The first adventure of 2023 took me and my friend from back home, Jack, on the Grand Princess Cruise Ship for two weeks around New Zealand. We boarded from Port Melbourne and as soon as we checked in we headed off to explore our home for the next few weeks. The Grand is a 17 deck liner that can hold over 2,500 passengers and up to 1,100 crew at any one time. We went to that sail away party which took place around the main pool on deck 14, the performers and entertainment crew put on a fantastic show and party for us all as we left Port Melbourne. The entertainment team put on events like Quizzes, Game Shows, Karaoke, Art’s and Crafts and not to mention the One5 nightclub- we spent every night there having the time of our lives (shout out to DJ Will). There was a range of guest entertainers and show put on by the in-house performers, one to note is the extraordinary Phillipa Cookman, she entertained us every night in the Wheel House, our usual group meet up spot, then our group (people from all over the world and a range of ages and backgrounds) would head to karaoke or a gameshow or another bar for another guest entertainers show.
After three days at sea we spent our fourth sailing through the Fiordland National Park on New Zealand’s South Island, the we moved onto our first dock in the South Island – Dunedin, Jack and I got off board and went with our friends Mark and Chris to explore the Botanical Gardens and headed to a brewery for lunch.
Port two was just outside Christchurch, we explored the city tram tour and the earthquake museum then moved up the Gondola in Littleton to see the views across Christchurch and The Littleton Harbour and Port.
New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington was port number three and I spent the day exploring with my new Welsh Friend Jean we tried to go to mass seeing it was Sunday but our plans didn’t alight with mass time even though out bus stop to go to the Mount Victoria Lookout was right outside the Chapel door,, after which we we headed to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongatewa, we got to explore the rich cultural heritage of the Maori people. I was lucky enough to be able to meet up with my dear friends and “gym mum” Karen and John in this beautiful city, these legends even changed their travel plans to come meet me even though it only was for an ice cream, thank you Karen and John- it meant so much!!
Port Number four brought us to the North island and to the sleep town of Napier, this was the most relaxing port day spent basking in stunning costal views after a day spent shopping for costumes ahead out of themed formal night towards the end of our cruise. I even found an Irish pub but it was a little early for opening hours.
Tauranga was stop number five, I spent it exploring again with Jean where we indulged in a spot of shopping and even bought ourselves souvenir rings to mark our voyage. On our return journey on the hop on hop off bus tour, I was contacted by some friends from the neighbouring village back home, telling me that they were in Tauranga and would love to meet up, Renee in a New Zealand native so along with her partner Peter and son Finn we hiked the the summit of Mount Maunganui.
Our final port brought us to Auckland, I decided that today was the day to keep up with family tradition and phone my mum just before I went do something dangerous! For context when my eldest brother Cathal was travelling some 13 previous he called her from New Zealand as he was about to do a Bungee Jump- although I’m not mad enough to do a bungee jump I did do the Sky Jump from Auckland’s tallest building! Yes- I do think I’m not quite right in the head lol. A crowd of my fellow cruiser gathered on the viewing platform and on the ground near the landing platform 9there were a few bets that I wouldn’t actually jump but here the photos to prove I did!!
On our return voyage to Melbourne we had another three days at sea, which we spent dancing, laughing, drinking, eating and making memories to last a lifetime! Our entire group got all dressed up in white and gold on the second last night to join in on the white and gold theme in place on the cruise ship that night. We danced most nights of the two weeks into the early hours of the morning and even had ourselves a pool party on night AFTER the night club finished but thats enough of our cruising secrets told!
A trip of a life time with out of my best friends and so many friends and memories made along the way.
Maeve started her country career back in 2012 and since then, her career has gone from strength to strength. She released her debut single, ‘The Bramble and The Rose’ back in 2014 and continuing from its success, she released her debut album in 2016 and continues to record and release music.
© 2022 Maeve Farrell – Studio55.ie
