Ms Amsterdam 2013 World Cruise _ Cairns to Hobart

World Cruise 2013

Friday 15 February 2013

The alarm woke me at 3.30am in order to get ready to be at the airport by 4.45am. My mate Dan had stayed over in order to drive me to the airport. The check in process went very smoothly and Dan and I were sitting down having coffee at 5 am however after 2 sips of the coffee they called the flight early so I had to up and leave my caffeine fix.

The 2 hour flight to Brisbane seemed to go very quickly and I watched most of the new movie Anna Karenina on my Galaxy Tap 2.

The change over at Brisbane was a breeze and then we were held from leaving because a passenger had failed to board the flight. This of course meant that person’s luggage had to be located and taken off the aircraft. The whole exercise delayed the flight by 40 minutes. 

In the next 70 minute flight I watched the remainder of the movie then chatted to the lady beside me.

I got my bags and then went down to the airport railway station and caught the train into Circular  Quay to where I have normally caught previous HAL ships. When the train pulled up at the station I could see down over the Quay.

Shock and Horror there was no Ms Amsterdam there. I quickly got out my boarding pass and discovered the ship was leaving from Wharf 5 Barangaroo. Where the hell is Barangaroo I thought? I went to the information desk and the bloke gave me a map and suggested I get a cab there as it was too far to walk with my bags. Anyway after a $15 cab ride I arrived at this out of the way place with its huge white marque. I checked in the luggage then went in to check myself in. WOW what a dream as I was the only one in this huge tent checking in at that time. So I got VIP service actually it was 6 star as I was given another upgrade to a balcony suite. So thanks Mr HAL.

This of course led to another slight problem as my bags were going to the previous cabin I was advised. After checking out my flash cabin I advised my cabin guys that my bags were going to go to the other cabin so they advised me they would take care of it. And when I returned to my cabin after having a late lunch in the Lido a Bloody Mary in the Lido poolside Bar, my bags were in the cabin.

After unpacking I went down to the front office to check out if my gear I had left on the Veendam in South America had arrived. No it hadn’t so that will be a project I will have to work on.

I made it up to the Crows Nest for the  4.30 happy hour and met Judi my friend from the World Cruise 2011. Many folk came up to say hello and welcome me back on board.

I met up with Judi again at 7pm at the Lido Bar before going into the lido for dinner. Willie the bar manager came along and bought us a couple of ‘welcome back Sir Pat’ drinks. Fran a friend of Judi’s joined us and then we went to the Lido for dinner.

After dinner we went up to the Crows Nest for a night cap. It was so good to catch up with so many folk from the 2011 World Cruise again.

As I had had a long day I made it an early night and was in bed by 10.30 pm.

Saturday 16 February 2013

After a good nights sleep I went up to the Lido to meet Judi for Brekkie and to plan our day. At 9 am I met up with Judi and Fran to catch the shuttle to Circular Quay where we caught the ferry to Manly. My good friends Denis and Colleen (from the Volendam) met up with us on the ferry as they were going over to spend the weekend with their family.

After ten minutes the Yank Sheilas and the Aussie couple blended in so well it was like they had known each other for years. The ladies enjoyed the ferry ride and the sights of Sydney from this beautiful harbour.

On arrival at Manly Denis showed the ladies the street markets and we went off to have coffee and a catch up chat. At mid day we met up with Judi and Fran at the pub for a local beer and seafood lunch. 

We shared the meals of salt and pepper calamari and the fish and chips. What a great feed and Fran claimed it was the best calamari she had ever tasted. After a long and enjoyable lunch we said good bye to Colleen and Denis and caught the ferry back to Circular Quay and the shuttle returned us to the ship.

Because I had just joined the ship along with the other new passengers we had to attend the mandatory boat drill. May I say it was the best I had ever done as every one was there and was marked off the list. It was all over in 15 minutes.

I chatted to new and old friends in the Crows Nest as we sailed under the Bridge and past the Opera House as we headed out to sea. I found myself acting as a tour guide and pointing out points of interest as we sailed out towards the heads.

I met up with Judi for dinner as she had arranged for me to sit at the same table as her. It is a table for 8 and upstairs on level 5 of the dining room. There were only 6 of us and it seams like it will be a good table.

After dinner we went up for a night cap in the Crows Nest and I was still catching up with folk I had met 2 years ago. I called it an early night and was in bed by 11 pm.

Sunday 17 Feb 2013

I had another fantastic night’s sleep and woke at 6.50 am. I showered and got ready to meet Judi in the Lido for Brekkie. I took up my Galaxy Tab 2 and showed her some of my photos.

I had a meeting with Christel the Guest Relations Manager to seek her help in locating my gear I had left on the Veendam last month and was to be forwarded to the Amsterdam for when I joined in Sydney. So far the goods can not be located.

Late morning I went to the complementary wine tasting for four star mariners. They didn’t promote any Aussie Wines which seemed a bit strange as the ship is in this part of the world.

I had a Bloody Mary in the Lido bar and chatted to Willie the Bar Manager and Raymond his assistant before going to lunch with Irish Helen. Lunch was followed by a 2 hour nanna nap and then the Crows Nest for Happy Hour.

I have just had some great news from Christel that my lost gear is still on the Veendam and it will now be forwarded to Manila with one of the crew going home on leave, so it is expected to be there for my arrival next month. Well at least I know it has not been lost in the South American postal system. Many thanks to Kate and Cristal for following up on this matter for me.

We had a great dinner and the company was excellent, there were 7 of us at the table and I’m the only Aussie and the others are all Yanks

The Aussie Boys were the show last night and they put on an brilliant show, one of the best shows I have seen on a ship. I told them so up in the Crows Nest after the show. I called it a night just after mid night. Tomorrow we will be in Hobart for the day.

Monday 18 Feb 2013

I had another great nights sleep and awoke at 7 am and after a quick shower I was up to the Lido to meet Judi for Brekkie. Then it was arranged to all meet up at 9.30 am to go ashore.

We walked along the waterfront into the city and caught the Hop on Hop off bus for a 90 minute tour of the city. Well it was a postcard perfect day to see the historic City of Hobart. The tour was excellent and the commentary was great and packed with Aussie humour.

After the tour we went to visit Hadley’s Hotel (the oldest in Hobart) as I had taken the girls there 2 years ago they wanted to go back again. We arrived and found out the bar was closed on Mondays, so after I told the story of the disappointment these American ladies were going through the lovely kind young receptionist  let us go in there and she even served us a beer. We sat in a corner near the window that could not be seen from the front reception area of the hotel as she didn’t want others wanting to come in and join us.

After our beer we thanked her and wandered back to the ship for a very late lunch. We sailed out of Hobart about 4 pm.

I went up to the late Happy Hour before dinner and as Judi had a prior booking for the Pinnacle Grill. I had to go to join the other tablemates by myself. It was a good meal and they have seemed to have warmed up to me now. After dinner I went up to the Crows nest for a night cap and then down to the Sports Bar to have a chat to Larry. We had to put our watches back half an hour before going to bed as we would wake up in Central Time.

Tuesday 19 February 2013

What a great sleep in I had as I didn’t wake up until just after 8.30 am as today is a sea day. I made my way up to the Lido for a late light brekkie. I was chatting to a young lady for over an hour then it took me another 2 hours to get back to my cabin as I was running into folk and chatting to them so I want to blame Bill & Marianne, Penny, Barb and Larry for this delay. As I am a bloke of not many words I know it was not me doing all the talking. LOL.

I had a shower etc and then off to the front office to organise some visas and put a request for Warren and Lorraine to visit the ship while we are in Freemantle.

I was just about to sit down for lunch when a lady called out ‘G’Day Fr Pat’. I went over to her and it was Lynn the Aussie lady that also got hijacked in Samoa by a taxi driver and had to empty her purse to get a ride back to the ship.  This was the same day as the Fr Pat story started about 3 years ago.

Tomorrow we will be in Adelaide and I have arranged with Raymond the assistant bar manager to take Larry and Mannie out to lunch Ray has adjusted the rosters so they don’t have to start work until 2pm.  

I didn’t have time to get in a nanna nap before Happy Hour up at the Crows Nest.  Dinner was the usual fun and I went to see the Aussie Boys 2^nd show which was excellent before calling it an early night at 11 pm. Tomorrow we will be in Adelaide.