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Published: March 22nd 2015
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Day 1 Saturday 14 March
Canberra to Sydney
Fine 25 sunny
Up before 7.00 and got ready. Shani came about 8.00 and we loaded the cases and took off for the Murrays buses. Mick came home from work just before we left.
Big crowd at Jolimont so we caught the second bus to have a seat together. Pleasant trip took about 31/2 hours. Went up to the country platform at Central and Tim & Julie arrived about 5 minutes later.
They drove us to Balmain which isn't longer the working class suburb it used to be. Drove all the way down Darling street where there was plenty of activity. We had lunch in a little cafe which was very nice. It was good to celebrate Tims birthday with them Then they drove us to White Bay where we boarded the Ocean Princess. Arrangements were very simple and smooth. We found our cabin which is very comfortable. 2 of our bags were there when we arrived so we began unpacking then the other 2 arrived so we were able to pack every thing away and work out
who's clothes went where. Guess who won that discussion.
We read some of the literature then did the lifeboat drill and after that did an exploration of the ship. We really like it, a comfortable size and really well appointed. There was an introductory show where they introduced the Cruise Staff with a bit of a dance and song performance and then a comedian, at least that's how they described him.
After the show we went to dinner. The dining room is very classy and we are on a table of 6, one couple from NZ and one from Sydney. All seem very pleasant and we were one of the last tables to leave the room because we talked so much. On the way back to the cabin we went to the pursers desk and cancelled the discretionary US14 per person per day gratuity. Came back to our cabin which was all laid out for us with our nightwear all neatly set out
Day 2 Sunday 15 March.
At sea up the coast of NSW.
25 degrees clear skies, calm seas but every now and then surges from cyclone Pam.
Slept in then had breakfast out on the rear deck of the bistro. Breakfast good but no Weet Bix. I went to a talk by the Barrier Reef pilot which was interesting then Gail and I went to a history talk on the Portugese and Spanish explorations in search of the Spice Islands. The information was very good but the delivery was not riveting.
Gail had borrowed some some books from the library so we went up on deck. Gail walked a nautical mail around the jogging track while I read, then we both read. We just had soup for lunch and read a bit more then Gail walked another n. mile. We saw Mt Warning and then the Gold Coast skyline in the late afternoon but that was al we recognised.
We went back to the cabin and got ready for the Captains Welcome Cocktail party which was a formal affair so evening dress and dinner suit. We shirk the Captains hand, had one drink and were introduced to the officers who are mostly Italian as is the Captain. His speech was good. There are 300+ Australians, 132 Americans and around 30 each of Canadians, New Zealanders, British plus smaller numbers of people from six or seven other countries in the 592 passengers. There are also 327 crew.
Dinner was very good, a special meal to celebrate 50 years of the Princess line. Then we went to the show which was a variety show featuring I two of the Four Kinsmen. Singing was good, magic all right and humour ordinary.
Day 3 Monday 16 March
At sea up Queensland Coast
28c sea calm
At breakfast we sat with a lady from Canberra Mary, whose son David was taking her on the cruise. He grew up in Canberra but now lives in Palm Springs. After breakfast I went to the lecture on the Endeavour which was very interesting but hard to concentrate on. Gail went to choir. We had a swim and read for a while then had a light lunch. After lunch we went back, read some more and had a swim. Gail walked around the deck one mile each, morning and afternoon and I did one mile then hit some golf balls in the golf cage on the upper deck.
We had a shower and went up to have a pre dinner drink. Talked to a couple from Dorset, where Broadchurch is made. After dinner we went back to the cabin for an early night as the comedian from the first night was on and we didn't want to see him.
Day 4 Tuesday 17 March
Townsville
30c very humid
We went ashore about 9.30 and walked the 1.5km into town and found the aquarium. Spent about 3 hours there including a visit to the turtle hospital which was really interesting. As we were walking back we spotted an Irish pub and as it was St Patricks Day we thought we should go in. Had a Kilkenny and a cider and were joined by a Canadian couple from Ottawa from the ship. Had another drink, Guinness this time and got two Irish hats.
Did some shopping for small things we had forgotten and walked back to the ship.
Before dinner we went up to the Tahitian Lounge and listened to the singer. We had a bit of a dance. After dinner we went to the show which a impressionist we had seen before on the ship in 2013. His act seemed a little tired. Walked out along the deck on the way back to our cabin. It was a very balmy evening.
Day 5 Wednesday 18 March
Cairns
30c very humid but tempered by a breeze.
We went ashore about 10.00am and walked up town. It was very close this time. One of the advantages of a small ship is that they can get pretty close to the towns in some places. We had a bit of a wander then went to Macdonalds to try to connect to the internet. Not entirely successful.
They have built a community swimming area down near the water and it was closed for maintenance when we first arrived but opened at noon. We had our swimmers with us so lay on the grass, read the paper and had a couple of swims. Very nice except that we both got a bit burnt even though we thought we were in the shade.
I got a prescription filled for my asthma inhaler as I realised I did not have quite enough then we went back to the ship. We had a really nice coffee on the foreshore on the way back.
When we got back on the ship we went to afternoon tea, very decadent. Sat with Mary the lady from Canberra and were joined by an Australian guy, the sort of Australian you try to avoid overseas. The captain told us that as everyone was on board he was leaving early as quickly as he could and heading north at maximum speed before cyclone Nathan hit the coast. He did warn us it could get bumpy about midnight but if it did we missed it. We went up on deck and watched us leave Cairns. We went a long way out before we turned north, very slowly, all this as the sun was setting over the mountains? Behind the city.
The cruise staff put on a production show which was pretty good even if the numbers were a bit dated, 40 s and 50s. Playing to your constituency I guess.
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Cynthia fairbairn
non-member comment
Hi you two
Fay has been forwarding your blogs to me. Really enjoying them. However when I backtracked to this one, which I had missed, I found this link enabling me to send you a little message. As you can see from the date, well over 2 months since you left. Not sure where you are now, but well out of our early morning -7 deg. It was chilly, but as usual a lovely sunny day followed. Had our Probus 20th Birthday lunch today. Yowani provided an excellent 2 course meal. Tomorrow off to a farewell luncheon for a friend, leaving Canberra after selling their "Mr Fluffy" home. It has been quite traumatic for them unfortunately. Thurs. an 80th Birthday lunch for a friend I taught with in Cootamundra 1957. Oh dear where did all those years go???? Saw Pam Cullin and her mum Josie at the Australian Ballet performance of Giselle last week. The corp de ballet was so good, almost out performed the principal dancers. Fay ,I'm sure you'll understand what I went through when I say I've just finished 3 weeks of hell with "efudix". Wow there really should be a law about that treatment. I'd prefer surgery to that. It was so bad I had to stop the treatment and go back to Dr. Healsmith. He agreed it was too strong for me and gave me some Cortisone cream which acted as an anaesthetic, thank goodness. 5 weeks now and I'm still pealing. Just wondering what will left underneath, maybe a new young face !!HA!!! A most unpleasant experience. Enoug. you sound as though h of my winges. I' sure you are still enjoying your trip. It sounds interesting, enjoyable and restful. Thinking of you Love Cynthia