2 - 6 New Years Eve on a cruise ship

 HAPPY NEW YEAR...2023....!!!! (Updated Jan 2) 

Australia gives the world the first major  New Years Eve celebration.  There are actually little islands moving to the new year for the first four hours, then its a big bang with Australia.  We left Melbourne at 11pm and didn't see much of Melbourne's live fireworks.  Viking displayed the Sydney fireworks on the gigantic screen.  Here is one of the shots.

New Year is celebrated over 26 hours instead of 24 because of quirky shifts of time zones in the Republic of Kirbati.  This Pacific nation is comprised of many islands scattered over thousands of miles.  The islands straddle the international date line, i.e. at the same time the day is different.  To fix this, they shifted the international date line out and around the eastern most islands, creating two new time zones (beyond the expected 24).

We did dress up for the evening events...

The Viking performers had an hour of testing/rehearsing.  They were having so much fun that we claimed our table early and watched their prep.  These four singers are 22 - 25 years old.  Three graduated from school  in 2022.  Viking Mars gave them their first real job.  About 1000 singer/dancers applied for the four positions.  They had to be good to pass the auditions and beat out 996 others.

                                                        

Mystery drinks were available for the taking.  They tasted a peachy orange something.

The main swimming pool was filled with balloons.  Later in the evening a big gust of wind blew a third of the balloons out of the pool.  

Hotel GM, Chris,  took his shoes off and rolled up his pants to help set up the large ice carvings.  Another helper wore boots for the set up.

Its hard to tell in the photo but the carving spells 2022, with a mystery carving behind the last two.

                                                                    Let the party begin.  

                                            Lots of music and dancing (non stop from 9pm - midnight).

                                                                

                                                Sydney Harbor Bridge lit up with fireworks (on the big screen).

Above photo is midnight on ship with the display of Sydney's fireworks at the Sydney Harbor Bridge,  I hope our fellow passengers from the 1st leg of our trip who disembarked in Sydney had good views.  Oh so impressive.

The shoreline became a sparkle of fireworks (photo below).  I wish the ship had waited just a little longer to leave Melbourne so that the fireworks were a bit bigger and easier to see.  

The ship's horn sounded at midnight, for what seemed like a long time, probably about 5 seconds.  A not so subtle reminder that we were sailing!  It was so loud, we covered our ears.

Look closely.  A few minutes after midnight Chris jumped into the pool to push the last '2 'into the water, revealing a three!  He did not take his shoes off.  He didn't even roll up his pant legs.  He must have been excited.

Party ended by 12:15 am.  Clean up promptly began.  They had to get ready for January 1 2023.

The big event on Jan 1 was morning brunch.  The did offer the normal breakfast until 9:30.  It was pretty calm. This is the normal breakfast.

Brunch started at 10:00 am.  I popped in to take a few photos.  A long queque had formed.

Food serving overflowed into the aft of the ship (where we often grab a table to eat in a quieter setting.)  Ceasar salads made to order and fresh pasta stations were setup instead. 

                                                

Internet is terrible out here in the Tasman Sea.  We have 3 sea days in a row.  It took over 4 hours to get this post loaded.  I did get a lot of knitting done as I waited for photos and blog to update but if it continues to be so slow posts over the next few days may be shorter or non-existent.