Day 12 Hobart, Tasmania

It was a very welcome sight to see Hobart this morning and finally to be able to set foot once again on Terra Firma.  Hobart doesn't let us down though, with windy and cold weather that is quite normal for this time of the year.  

The tour we decided on for Hobart today is "MONA in Style".  MONA is the Museum of Old and New Art that we didn't get around to visiting when we were touring Tassie a couple of years ago. To do this tour "in style" meant boarding the MONA big cat, painted in camouflage colours, and taking our seats in the "Posh Pit".  This is a private area where we are served Mimosas with a selection of savoury bites.  The boat ride takes around 20 minutes along the Derwent River to reach our destination.

MONA, built into the sandstone cliffs, is impressive to say the least and I believe it cost many hundreds of millions to turn the old museum into this wonderful modern state of art.  As we depart the catamaran we are faced with 99 steps to the entrance OR an easier path through the "tunnel".  We have not walked much at all these past couple of days so we chose the steps.  

We are then ushered through the doors at MONA and it is suggested to us that we start at the bottom on B3 and work our way back to B2, B1 and finally back to the ground floor.  It is a real maze down here and I am grateful that there is a free app, "The O" to download to help is find our way around.

It's hard to describe the art at MONA. It is bold, provocative and often confronting.  There are no prescribed paths or lengthy wall labels, instead you are encouraged to explore at your own pace and interpret the art in your own way.  It has had its controversy with the closing of the "Ladies Lounge" earlier this year, that was said to be discriminatory against a man. MONA is more than just a museum, MONA is an experience and is certainly one of Tasmania's most unforgettable cultural highlights. Here is a selection of just a small selection of the art.

You are encouraged to sit/lay on the wavy cushions and enjoy the ceiling display

These words are written in water tumbling from the ceiling.

In the outside area there are many more artistic pieces of work. This one is titled "bum hole"

And the next photo is how Philip and I would like to see ourselves…...

And this photograph has nothing at all to do with MONA.  It's just an interesting hairdo…….

We were allocated just under three hours to explore and that is enough for us but we would not have seen a third of what is inside.  You need days not hours.  We once again board the MONA boat for our quick trip back to the city harbour.  This time, in the Posh Pit, we are offered sweet treats and more champagne before we disembark and join the bus back to the ship.

It has been an interesting day.

Day 11 Boxing Day at Sea

This is now our fourth day in a row at sea and I think everyone is a bit over it.  The sea is still very rough with 5-6 metre swells and it is squally so we can't even go outside and walk around the deck.  We have to content ourselves with watching movies. Mealtimes are a welcome distraction!

Both Lunch and dinner today were in Atlantide - one of three main dining restaurants.  The meals are nicely portion controlled so we don't feel so bad if we indulge ourselves with three courses.  These were my lunch choices

Puttanesca

Apple Strudel

And dinner choices were,

Whipped Goats Cheese

Pan Fried Mediterranean Sea Bream

Prior to dinner we met our friends in Dolce Vita lounge for drinks to celebrate our friend Vic's 73rd birthday.  It was a surprise for him but I'm sure that he loved having the eight of us there to help him celebrate.

We seem to randomly get little gifts waiting for us when we get back to our suite after dinner and tonight it was Gingerbread Men.  We skipped dessert for dinner so this was a really delicious after dinner treat.

Day 10 Christmas Day at Sea

Short Version

Our Christmas Day — the 50th we’ve shared — was probably the most relaxing ever. We skipped gifts and treated ourselves to a two-hour Zagara Spa experience. Philip’s first spa visit was a success, starting with a salt scrub, body wrap and a blissful 70-minute massage, followed by time in the steam room.

Back in our suite, we ordered room-service brunch of champagne, caviar and club sandwiches — perfect. We then settled in to watch our favourite Christmas movie, Love Actually, before a quick nap and getting ready for a formal-night dinner at Silver Note. Highlights included lobster and beef medallion, “Tuna in a Can” to start, and the Black Swan dessert.

We finished the day with a Christmas show in the Venetian Lounge, complete with carols and audience participation. Truly one of our best Christmases — relaxed, indulgent and wonderfully pampered.

Our Christmas Day - the 50th we have spent together - was probably the most relaxing we have ever had. We had decided early in the piece to not buy any gifts for each other as we pretty much have what we ned so instead we booked ourselves into Zagara Spa for a two hour treatment.  This was Philips first ever trip to a spa, and I know he only went along with it to please me, but between you and me I think he enjoyed it.  The first thing we enjoyed was a salt exfoliating scrub and then a full body wrap in essential oils.  This was followed by a 70 minute massage.  My love of massage runs strong so this was bliss for me.  Afterwards, while still oily, we sat in the steam room to really get that oil working on our parched skin.

When we were back in our suite we decided to order in room service brunch consisting of Champagne and Caviar followed by simple club sandwiches.  It was actually pretty perfect.

Next on our agenda was to sit down in front of the TV and watch our all time Christmas movie, Love Actually.  I never tire of it and look forward to it each and every year.

We had time for a quick nap before showering and readying ourselves for a special dinner at Silver Note restaurant.  This is one of three specialty restaurants aboard the ship and by the end of the cruise we will have tried them all.

It was also formal night and I love seeing all the ladies (and men) looking so glamorous. Our waiter suggested the main should be Lobster and Beef Medallion and I chose the "Tuna in a Can" for starter.  Dessert was "Black Swan" that was the perfect end to our meal.

The Silversea production company were having a  Christmas themed show in Venetian Lounge at 9.30 so we managed to stay awake long enough to head there after dinner.  Lots of Christmas Carols were sung and the audience was encouraged to participate.

All in all I think this was one of the best christmases I have enjoyed.  Neither of us had to lift a finger and just sat back and allowed ourselves to be pampered.  And as if our day could not become any better, when we arrived back to our suite we found a miniature pannetone waiting for us.

Day 9 Christmas Eve at Sea

Rough seas kept us mostly confined to our suite — definitely no deck walking unless you fancied feeling like a drunken sailor. I enjoyed a relaxing acupuncture session with Gabriella, then we stayed in until evening when we made it to Atlantide for a festive Christmas dinner with Vicky and Tom. The pumpkin soup, roast turkey and plum pudding were delicious, carols from the crew added a lovely touch, and after turning the clocks back an hour, we were in bed early ready for Christmas Day. 🎄

Aside from the turn down service each night, Silversea  also provide a shoe shine service, complete with cedar inserts.  It's the little things that make the difference…...

Day 8 Doubtful and Milford Sounds

Shortened Version

We experienced rough seas today, but our stateroom mid-ship made the ride comfortable. We cruised Doubtful Sound in the morning — despite cloudy weather it was peaceful and beautiful on the calm protected waters.
Later, in the afternoon, we reached Milford Sound, where the weather cleared and the scenery was spectacular. I took countless photos of towering mountains and numerous waterfalls, especially around Lady Bowen Falls at the fjord’s head. The fjord was busy with other boats, planes and helicopters, but the views were unforgettable. We wrapped up the day enjoying a delicious afternoon “high tea” onboard — a perfect finish to an amazing day. 

The sea has become very rough, as we were warned by our Captain, but where our suite is situated on the 6th deck - Midship - it is really not very bad at all.  Go forward or Aft and it is an entirely different matter.  On our last cruise we were on the 10th deck, Aft, and it was pretty rough back there. 

So today we cruised both Doubtful and Milford Sounds.  When we reached Doubtful Sound at around 10am the weather had closed in so I have no doubt that we did not see Doubtful Sound in its best light, however it was still lovely to cruise along in the smooth protected waters.

By the time we reached Milford Sound, around 3pm, the weather conditions had improved significantly, and we had the most glorious cruise through the fjord.  Honestly, I could not stop taking photographs.  So many waterfalls, and those mountains soaring up to 1700 metres were simply awesome, the tallest being Mitre Peak.

We share the fjord with dozens of tourist boats, planes and helicopters.  No sooner does one plane land than another takes to the sky.

We cruised all the way into the head of the fjord where Lady Bowen Falls, with a height of 162 metres was situated.  I was talking to another lady standing beside me and she said that she used to work in the tiny township and back in those days the main building was a five star resort.  Sadly, today it is a backpackers lodge.

To while away the hours cruising through the sound we enjoyed a very delicious array of delicacies at the onboard afternoon "high" tea.  It truly was a perfect day in every sense of the word.

Day 7 Port Chalmers (Dunedin), NZ

ChatGPT condensed version:

The weather was sunny but cool as the cruise ship docked at Port Chalmers, near Dunedin. The day’s tour started with a visit to the magnificent Dunedin Railway Station, admired for its lavish architecture. Next, we travelled to Larnach Castle, a historic Gothic-style mansion built in 1871 with fine imported materials; where we toured the castle and expansive gardens.

Afterward, the bus took us back toward Dunedin where we passed Baldwin Street, famously steep and once the world’s steepest straight street. The tour guide’s friendly banter added to the experience.

That evening, back on the ship Silver Moon, we dined in the Italian restaurant La Terrazzo, enjoying aglio olio and lamb chops. The meal was made festive by crew members singing Christmas carols.

Full Version

We have been so lucky (touch wood) with weather.  The sun was shining brightly again today but still on the chilly side with the temperature around 14 degrees.  Today we are docked at Port Chalmers that is around a 20 minute drive from Dunedin where we will be sightseeing and visiting Larnach Castle.

Our first stop as at the magnificent Dunedin Railway Station that was built in 1904.  The architecture both inside and out is lavish and although there are no commercial trains coming to Dunedin these days, there is a tourist train that visits some scenic destinations around Dunedin. 

Our bus driver/tour guide now takes us along the scenic drive to Lanarch Castle.  

This castle was built in 1871 by the baron William Lanarch for his first wife, Eliza.  This Gothic style castle was spared no expense with marble from Italy, glass from Venice and tiles from England.  But sadly the castle fell into disrepair in 1898 after William committed suicide caused by financial woes and the deaths of his two wives.  The building was repurposed as nuns retreat, soldier billet and even the ballroom was used to house sheep!  But in 1967 the castle was purchased by Barry and Margaret Barret who began the massive task of restoring the castle to its former glory.  It is still privately owned, now offering tours, events and accomodation.

After spending an hour and a half touring through the castle and walking around the expansive gardens it was time to board the bus again for our drive back to Dunedin.  This time our bus driver took the steep drive down the mountain and then followed the ocean's edge.  It was another scenic drive.  Once we were back in Dunedin we did a drive by the worlds (Guinness World Record) steepest straight street, Baldwin Street.  It lost the title when a welsh road claimed to be steeper but claimed it back when it was found that the welsh street was not a straight road and was measured incorrectly.

Our New Zealand tour guide/bus driver made this tour enjoyable.  There was a bit of banter between the Aussies and this New Zealander but all in good humour.  But every time he mention the number 6 (pronounced as "sex") all the Aussies would burst out laughing.  At one stage he had to say 66, and quickly said "at the risk of the Aussies taking the Mickey".   I don't think the other nationalities got it.  

Back on board the Silver Moon and dinner tonight was in the Italian Restaurant, La Terrazzo.  We both enjoyed the Aglio Olio as a starter followed by the very tender Lamb Chops.  Half way through our meal we had some of the staff members come into the restaurant singing Christmas Carols.  It was such a lovely gesture and it really got us in the mood for Christmas.