The holiday was with Celebrity Cruising (Ref: 6442684) through Cruise1st (Ref: CRU-215886), for a total of 21 days starting on January 22nd 2026. The cost is £4,836.72 p/p including air fares via Hong Kong, a ‘Concierge’ cabin with a balcony (#12190) for 13 nights, all meals on board, the ‘Classic’ drinks package, gratuities, and three nights B & B in the Novotel Darling Harbour in Sydney.
We also elected to break our journey in Hong Kong for two days (Jan 23rd to the 25th).
Date
Activity
Wed Jan 21st
Fly to London Heathrow
Adam and Cora were staying in Torrox Costa, so Adam drove us in our car, first to drop Bowie off at Sue’s, and then take us to the airport. We picked-up some wraps to eat on the plane, and then flew British Airways leaving Malaga at 12:20, landing Heathrow at 14:25. Then overnight at the Heathrow Leonardo Hotel
Spacious hotel room, and had a siesta. Then drinks in the Leonardo’s bar, and then dinner at the far end of the bar/restaurant.
Thu Jan 22nd
Fly Cathay-Pacific to Hong Kong
Long, boring, and crowded flight, made longer because flights avoid Russian airspace. I got some night pics of the city of Baku, Azerbaijan.
Fri Jan 23rd
Hong Kong – full day. Arr: Hong Kong (T1) 07:40, take taxi to Novotel Citygate at Tung Chung to drop luggage off, then the day to ourselves.
Activities? Ngong Ping 360 cable car for sea and mountain views of Lantau Island. Restaurants and other attractions at the top. Ten-minute walk to Tian Tan Buddha at the top. Also the famous Po Lin Monastery.
Got to hotel around 9 am, but were allowed into our room. Asked at reception where we could get an orange juice or something and was directed to the escalator. At the top we found ourselves in the shopping centre and found café where we had fruit juices. Set off for Ngong Ping 360, but had to queue for an hour. Then a gondola ride in murky haze to the top. Wandered around for 30-40 minutes, but couldn’t find any enthusiasm for the walk to the Tian Tan Buddha or the Po Lin Monastery. Found a place for coffees and a dubious snack (breakfast? Lunch?).
Sat Jan 24th
Hong Kong – Day 2. Free day. In the evening, we have a Star Ferry trip organised (with free cocktail) at the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier leaving at 19:45. Then there’s the Avenue of Stars with stunning views of Hong Kong Island.
Got a taxi to Mui Wo ferry terminal, then a ferry to ‘Central’ on Hong Kong Island. Undecided what to do, so got the bus to Victoria Peak. Very crowded at the top. Had a leisurely lunch + beers.
Then did the ‘loop’ which took a couple of hours. Both knackered by the end of it so took a 10-minute taxi ride back to Central… $36 standard fare (because it was a busy time!), and he didn’t even drop us at the right station! Took the Metro back to hotel (the auto-gate wouldn’t let out because apparently we’d overpaid by 1 HKD! Then got lost in shopping centre). By the time we got back to our room, we’d need to leave again in 15 mins for the Star Ferry, to decided to forgo it. Instead, we had a nice 3-course meal in the hotel restaurant.
Sun Jan 25th
Hong Kong: most of the day to ourselves (leave luggage at hotel), then around 6pm, take taxi to the airport, snack at the airport, and fly Cathay Pacific Dep: Hong Kong (T1) 21:20 & overnight.
Activities? Possibly the Tai O District on Lantau Island (65 mins by bus from Tung Chung). A traditional area of stilt houses… touristy with boat trips, shops and restaurants. Then take hotel shuttle at 6:30 pm.
Got the bus to Tai O and loved it. Wandered around, and took a boat trip out beyond the harbour, where we saw a very light-coloured dolphin, then back amongst the stilt houses. We wandered some more, then looked for somewhere for a beer, and possibly a bit of lunch. In the event we found a traditional café where we had dodgy lunch (Chicken satay), then took the bus back to hotel. Sat around with beers until it was time to get a taxi to the airport. In the terminal, Lin got sick… D & V! Then collapsed in front of Cathay-Pacific staff, and it was debatable if they’d let us on the plane… but they did. Horrible flight for Lin.
Mon Jan 26th
Sydney. Arr: (T1) 09:35. Take Paxride shuttle to Novotel Sydney Darling Harbour rest of day to ourselves.
Holiday shuttle to hotel, then Lin went to bed still feeling grim. I had a doze, then went for a walk. Warm but overcast, I walked to Darling Harbour and across Pyrmont Bridge. Then used ATM and bought some potato crisps for Lin.
In the evening, Lin had recovered a little, so sat with vodkas and tonics, and snacked in the hotel bar.
Tue Jan 27th
Sydney – free day
Maybe this: https://www.viator.com/tours/Sydney/Walking-with-Wombats-Day-Tour-Budderoo-National-Park-and-Kangaroo-Valley/d357-120137P2. A full-day scenic tour, includes dinner and star-gazing.
This trip was ‘sold out’, but I’d put us on the reserve list. Then while we were in Hong Kong, I got a message asking if we’re still interested, and so I said yes. Sadly, Lin’s recovery yesterday evening was short-lived and she wasn’t well enough to take the trip, and spent the morning in bed. Then after lunch she improved enough that we went out and did some ferry-hopping, and ended-up at the ‘Fortune of War’ in The Rocks.
Evening with V & Ts and bar snacks again.
Wed Jan 28th
Sydney – free day
Lin pretty well recovered, we took a ferry to Circular Quay and onwards to Watson’s Bay. Walked the 1.5 km to South Head and the Hornby Lighthouse, and stopped-off for beers on the way back.
Back to hotel for a doze, then walked to Cockle Bay Warf on the opposite side of Darling Harbour and had a disappointing meal in the Adria Bar-Restaurant.
Thu Jan 29th
Disembark from Sydney harbour on the Celebrity Edge at16:30 (We have priority boarding).
Around 11:30, took shuttle to the ship, and was surprised how civilised the checking-in process was. Nice cabin, had snacks in the self-service restaurant, then beers in the Rooftop Garden Bar.
Ship left at 4 pm. Enjoyable transit through Sydney Harbour.
We went for an early dinner at the Cypress Restaurant and had a fairly nice meal, then sat with Vodkas and Tonics in the Martini Bar, and watched the singer/guitarist ‘Michael’ do a decent job of some folk, blues and pop standards.
Fri Jan 30th
At sea
Big breakfast, sat and read and realised that the sniffles I’d had since Hong Kong had turned into a cold… presumably caught on the BA flight to London. Paid for full Wi-Fi on my phone and Lin went for the lower band-width.
Struggled to find a bar that did a decent IPA. self-serve lunch in the Oceanview Cafe, then dozed.
Read some more, then had indifferent Margaritas, then dinner in Tuscan Restaurant. Tried a different bar for more Margaritas, but not much improvement!
Sat Jan 31st
At sea
Breakfast, Kindle, internet, beers. Lunch, siesta, Margaritas… then dinner in Normandy Restaurant. More Margaritas in the Martini Bar, accompanied with loud (but decent) pop music.
Sun Feb 1st
Arrive Bay of Islands, New Zealand at 08:00, depart at 18:00.
Took tender ashore, and then came straight back on the same tender, as it had started raining!
By midday, the rain had cleared so tried again, had a wander, then beers on the upstairs veranda of the Paihia Sports Bar. Back to ship for self-serve lunch.
Dozed, then Margaritas. Watched an indifferent female singer guitarist in the Eden Bar. She had an OK voice, but only one playing style on the guitar!
My cold was becoming a problem by this time… not much appetite, so we went to the Oceanview Cafe where I just had a snack. The cold wasn’t too bad during the day, but explosive coughing at night!
Mon Feb 2nd
Arrive Auckland at 06:00, depart at 20:00.
Activities? Devonport, lunch, beers, walk up Mount Victoria or walk to North Head. Mount Eden for the views. Art Gallery, Waiheke Island.
Overcast as we arrived.
Walked to ‘The Lighthouse’, the weird art installation of neon lights we saw in 2023. Got caught in a shower on our way back to the ship. Took the ferry to Devonport, and had beers outside The Patriot. Then back to ship for self-serve lunch.
Siesta, beers, then had Margaritas in the Eden Bar until dinner time. Dinner in the Cosmopolitan Restaurant. Then sat in the Martina Bar and I tried a ‘Classic Martini’… Urgh! Horrible. It must have been stirred and not shaken. I dumped it and had a V & T.
Tue Feb 3rd
Arrive Tauranga at 10:15, depart at 21:15.
Activities? We have a long day here – walking Mount Maunganui, bars, shops. Possibly use the ship for lunch. Evening departure may take us past the White Island active volcano, around 23:30 – 00:00.
Bright and sunny for a change!
Captain announced that due to seismic activity causing a landslip, Mount Maunganui, was closed to the public. It was closed due to damage from Tropical Storm Gabrielle the previous time we were here!
We walked across to the Pacific side and onto Moturiki Island. Looked for a bar on the way back, but they were all closed. Back to the ship for beers, lunch, siesta, etc.
Margaritas in the Martini bar until dinner time, then dinner in the Normandy.
Wed Feb 4th
Arrive Napier at 14:00, depart at 20:00.
The coast should be visible in the early morning. Activities in Napier? Nice harbour frontage with bars. Bluff Hill Lookout for harbour views.
Cool and grey.
Took shuttle into town centre. Walked up the semi-pedestrianised Emerson Street with its Art Deco buildings.
Then an uninspiring walk to the Faraday Museum which it turned out, was only open 4 days a week… and it had just closed ten minutes earlier! But the nice lady let us in and gave us a short personal tour, including starting the big generator, and then the Tesla Coil. We then repaired to the Provincial Hotel for beers. Took shuttle back to the ship, dozed, read, then Margaritas in the Martini Bar. Dinner in The Tuscany Restaurant, and glasses of wine in the Eden Bar.
Thu Feb 5th
Arrive Picton at 11:00, depart at 19:00. Interesting approach past islands and coastline.
A little morning mist, but mostly sunny with blue skies. Warm.
A fantastic approach through the picturesque, tree-lined Queen Charlotte Sound.
We berthed in Shakespeare Bay, so took the shuttle into town. We wanted to get a taxi to the scenic viewpoint, so we asked in the Tourist Information office but all the taxis were in use! So we walked through the Memorial Park and Waitohi Bay towards the marina. Picton is a beautiful place, surrounded by beautiful wooded hills!
We stopped off at Le Café for beers and snacks, then asked again about taxis, but they (it?) were still fully booked, so we headed back to the ship. We sat in the raised section of the Eden Bar with our Margaritas above the stern of the ship, looking across Shakespeare Bay. A serendipitous choice, because when the ship left, the confines of the bay meant that it had to reverse all the way out of the inlet, so we had a real privileged view of the departure!
Dinner in the Cypress Restaurant, then Margaritas in the Martini Bar.
Fri Feb 6th
Arrive Christchurch (Lyttleton) at 07:00, depart at 19:00.
Doesn’t seem much to Lyttleton, possibly gondola to Lyttleton viewpoints, Christchurch Botanic Gardens, other activities?
The weather cooperated again… it was mostly sunny, and very mild.
Took the shuttle into Lyttleton, then a bus to the cable car. Ten minutes gondola ride to the top, then back to the ship for a bit of lunch.
We then took the Christchurch shuttle into the city. Wandered around as far as the Cardboard Cathedral (the gothic cathedral was damaged in the 2011 earthquake), then beers in the Rockpool Bar, and took the shuttle back to the ship.
Siesta, Margaritas in the Eden Bar, dinner in the Normandy.
Sat Feb 7th
Arrive Dunedin at 08:00, depart at 17:00. Interesting approach past islands and coastline.
Orokonui Ecosanctuary, Steepest street in the world. Microbrewed beers, Other Activities?
Partly cloudy, mild.
Took the shuttle into town. Photographed some nice buildings and failed to find an open bar! Lin bought us tee-shirts. Back to the ship for lunch and siestas. Took some pics of Port Chalmers from the ship.
Margaritas in the Eden Bar, and dinner in the Tuscany Restaurant.
Sun Feb 8th
Arrive Dusky Sound at 08:30, depart at 10:15, arr: Doubtful Sound 11:45, dep: 13:00, arr: Milford Sound 16:00, dep 17:15
Blues skies and sunshine, but cool.
Fantastic fjordland scenery. First Dusky Sound, then Doubtful Sound…
Then about a 50 minute trip up the west coast, which gave us a chance for a quick self-serve lunch, and then beers outside the Oceanview Cafe.
Then we entered the spectacular Milford Sound with it’s waterfalls. And finally, we turned west-northwest and headed back to Sydney.
Margaritas in the Eden Bar, dinner in the Normandy.
Mon Feb 9th
At sea
Breakfast, Kindle, internet, beers. Lunch, siesta, Margaritas (see photo), then an early dinner and walked to the theatre for an excellent song, and dance (and acrobatics) show.
Tue Feb 10th
At sea
Breakfast, Kindle, internet, beers. Lunch, siesta, Margaritas, then our last dinner in the Normandy Restaurant.
Wed Feb 11th
Arrive Sydney harbour 06:30, take Celebrity arranged shuttle to airport then fly Cathay Pacific dep: Sydney (T1) 15:15, arr: Hong Kong (T1) 21:30. Then Dep: Hong Kong (T1) 23:00
The shuttle came at 09:30. So sat in the terminal for 3 hours before we could check-in. Then a surprisingly empty flight to Hong Kong. At HKG, we had 90 minutes before our flight to LHR, but it took us nearly that long to walk from our arrival gate to our departure gate. I estimated that the gates were at least 100m apart, and we had to walk past 20 of them! The London flight was choc-a-bloc.
Thu Feb 12th
Arr: London Heathrow (T3) 05:25. Then British Airways (booking ref: YPOGZ6) leaving Heathrow at 10:25, arr. Malaga at 14:25.
Adam picked us up, and then we drove to pick Bowie up. Apart from snatches of sleep, we’d been awake for around 43 hours… 7am wake up in Sydney Harbour, early breakfast on the ship, collect luggage, taxi to airport, sit around for six hours, 9 hour flight to HKG, change gates, 14 hour flight to LHR, train from T3 to T5, hang around for 5 hours, 3.5 hour flight to Malaga, and then drive home… TOFTS!
