Circumnavigation of Australia - ms Volendam - October 2013

Sydney to Sydney Oz Circumnavigation

Monday 21 October 2013

After a great day in Sydney yesterday I had a fairly night and it was reassuring to resume my own medication.

I had a late brekkie and then was joined by Dianne in the office where we did some catch up work on the computer.

It seems a bit strange as there are now just over a 1000 new guests on board as only 200 of us stayed on from the crossing. I will get the breakdown of the nationalities and post it later.  It is a beaut sunny day as we cruise up the NSW coast towards Brisbane in smooth sea conditions.

After holding court in the office I had lunch, and yes I did have a small Caesar salad and a small stir fry before going for a well deserved nana nap.

All the new folk were up in the crows nest for happy hour. OMG they are a noisy mob.

 I met up with Dianne at the piano bar and we went to dinner. It was a formal night but I only wore a blazer and tie as the tux was few and far between.

I called it an early night about 11 pm.

The nationality break down of the passengers is

Aussie    493

Yanks      284

Canada   142

Poms        69

Kiwis         64

Are the main nationalities with the remainder coming from mainly European countries.

Tuesday 22 October 2013

I was up early for our arrival and sail up the Brisbane River. Brissie turned on a warm clear sunny day. I was met by my good friend Kurt who drove me around and to get a few things for the ship.

 I also had to see my bank as I had forgotten to advise them I was going over seas, so they had frozen my Visa and Amex card by the time I had got to Hawaii.  All is good again now.

We went home to Kurt’s house for coffee before I took him back to the ship for drinks a tour of the ship and lunch.  I think he was very impressed with the ship and the way the staff greeted me and welcomed him on board. As usual when I am with Kurt the cameras work overtime.

Kurt had to leave the ship by 4pm so after saying goodbye to him it was up to the Crows Nest for sail away Happy Hour and what a loud mob this new lot are.

Dianne and I went to dinner and then a night cap in the piano bar before bed.

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Today was a day at sea as we headed up along the Queensland coastline. The sea conditions were perfect. I held court in my Lido office and didn’t achieve much as so many want to drop in to have a chat.

The Bloody Marys went down well at the Lido Bar with the Aussie prawn and seafood BBQ held on the Lido Deck. BOY oh Boy some of these old girls must have thought they were at the Myer Boxing Day Sale the way they pushed and shoved to get into the Prawns. There weapons of destruction were their walkers and walking sticks. 

Big Wayne and I waited until the line died down and without any rush or bother got a good feed.

The usual nana nap was followed by the Happy Hour at the Crows Nest.  For a change tonight Dianne and I went up to the Lido for a relaxed informal dinner.

I called it an early night as we have Hamilton Island tomorrow.

Thursday 24 October 2013

After brekkie I arranged to meet up with Dianne, Wayne and Joan as it is a tender day. We went off after the rush and didn’t have to suffer of the pushing and shoving of the earlier rush folk.

We hired a golf cart for 2 hours and I was the tour guide and Wayne the driver.  What a great day we had. We even had a small esky with some icy cold beer.

The views from ‘Hammo ‘ are fantastic  of the tropical blue waters of the Whitsundays and the other Islands. The ms Volendam looked right at home anchored off shore in this Tropical Paradise.

We came back on board mid afternoon and the feed back from the others is that they really enjoyed the day.

Wayne and I ended up having a bit of a late night in the Piano Bar. It was well after Midnight by the time I got to bed.

Friday 25 October 2013

Townsville turned on a nice clear day for our arrival and it was a beaut entrance to the harbour with Castle Hill and Magnetic Island as two of the main features.

We docked at the new cruise passenger terminal and we were the first ship to use this facility. The band was playing and the mayor was there to welcome us.

Poor Townsville it is not a Tourist city and everyone was charged $16 for the return shuttle bus service to take folk into the city. Most places provide a free shuttle for the folk of the ship to visit their towns. The reason for the charge is so the local port authority can get some money in to pay for the new terminal. The new terminal was nothing to write home about as it had no character at all.

By the way I was told the Volendam is the largest class of cruise ship that can dock at this new wharf. On the cruise ship size scale the Volendam is one of the smaller ships. Their new terminal must have been designed by some non client focused moron as all the oldies had to struggle up flights of stairs to go over a walkway above a vehicle entry road. There were small lifts at both sides of the walkway which folk could line up and wait to catch to save them having to struggle up and down all the steps.

We went into the city in the provided suburban blue busses and had a walk around, waited 30 minutes to get a cup of coffee, and then went back to the ship.

Back at the terminal little old volunteer ladies wanted to carry out surveys about how much everyone had spent in the city during their visit. Well this added insult to injury resulting nasty verbal exchanges.

Poor Townsville I thought you would by trying to encourage ships to visit. After visiting Hamilton Is the day before and Cairns the day after, where we were well and truly looked after and welcomed many folk wished we had missed out on Townsville and stayed the extra time in Cairns.

I had a quick lunch and then a short nanna nap before going up to the Crows Nest for the sail away. The views of the city, Castle Hill and Magnetic Is in the late afternoon sun were fantastic.

I had an early night as I had to drive my car the next morning in Cairns.

Saturday 26 October 2013

I was up early for the sail in to my home city of Cairns. I had brekkie while the ship was docking and was ready to leave with my small suitcase of excess luggage to take home. My mate Graham was there to drive me home. I then had to do a few errands and replace some of the things stolen in my bag when in LA.

At lunchtime I took Graham and another friend Dan back on the ship for a few drinks, lunch and a tour of the ship.  Both these guys had never been on a cruise ship before and enjoyed the experience.

The feed back from the other folk was very positive and complementary concerning their day in the Cairns city and region. Many indicated they wanted to return to have a longer visit at a later date.

I was so proud of all the complements concerning Cairns I think I celebrated a little to much and was one of the last to leave the Piano Bar.

Monday 27 October 2013

A big sleep in and a late brekkie before I greeted the day up in the Crows Nest as we sailed along the coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef. As usual this is a fantastic experience and the Reef gods provided a postcard perfect day.

I had the usual Bloody Marys but today in the Sea View Bar on the aft deck. A late lunch with Dianne before going for a well deserved nana nap and then to the Crows Nest for Happy Hour.  The  Aussie BBQ was on the Lido Deck so we didn’t go to dinner in the dining room.

I called it a night about 10 after a few night caps in the Piano Bar.

Tuesday 28 October

It was beaut cruising up through the coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef on another perfect day. I even had a swim in the aft Lido salt water pool to cool down. This is only the second time I have been for a swim on any of the ships I have been on. The last time was in the Panama Canal about 5 years ago on the Statadam.

In the mid afternoon we went through the beautiful Torres Strait and I had the GPS on the phone and gave a commentary to those at the bar of the Crows Nest. Most were so pleased when I pointed out the various islands and gave them a bit of info on the history of the area.

It was a formal night for dinner so I met up with Dianne in the Piano Bar before dinner.  We then adjourned back to the Piano Bar for a night cap.

I was in bed by 10.30

Tuesday 29 October 2013

I slept in and had a late brekkie as we sailed west across the top of Australia. It was another perfect day so I decided to go for a swim again in the aft Lido salt water pool. I realise now just how much I miss my pool at home.

Then it was time to adjourn to the office for Bloody Marys and the stir fry lunch. Todays stir fry was Indonesian and was yummy.

Mark a friend of mine is from New South Wales and is an Officer on another Dam ship and we are always having a shot at each other about the State of Origin Rugby between QLD and NSW. By the way Qld have won the last 8 consecutive years. Well he sent  Niek the Bar Manager a message for me to say he would rather be a Blue (NSW) than a Maroon (QLD). 

 Well we fixed him and I got a photo of Niek in my maroon State of Origin shirt.  So this has commenced a new battle in inter State rivalry.

After happy hour I went to the Piano Bar for a few drinks and decided to call it an early night and had a room service snack . I was in bed by 9pm. I want to be in top Form for Darwin Tomorrow.

Wednesday 30 October 2013

What a hot and humid day Darwin turned on for us for our arrival. We docked just after 10 am and there was the usual rush to get down the gang way first. I had a late brekkie and took some photos from the Lido. The boys were planning to take me out but there schedule was changed due to training so they couldn’t leave until mid afternoon.

By mid day I had decided to stay on board and have a swim. 

Many of the folk that went ashore and were walking around returned to the ship exhausted within a couple of hours. I have been to Darwin many times before so I felt I would let the heat win on this occasion and stay on the ship.

Happy hour was good with the oldies dying of thirst and the heat . Overall most enjoyed their day in Darwin.

Dianne and I had dinner as we were sailing out of the port and heading to Indonesia. We then went to the Piano Bar for a few drinks. The boys were busy helping make  the props for my Halloween costume.

I called it an early night about 11 pm.

Thursday 31 October 2013

I decided to go to the dining room for brekkie this morning which was good for a change. I was at a table for 6 and I had not met any of the other table mates before. It was a lively and fun conversation with 2 Koreans 2 Yanks and 2 Aussies and as all of us were well travelled the subjects covered all parts of the world.

The seas are so calm and the air is very warm and humid as we head to Komodo Island Indonesia, so I had another swim before lunch. I arranged to borrow table cloths safety pins and a tux shirt for my Pope costume for tonight’s Halloween party.

My friend Dianne wore a nun’s costume and escorted the Pope, we won the prize for the best dressed couple. Everyone had a ball and as in the past heaps of folk wanted to get their photo taken with the Pope.

I think it was well after midnight before the Pope retired to the Papal chambers.

Friday 1 November 2013

When I got up to the Lido for brekkie I was greeted with cheers and congrats for show Dianne and I put on for last nights Halloween Party.

Today is another calm smooth sea day so it was a relief to have a swim in the aft lido deck pool followed by a bloody Mary.

After lunch I had a well earned nana nap before going up to Happy Hour. 

It was a formal night so I had to put on the tie and jacket for dinner. I called it an early night after a couple on night caps in the Piano Bar.

Saturday 2 November 2013

I was woken by the anchor being lowered on our arrival at Komodo Island at about 6.30 am. I then got ready and went up to brekkie in the Lido. It was already a hot day even at that time of the morning. 

Our tour tender left at 9 am and it was not too crowded. What a dry and dusty place Komodo Island. Dianne and I made sure we took plenty of cold water , together with icy cold face washers in our ice bays.

Well seeing the dragons was another tick off on the bucket list. It was well worth the discomfort of the heat. The tours were well conducted by the rangers as they told us the history of the dragons and how they are now being managed. They eat up to 40 KG of meat in one meal (one small deer) and then do not need to eat again for up to a month.

After the tour we were encouraged to visit the souvenir shop. Well that was overwhelming as we were set on by up to five locals at a time, wanting us to purchase their products. The kids were begging for money for ‘the school’. 

We made a fast retreat as it was too hot to be bothered with all this action.

Back on the ship I went for a swim but with all the hot weather the salt water pool was to warm to be comfortable for too long.

After lunch I went down for a shower and a nana nap.

I went to Happy hour but decided to have an early night so I had a room service meal. 

Sunday 3 November 2013

Today we arrived at Lembar, Lombok and as it was another tender port , Wayne, Dianne and I met up at 9.30 to get a tender to the Island. 





We negotiated a car and a driver to show us around for $60. The vehicle was air-conditioned but the drivers command of English was limited to a few grunts so after about 3 hours we asked to be driver to drive us back to the ship.

There were some dock side stalls where we bought a few souvenirs from the very aggressive locals. Because of the heat it was a relief to get back on the tender where we got a most welcome cool breeze  on the way back to the ship.

Just after we sailed the Captain announced that we would not now be going to Exmouth because of the bad weather that has been forecast for when we were to visit.

We had a Mariners cocktail party hosted by the Captain in the Crows Nest before dinner which went over very well. After dinner we had a few night caps in the Piano Bar.

I have had a few emails to ask about Madam 5 Star, well I am pleased to advise she now calls me Papa ko and has accepted the fact that even though I am not a 5 Star yet I seem to be more popular than her with the officers and crew.

Dianne and I did move to our own dining room table after Sydney as we could not stand her stories over and over again.  She didn't like our move as she now only has Madge and another lady at her 8 seat table. 

Madam 5 Star did congratulate me on the Pope fancy dress as she enjoyed it. So all in all she now is friendly towards Dianne and I. Dianne a Canadian was also at Madam 5 Star’s table but when we arrived in Sydney and our good friends Mike and Margaret left the ship we decided it would be a good time to move.

Monday 4 November 2013

After Brekkie I caught up with my computer work. It is the 2^nd of five sea days until we reach Fremantle.

I am enjoying the swims in the Lido aft salt water pool, and a bonus today the water was a lot cooler and more refreshing than it was the previous few days.

I did lunch in my lido office and was presented with a coconut to drink its milk laced with vodka. It was yummy. About 2pm I went down to have my nanna nap and I over slept missing the first 45 minutes of happy hour. Actually the boys from the bar rang me to wake me up. Well let me tell you I got standing ovation as I walked in. I better not be late again.

Dianne and I went to the Pinnacle Grill for dinner, the service was excellent however the lamb chops were a disappointment.

We went down to the Piano Bar for a night cap.

Tuesday 5 November 2013 (Melbourne Cup Day)

After brekkie I found the guy that was running the Cup  sweep, I got a $5, $3 and a $2 sweep entry. My horses were 2, 3 and 4 in the sweeps, thank goodness in the $5 sweep I had No3 and won $30 for the day. It was a funny Melbourne Cup  in so far as no one new the names of the horses or the jockeys as we had been on the ship for so long. I still don’t know the name of No3.

The theatre was overflowing with Aussies and when we stood for the National Anthem which was sung with great gusto you knew the Aussies has taken over.

 When the race started you would have thought you were at Flemington with the roar that went up. What a race it was.

They held a prawn BBQ on the Lido deck after the race and you should have seen the long lines to get the food. I just sat at my Lido office and Wayne got me a feed of prawns.

The Captain made an announcement that we are now going to arrive in Fremantle a day early so we will have 2 nights there. Every one was very happy with this news.

After the nanna nap and happy hour Wayne, Joan , Dianne and I went to the Canaletto for dinner. What a fun time we had as the service and food were excellent.

It was the Aussie sing along night in the Piano Bar so we had a few night caps and belted out a few songs. I made it to bed by 11pm.

Wednesday 6 November 2013

I had a very relaxed day with a late brekkie then caught up on the blog updates before going up to my Lido Office by midday for my Bloody Marys . Wayne was having a hamburger for lunch so I had one for a change.

After the nana nap it was up to the Crows Nest Office for Happy Hour. With the extra day in Fremantle Wayne and I are arranging to get some of the crew off at the same time and take them out to lunch. We would like to take out just about everyone as they all have been so good to us, anyhow Andrew the Asst Bar Manager is arranging his rosters so we will be able to take off about 8 so that is great. They are so excited.

Dianne and I decided we would not go to the Dining room for dinner so we went to the Piano Bar for the sing along. 




Dianne got a snack from the Lido but I called it an early night and adjourned to the cabin about 9.30 and has room service bring me a toasted sandwich. It was great to get in an early night.

There is a feeling of sadness now as we approach Fremantle as so many of my friends are leaving the ship. I will have to break in a new mob of about 400 joining in Fremantle.

Thursday 7 November 2013.

Today is the final sea day before Fremantle and the seas are a little bit more active to what they have been. The temps have cooled down as we head south.

I had a relaxing day and for me it was a bit too cool to go for a swim. You know the drill by now , office at midday , nana nap by 2pm then Happy Hour.

 It was a formal night so into the tie and coat for dinner. I finished up the night with a few night caps at the Piano bar.

Tomorrow we arrive in Fremantle and Big Wayne and I will host lunch for some of our crew friends at a local hotel so looking forward to that.

Fri 8 November 2013

I awoke to see the arrival in Fremantle while having brekkie in the Lido after 5 days at sea the rush to get off the ship was nearly a stampede with the walking sticks and the walkers as the weapons of mass destruction for anyone getting in their way.

Andrew the Asst Bar Manager made up a special invitation for the occasion.

We had arranged to meet the crew outside the terminal after they had completed their boat drill. We finally got away just after 11 am and walked down to the E markets by the harbour where we had a few drinks and lunch. Rhonda and Jerry were outside to meet crew so they also joined our group of 13 so now we had 15.

It was a great time and the crew were able to relax away from the ship. We decided on the Chinese  food outlet in the food hall. We made ourselves at home and moved 4 or 5 tables together for our group. After the meal some had to get back to the ship while others wanted to transfer money home to their families.

Wayne, Joan, Dianne and I walked into the downtown and had a good look around. What a beautiful old city Fremantle is. We had coffee on a trendy sidewalk.

We caught the free shuttle back to the ship and this was a fantastic way of sight seeing as the driver gave a very entertaining commentary
.

Using my phone as a wifi hot spot  I was able to get my banking and other internet work up to date back on the ship.

Happy Hour in the Crows Nest was completely different as the regulars could not sit at the bar because they had just varnished the rails and were still wet so we had to sit in the lounge chairs. It seemed to be very cold up there. It was good to get back to the cabin and warm up under a hot shower.

I had a couple of drinks in the Piano Bar and called it an early night and had a room service snack before going to bed.

Saturday 9 November 2013

I met up with Dianne for the last brekkie before going dawn to the cabin to get my backpack for my overnight in Perth. Di will have left the ship to go to her sons place for a couple of months while she is out here from Canada.

At 8.30 I was picked up by Lorraine and taken to her place where I will stay overnight with her and Warren. Another couple Vera and Peter met us there and then we set out for a day at Mandurah. We went down on the train and I was very impresses with the rail service and the rail infrastructure along the way.

On arrival at Mandurah we connected with a shuttle bus and went to the boardwalk where we caught the boat for the Dolphin and Scenic Canal Cruise. The day was postcard perfect and we had great seats up front on the top deck of the boat. The cruise was a fantastic way to see this beautiful part of the world. We had a bonus as a few dolphins came out to play alongside the boat.

We had a great feed of fish and chips at Cicerello’s overlooking the Broadwater after the cruise. Then it was time to go back to Perth on the train. Back at Warren and Lorraine’s I had a short nanna nap before we had drinks and dinner. As usual Lorraine cooked up a beaut dinner but unfortunately because of the big feed of fish and chips I could not do justice to the meal.

It was about 11pm by the time we called it a night.

Sunday 10 November 2013

What a great night’s sleep I had and it was beaut to be away from the air-conditioning. We had brekkie before going out for a drive along the northern beaches. It was a clear warm day and the beaches were crowded with everyone wanting to enjoy the perfect warm weather.

About noon we arrived back at the ship and I bought Warren and Lorraine on as my guests for lunch then I gave them a tour of the ship.

I didn’t have time to have a nanna nap before Happy hour so I went up to the Crows Nest.  I met a nice young Kiwi couple and they have now taken the seats of big Wayne and Bob. I asked them to join me for dinner as they were reserved in the first seating (5.30pm is for the dead and the near dead.) They will arrange to change to the later seating or open seating.

Then it was down to the Piano Bar for a few night caps.

Monday 11 November 2013

I had a very restful morning as I didn’t get out of bed until 11.45am. After a quick shower I headed up to the Lido office for a Bloody Mary and a hamburger for lunch. There seemed to be new people everywhere.

I had a nanna nap before going up to the Crows Nest for Happy Hour and there was a bonus for me in so far as the ship was restocked with XXXXGold while we were in Fremantle.

After dinner I had a couple of night caps in the Piano Bar before having an early night and was in bed before 10pm.

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Tuesday 12 November 2013

We arrived at Esperance and were docked in the Industrial port which meant shuttle busses to take everyone out of the port limits. We have so many old Aussie first time cruises and the rush for the tickets for the shuttle busses was disgusting and as an Aussie I was not very happy with their behaviour. I waited until just before lunch for when the shuttle tickets were open but I decided to have lunch and a nana nap instead of going into town.

Well the bomb fell, the ship is now in Code Red with GI. It seems to have been picked up in Fremantle by quite a few guests and crew. So it is now very ‘soapy soapy’ with precautions to contain the spread. The affected folk are in quarantine for 48 hours.

Happy hour was one of the biggest in numbers since I have been on the ship, absolutely crowded and because some of the band are in quarantine they sent up a Pommie Didgeridoo player, well I think if he played any longer the crowd would have done things to him with his Didge that would not be nice to record on paper. He was shocking and I’m sure if an Aussie Indigenous didge player heard him they would have been offended and would have been justified in silencing him. 

If he ever plays again on this cruise I hope it is in the engine room.  

I was joined for dinner by Bob and Beth from Boston and we had a great meal with heaps of fun and laughter. After dinner I had a quick nightcap in the Piano bar before going to bed. 

Tonight we had to put our time forward by 90 minutes.

Wednesday 13 November 2013

I went up to brekkie at 8 am and as it was a sea day it was fairly quiet. The Code Red procedures meant that folk could not serve themselves.

After brekkie I went to reconfirm with Frances (Guest Relations Manager) if she was still able to join my table for dinner, and as I thought she couldn’t because of the Code Red. She will join me on the next formal night.

While at the front office I obtained the Guest Nation Breakdown which is:-

Aussie                   674

Yanks                    290

Canada                140

Poms                    83

Kiwi                       65

The remainder come from 13 other nations. The total on the ship is 1314.

You won’t believe this but Bloody Bruce the Goose Cruise Director had the hide to send the Idiot Pom Didge player back to the Crows Nest for the Happy Hour. Bruce you better start listening what your clients are saying and wanting.

I went to dinner and joined a nice lady for the formal meal and we had a beaut time.

I met up with a few friends at the Piano Bar for night Caps.

Thursday 14 November 2013

Today was the second sea day between Esperance and Port Lincoln so I met up with a few folk for drinks and lunch in the Lido late morning. Our peace and quiet was shattered by the Pommie Didge bloke but this time playing his version of indigenous music from his laptop of course it was so loud and the ignorant Idiot had to be told to turn it off when the Captain made his 1pm update over the PA.

The happy hour was again ruined by the idiot Didge player.

For dinner I had arranged a dinner table for 10 for a few of our friends to all sit together. Everyone was impressed as Papako was given the Captains Table and the service was excellent. 

Everyone had a great meal and then we all went down to the show room and had front row seats for the La Forza concert. The group is made up of 3 tenors all from Queensland and they put on a fantastic show to a packed house.

After the show it was a night cap in the Piano bar and then off to bed.

Friday 15 November 2013

I had a sleep in and a late brekkie to let the cabin fever folk rush to get off the ship to visit Port Lincoln.


 I went ashore about 11am and the wind was very chilly as we walked down along the bulk wheat wharf.  I was offered a ride in a car part way along the wharf and the very kind lady drove me and a couple of old yank ladies right into town. The community involvement with the welcome the ship received was a credit to the town and the kindness shown during our visit was appreciated. Townsville could learn a lot on how to welcome cruise ships and tourists from this little town.

What a beaut little town with fantastic views of the sea. We tied a few hotels and the fresh seafood they served. I was even able to get a XXXXGold on tap which was a bonus.

As it was a nice sunny day we walked back to the ship and arrived back just in time to make it to Happy Hour in the Crows Nest for sail away.  After all the complaints that have gone in about this Pommie Didgeridoo player and his loud amplified playing we were shocked and horrified to see him back there. I think Bruce the Goose the Cruise Director has lost the plot. So many folk went down to complain again and the music was turned down for about 5 minutes.

The WA trailer trash couple were louder than usual and had a go at one of the male guests as his after shave was making them sneeze. OMG what Bogans who are an embarrassment and a disgrace to fellow Aussies. In her loud fish monger voice she announced she was a West Australian and not an Australian. 

It’s a pity that there are a few more like them who are loud racially predigest and homophobic that got on in Fremantle to go to Sydney or Melbourne. Maybe on their welfare payments they can afford these short segments.

Tonight The Filipino crew show was on and the kids put on a fantastic show. Because of the Filipino disaster last week the show room was overflowing and they got standing ovations from the crowd.

I had a night cap in the Piano before going to bed about 11.30. Tomorrow we will be in Adelaide.

Saturday 16 November 2013

Boy of boy it was cold and windy when we docked at Outer Harbour Adelaide in the late morning.  I was so rugged up I decided to stay on the ship for the rest of the day. It was great for me to catch with a few friends on the phone and get the news letter updated and my photos downloaded and sorted out.

I had an easy day and a long nana nap after lunch. I had dinner with Bob and Beth and then had a few night caps before going to bed.

Sunday 17 November 2013

I met up with Beth and Bob at 8.45am to leave the ship and catch the train into Adelaide. As we are seniors we got free rail fares for the day.

It was a perfect cloudless sunny day and the temps were in the mid 20s C. We then got on the free city sights bus and had a beaut look around the city. We then had coffee in the Rundle mall and listened to the buskers. It was a very relaxed experience. 

I took a short detour to 12a Grenfell Street to see the old Tatt’s building which housed the Adelaide office of the Queensland Government Tourist Bureau in the 1960s/70s when I worked there as a young bloke. It is now Harry’s Bar.

We then caught the train from the city to Port Adelaide where we met some other folk from the ship and then went to the Newmarket Hotel that was holding a Jazz afternoon. It was a beaut afternoon and we all enjoyed the music and a few drinks away from the ship.

We caught a train just after 4pm back to the ship and made it back to the Crows Nest just for last drinks of Happy Hour.

I decided to have a quiet night so I had a Chicken and avocado toasted sandwich from room service and made it an early night.

Monday 18 November 2013

It was another perfect sunny clear day for our arrival by tender at Kangaroo Island. Bob and Beth came with me on my priority tender boarding so we were on the Island just after 10 am. Well blow me down, I saw folk wearing fly nets like what Bee keepers wear over their heads to protect their faces from the millions of little bush flies that swarmed us on our arrival. I thought what a lot of wimps.

By the time we got up to the store we were worn out from waving our arms to try and keep the flies away. I bought some Aerogard for us to spray on to repel the flies. It worked for the first 5 minutes and then the flies were back. We then went into the servo (gas station) and bought the fly nets which worked very well and at least the little buggers were no trying to get into our eyes, nose and ears etc.

We then went down to a small market where we saw many local animals including Koalas, Wallabies, snakes and eagles. There also was a sheep shearing demonstration for the enjoyment of the tourists.

We had a few beers at the pub before going back to the ship for a late lunch.

We did the Happy hour in the Crows Nest and it was much quitter as many were still on tours and were not back on board. 

The trailer trash couple were there and were as load as usual. Thank God they get off in Melbourne.

I had a few night caps in the Piano Bar before going to my cabin for a room service snack before another early night.

Tuesday 19 November 2013.

It’s a most welcome sea day today as we head to Melbourne.

I had a late brekkie and then had a chat with the Hotel Director. James asked me for some feed back on how I was enjoying the cruise. I told him I always I enjoy myself however I did mention to him I had heard many complaints about the Didge Player. He said his office had been swamped with complaints and unfortunately there was nothing he could do about it as that Pommie Didge Player had been appointed by the head office in Seattle. 

What do bean counters know about entertainment or how they had insulted 700 folk from Downunder by having a Pom playing a sacred Aboriginal instrument used for ceremonies for commercial gain for long periods and how annoying it was to 95% of the folk.  Anyhow the Pom is now off the ship since Adelaide.

After Happy hour I went to dinner with Bob and Beth and then had a night cap at the Piano Bar before going to bed.

Wednesday 20 November 2013

We arrived in Melbourne to be greeted by a cool and overcast morning so I had brekkie in the Lido before getting ready to welcome Frances & Reno and also Wayne on board to visit and have lunch.

I went out to the Port limits to meet Frances and Reno and escort them in. I had to go through the port security before getting back on the ship. Well they were an over zealous mob drunk with the power of there uniform. Of course I set off the alarm with my hip as I went through so I was given a feel down by an idiot with bad breath. The feel down I thought was bordering on inappropriate in the places they touched me. I made my displeasure known to the whole security team.

About half an hour later I had to go out to meet Wayne and bring him on board so I had to go through security again so I even removed my shoes to make it easier. Oh well, I was a marked man, this time I got the full works so when the same sicko fondled my private parts I yelled out, “What the bloody hell do you think you are doing?”

He withdrew very quickly and allowed me to pass through as by this time there were about 30 people watching. 

As it was my hip replacement that set off the alarm and on either occasion did they use the wand I wonder what game these idiots were playing at. The behaviour of the security was so unprofessional. I wish I had a camera with me at the time as I should have  photographed this sicko and shamed him.

Anyway moving on, the visit by the three went very well and we all had a great time and an enjoyable lunch. I then took them on a tour of the ship which they enjoyed. They didn’t want to get off when the time came to leave.

Just as I was about to see my visitors off I got a phone call from my friend Captain Brian a guy thay I worked with many years ago in Cairns. Brian was coming on to pilot the ship out of the Port of Melbourne so he came on early to catch up with me before the ship left.

 It was good to catch up with Brian again and we had coffee and I took him on a tour of the ship. I think Mr Holland America should give me a PR job on the ship.

I was late for Happy Hour in the Crows Nest and it was great that the Trailer Trash had got off the ship.

 I had dinner with Bob and Beth and then went to the Piano Bar for a night cap before going to bed.

Thursday 21 November 2013

What a cold and rainy day Burnie turned on for when we arrived. I tossed up as to even if I would go off the ship. About 11 am the weather lifted a little so I decided to take the shuttle bus into the town. Just as I left the ship it started pouring down again.

Just after I left the Port on the bus I realised I had left my wallet back in the cabin so I decided to stay on the bus and return to the ship and maybe go out again later. I was surprised to see the town was much larger than I thought it would be. I give ten out of ten to the Volunteers who did a splendid job in giving us information on the town.

Back on the ship I went and had a hot shower to warm up before going up for a bloody Mary and lunch. I then had a nanna nap and went up to Happy Hour. I had dinner with Bob and Beth and finished the night with a night cap at the Piano Bar.

There is a sad feeling spreading over the ship as the cruise will be over on Saturday and tomorrow is the last day on board as we make our way up to Sydney.

Friday 22 November 2013

Today is a sea day and the last day before arriving in Sydney tomorrow where the cruise finishes. I went up for brekkie before starting the packing process.  I think I may have mentioned before that I hate packing. That took up most of the morning before going up to the Lido to meet the gang for goodbye drinks and lunch. 

There was a feeling of sadness as tomorrow we would all be going our own ways.

After the nanna nap it was up to the Crows Nest for the last happy hour, the place was crowded, but we managed to get our seats. I hate the goodbye part of any cruise so I decided I wouldn't go to the dining room and just have room service to avoid all the good byes.

I had a few drinks in the Piano Bar to say goodbye to the kids there who had been very kind to me over the past 2 months. I enjoyed my toasted chicken and avocado sandwich room service bought me before going to bed about 11 pm.

Saturday 23 November 2013

Shock and horror, when I woke up to realise I had not put my large bag outside the door before going to bed. I carted it up to the scales as I thought it may have been a bit heavy. Sure enough it was 1 kg too heavy for the airlines. I removed some computer gear so that it was within the weight limit.

Mae the Captains wife came along and I ashed her if I could leave the bag in her office to save me lugging it back to the cabin. She said she would take it to the marshalling area so that it would be taken of the ship with all the others and be waiting for me in the terminal. How kind was that as it meant I didn’t have to now take it off the ship myself.

I ordered room service brekkie so I didn’t have to go up to the Lido. I had arranged to meet up with Dessie and Lizzie at 8.15 as we were sharing a cab to the airport together.

James the Hotel Director kindly offered to store some of my gear to save me taking it home and then having to take it up to Hong Kong when I re-join the ship for the Christmas cruise.

The disembarkation, trip to the airport and check-in went very smoothly and within an hour of leaving the ship we were in a coffee shop relaxing. Dessie and Lizzie’s son surprised them when he arrived with Lizzie’s brother.

 After a beer it was time for them to leave me to go to catch their Brisbane flight. 

A storm closed the airport for about 30 minutes so my Cairns flight was about an hour late in taking off.

My good mate Graham picked me up from the airport and I called in to the supermarket to get some basic supplies on the way home. Just before we made it home the heavens open up with a tropical heavy downpour. (Cairns has really needed the rain so that was good.)

For dinner I had a scotch and dry with a Vegemite sandwich…. Yummy.

It was beaut to sleep in my own bed and I had a great nights sleep.

………

What a great cruise I have been on and my sincere thanks to James the Hotel Director and his officers for the way I was looked after by the officers and the crew.

Special thanks go to Niek and his bar staff, Indira and his dining room/Lido staff and of course my cabin attendants.