The Tasman Sea

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The map doesn't allow me to choose a spot in the middle of the sea, so I had to pick the destination, but we will be at sea for 2 days.

Day 5:

Today was spent at sea all day, sailing towards New Zealand. It was cloudy & a bit gloomy, but quite calm. The ship was pitching a bit, but nothing much. The clocks all went forwards an hour over night, so as to get us closer to New Zealand time.

We all got up at different times and breakfasted in the Lido buffet. Peter has worked out which of the chefs makes the best omelette, so we have to make sure we eat on the starboard side, so as to get the right one.

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We all had a quiet morning, walking the deck, reading, not doing very much. In the afternoon, Tim, Peter & Sarah started off at a wildlife show, but abandoned that and went to a cooking demonstration instead. Then Tim, Sarah & David went to "The Battle of the Bartenders" which was quite amusing. The audience had to come up with a flavour, a noun and an adjective and the two bartenders had to concoct a drink that matched the name. Selected members of the audience got to taste each one and judge their favourite. The "Sliding Mint Penguin" was good.

Later, we all met up for dinner in the Rotterdam dining room again, then dispersed. Jack went off to the show and then to play poker with his friends, but he still had his shirt when he came back to our cabins, so I guess he didn't lose too much.

David & Sarah went to the show as well, which was an Irish/Australian comedian called Geraldine Doyle. She was very funny.

Day 6:

Another day at sea. The clocks went forward another hour during the night so now we are on New Zealand time. However we are now three hours away from our usual time zone, so getting up in time for breakfast was a bit of a challenge. We made it (Peter with minutes to spare), but I think they had expected the problem and extended breakfast for an extra hour.

Sarah had signed up for a cooking class, so mid-morning, Sarah, Tim & Peter went off to the show kitchen were a group of 12 was divided up to each make a dish. Sarah helped with the mushroom risotto which turned out very well. The other groups made bruschetta and lamb with tomato. We all got to stand around with a glass of wine and taste everyone's dishes at the end, so that was good fun.

Shortly after that, we were back in the kitchen, this time with David as well, for a demonstration by the pastry chef of various things to do with chocolate. The chocolate volcano cake was particularly yummy - Peter stayed back and ended up with four helpings. He made an amazing chocolate chef using dark & white chocolate.

In the afternoon, we went to a talk about the various ports of call in New Zealand and where we would be docking, how to get to the sights and so on.

Then we had a beer tasting session. Of the various beers we got to sample, we preferred the Grolsch.

The movie in the cinema was Batman: The Dark Knight. Jack and his friends all went to the early showing. Tim, Sarah & David ate dinner, then Tim & David went to the late showing. For some reason (not unconnected with chocolate), Peter was not hungry for his dinner.