The Great Wall of China

I haven’t yet been to China and it’s certainly right up there on my list. If for the sole reason that there is a big drawing-pinless gap on my world map. But ever since Philip Bailey sang in his high pitch about ‘walking on the Chineeeeeeeese wall’ sometime in the long distant 80′s (?) I’ve wanted to do that. (Click here for a blast from the past courtesy of YouTube.)

The trip is 12 days from June 1, 2010. It includes Beijing, Xian and old Shanghai, the Terracotta Warriors and a meander one of the famous Great Wall of China. You’ll sail the Yangtze River through the scenic Three Gorges and impressive Three Gorges Dam, visit small villages and modern metropolises (metropoli?), take photos of ancient history and futuristic technology on the state-of-the-art Viking Century Sun. It can accommodate only 300 guests and all rooms have balconies so you slip away, put your feet up and relax as the scenery floats past.

The price includes return flights ex Auckland on Cathay Pacific, 12 days ‘Imperial Jewels of China’, one night in Hong Kong and transfers in Shanghai and Beijing.

See ya later alligator, as Danny would say…

*Sorry folks, this deal was in 2010.

Luxury on the Yangtze - Viking Century Sun

This amazing state of America was owned by Russia until 1867 but didn’t become an official United State until 1959. It is very different from any other state in the US. I mean you’re hardly likely to see bears wandering out of the forest to catch a salmon in a Californian river. And if you do you should call a policeman.

Salmon sashimi anyone?

I did a 7-day cruise onboard Holland America Line and saw some of the most spectacular scenery on earth. We did a slow cruise up the Inside Passage (no I’m not going to labour the gag) which includes the towns of Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and Skagway as well as Glacier Bay National Park. This was a real highlight.

Margerie Glacier

The 104 km fjord meets in a cul-de-sac of glaciers and is also unreachable by road – although you can fly there.

We didn’t get off the ship to join the hikers or kayakers, rather did a half-hour slow donut, taking photos and listening to the cracks that echo like rifle shots across the water just before the blue-tinged ice calves into the sea with a roar. Margerie Glacier is the main one that comes down to the water’s edge – actually it reaches 30m below sea level. It’s also 76 m above sea level – about 25 stories high! Whales also play in this area and we nearly capsized the ship rushing to one side just in time to see one breach, which I’m told is rare in cooler waters. Mind you, after a few days at sea seeing whales all around us we got very blaze. Poor things. Try as they might to show off rounding up fish and gulping up through the middle of the frenzy.

As with all cruises, shore excursions should be booked as soon as possible once you get onboard, or better yet, add them at the time of booking so you don’t miss out on something as remarkable as dog sledding or taking a ski plane to see those bears in the river catching their own sashimi as American Bald Eagles sit beady-eyed hoping for a morsel. Only limited numbers can hop on these planes and sleds.

Onboard there is loads of very good food. Several dining options from posh restaurants with a couple of dress-up nights to pizza bars. On the deck the kiwis took on the Belgians at a game of cut throat shuffleboard and after losing the 1st (warm up) game, we whipped them soundly. Of course a mighty shuffleboard win should be celebrated by a drink with an umbrella in it on the deck, but even though it was summer in Alaska, you can only expect temperatures in the mid to high teens celcius. And d’you know that Juneau is officially the wettest city in the United States? (Say that outloud. It’s my terribly funny d’you know/Juneau gag.)

Juneau from my ship balcony

Well it is, so bring your coat, a beanie and your hiking boots so you can spend the day pottering through the towns, patting husky dogs, buying Russian dolls (and there are gazillions of them here), trying on Daniel Boone hats and popping in for a beer at the local before dinner is served onboard.

I bought 4 sets of these cuties

Harvey World Travel have some cheap deals on cruises at the mo – here’s the one up the Inside Passage on Holland America Line’s Volendam ship including Glacier Bay National Park, Tracey Arm Fjord, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan travelling in May and September.

Here’s a link to a few other cruises that nned to be booked in now for next year as the prices (and don’t forget you’re not just talking 7 to 14 nights accommodation but all your meals and onboard entertainment too) are really very good.

Or if you’re in NZ just pick up the phone and have a chat about the amazing offers on Alaskan cruises on 0800 84 84 80.

Wonder if Delta Dawn is their fave karaoke song?

Some cruise ships are specifically designed for families and this is one of them. The Pacific Sun is an excellent foray for getting your feet wet in the world of cruising. They offer activities aplenty to entertain your tribe from ages 3 to 17 so you can chillax onboard knowing they are having a ball without you. In fact some parents even complain that their kids don’t want to spend enough time with them but prefer the clubs!

And you're not the one who cleans up!

Turtle Cove is for 3 to 6 year olds. They’ll get into arts and crafts, birthday parties, pyjama parties, ice cream parties, dances and talent shows. And you don’t have to clean up the mess.

Shark Attack is for 7 to 10 year olds. Their own club with kids their age doing things like scavenger hunts all over the ship, more parties – like pizza and ice cream, talent shows, Playstation and a ship tour.

HQ is two clubs, one for 11 to 14 year olds and a separate club for 15 to 17. They have their own lounge for hanging out, competitions, karaoke, hip hop classes, mocktail and casino nights,  dance parties and late night movies.

Meanwhile, you on the other hand, are scheduling a hectic day of spa treatments, gym workouts, leisurely lunch by the pool, followed by a quick shuffleboard competition with your other half and finally getting the chance to read that book you’ve been meaning to get to all year with no little voices asking when lunch is ready. Or better still, go with another couple of families and all the kids can hang together while your shuffleboard tourny takes on a whole new level of competitiveness!

I'll have a drink with an umbrella in, thanks

If this sounds like you, then here’s a really cheap deal to fly one way and cruise between Auckland and the Gold Coast. You cruise over in 4 days then have 3 nights at the Breakfree Beach Point in Surfers Paradise. It’s 50m from the beach but near the shops and cafes and of course you’ll have to visit at least one of the theme parks: Dreamworld, Seaworld, Movieworld, Wet’n'Wild, Banzai Bungey, the Sling Shot or Flycoaster. Then you fly back on Qantas to Auckland.

Click here to jump to Harvey World Travel for details on this 7-night fly/cruise intinerary departing Auckland 3 July 2010 – right when the winter is upon us and the Gold Coast is paradise. Or in NZ call 0800 84 84 80.

Deck chairs on the Lido deck

My sister and I headed off from Miami on the ‘fun ship’ Carnival Liberty to swan about the Caribbean for a week. (I know!) She has abandoned husband and kids and we’re off to pretrend we’re 20-something without a car as we visit Cozumel Mexico, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios Jamaica.

This ship has a totally different clientele to others I’ve been on. Carnival’s tag line is ‘fun ships’ and there’s not a mobility scooter in sight. It’s all honeymooners, college friends, high school groups, families with little kids and just a handful of retirerees on this monster ship of 3500 passengers and 1200 crew with 3 pools and a gazillion deck chairs laid around them. There’s a big screen TV over the main pool on the Lido deck for late night movies and concert DVDs under the stars and below that is a stage where DJs and live bands play into the wee small hours.

For kids and energetic adults there’s a crazy slide that interestingly ends right beside the pool (not in it). But don’t get me wrong, it’s not all about yoof – there’s a well equipped gym, a spa for a bit of pampering and a casino which begins each week-long cruise stocked with about US$3million. (More about that later..)

Johnny Depp anyone?

Of course a cruise wouldn’t be complete without the all-inclusive and never ending supply of food. There’s a whole deck with a buffet  for breakfast that becomes lunch and then morphs into dinner. There’s a kiosk pizza bar, a nacho counter and soft serve ice cream stations that always have a few kids lined up. Then there’s the fancy sit-down restaurant with tables for just you and your group (you’re not assigned to sit next to strangers). Pip and I have a little table for 2 where Sandra from South Africa and Mitchell from Indonesia look after us. They became friends after a couple of days and we’ve taken to debriefing our day and getting their advice on what to do tomorrow.

But that’s enough for now. More later – I’m off to get the cocktail of the day….

Get the party started!

My sister and I headed off for a 1-week cruise around the Caribbean from Miami to Cozumel, Mexico then on to Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios Jamaica and back to Miami on the latter. We went on Carnival Cruises – known as the ‘party ships’. Here’s a link to my cruise story in the NZ Herald.

And yep, we’d do it again for sure!