And back to Melbourne!

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There are some days here that have pasted twice...... I’m loathe to delete anythin in case delete it all. I hope you can find the relevant bits, happy readers!

Photos are actually from Hobart. But more of that next time, with Hobart news.



Day 12

Brisbane 2





Sunday 23rd February, 2020



As we couldn’t get on the river cruise either day we decided to stay onboard today, with just a visit to the cruise terminal shed to pick up emails and post last few days news. I managed to download some emails, send a few what’s apps upload photos onto the blog......and then the WiFi went down! Annoying to say the least. I thought I had clicked on something I shouldn’t have done, but then realised what had happened. Later one of the other ladies who had been in the terminal building said they’d switched it off so we had to log on onboard and pay P&O!

So we went back onboard and had a siesta after lunch.

The cabin is quite comfortable, with a sofa, and the balcony has plenty of room, open the full width. Not much to see here though as were were facing the quay and the loading ramps and bridges on the wharves.

We set sail about 4.30pm. We went to the aft of Deck 9 to the Aquarius Bar where there was a sail away sing song with the entertainments team. They wore themselves out disco dancing on the sides of the pool, the passengers waved their arms around a bit!

At supper this evening we introduced ourselves to more new people and in chatting realised that be couple had been on the cruise we did 2 years ago. I suppose it’s not really surprising as some folks seem to do 2 or 3 cruises a year. There are also several of the staff who we recognise too.

The entertainment this evening was Roy Locke, an Australian tenor with a very pleasant voice, singing hits from various musicals. He was actually very good and had played the lead in Phantom on a German tour.

There is live music all over the ship every evening somewhere. Always something on in the theatre, twice in the evening. Then there is a pianist at the piano bar, pianist or guitarist/singer in the crow’s nest, another Duo - singer/ keyboard - in the pub or an outside deck, weather permitting. There is a dance on the black tie evenings in the smaller theatre with a dance floor.



Day 13



Monday 24th February, 2020



Sea Day



Lots of activities available today in the Horizon info sheets we get every evening. A Hobart destination talk, a talk about pearls and opals appealed, as did Archery, Roger not too fond of games but the deck quoits looked like fun that we’d seen a couple of days before. There is a new film every day (apparently to the annoyance of the full round the world travellers they have started showing the films from the first half again!)

Roger had arranged to meet his friend for a chat too. The craft activity didn’t appeal, making a turtle card, but I’ll keep an eye out for something interesting. Think I was really lucky with the last trip and the jewellery making.

It was a warm and sunny day and I spent some time after lunch reading on the back deck in the sunshine with my kindle. There was a special few minutes when some dolphins appeared off the stern and stayed long enough leaping in and out of the sea for me to get to the rail to see them, after everyone else had moved.

Later in the afternoon we went to a Spanish & Flamenco Guitar recital in the smaller Globe venue. He was good, but played tunes that were very classical, not very familiar, which was a shame as I’d been hoping for the old Spanish favourites!

Today was a black tie evening. We had an invitation for the Captain’s cocktail party at 6pm this eve so we dressed up and found our way along to the middle Neptune pool area where the recently joined travellers had assembled. There was champagne as well as wine, beer, soft drinks, etc. The waiters were very attentive and made sure you had a glass in both hands! We chatted to a couple from Brisbane, and listened to the captains chat. Captain Wesley Dunlop, the youngest ever appointed at 32. He came on in New Zealand and is only taking us as far as Freemantle, as he’s going of to do sea trials with the new ship in the P & O fleet, Iona, which he will captain.

As we were later going into supper we were later finishing and so we were too late to see the ships Theatre company perform in the theatre. They are usually very good, but I’m sure they will perform again, although not sure it’ll be the same show.



Day 14



Tuesday 23rd February, 2020



Sea Day



This morning Roger went to the destination presentation for Port Arthur while I went to the Library to try and sort out 24hours of internet and then I met him out on the stern deck to see the Officers Pancake Race. Much entertainment was provided by the officers madly tossing and catching pancakes in a variety of activities. The weather wasn’t particularly good, quite cloudy and windy so not too promising for sitting in the sun.

After lunch Roger went to see a film and I stayed in the cabin nice and snug, sewing, watching tv and sending emails and What’s App messages.

After supper we went to watch Maurice Grumbleweed again. Then I spent some time on the internet talking to Christopher and my sisters on What’s App messaging as they were now up!



Day 15



Wednesday 26th February, 2020



Melbourne



I had made arrangements to meet Jennifer and Sharon at the end of the Cruise Terminal Quay for lunch. We spent the morning on the ship watching the squalls coming across Port Phillip bay, at times the visibility was lost all together. Luckily the weather had improved by the time we left the ship although it was still only about 17 degrees. It was a long walk along the quay to the restaurants and bars but thank goodness we’d taken the wheelchair! Jennifer was there when we arrived and Sharon appeared soon after. We had a pleasant lunch and chat for a couple of hours. Jennifer was able to provide us with an insight into Hobart as she originates from there and suggested some alternatives for us. We hadn’t expected to see each other again quite so soon when we said goodbye 10 days ago!

We made our way back to the ship and had a leisurely look at the art gallery on the ship in the way back to our cabin. Some very nice artwork and sculptures are on display.

We really enjoyed our time out and around Melbourne when we first arrived.



The Melbourne guide provided in the cabin has some interesting facts to add
Melbourne is Australia’s 2nd City with population of 5.2 million.It is situated in one of the world’s great natural seaports, Port Phillip Bay. The access was via a very narrow channel and took several hours to navigate with he pilot on board.Melbourne was founded by entrepreneur(and unauthorised) pioneer John Batman, who sailed his schooner into Port Phillip Bay in 1835.The new colony on the banks of the Yarra river was settled by thousands of free settlersIn the 1850s rich alluvial gold fields were found near Ballarat and Bendigo, and Melbourne quickly became hub for Australia’s biggest and MST prolonged gold rush.In the late1800s Melbourne was known as the largest city in the world after London.For a few decades Melbourne was larger, wealthier and more exciting than Sydney, but over the years Sydney gradually took over the lead once more.The Eureka Skydeck is a magnificent 92 storey tower, currently one of the tallest residential buildings in the world. The fastest lift in the Southern Hemisphere will take you from ground level to level 88 in a mere 40 seconds.Melbourne is the only city in Australia that has a bank holiday for a horse race, The Melbourne Cup, first started in 1861.Melbourne is well known for its street art and as a city of cultureIt is also a sporting capital, the cricket stadium is the 10th largest in the world, the Australian Open Tennis is held here and Formula 1 Grand Prix.


The evening entertainment was Alana Conway, a singer and harpist. She had a really lovely voice and sang lots of ballads like On My Own, from Les Mis.











Brisbane 2

Sunday 23rd February, 2020



As we couldn’t get on the river cruise either day we decided to stay onboard today, with just a visit to the cruise terminal shed to pick up emails and post last few days news. I managed to download some emails, send a few what’s apps upload photos onto the blog......and then the WiFi went down! Annoying to say the least. I thought I had clicked on something I shouldn’t have done, but then realised what had happened. Later one of the other ladies who had been in the terminal building said they’d switched it off so we had to log on onboard and pay P&O!

So we went back onboard and had a siesta after lunch.

The cabin is quite comfortable, with a sofa, and the balcony has plenty of room, open the full width. Not much to see here though as were were facing the quay and the loading ramps and bridges on the wharves.

We set sail about 4.30pm. We went to the aft of Deck 9 to the Aquarius Bar where there was a sail away sing song with the entertainments team. They wore themselves out disco dancing on the sides of the pool, the passengers waved their arms around a bit!

At supper this evening we introduced ourselves to more new people and in chatting realised that be couple had been on the cruise we did 2 years ago. I suppose it’s not really surprising as some folks seem to do 2 or 3 cruises a year. There are also several of the staff who we recognise too.

The entertainment this evening was Roy Locke, an Australian tenor with a very pleasant voice, singing hits from various musicals. He was actually very good and had played the lead in Phantom on a German tour.

There is live music all over the ship every evening somewhere. Always something on in the theatre, twice in the evening. Then there is a pianist at the piano bar, pianist or guitarist/singer in the crow’s nest, another Duo - singer/ keyboard - in the pub or an outside deck, weather permitting. There is a dance on the black tie evenings in the smaller theatre with a dance floor.



Day 13



Monday 24th February, 2020



Sea Day



Lots of activities available today in the Horizon info sheets we get every evening. A Hobart destination talk, a talk about pearls and opals appealed, as did Archery, Roger not too fond of games but the deck quoits looked like fun that we’d seen a couple of days before. There is a new film every day (apparently to the annoyance of the full round the world travellers they have started showing the films from the first half again!)

Roger had arranged to meet his friend for a chat too. The craft activity didn’t appeal, making a turtle card, but I’ll keep an eye out for something interesting. Think I was really lucky with the last trip and the jewellery making.

It was a warm and sunny day and I spent some time after lunch reading on the back deck in the sunshine with my kindle. There was a special few minutes when some dolphins appeared off the stern and stayed long enough leaping in and out of the sea for me to get to the rail to see them, after everyone else had moved.

Later in the afternoon we went to a Spanish & Flamenco Guitar recital in the smaller Globe venue. He was good, but played tunes that were very classical, not very familiar, which was a shame as I’d been hoping for the old Spanish favourites!

Today was a black tie evening. We had an invitation for the Captain’s cocktail party at 6pm this eve so we dressed up and found our way along to the middle Neptune pool area where the recently joined travellers had assembled. There was champagne as well as wine, beer, soft drinks, etc. The waiters were very attentive and made sure you had a glass in both hands! We chatted to a couple from Brisbane, and listened to the captains chat. Captain Wesley Dunlop, the youngest ever appointed at 32. He came on in New Zealand and is only taking us as far as Freemantle, as he’s going of to do sea trials with the new ship in the P & O fleet, Iona, which he will captain.

As we were later going into supper we were later finishing and so we were too late to see the ships Theatre company perform in the theatre. They are usually very good, but I’m sure they will perform again, although not sure it’ll be the same show.



Day 14



Tuesday 23rd February, 2020



Sea Day



This morning Roger went to the destination presentation for Port Arthur while I went to the Library to try and sort out 24hours of internet and then I met him out on the stern deck to see the Officers Pancake Race. Much entertainment was provided by the officers madly tossing and catching pancakes in a variety of activities. The weather wasn’t particularly good, quite cloudy and windy so not too promising for sitting in the sun.

After lunch Roger went to see a film and I stayed in the cabin nice and snug, sewing, watching tv and sending emails and What’s App messages.

After supper we went to watch Maurice Grumbleweed again. Then I spent some time on the internet talking to Christopher and my sisters on What’s App messaging as they were now up!



Day 15



Wednesday 26th February, 2020



Melbourne



I had made arrangements to meet Jennifer and Sharon at the end of the Cruise Terminal Quay for lunch. We spent the morning on the ship watching the squalls coming across Port Phillip bay, at times the visibility was lost all together. Luckily the weather had improved by the time we left the ship although it was still only about 17 degrees. It was a long walk along the quay to the restaurants and bars but thank goodness we’d taken the wheelchair! Jennifer was there when we arrived and Sharon appeared soon after. We had a pleasant lunch and chat for a couple of hours. Jennifer was able to provide us with an insight into Hobart as she originates from there and suggested some alternatives for us. We hadn’t expected to see each other again quite so soon when we said goodbye 10 days ago!

We made our way back to the ship and had a leisurely look at the art gallery on the ship in the way back to our cabin. Some very nice artwork and sculptures are on display.

We really enjoyed our time out and around Melbourne when we first arrived.



The Melbourne guide provided in the cabin has some interesting facts to add
Melbourne is Australia’s 2nd City with population of 5.2 million.It is situated in one of the world’s great natural seaports, Port Phillip Bay. The access was via a very narrow channel and took several hours to navigate with he pilot on board.Melbourne was founded by entrepreneur(and unauthorised) pioneer John Batman, who sailed his schooner into Port Phillip Bay in 1835.The new colony on the banks of the Yarra river was settled by thousands of free settlersIn the 1850s rich alluvial gold fields were found near Ballarat and Bendigo, and Melbourne quickly became hub for Australia’s biggest and MST prolonged gold rush.In the late1800s Melbourne was known as the largest city in the world after London.For a few decades Melbourne was larger, wealthier and more exciting than Sydney, but over the years Sydney gradually took over the lead once more.The Eureka Skydeck is a magnificent 92 storey tower, currently one of the tallest residential buildings in the world. The fastest lift in the Southern Hemisphere will take you from ground level to level 88 in a mere 40 seconds.Melbourne is the only city in Australia that has a bank holiday for a horse race, The Melbourne Cup, first started in 1861.Melbourne is well known for its street art and as a city of cultureIt is also a sporting capital, the cricket stadium is the 10th largest in the world, the Australian Open Tennis is held here and Formula 1 Grand Prix.


The evening entertainment was Alana Conway, a singer and harpist. She had a really lovely voice and sang lots of ballads like On My Own, from Les Mis.



Tomorrow we have a sea day and then Friday in Hobart





Day 16



Thursday 27th February, 2020



Sea Day and Black tie eve.



Today’s destination talk was about Adelaide. After that we remained in the theatre to listen to ‘ An Audience with Captain Wesley Dunlop ‘.

Passengers had been invited to leave questions at reception for him and the entertainment manger had compiled them with a few of his own. He is a very interesting man, obviously very smart as he gained his captain rank 2 days before his 31 st birthday. He was also very entertaining!

The weather was cloudy with a short sea. Force 5, but it wasn’t too lumpy moving around the ship as we were running before the wind. However the captain predicted some pretty poor weather with a lot more movement as we followed the east coast of Tasmania and turned to the south west to round the island and head north into the bay where Hobart is situated. This would happen through the night as we were due to dock at 8 am.

He also informed us that we would not be going to Port Arthur after all the following day as the sea swell would be at least 4 metres and a max of 1 and a half was allowed to board the tenders. Also, more to the point it would be a rather uncomfortable berth to anchor out off the town too. Luckily the other cruise ship due in Hobart for Saturday had cancelled so we could stay there for 2 days.

We met more new folk at supper and had a relaxing eve in the piano bar as the entertainment this eve was an illusionist/ magician which didn’t appeal to either of us.

Later we heard he was unwell and they put the tenor back on. Shame it wasn’t announced as we would have gone after all.



Photos of Melbourne night skyline, trip to Peppermint bay in Hobart and a vert fruitful oak tree in garden of restaurant. See next blog in Adelaide in a few days.

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