I was surprised to find when I was planning for this cruise that I had visited artsy and historic Akaroa before. It was just that unmemorable although it is the remnants of an abortive French colony (the English got there 6 days before the French ship in 1840) with an interesting assortment of pre-fab 19th Century architecture. I recognized nothing from the obviously forgettable earlier visit this time as the town has now become the cruise ship alternative to the still being demolished Christchurch after the devistation of the recent earthquakes. Over 100 cruise ships visit Akaroa per summer now instead of the handful of small ships when I was there last. Monday was the "all time high" record of four ships. Most obvious was the Dawn Princess whose guests seemed to be obliged to wear their nametag/keycards around their necks 24/7, presumably so that they could purchase water, air, food, and toilet flushes onboard their ship.
We were first in line sailing through the headlands into the huge collapsed volcano that forms Akaroa's archorage, immediately followed followed by ship number 2, the Seaborn Legand which is a very similar ship in many ways to Silver Whisper. The big Princess and a small expedition ship joined us presently. The view from the tender's very salt strayed window was what appeared to be that of a fishing village, albeit a New England fishing village. We found that the shacks were actually gift shops. So Barbara and I started a pleasant 3 mile hike by going away from town to a picturesque lighthouse. It was recently relocated from the distant headlands no doubt to accomodate the cruise passengers. We saw lots of sheep but always with a backdrop of cruise ships or their tenders which were ferrying increasing numbers of gift ship customers into the used to be artsy and quaint town. We then returned to town to watch the Princess crowd taking pictures of each other posing in front of closed public buildings which have been condemned due to earthquate damage and then worked our way back to the ship through the hoards of Princess passengers being entertained by a young bagpipe player. A young bagpipe player! We enjoyed some, quite a few actually, drinks as we sailed away, having already forgotten this formerly artsy and historic town.
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