It’s a good start when you waken up in Auckland & it isn’t raining! The hotel was right opposite the Rose Garden so I got up early & walked through the park & down to the bay

It was a quare hike back up to viewpoint but worth it, you can see our little ship in the distance

Gardens were fabulous, loads of pretty flowers

Headed back to hotel, where after a great breakfast Jinx & I headed back across to the gardens. Unbelievably we met a lady with a Norfolk Terrier who knew Jinx’s son & daughter in law from a doggie FB Forum!

Grabbed a coffee then ordered the Uber – I’m getting good at that now!

And that was it, we were on Columbus by 2 and by 4 we were surprising Jinx’s dancer friend who hadn’t a clue that she was on board

Dinner was great, biggest cheese plate on a ship, I couldn’t finish it. Our companions were interesting but we had asked to be seated with other solo travellers so the MD moved us for tomorrow on

Jersey Beats was the show, fairly standard cruise ship fare, followed by a quiet drink listening to Chloe sing before we headed up to the Dome after everyone else had gone to bed!