MS Noordam in Milford Sound. Photo: supplied Dennis and Rosamund Knill take a cruise and discover what it’s like to escape the real world. Cruising is back! At any given time, on any given day, at any given port, a cruise ship is slipping its moorings heading for the open sea.
So many ships, so many ports, so many choices — after years of being in the doldrums, cruising has become one of the fastest growing sectors of international travel. Today it’s Auckland’s turn. On a warm summer’s day at the height of the cruise season, berthed alongside Queen’s Wharf is one of Holland America’s growing fleet of ships, preparing to sail off into the sunset en route to Sydney.
The Pinnacle Bar on Noordam. Photo: Douglas Peebles On board MS Noordam are 1972 passengers made up of 91 Kiwis, 243 Australians, AMD the balance predominantly American followed by a small contingent of Canadians and Asians. This tall and sophisticated vessel comes with indescribable luxury that is light years away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.
With 770 crew from 40 different countries, this is United Nations at its best, ready and willing to spoil all those on board Checking in is simplicity itself and while our luggage was being whisked away to our cabin by the ship’s stewards, we gave the ship’s photographer an obligatory smile on our way to a compulsory muster-station drill before getting the urge to explore the irresistible. The Pinnacle Grill on Noordam. Photo: Douglas Peeb.