Port Vila - Rhapsody of the Seas Cruise

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Our next stop was Port Vila which is the capital of Vanuatu.  Thanks to Wikipedia again…more info here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Vila

When my Dad saw this photo he said it reminded him of New Guinea…..a lot of years since he has been there.

As you can see it is another beautiful day….well for people that live in the tropics it was a beautiful day.  There were the tropical showers that would come over for a minute and then be gone which meant it was a very humid day even the locals were saying it was hot.

Hubby had booked a shore excursion here and here is me after the event.  If you look closer but not too close, don't want to scare you but my face, neck shirt etc is covered in dust and mud.  We went on a buggy drive through some of the back hills and roads of Port Vila.  Had a great view of the ship at one point but can't seem to find that photo.

This couple were behind us and she ended up dirtier than me….I must have given hubby more of an evil eye when we got near puddles. :-)  Can you believe this couple were from Cairns too.

Here are the buggies, don't tell hubby but it was a great time.  I am disappointed I didn't take over the driving like most the other females did at the half way point but I knew hubby was having such fun.

After the buggy ride we returned to the ship showered and then walked through the markets set up near the ship.  Once again we didn't buy anything as it all the same as home.  So we decided to catch a Water Taxi to town.  What a lovely way to travel…the water is so clear.  This guy was happy and chatty and is in his second year studying law so he can become a police officer.

Some different styles of transport here.

It was Saturday and market day.

Not sure if it has a name but that is a small island in the port area with what looks like a very nice motel on it.  In the distance you can see our ship….our view from where we stopped for lunch.

 Yes, I managed to grab the camera for a second and got this great shot of the photographer - hubby. :-)

A paw-paw tree we spied on the way back to the ship.  It was at least 15m tall and was all twisted.  

Looking back over to where we had lunch in Vila from the ship.

I just like this photo.  These are actually huge rocks right next to the wharf where the ship is tied up.  The water is so clear they look like pebbles.

A bit of window cleaning.

The markets set up near the ship and where we caught the Water Taxi from.

My memory of Port Vila would have to be how happy these people were.  Wherever you saw a group of locals they were smiling, laughing or having a joke.

This is as we were leaving and I wish I had videoed this so you could hear the kids laughing while they played as we passed this place.  Couldn't see them but they sounded like they were having a wonderful time.  This would have been my favourite departure as the kids laughter drowned out I listened to the Jamaican band that was playing on the top deck while we sat on our balcony and watched this lovely scenery roll by.  :-)

Squint really hard…..there are windmills on the hills.

The sunset.

Thanks for visiting again and leaving such lovely comments.  I am glad you are enjoying all the wonderful photos that hubby took….I think they are so good I have to share and not leave them hidden on the computer.

Lifou, Loyalty Island - Rhapsody of the Seas Cruise

Land is near…..first sighting of a bird after two days at sea. :-)

The second day was rough and there was more room in the eating areas. ;-)  Hubby and I were not affected at all by the motion of the waves.  If anything the rocking helped us relax even more.

This is where I spent my birthday - such a beautiful day. 

Lifou, Loyalty Island.  You can find info here….thanks Wikipedia

The cliffs are limestone and they are pine trees not just tree trunks.

We caught a tender over to Lifou and walked through the small market place.  We didn't buy much on this cruise because what we saw for sale is what we see at the markets and tourist shops at home.  This worked in our favour as we had more time to snorkel.  There is a beach and snorkelling area (free) where the tender drops you off but it was very windy the day we were there.  Hubby had researched and discovered that a short walk away was Jinek Bay which was sheltered from the wind.  We paid $15.00 to the locals for the wonderful privilege of snorkelling in this beautiful bay.  The fish were amazing and beautiful coloured coral …especially the purple.  It was a novelty to just walk off the steps and start snorkelling.  At home we have to catch a boat for at least an hour.

Jinek Bay

After snorkelling we hiked up to the church (Our Lady of Lourdes) which you will see in a later photo.

This is the view back down to the ship.

And now looking back over Jinek bay where we snorkelled.

After snorkelling, hiking and checking out the small markets we headed back to the ship.  As we waited for the tender to take us back we watched fellow passengers swim in the waters where we were first dropped off.

The tender arrives with another boat load of people to look at the place.

This is another church on the island that we didn't venture to.

This the church we hiked up to.  Our Lady of Lourdes.

On the tender leaving Lifou.

We headed back, had a shower then a late lunch and as we were almost finished our meal the rain set in.  Nicely, timed as most people would have been back on the boat and would have enjoyed a day of sunshine.  

More photos to come.  Thanks for visiting again.

Rhapsody of the Seas - Day 1

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Time for some photos of our cruise to the South Pacific on Rhapsody of the Seas (Royal Carribean).  A great cruise and would highly recommend.  We left from Sydney so this meant a very early flight from Cairns which our daughter didn't for some reason seem too impressed about as she was our chauffeur. :-)  We arrived to the ship around 11ish and checked in then it was time to check out the ship.  Here I go for my first lap around the top deck and checking out the amazing Sydney skyline….the day was just perfect.

I have made it to the other side.

Time for a little bit of lunch in the Windjammer (buffet style)

1pm we were able to find our rooms and unpack……I made myself at home quite easily. :-)

I am laying here checking out the I Pad that was part of our room so that you could constantly keep track of our account.  Yes, the view out the window is still Sydney.

This is the Centrum area where everyone was buying their drink packages and probably looking at shore excursions.  My very organised husband had that all under control and booked it all online.  So we could just keep wandering.

This is the Jamaican band in the pool area…..I enjoyed listening to their music many a night and as we left some of the ports.

Near the Lifts on each level was one of these to help you find exactly where you were on the ship.

This was also next to the lifts and it was a touch screen so that you could find where you were on that level.  Find out what was on during in the day and then click on a button to find out how to get there.  This also listed menus so you could think about what food you wanted for your next meal. :-)

The view of the Sydney Opera House as we had lunch.

Food ready to be loaded.

Sydney Opera House and one of the many ferries.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Wonderful ship coming in with Park Hyatt in the background.

The back right corner of this building on the first floor is where I worked for a little while many years ago.  Yes, I enjoyed my time when working there.

Back to the ship, this is the Solarium area where no kids are allowed.  The roof section opens.

My hubby being sentimental…..

Thought this was a great shot that I had to share…love the reflection.

Peter Doyles is one of the flash restaurants at Circular Quay…..probably not what these people expected when they booked in.  That a cruise liner would block most of their view and that they would have onlookers as they ate their lobster….table on right.

Luna Park

People walking across the top of the Sydney Harbour bridge….there were four groups that we could see.  In this photo only two groups - one to the left of the first flag and the other at the base of the second flag.  

Sydney Opera house as we left the harbour.

Sydney Harbour Bridge as we left for our cruise.

The Navy had organised a touch and go exercise with the ship as it left the harbour.

Our first day at sea.

I will be back with more photos. 

Thanks for visiting and leaving your lovely comments.