Your Virtual Cruise ... The Final Chapter (A Tad Bit Late)

Ok, boys and girls, today (just play along) the Sapphire Princess arrived in Tauranga, New Zealand. I have no idea what the temperature was, so, what the heck... I'll say a balmy 85 degrees. (Fine. It was probably 60 degrees. Work with me here.) The shore excursion for today is called EZ Tauranga. (Wow, that's original. Wonder how they came up with that one.) This is a 4 hour tour (sing along... "a 4 hour tour"... Ok, I'll stop being silly).

We start off with a scenic drive around the bay. There are beautiful view of Mt. Maunganui and lots of Kiwifruit fields as we drive through the Te Papa Peninsula. We pass the Maori War Canoe, believed to be the world's largest with a capacity of 135.









First we visit Elms Mission Station, a restored Missionary house with impressive gardens. (Again with the gardens! Sorry, Mom & Dad!)








Next is Kiwifruit Country where we get an insight into the secrets of the furry little fruit formerly known as the Chinese Gooseberry. Here we will have morning tea. Make sure you poke your pinky finger out.








You will return to the ship at 12:45 pm. Just in time for a nap before you enter that shipboard talent contest. Later tonight, enjoy your last dinner onboard, for tomorrow we reach our destination, Auckland.












There my parents had 2 nights at the Rendezvous hotel. They were scheduled for a city tour, but by the evening of the day the ship got into port, they both had horrible colds and didn't feel like doing anything. The endured a very LONG flight back to Phoenix via Los Angeles, then collapsed for several days. Dad's cold ran it's course, but Mom had what I think was either bronchitis or walking pneumonia. (She wouldn't go to the doctor, so I don't know for sure.) It's been 3 weeks and she's just now starting to feel better. It was a glorious trip, but they've vowed to takes cruises closer to home in the future.

So there you have it. Late, but it's done.