Well, it's probably a silly question, I mean who wouldn't want to take a holiday in Barcelona and Venice?!?! But there is a bit of history behind the reasoning.... quite a bit of history. You see, there is sea-salt flowing in my veins....
My great-grandfather Thomas Kennaway worked his way from Glasgow to Auckland on the maiden voyage of the ss Navua, arriving in Auckland on September 8th, 1904.
My grandfather William always resented his older siblings having experien
ced the journey out here by sea, but in 1923 he ended up having a brief spell as 'Boy' on the coastal trader ss Huia.My father Tom also worked on coastal traders, and I have memories of visiting him at the Onehunga wharf and touring the ships he served on.
In 1989 I finally got my chance - a chef I was working with at the Northern Club gave me the details of a recruitment agency in Switzerland. I wrote off with my CV, and next thing I got a phone call telling me to be in Vancouver in ten days time. I'd been employed - sight unseen - as a waiter on the Royal Viking Sea. And so six years of adventuring started!! My first four-month contract saw me experience three cruises up the west coast of the US and Canada, a Pacific crossing, and then a tour of Asia, India, Sri Lanka and back to New Zealand via Australia.
I was hooked - there was sea water in my blood! The first contract was not all smooth sailing - no pun intended. Royal Viking Line was a Norwegian cruise line, started in 1972, and operating three ships; the Royal Viking Sea, RV Sky and RV Star. When I joined the company it was about to undergo some major changes. The three older ships were due to be sold off, and two new ships had been built, the Royal Viking Sun (at 39,000 grt, significantly larger than her three predecessors of 28,000 grt), and the Royal Viking Queen, a smaller boutique ship of just 10,000 grt).
This meant a lot of the crew, many with decades of service, were facing redundancy and an uncertain future. The atmosphere was not good! Despite that, I made some really great friends, and we shared some really magic times together.
After several weeks at home after my time on the 'Sea' I managed to get a new contract - on the 'Sun'!! It was great to be back at sea, on a newer, more modern and more comfortable ship, and with crew who were the cream of the crop. More exciting ports, great friends, exciting travel and good times. And the highlight was 1992 - the ship was chartered by NBC to house VIP guests during the Barcelona Olympics. My interest in sports has always been minimal, but to be in an Olympic city during the games is an awe-inspiring experience. And Barcelona... what a host city! Two thousand years of an incredible history and culture that I'd never really been aware of before. For three weeks I had a blast, met some great local friends, and fell in love with the city. For the next three year I visited Barcelona as often and for as long as possible. I cemented the friendships that started during the games - Amics per Sempre = Friends Forever.
In 1989 I finally got my chance - a chef I was working with at the Northern Club gave me the details of a recruitment agency in Switzerland. I wrote off with my CV, and next thing I got a phone call telling me to be in Vancouver in ten days time. I'd been employed - sight unseen - as a waiter on the Royal Viking Sea. And so six years of adventuring started!! My first four-month contract saw me experience three cruises up the west coast of the US and Canada, a Pacific crossing, and then a tour of Asia, India, Sri Lanka and back to New Zealand via Australia.
I was hooked - there was sea water in my blood! The first contract was not all smooth sailing - no pun intended. Royal Viking Line was a Norwegian cruise line, started in 1972, and operating three ships; the Royal Viking Sea, RV Sky and RV Star. When I joined the company it was about to undergo some major changes. The three older ships were due to be sold off, and two new ships had been built, the Royal Viking Sun (at 39,000 grt, significantly larger than her three predecessors of 28,000 grt), and the Royal Viking Queen, a smaller boutique ship of just 10,000 grt).
This meant a lot of the crew, many with decades of service, were facing redundancy and an uncertain future. The atmosphere was not good! Despite that, I made some really great friends, and we shared some really magic times together.
After several weeks at home after my time on the 'Sea' I managed to get a new contract - on the 'Sun'!! It was great to be back at sea, on a newer, more modern and more comfortable ship, and with crew who were the cream of the crop. More exciting ports, great friends, exciting travel and good times. And the highlight was 1992 - the ship was chartered by NBC to house VIP guests during the Barcelona Olympics. My interest in sports has always been minimal, but to be in an Olympic city during the games is an awe-inspiring experience. And Barcelona... what a host city! Two thousand years of an incredible history and culture that I'd never really been aware of before. For three weeks I had a blast, met some great local friends, and fell in love with the city. For the next three year I visited Barcelona as often and for as long as possible. I cemented the friendships that started during the games - Amics per Sempre = Friends Forever.
One of the best holidays I had in Barcelona was spent with my great friend Gina, who was living in London and working for MTV. Gina is now married to the lovely Mike, has adorable twin daughters (my fairy god-daughters), and lives in Singapore... ;-( 
In this amazing internet age we live in, it's pretty easy to maintain the connections with long-lost and distant frends. Occasional e-mails keep me in touch with Xavier and Juan in Barcelona, and sporadically with Lucio in Venice. Xavi came and visited me here and we did a great tour of the North Island together, but it's been a long time since we've really been in touch.
Late last year I was missing Gina and her recently departed family, and thinking about what to do for my next holiday, when I came across an ad for special low airfares to Europe via Singapore. Brilliant - catch up with a whole bunch of friends I thought! Tickets booked, and soon I'll be off!
