This morning we woke around 7:30 to clear skies and bright sunshine. It was the first of three sea days but one with a little bit of a difference in that it wasn’t all spent on the open sea. At around 9:00 we started the sail in to Dusky Sound which was the first of three special transits today.
All the sunbeds on the open decks had been cleared away and just about everyone seemed to out and enjoying the scenery which really was quite breathtaking.
As we made our way in we had a running commentary from our onboard naturalist who kept us all up to date with where to see anything of interest and it wasn’t long before she spotted a pod of Bottle Nosed Dolphins who then proceeded to just make the water boil as they played in the ship’s wake. Dusky Sound was an amazing experience and a real privilege to see from the comfort of a cruise ship.
With a couple of hours to spare until the next one which was Doubtful Sound we went back to the cabin sit on the balcony and enjoy the coastal views. I had heard that our loyalty status would provide access to the helipad for one of the sounds but as we had not received an invitation I decided to go and see Angelina the Captain’s Club Hostess who said that on this occasion it wasn’t an option for us, however after a quick phone call to one of her colleagues we then received an invitation. So at 11:15 we found ourselves on the helipad which is where we stayed for the 90 minutes it took for us to sail through the Doubtful Sound. Amazing views and I have just too many photos to share today.
On our way back to the cabin we stopped by Angelina’s desk to thank her for arranging it for us and consequently got invited to dine at the officer’s table tonight in the Tuscan Grille with the onboard marketing manager, Ashley Gordon. So ourselves and 6 others will be wined and dined tonight courtesy of Celebrity.
Not only that but another invitation to go to the helipad for the sail in and out of Milford Sound was extended so it was just turning out to be quite a remarkable day for us. However, after the skies clouded over we elected to sit this one out on our balcony so that we could stay out of the wind. Being as Milford Sound is cul de sac we turned around at the end and we still got to see both sides. A wise move that turned out to be too.
Nothing though can prepare you for the amazing scenery that Milford Sound has to offer, it has to be one of the most spectacular places I have ever seen. A truly memorable experience and one never to be forgotten. The sheer scale of it needs to be seen to be believed.
I think given the events of the day it will probably be easier just to post photos as I have run out of words. What an amazing day!!!!