Dancers glide along ocean waves

Auckland dancers Rhonda Watt and Chris England in Dunedin's Octagon yesterday, before heading...
Auckland dancers Rhonda Watt and Chris England in Dunedin's Octagon yesterday, before heading back to the Queen Victoria for some more ballroom dancing. Photo by Peter McIntosh

With seven restaurants, 13 bars, three swimming pools, a three-deck theatre and a two-storey library, MS Queen Victoria is not short of things to keep 2014 passengers entertained.

But for Auckland couple Rhonda Watt (59) and Chris England (62), the real attraction of the cruise ship is its ballroom with live band.

The duo were in Dunedin yesterday, taking in the sights and sounds of the city as part of their New Zealand cruise, but all the while they were itching to get back on board to make the most of the luxury dance floor.

Ms Watt said she and Mr England had been ballroom dancing together for nearly a decade, and were revelling in the facilities.

''It has a proper ballroom floor. It's lovely to dance on.

''The ambience is perfect for dancing - it's the live music.

''The band plays strict tempos for dancing, and they provide music for the full range of dance styles.''

Mr England said it was the second time they had cruised on the ship, and they decided to ''treat'' themselves with another cruise this month because they had fallen in love with the ship and its 900 staff.

''They're all so friendly, always asking if there is anything they can do for us.

''It's top notch. It's more than you need at any one time. It's a well thought out ship.''

The seven-year-old vista-class, 90,000 tonne vessel, is the sister ship to Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth.

MS Queen Victoria left Otago Harbour at 2.30pm yesterday, bound for Wellington.

- john.lewis@odt.co.nz

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