Sea days heading towards the island of Tongapatu, Tonga.

We had a quiet day in Auckland when the ship docked on 27th November.  Having sailed with about half the normal intake of guests, the rest of them came aboard in Auckland for the Pacific Explorer cruise.  A few staff went ashore to go and do some shopping and sight-seeing.  Paul was very busy so we only went ashore to the cruise terminal a bit later after lunch.  We had hoped to pick up WiFi but it wasn't very good and was very slow.

Last night the captain invited us to join him and his wife in the Pinnacle Grill for dinner.  It was a nice evening with outgoing Chief Engineer, the new engineer, the Hotel Manager, and the Environmental Officer and his wife.  Usually we are left pretty full after dinner so I made sure I had 2 starters rather than a starter and a large main course followed by a light-weight pavlova for desert.  Yum.

Today I have slept a lot.  The rocking motion of the ship is really making me very tired.  I know that Paul has been encouraging me to go to the gym but I have really not felt like going, lacking energy.  Also when the motion affects the ship - it is harder to jog on the treadmill let alone cycle!

Paul has been very busy during the sea days and dealing with the occasional issues that made him shake his head.  HUMANS!

This evening we were invited, again, to the Pinnacle Grill by Liz (Shore Excursions) and her fiancé Matt (fitness centre instructor).  It was a last minute invitation and we decided to go because Liz will be leaving the ship soon and going on holiday.  Fortunately Paul and I choose fairly light starters and mains so we weren't overly full afterwards.  People are known to walk out of the Pinnacle Grill with a 'pinnacle baby'; i.e. very very full!!

Our route from Auckland, New Zealand, to the island of Tongapatu, Tonga

Tomorrow we dock at Nuku'alofa, Tongapatu, Tonga.