Note to self - must do this cruise thing again

The Pacific Sky is the utmost in luxury.

SUNDAY 17
Alcohol units consumed: Off to a good start, champagne and cocktail of the day - Kiwi Surprise
Cigarettes: I don't, but you can on the ship in some bars
Weight gained/lost: The Pacific Sky weighs 46,000 gross tonnes

Am in heaven - about to head off on a 12-day cruise to Fiji and Tonga. Time to wave goodbye to a grey Auckland city and get ready for days and nights of partying and meeting people.

Note to self: also intend to study the cultures and history of the islands we visit. Could be a bit hard on a cruise called Shimmering Beats but the ship does have a library so will visit to improve intellect tomorrow. And gym.


MONDAY 18
Alcohol Units Consumed: More. Cocktail of the Day - Chocolate Banana
Cigarettes: I still don't but others do so it's lucky the ship has smoke absorbers.
Weight gained/lost: Well, I know they flush a certain amount and use up fuel but my brain still can't comprehend how the weight can change much.

Note to self: Visit library tomorrow. Last night undertook social research which meant not retiring to stateroom - posh name, but they do boast the largest showers on the ocean - until the wee small hours. Actually the not-so-wee small hours.

There are nine bars on board so need to visit each one to give conclusive feedback. Legends was the scene for last night's research. Joined by fellow cruisers (an unfortunate term but what else do you call other passengers?) we discovered that dancing at sea forgives a multitude of sins.

I actually think I must have looked startlingly graceful as the rolling boat meant I rolled from one side of the dance floor to the other. Did mean I missed the flower-making class though.         
      

TUESDAY 19
Alcohol Units Consumed: Cocktail of the Day - can't remember but it must have been good
Cigarettes: Smoke absorbers? I wonder if it has alcohol absorbers
Weight gained/lost: I mean, surely you can't affect 46,000 gross tonnes at the margins that much

Up at a reasonable hour today but still not quite early enough to make breakfast. Last night we went to the Captain's cocktail party - he is an Italian officer who is very proud of his "mighty Pacific Sky. Your home away from home".

Very informative day. Tour of bridge (am in love with numerous Italian and Scottish officers. Think I could suit a life at sea. Not so sure I suited the Captain's hat though). Learned the mighty Pacific Sky can go from full ahead to stop in about 4 minutes. Might pay not to fall overboard, as there is more than 2000m of water underneath us.

Important note to self: if you have a shower in your stateroom and leave the cabin door open an alarm will go off and the particularly fetching Scottish officer will have to come down and check if you're okay. Makes a girl think, really.


WEDNESDAY 20
Alcohol Units Consumed: They have mocktails, too, but honestly. Cocktail of the Day - Zombie
Cigarettes: Or calorie absorbers
Weight gained/lost: But it is a topic of dinner conversation

Missed breakfast again but only by half an hour this time so think we'll have it sussed by tomorrow. Had dinner at the Outback last night, which is a steak bar out on the back deck of the boat. Definitely like being in heaven, fabulous company (we've made some friends), great wine, the best steak I've ever had and eating outside, under the stars in the middle of the ocean.

Had to scramble this morning to make it to the first of the island tours: we had docked in Nuku'alofa the capital of the Kingdom of Tonga. Fascinating place. Single girls get to wear a flower behind their left ear to let the guys know they're available. What a sensible social tradition. Also grew fond of the cute piggies which were hanging out on the beaches.

Visited the King's palace (well, not quite visited, he's not that friendly and keeps sightseers behind a barbed wire fence several hundred metres away). By going on an organised tour I discovered that thinking for myself is getting difficult. Did manage to go solo to find a very blue bar which felt like we were scuba diving. Found some Tongan beer - Ikale beer - which is definitely recommended.


THURSDAY 21
Alcohol Units Consumed: Cocktail of the Day - ummm?
Cigarettes: Maybe if I took up smoking I would give up drinking
Weight gained/lost: Gets a little unsavoury at times when the flushing bit is discussed. Maybe that's why they call it gross tonnes

Another late start so missed the kick-off for our organised tour of Vava'u and the whales which swam by the boat. Never mind, the cute Scottish officer was driving the tender (a technical term for what they call the lifeboats when they're used to take passengers into port).

Could have done without our tour-mates today. They give whingeing travellers a bad name. Nothing was good enough, nobody did what they wanted and their largest problem seemed to be a lack of fridge magnets for them to souvenir. Tragic.


FRIDAY 22
Alcohol Units Consumed: Cocktail of the Day - Whisky Sour
Cigarettes: No, not very likely
Weight gained/lost: Some is vomited away too

Clocks were put back an hour last night so we made it up in time for breakfast. Not bad, given we were at the pyjama party where I looked rather fetching in my cream and rose satin ensemble.

Hit the jogging track on top of the boat this morning. Rather odd to be walking around a track in the middle of the ocean. Bit of a hitch getting up to the track as the lift (yes, these multi-storey travelling hotels have lifts) got stuck. Bingo in the afternoon followed by disco lessons and cocktails.


SATURDAY 23
Alcohol Units Consumed: Cocktail of the Day - Island Fire
Cigarettes: I could do both
Weight gained/lost: And sweated off on the dance floor

Put our disco moves to the test last night and got a round of applause.


SUNDAY 24
Alcohol Units Consumed: Cocktail of the Day - Blue Sky
Cigarettes: But then I'd have nothing to feel pious about
Weight gained/lost: Do you think you could work off a pizza by dancing?

Fantastic day yesterday. We stopped at the Yasawas and spent the day on the beach swimming and snorkelling. Bit of a hitch when bad weather meant the tide was lower than the captain thought so the tender ran aground and we were stranded on a tropical paradise for several hours.

Apparently back on board things were tense. Celebrated our survivor tactics by winning the ship trivia quiz. Rough night as the weather gods decided to try to spoil our cruise. They didn't succeed as going to sleep in a storm at sea is like being rocked in a cradle.


MONDAY 25
Alcohol Units Consumed: Cocktail of the Day - Margarita
Cigarettes: You'd have to smoke cigars or French cigarettes out of a holder anyway
Weight gained/lost: Who cares, all the food is in the ticket price

Had a wet wander around a closed Suva, which was okay. Went for a long walk to the President's residence and had our photos taken with the guard outside.


TUESDAY 26
Alcohol Units Consumed: Cocktail of the Day - Mai Tai
Cigarettes: And last time I smoked a cigar it made me sick
Weight gained/lost: So you may as well make the most of it

Didn't make our stop at Dravuni as the weather is too bad. A shame but nothing really to be done about it. Although the thought of those lovely officers in their lovely white uniforms having to rescue us was pretty appealing. Never mind.


WEDNESDAY 27
Alcohol Units Consumed: Cocktail of the Day - Arrivederci
Cigarettes: So best I don't add another vice to my list
Weight gained/lost: Before it's too late

Our last day at sea so had a scrub treatment at the beauty parlour, had my hair and nails done. Think I scrubbed up quite well for the final night formal dinner. A couple of the officers joined us so don't even get me started on their dress uniforms.


THURSDAY 28
Alcohol Units Consumed: Detox
Cigarettes: Whew, made it without taking up smoking
Weight gained/lost: Definitely need to hit the gym. Once I've slept

Decided to stay up to see the sun rise over Auckland Harbour. Was still going strong as we came past East Coast Bays and Rangitoto but sleep triumphed before we berthed around 6am. Damn - will just have to go on another one won't we?


* Bridget Clones cruised on Pacific Sky as guest of P&O Cruises.


Itinerary
P&O Cruise's latest ship, Pacific Star, will be based in Auckland for nine South Pacific cruises including:
A 13-night Moonlight Serenade to Fiji, Samoa and Tonga departing May 27 from $2198 a person.
An 11-night Island Delight to Vanuatu visiting Mystery Island, Lamen Bay, Luganville, Pentecost and Vila, departing June 9 from $1862 a person.
An 11-night Emerald Romance to Fiji and Tonga departing June 20 from $1862 a person.
An 8-night Seabreeze Lullaby to Fiji visiting Dravuni Island, Yasawa-I-Rara and Suva, departing July 22 from $1347.
Special fares are also available aboard Pacific Star's repositioning cruises, which take in ports in New Caledonia and Vanuatu as the ship travels to or from Brisbane.

Further information
Details are available through travel agents or P&O Cruises on 0800 95 12 00 or visit their website (link provided below).