World Cruise: February 2026 New Zealand to Singapore
Day 44: 02/01/26 Wellington, New Zealand
Wellington is a very windy city! It is called the "coolest little capital in the world". We walked around town and enjoyed looking at the different architecture including the neoclassical Parliament house, the old wooden parliament house located across the street and the railway station.
Our tour took us to the top of Mt. Victoria where you have a 360-degree panoramic view of the city. The Wellington Airport is challenged by a short runway and high winds creating an exciting landing.
We spent a couple of hours at Te Papa museum.
The entertainment was Nick Russoniello an Australian saxophonists.
Jim's vlog: Top of Mt Victoria, Te Papa museum and good SAX!
Day 45: 02/02/26 Day on Tasman Sea
We are now 7 hours behind EST on the clock but still 1 day ahead!
Chef Alastair and his culinary team created a beautiful brunch celebrating our second month cruising.
We did a "Behind the Scenes" tour with the Executive Restaurant Manager, Chauva. He took us to the galley where we saw how and where all the food is stored, prepared and disposed. We also took a tour of the laundry, ships administration offices and crew quarters. It is always impressive to see how spotless and sparkling clean that ship kitchens are maintained. However, I have never seen the sheet pressing machine that actually presses and folds the linens!
Jim's vlog: A fantastic brunch, ship tour and Phil Cass again. Fun times!
Day 46: 02/03/26 Day 2 on the Tasman Sea
Things turned a bit interesting last night while crossing the Tasman Sea known by the locals as the "ditch". We entered gale force winds that rocked, pitched and rolled the ship. Things went flying everywhere. I managed to catch all the glass before they broke but many passengers and crew did not. We were told that the managers began helping the crew that were scheduled during the night and they put the word out to the rest of the crew that the managers were there. All the crew showed up voluntarily to assist with the cleanup and repairs. We were sequestered to our rooms until afternoon for safety. The crew that included restaurant staff, housekeeping, customer service and excursions delivered us breakfast then lunch without one dropped tray! We were able to go to Ann and Rick's stateroom (2 room suite) and worked on the boat building competition then later to dinner at The Restaurant.
We went to see Lisa Woodbrook then an early night tonight to bed.
Jim's Vlog: Rough seas during the night. The crew were up at 2am cleaning up and preparing today's lockdown. They were incredible!
Day 47: 02/04/26 Day 3 on Tasman Sea
Our team worked on our boat for the competition in 3 days. It took engineering and artistic endeavors from all 6 of us. Jim was in charge of blowing up the balloons. He designed the propulsion system to get the boat across the pool.
Jim's vlog: Smooth sailing, engineering space tour, Indian food for dinner, and Nick Russoniello on saxophone. Early to bed to prepare for a long day in Sydney tomorrow.
Day 48: 02/05/26 Sydney, New Wales, Australia
Country #10, Continent #4: Australia was our seventh and final continent to visit! We got up at 6am to watch the arrival into Sydney harbor. Sydney skyline, Sydney Tower, Opera House and the Sydney Harbour bridge among other iconic sites.
We went under the bridge who has a famous nickname of "the coat hanger". It was very windy...hence the messy hair!
We did the harbor cruise to see all the iconic buildings and areas of Sydney with narration. For those NCIS Sydney fans...the building on the water is the one that is used for the offices of the NCIS team.
The iconic, Sydney Opera House. We attempted to get a selfie with the Opera house in the background but failed on all tries...this was the best we managed.
We went up the Sydney Tower Eye to the observation deck for a 360-degree view of the city. It is the tallest structure in Sydney at 309 meters or 1013.78 feet. It was soooo hot. We took a selfie in front of Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park.
Jim's vlog: Long day! Dawn patrol, bay cruise, sky tower, Hyde Park and a hot day.
Day 49: 02/06/26
Today we toured the "Rocks" where the first penal colony of convicts was established in 1788. Very good historical tour with our guide, Max. We met at the custom house built in 1845 which is now a library. The Rocks have a very colorful history and is a fascinating story. We finished off our tour by having nachos and drinks at the "Fortune of War", Sydney's oldest pub established in 1828.
Finally, a selfie with the Opera House as we leave Sydney.
Dance party with fish and chips as we sail away from Sydney!
Jim's vlog: 2 1/2 hour downtown walking tour of the "Rocks" where the first penal colony was formed. Had lunch at the oldest pub in Sydney. Not enough time to do the Opera House. Walked 4 1/2 miles, half of which was uphill and stairs.
Day 50: 02/07/26 Day at Sea
We are now 9 hours on the clock behind EST but still a day ahead! We are slowly going back in time!
Today was the boat building challenge. There were 10 boats entered. Our team had worked tirelessly for 2 weeks to be the best. The challenge was to build a boat that would not sink, could sail from one end of the pool to the other, and hold a glass of champagne without spilling. We prevailed and won first place! Rick designed and did most of the building of the boat with a little input from the team, Jim designed the propulsion system using the balloons, which actually worked, and Traci had the brilliant idea to put the Chief Engineer, the Captain, the Hotel Manager and his wife the Cruise Director pictures on the boat. It was a collaborative effort for sure!
The team: Rick and Ann Jensen, Vladan and Traci Jovanovic and Jim and Ina Akiyama.
The maiden voyage! The crew was so impressed that they want to keep the boat! and so they shall!
Unfortunate passenger needed emergency evacuation. Heard he had a cerebral bleed (recurrent) and was airlifted to Tasmania.
Guest entertainer, Patrick Roberts, one of the world's leading classical-crossover violinists. He was playing a 300-year-old, $9 million Guarneri del Gesù violin.
Jim's Vlog: What an exciting day! Won the Naval Architect challenge, had a helo medivac, and watched Patrick Roberts perform.
Day 51: 02/08/26 Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia
We arrived in Mooloolaba this morning! What an experience at Steve Irwin's Australian Zoo! You can just walk up and pet the wallabies and kangaroos, pet the koala's bottoms and see all the animals very up close and personal. We got to see Murray, a very large crocodile be fed. The zoo was extremely well maintained, and the animals were all healthy and content. Irwin bought up thousands of acres of land before he died that will only be used for conservation and never developed.
Ina petting the bottom of Gumnut the koala! Koala's do not have any nerve endings in their bottoms so that don't even feel us petting them.
Koala in the nursery just hanging around. Koala's are normally loners but in this nursery, they have learned to be a part of a "family".
Jim having a conversation with a wallaby!
Dinner with our winning Boat challenge team! The victory dinner celebration.
Entertainment tonight was Kym Purling a world known pianist, conductor and entertainer in jazz and musical theater. He has worked with Englebert Humperdinck, Natalie Cole, Frank Sinatra, Jr and conducted several Broadway shows.
Jim's vlog: Mooloolaba! Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo, petting koalas and kangaroos, and jazz pianist Kym Purling.
Day 52: 02/09/26 Day at Sea on the Coral Sea and the Great Barrier Reef
Today is Super Bowl Monday for us and Sunday for everyone back home. Watched the Seahawks beat the Patriots on the "big" screen poolside today. Had some great football food with nachos!
The Great Barrier Reef is more than 1400 miles long. The Coral reef is made up of more than 2900 reefs with ~360 species among 600 tropical islands and 300 cays. We were able to see the Southern Cross tonight from deck 9.
One of our resident entertainers, Emily Roberts, did her own show tonight.
Jim's vlog: Superbowl Monday party, Ina's team wins Baggo, Emily sings, stargazing at the Southern Cross, and late nihgt in the lounge with Kym Purling and Eza.
Day 53: 02/10/26 Whitsunday Island, Australia
Fun catamaran boat ride around the Whitsunday Islands along the Great Barrier Reef. The house with the conical roof is the one that George Harrison built for an escape. The humpback whales come to this area for breeding and delivering their calves. Their numbers dropped into the hundreds due to many factors. Therefore, it is now a protected environment and any activity involving them is prohibited. Their numbers are now ~26,000.
Jim's vlog: Boat tour around Whitsunday Islands, name that tune winners, and Patrick Roberts on Violin.
Day 54: 02/11/26 Cairns, Australia
We arrived Carins (pronounced Cans) at about 1pm. We took a walk into town and managed to find a post office to send JJ's birthday present. It was quite an ordeal to get everything correct. Cost almost as much to send including tariff as it did for the gift. Found some hot sauce to try to spice up my food. I was melting after walking around in 90-degree weather with no breeze! Stopped for a cold drink and a snack and had some delicious fried onions with a jalapeno sauce!
We decided to do a nighttime aquarium tour. It was really good as we got to see the marine life that come out after dark. It was a small group tour so there were no other people in the aquarium.
Jim's vlog: Walked around Cairns, went to the night tour of the aquarium, and got buzzed by bats on the walk back to the ship.
Day 55: Cairns
We did a day trip to Green Island to explore the Great Barrier Reef. We did a glass bottom boat tour and snorkeling. The snorkeling was awesome as we saw so many different corals and marine life! Jim rented a go-pro and got amazing video footage of our adventure.
Dinner at Dundee's for bush food. Chargrilled eye fillet (beef), crocodile chipolatas (sausage), kangaroo satays, pan seared barramundi fish, garlic yabby (crustacean), BBQ lamb cutlet and tiger prawn skewer with honey roasted sweet potato and Ooray plum and lemon myrtle dipping sauce.
Jim's vlog: Green Island glass bottom boat and snorkeling. Ate Australian bush food.
Day 56: Sailing the Coral Sea
Much needed day of rest! Happy Birthday to our grandson JJ! We face timed with him and Alison and caught up on his escapades!
Jim's Vlog: At sea with guest entertainer Jim Hodson who plays guitar, trumpet, flute, clarinet, trombone, saxophone and ukulele.
Day 57: Sailing the Coral Sea
Jim got up at 6:30am to watch us pass through the Torres Straight entering at Wednesday Island. Today is Valentines Day. We had a chocolate buffet after dinner. Tonight, we have another time zone change. We are setting the clock back 30 minutes for Darwin Australia.
Jim's vlog: Happy Valentines Day! Went through the Torres strait, women win Baggo, they've got chocolate, and another time zone change.
Day 58: Sailing the Arafura Sea
Lazy sea day today.