Isle of Pines I've attached one from Mystery Island with very culturally similar content.    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromSouth Pacific 2020Путешественник

    Approaching New Caledonia

    30 января 2020 г., Coral Sea ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Steady sailing on glassy seas today. The weather's been pleasant without being warm. Sunshine and blue skies have been sporadic as it's constantly cloudy.
    Dejavu is setting in a little, today being much the same as yesterday. I'm looking forward to getting out onto dry last tomorrow and seeing Ryland set foot in a new country for the first time.

    We rolled into the dining room just before 9 this morning. Vanilla French toast and an omelette went down well. Ryland broke his fast on wheat bix, stewed apples and banana.. and bread.. he's had a lot of bread on this cruise and is adapting to cold milk.

    I'm trying to be fair and reserving too much judgement this early, but it must be said a lot of the overall service on this cruise has been dreadful... some staff have been friendly at times and nice to Ryland, but ordering, communication, regularity of service, general helpfulness and interest has often been really, really bad.. and I hate sounding harsh..

    We spent most of this morning in the arcade.. Ryland insisted.. he ran around in there for ages mashing buttons and admiring the lights. He insisted I win him a duck at the skill tester machines which I just about managed. By the time he'd run his little legs ragged he was ready for a nap by noon.

    Nat was first off to the adults retreat for a swim during nap time. My opportunity popped up later in the afternoon. Ryland scored himself a couple of soft toys today.. a ripped big eyed cow (20% off) and a sailor duck/pelican he'd been eyeballing since day one!

    He was a bit stroppy going down tonight, but he just about nodded off by dinner at the restaurant. We're all really looking forward to getting onto land tomorrow and swimming as a family. Poor Ryland has been desperately gesturing at the pool all cruise to no avail. Tomorrow will be his first steps overseas!    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromSouth Pacific 2020Путешественник

    Family Cruising

    29 января 2020 г., Tasman Sea ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    It's actually my twelfth cruise I think? It's a lot different with a third wheel. Different is the perfect word. Its higher maintenance, less flexible, definitely less relaxing, but a lot of fun, rewarding and providing countless happy moments and cherished memories already.

    It's a social paradox. On the one hand, Ryland draws (and demands) attention wherever we go. It seems more than half passers by stop to comment on him, say hello etc. Staff all ask his name and try get a smile from him. On the other hand, we're never seated at a table with people or meet anyone properly or get to have a non-Ryland related conservation. Junior requires (and demands) a lot of focus and attention.

    There's a lot more routine. You can't really plan out the day, or do what you feel like when you feel like it. It's a lot of winging it.

    Our rough sea day routine is
    - Wake 7-8am
    - Breakfast in Dining room
    - Free Time 10-12.30 (nap time). Walk the decks, play some mini golf, get Ryland some exercise etc.
    - Nap time is free time for us, with the exception of one of us needing to be in the room while he sleeps. I mean we COULD nap him in the pram and try do something together as we do most dinners but it's a risk. Nat usually reads on the deck and these first two days I've gone to the gym.
    - Light lunch, we have to grab by 2.30 when most places close.... if junior is still asleep one of us will bring something to the room.
    - From 3-5pm more free time, maybe a cocktail. Today we rotated with swimming time, I went up to the adults retreat for h a of hour or so, then met Nat on deck and watched Ryland while Nat had a swim. It's so mean on Ryland, he's desperate to jump in the pool but not allowed.
    -5pm, feed Ryland in buffet.. get him back to the room... bath him in an inflatable pool in the shower, Pjs on, playtime, quiet time, tucked up in his pram. By 7.30, a walk around the decks gets junior asleep by 8pm for restaurant dinner for us!
    -Each night so far he's slept well through dinner and we've gone to the 9.30pm show... The last couple (hypnotist and rock pianist) we've managed to get through the entire show.

    Tonight, being "a formal night", was a special occasion. We drew out the afternoon with a swim, and dressed up Ryland to come to dinner with us. We were in early around 5.45... It all went relatively well, though Rylands dining etiquette could do with some refining... hand shoveling food in and out of his mouth. We managed well enough to get him through the 7.30pm pianist show and run around some shops before he started to turn tired and feral.

    We have another sea day ahead tomorrow, before four consecutive days around New Caledonia. Reluctantly we've opted to book excursions for MOST days as allegedly Mare and Lifou don't have many options available at disembarking spot. The good thing is that
    Babies 0-3 are free. Our plans are as follows -

    Stop 1 - Isle of Pines - Solo. Snorkel and swim
    Stop 2 - Mare - Transfer to nearest beach for swim and snorkel ($25pp)
    Stop 3 - Lifou Island - 35min bus ride to Islands best beach ($60pp)
    Stop 4 - Noumea - Tchou Tchou train (Family friendly) around town ($60pp).    Читать далее

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  • Kristofor MallegromSouth Pacific 2020Путешественник

    Carnival Spirit

    28 января 2020 г., Bass Strait ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Today, our first of three full sea days en route to New Caledonia.
    We woke from a good nights sleep around 8. Dining room for breakfast again, an amazing omelette for me and junior well fed on toast and wheat bix.

    We spent the morning on deck, in a sunbed by the thundering exhaust of the main engine, before Ryland took up the sport of mini golf. Around his nap time of 12.30-2.30 we scouted some food from the buffet for him. Opening hours and food selection options is a little erratic... but we'll manage.

    During nap time, I found the gym and Nat read on our balcony, choking on bush-fire smoke as we rounded the coast of East Victoria. I found a nice burger restaurant for lunch and acquainted myself with the 18+ adults retreat area on deck 9, just a few floors above our room. Definitely a great spot for a breather/ some private time with sunbeds and recliners around a pool.

    So we've visited 2 of the 4 stops on this cruise before... one stop, Isle of Pines is definitely easy to do solo from the pier.. The next stops; Mare and Lifou, I'm not sure.. especially whether there's baby friendly swimming options just hopping off the ship. As a result we decided to visit the shore excursions desk to consider tours for these places.

    The Shore Excursions desk clerk wasn't great- "oh, trips with a baby, that'll be limited..." she clearly didn't want to be there.. but we booked a $25 transfer to a beach for Mare and a 'tchou tchou' train ride in Noumea, with hopes of making our own way to the aquarium as it was closed last time we were there.

    The dinner routine is filling Ryland up at the buffet 5.30-6, taking him for a walk, bathing him in an inflatable pool in the shower, getting him to sleep/ready for his pram and heading out for dinner and a show at 8.

    Tonight's dinner was French themed, I had deer to start and a red wine sauce chicken dish. Tragically, it was "dim the lights and loudly sing heyyyyy baby" night... which looked to challenge Rylands slumber.. yet we made it through safely. We even decided to push our luck and try 9.30 show...

    Tonight was a hypnotist. It was deafeningly loud inside, but Ryland still got through the entire show sleeping in the first pram in a wheelchair space. I can't get my head around this hypnotism concept... is this real? What's actually going on in those peoples heads? Half of 20 barely responded.. but some participants (from audience) made a real spectacle of themselves. Bed by 11 and another sea day ahead tomorrow.    Читать далее

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