Venture with Bill & Mary Ann on the 2013 GW Voyage "Postcards from Paradise" 115 days

[WCB]

Report # 43 Day at Sea February 12, 2013 Tuesday

 

Today happens to be Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, a tradition that came to the US with the French in 1699. Based on the lunar calendar, Mardi Gras falls on a Tuesday, 47 days before Easter. Since Easter Sunday falls on the first Sunday after the full moon of spring, the date can change yearly. Official colors for this holiday are purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power). These are the colors of the hundreds of decorations we found in the dining room this morning. Tradition also says that today is a feasting one, where excesses are allowed. Beginning tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, the season of Lent begins, where fasting is required until Easter Sunday.

 

Sealers and whalers of Australasia was the subject of our new Explorations speaker, Bill Crews. Life in the Universe We are all made of Star Stuff was the subject of lecturer, Victor Gostin.

 

A Mongolian Cookout was held once again in the Lido pool area this afternoon. We came upon it on our way to get a sandwich, and found most of the staff in line with full plates waiting for the chefs to cook it in their woks. Sure is a popular venue, even with the staff.

 

The weather was not the best today as the Amsterdam began the crossing of the Tasman Sea. It could have been much worse than windy and drizzly with rolling seas. During our walk around the promenade deck, we spotted another large pod of either dolphins or porpoises. There has to be some invisible force that attracts these creatures to the ship. Like the sound of the ship's engines. Instead of swimming away from the ship, they are coming directly at us. No fear, more curiosity. We can't see enough of this.

 

At dinner tonight, we all got sparkly Mardi Gras masks, but no colored beads this year. We were told that to get these, we had to go to the Crows Nest to get them. Buy one drink, get one for $1.00 still applies to certain times at some of the bars. We have not gone yet, but there still is a lot of time left on this trip to do so.

 

Tomorrow we have a date with the Australian officials for a face to passport immigration inspection. Everyone on this ship will be required to go, whether or not they plan to go ashore in Australia. All the passengers are given a numbered letter, and will be called to go when that number is called. That can be any time between 8:30am to 12:30pm. And to keep us guessing as to what time we will be summoned, it was written that the numbers may not be called in sequence. We don't sweat it, because if you miss your number, you can go towards the end. You don't want to wait until too late, or you will hear your names announced throughout the ship. It happens every time.

 

We had to turn the clocks back one hour tonight, as we should do for the next two days.

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[DFD1]

Picton sounds like a wonderful day! Thanks for sharing it.

[Traveling Dot]

Thanks for doing this blog. I look forward every morning to reading where you are now and what you are doing. Enjoying reading about the great places you are going to and seeing.:)

[WCB]

Report # 44 Day at Sea February 13, 2013 Wednesday

 

Our biggest job for today was attending the mandatory Australian immigration inspection. It was held in the Kings Room with two officials from Australia. This inspection started early at 8:15am, with the first group called with the letter S. We assumed the letter S meant suite guests, which it might have, but upon asking our friend Barb, she said it was for "special" guests, such as her. Barb recently became a member of the Presidents Club, a small group of folks that have sailed for 1400 days and more. She was allowed to go through the inspection line any time she chose all the way until noon. We like that perk. Our number was 19, so we were able to go to the dining room for breakfast and have a long walk until we were called. It only took 15 minutes out of our day, and the Aussie fellows were really nice.

 

Explorations speakers continued their series of talks, and the shore excursion staff pushed their tours in Australia and the Philippines. The HAL Chorale group met this afternoon, and will hopefully be ready to put on a show by the time we reach the midway point of the cruise.

 

We took advantage of the sun that came out late morning by spending the rest of the day at the back pool. The breeze was cool, but the sun warm enough to sunbath. No sealife sightings, but we did spot a lone albatross skimming over the waves effortlessly. The awesome bird stayed with us all day. Wonder if these seabirds ever sleep during the night?

 

At dinner, we had company.....Bill and Leta, who always dine at a table for two nearby us. This was their second visit, so guess they are not overwhelmed with our huge table size. Tomorrow, half of the entertainment team of Black Tie will join us. They are a very popular group of singers and musicians that join us every year somewhere along the world cruise.

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[WCB]

Report # 45 Day at Sea February 14, 2013 Thursday

 

Everyone we spoke to today agreed that it was the most perfect day for Valentine's Day. The dining room was extremely decorated in red hearts and ribbons, so much so, that walking out of the elevator on deck four was blinding. One Durch lady claimed it was too much for her, all these celebrations. Funny how some people don't appreciate the effort put into making this cruise special. The night crew must have been up until the wee hours of the morning hanging all the moblies and streamers throughout the ship. We like it.

 

For the last two days, there has been a group of workers, not belonging to the crew. We believe they have contracted a job on this ship that cannot be accomplished by the regular crew workers. Anyway, the job has involved installing boxes and cable on the promenade deck. Today we finally asked one of the workers who spoke some English exactly what they were installing. Turns out to be related to the operations of the lifeboats. The boxes will be for future use according to the hotel manager.

 

After our morning stroll, we came back to our room to find two fancy boxes of chocolates, and two Steiff miniature stuffed bears, which are actually key fobs. We also had a very sweet card from our friend Kween Karen, who created Valentine's cards for this occasion. Yes, this was starting to be a fine day.

 

With a slight cool breeze, and the sun out, it was our best choice to spend the day at the back pool, of course. Many ports are coming up in Australia, so we don't expect this nice weather to continue for long. We came out the doors on deck eight and ran right into more good friends Pauline and Mike. She handed us two little bags of the good Valentine hearts one of us loves. Sure reminded us of home and the kids, who usually remembered us with those good little heart candies with the corny messages printed on them. No matter how old we are, there is still a little kid in all of us.

 

Tonight was formal and we had company. Peter, the purser, joined us as did Yuri and Val from the group Black Tie. Since our table is so large, only a few sitting near the entertainers could converse with them. Sometimes that is a good thing, since we failed to attend their shows. We did hear that their second show with the Australian music was really good.

 

A Valentine's Day Ball was held in the Queens Lounge, foregoing the evening shows. They give away prizes, including a grand prize package filled with wonderful gifts. In order to win this prize, you had to visit the Explorers Lounge today and guess how many tiny little red foil hearts were in a champagne glass. You had to be present to win at the Ball. Good way to draw a crowd, however, we wonder where they would put all the people if every guest on this ship attended? Guess we'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out who won the prizes, since we usually do not attend these affairs.

 

Speaking of tomorrow, we will be sailing into the spectacular harbor of Sydney very early in the morning. To help us get some extra sleep, we got another hour back on the clocks tonight. Originally, we thought the time difference between New Zealand and Sydney was three hours. But we were wrong, because we depended on the information we saw on the navigational channel on the ship's TV. They were off by one hour.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[MMDown Under]

Welcome Back to Sydney, Bill and Mary Ann. I hope you have an enjoyable visit.

 

The Sydney Ports Schedule said -

Amsterdam 15-Feb-2013 10:00 (Fri) 16-Feb-2013 23:59 (Sat) Wharf 5 - Barangaroo

 

Radiance of the Seas is at the OPT on 15/2, whilst Seabourn Quest will be at the OPT on 16/2.

 

Are you disappointed that Amsterdam is not berthing at OPT?

 

BTW It is a nice walk along the waterfront from Wharf 5 Barangaroo, under the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the OPT and Circular Quay. If you do the walk, you might like to stop at my favourite tiny Bicycle Coffee Shop, on the waterfront, between two of the historical finger wharves. You could always get a ferry back from Circular Quay to Darling Harbour, then walk from there to Wharf 5.

[cruz chic]

I'm enjoying the latest installments. Thx.

[newfarmers]

I hope our ports are kind to you Mary Ann and Bill

 

We have friends from South Africa - Sandra and Barry -joining the Amsterdam in Sydney. They love their sun so they might see you out by the aft pool.

 

Pete

[WCB]

Report # 46 Sydney, Australia Day One February 15, 2013 Friday

 

Sydney, Australia, has to have one of the most picturesque harbors we have ever had the pleasure of sailing. Very early this rainy morning, we passed the wind-blown cliffs at the entrance, passed sandy bars, numerous suburbs, as well as native bushlands. With the Tauranga Zoo on one side, and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Opera House, on the other side, we sailed under the famous coat hangar Sydney Harbour Bridge where we docked at Darling Harbour, or the more specific "under construction" Barangaroo Wharf.

 

Usually we are docked at the more centrally-located Circular Quay, but for the second year in a row, we have been relocated to this other harbor. For us, it is not a problem. But for those with disabilities, such as having to use large scooters (there are many), it can make a difference in their 2 day stay here. Yes, the port has provided a complimentary shuttle, but it is only useful if you can easily board it.

 

Sydney is huge with a population of over 4.2 million people. It is also the state capital of New South Wales. An interesting fact of this city and the surrounding areas is that it lies on a submerged coastline, where the ocean level has risen to flood deep river valleys carved in the limestone. Port Jackson, as Sydney Harbour was once known, is the largest natural harbor in the world. Aboriginal folks lived here for 30,000 or more years before the Europeans arrived. Although few live here now, what remains of their culture are rock drawings and carvings in the sandstone. And once you wander off to explore Circular Quay, you can still hear the distinctive sound of the digeridoo being played by a few from the local tribesmen.

 

We began our day with the addition at breakfast of "Opera Rolls" served during the scenic sailing into the harbor. We packed the umbrellas because there was a definite chance of continuing rain. On our way out of the make-shift terminal, we ran into our new tablemate, Martha, who was first in line to check in and board the ship. A group hug was in order, and we welcomed her to our little family at table 311. Her husband, Bob, will be joining us in Singapore, and they will both be staying until we reach Cape Town. Should be fun.

 

The plan for today was to stay in the Darling Harbour area, then perhaps take the shuttle to go shopping if we had time later on. As in New Zealand, there are very strict quarantine restrictions in Australia. We had been forwarned not to bring off any fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy products, or any consumable items like seeds or plants. Only sealed bottled water was allowed to be taken off. As well as food items, we were not allowed to bring wooden items, plant material items, shells, coral, animal products?, nuts and seeds. If those conditions were violated, the officials have the right to impose on-the-spot fines. And they really mean it. Sometimes beagles are used to check purses and bags of the cruise passengers, but today we saw none.

 

Clearing the checkpoint, we walked out of the cyclone enclosed area and headed towards Darling Harbour, passing the Sydney Aquarium, the National Maritime Museum, the Powerhouse Museum, the Chinese Garden of Friendship, and the Cockle Bay Wharf. Of course, it did start to rain, but not enough to make a difference. Our destination was the Haymarket and Paddy's Market in Chinatown. You can find just about any souvenier possible here at this huge complex. One of our favorite items to look for here is a singing bird in a cage. This time we found at least four toy stalls that carried them, and we did purchase one to liven up our room. The room stewards really get a kick out of making them sing.

 

While we were strolling through the veggie market section, we heard the sound of drums. Coming down one of the main aisles was a parade of the Chinese New Year dragon and following drummers. It is a tradition for the "dragon" to run through all the buildings for good luck in the new year. This one is the year of the snake we believe. And hopefully it will be lucky. We continued walking up and down the rows of vendors, getting lost, and also running into cruise friends doing the same as us. By the time we left the market, the rain had stopped, the sun had come out, and it was downright hot and steamy.

 

Going back to the harbor, we decided to try lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. We did the same thing last year, and recalling how good the haystack salads were, we also ordered the same salads again. Hard to believe how much more they cost, compared to Hard Rocks elsewhere around the world. We can say that they were almost twice as much, so we enjoyed them the same amount.....twice as much.

 

Crossing over the walking Pyrmont Bridge that spans this harbor, we went back to the ship to unload our purchases. The afternoon was still young, and we figured we could make a shopping run taking the free shuttle to the Marriot Hotel right up the street from Circular Quay. In the dock where we usually are located, was a huge Royal Caribbean ship. We're not sure if a ship this size would fit under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, so perhaps that is why they were there instead of us. Anyway, from the Marriot, we walked right up Pitt Street to go to Coles, a local supermarket. We found all that we needed, then divided it up into four cloth bags, and headed back to the shuttle. It only took us an hour, and we easily made the bus ride well before the 6:30pm cutoff time. The driver warned everyone that if they missed the last shuttle by one minute, they would be walking back. Of course it could be done, but hiking up and down the hilly streets loaded with groceries is exhausting. So we did appreciate the ride.

 

Dinner was fun tonight with the addition of Martha, but Van and Carol were absent because they attended the opera. Tomorrow, we should all be present and accounted for. Looking forward to another day in Sydney.

 

By the way, we begin a new segment from Sydney to Hong Kong. Total distance in nautical miles to get to Sydney from Auckland has been 1878 miles.

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[WCB]

Report # 47 Sydney, Australia Day Two February 16, 2013 Saturday

 

After a good night's sleep, we were ready to tackle another day of walking Sydney. Or at least a small part of it. A good breakfast was first, then we hopped on a waiting shuttle for the 20 minute ride to Pitt Street. We had to really watch the time today, since the ship's all aboard time was 4:15pm, with the last shuttle leaving downtown at 3:30pm. No doubt that bus would be totally full of guests not wanting to waste a single minute here.

 

Good thing we packed the umbrellas, because the second we stepped off of the coach, it started to sprinkle. By the time we walked the block downhill to Circular Quay, the sky opened up and it was coming down hard. Lucky there was no wind, or we would have been drowned. Most of the immediate area of Circular Quay is covered with several ferry terminal buildings located from one end to the other. It is the main hub of Sydney's ferry system. Being that today was Saturday, it seemed like thousands of locals were out and about either on their way here or off to the zoo, beaches, Darling Harbour, or out of the city completely. And to add tto the mix, the Royal Caribbean ship had left, and the Seabourn Quest was in her place. She sure looked stately docked in our usual spot, we have to admit.

 

It would take at least a half hour for the storm to abate, giving us plenty of time to walk under the restaurant overhangs all the way to the Opera House. We ducked into a few souvenier shops on the way to check out the local items for sale. Even a souvenier umbrella was almost $50., and no one we saw was buying one. We walked around the base of the Opera House, a one-of-a-kind global icon, built in 1973. The Opera House hosts over 1600 events each year. Tablemate Van and Carol attended an opera here last night, paying well over $300. each for seats with the HAL group. They reported that it was fabulous.

 

The path around the Opera House connects to the Royal Botanic Gardens, a huge park that was begun in 1816. There are over 3000 species of plants and ferns, as well as massive trees that are centuries old. Birds such as ibis, ducks, ravens, and parrots fly throughout the acreage. But what we missed, were the hundreds of fruit bats that hung from the upper branches of the tall evergreens. When we visited here last year, we strolled by a number of net contraptions under these trees, which now we realize must have been used to trap the bats. They must have created a mess under these trees, so they have been re-located we heard.

 

We spent the better part of the day walking the winding paths pass the Government House, the Palm Grove Centre, garden shop and restaurant, and the pond area near the harbor. Few people were in the park due to the rain. We would find out later where everyone was.

 

Finding our way out of the gardens, we walked across Macquaire Street and finally to Pitt Street. There is a closed off mall at Pitt Street, making it the core of city shopping. Besides hundreds of small shops, the Westfield Sydney is slated as the world's newest shopping icon. Never having gone inside, we ventured into this massive complex, taking the escalators up the six floors to check it out. What we found were every highend boutique you can think of, and millions of people. Guess when it rains here, especially on a weekend, everyone goes to the mall. Easy to get lost here, one building leads to another connected with bridges or subways. Every restaurant and cafe was filled to capacity, reminding us that we had forgotten about lunch. Our intent was to finish up some shopping at Woolworths, then go to the Rocks area and search out a good pizza place we remembered from past visits. The Rocks is Sydney's oldest and picturesque area, once belonging to drunken sailors, pickpockets, and prisoners. Now it is an artsy district full of charming shops and cafes. And on the weekends, there is a craft and veggie market jammed with thousands of tourists and locals. Unfortunately, we would not be among them, because we had run out of time.

 

We headed back to the ship on the 3pm shuttle, getting back in time for a room cheese and cracker snack before going to the sailaway party on the aft deck. We did luck out in one aspect........only the newly embarked guests, about 200 of them, were required to attend the muster drill. For the first time this trip, the new cruisers pulled up chairs and lounges to the back railing to watch the ship pull out of the harbor. Standing our ground at our usual spot, we enjoyed the sail out of the massive harbor, going under the coathangar bridge and past all the famous landmarks. Many sailing vessels followed us out, even crossing the wake of the ship dangerously close. By the time we reached the cliffs, the wind drove most everyone inside. That and the call for early dinner worked too.

 

There have been a few isolated problems with our room. First, it seems that in some ports, such as here, we are unable to turn our computer on in our room. Something with the gangway being close to us must shut us down. That tends to delay our ability to type offline, then email later the next day. Hopefully we won't have that problem in every city, but if the reports don't arrive daily, you will know why.

 

The other strange thing we have had happen is an ongoing problem with the water in the bathroom sink and shower. Upon boarding, we had the usual water pressure and a bit of a flucuation on the hot/cold mix when taking a shower. Gradually, it became a problem when the temperature soared or plummeted during the course of a shower. Then the pressure would drop to a trickle. Our very concerned staff has been trying to remedy this and by yesterday, a brand new faucet assembly was installed. It seems to have helped a lot, and we cross our fingers that it continues.

 

Looking forward to a lazy day at sea tomorrow. We have earned it.

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[erewhon]

Enjoying reading your reports.

Thank you.

[JamesEM]

Thanks for keeping us posted.

[WCB]

Report # 48 Day at Sea February 17, 2013 Sunday

 

Ahh, a day at sea, and what a wonderful one it turned out to be. As the Amsterdam headed due south, the weather actually became nicer than Sydney's. The clouds have almost disappeared and the sun appeared all day. Perfect for reading at the back pool. It was much more populated there today with the addition of several new, but very pale guests. By the time we got there, some of the sunbathers were already turning crimson and it was only noontime. At his afternoon update, Captain Jonathon mentioned that we all need to be cautious of the sun's damaging rays in this part of the world, due to the hole in the ozone layer. Sunscreen is a must.....we use lots of it even though we have a tan.

 

We learned more about the town of Hobart by listening to Barbara's talk. We have been to Tasmania several times, but have always taken tours that took us out of the city. With the ship's city map, we should be able to explore the town on our own. And if we get lucky, maybe we can find that pizza we missed yesterday.

 

Other talks today dealt with the ups and downs of sea levels, and the history of Tasmania after the Europeans arrived to the island. A celebrity guest chef joined us yesterday, Denise Vivaldo, who gave a demo of how to make Spinach Sausage Beggar's Purses. OK, now that is different.

 

A Commonwealth brunch was held in the Lido restaurant featuring culinary specialties from different Commonwealth countries.

 

We had company for dinner this evening. Denise, the guest chef, was invited by Diane and John. That made 11 at the table, which is nice, but very difficult to entertain a guest with all involved in the conversation. We were very pleased to have ordered the veal piccata entree, eating it with delight as the others talked. Surrounded by Martha and Barbie, that's all the company we need.

 

Tomorrow, we will be in Tasmania.

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[WCB]

Report # 49 Hobart, Tasmania, Australia February 18, 2013 Monday

 

Hobart is the capital of Tasmania and the second oldest city after Sydney as well. Situated on the Derwent River at the foot of 4000 foot tall Mount Wellington, Hobart is filled with convict-built 19th century buildings. The downtown streets are full of neat buildings with ornamental facades. Originally this city was a colorful sailor's village with an equally colorful history tied to colonial prisons. As in much of the history of Australia, convicts were shipped here from England, as far away from their civilization as they could be located. Nearby Richmond and Port Arthur are among the most famous prisons in Tasmania.

 

Today, Hobart is a friendly, accessible, people-sized city, far less sophisticated than Sydney, but equally appealing to tourists and locals. The wharfs have the oldest cottages and warehouses actually built by the convicts. Popular Salamanca Place near the pier is home to boutiques, cafes, bars, restaurants, and artist studios and galleries. Two nearby docks house Antarctic supply ships, deepsea trawlers, abalone ships, and fishing vessels of all types. Hobart also offers mountains, forests, beaches, biking, rock climbing, surfing, sailing, canoeing, and kayaking. There is something for everyone.

 

So, we have been to Hobart several times, but have never really seen this lovely city. Nice tours, usually involving wineries or prisons, have taken us out of the city all day. Since access to downtown was so easy, we knew we would delight in spending the day here. What a nice day it turned out to be with temperatures nearing 90 degrees with a gentle warm wind blowing in the morning. We set off on a walk to the visitors center a couple of blocks away from Macquarie Wharf. The center was filled with brochures and maps with kind locals to help us navigate the nearby sites. Our main concern was where do we find the best pizza for lunch? Salamanca Place was recommended, so that would be our final stop.

 

Downtown was filled with beautiful old sandstone colonial buildings and churches. Many if not most of these buildings are shops and stores now. We happened to walk up one of the main streets and ran into a mall with a Target and McDonalds. Dozens of shops lined this mall, but one in particular drew us inside........ the Reject Store. How funny. However, it was not really rejected items but more like a five and dime variety store with lots of bargains. Among other things, we bought three bouquets of silk flowers to brighten up our room. In Sydney, we could have purchased three flowers for $15, instead of three bunches that will last forever or as long as this cruise lasts. We continued on walking through parks, churches, and the one closed off street mall. There we relaxed on one of the many benches while listening to a local three man band playing pub rock and Irish jigs. They sounded every bit as good as the entertainers on the ship.

 

Since the ship was leaving around 4pm, we knew we had to find a cafe for lunch soon. The info guide had recommended a place at Salamanca Place, a 15 minute walk from downtown. We headed that way to check out the menus at each pub and cafe. Most all the places offered 10 different types of fish entrees of course. But one by the name of Cargo had wood-fired pizzas and lots of brands of beer. Yep, that was the place for us, and since it was well after noontime, the place was not overly busy. We ordered two Pale Blonde beers with two margharita pizzas, paid for them at the bar, and got our food delivered to our table in about 15 or 20 minutes. It was delicious, and so was the beer, which always hits the spot on such a warm day.

 

On our way back to the ship, we detoured back up Elizabeth Street to buy two small cups of ice cream. We had run into Barb, Judi, Joan, Fran, and Aussie Pat, who joined the ship in Sydney. They had just finished the 90 minute Hop On Hop Off bus tour in town, and were on their way to find beer or wine, and fish and chips.

 

The sailaway party was at 4pm, and we almost blew off the back of the ship due to very high winds. Captain Jonathon mentioned that once the ship left the river and entered the ocean, it would get really rough and extremely windy. He was so right, because one man lost his shirt overboard in 2 seconds. Ellen tried to save it, and almost fell over the chair that hit her as it went rolling across the deck. Lucky for the man, his shirt actually blew backwards and landed on deck seven or six. That was enough for us too. As we sailed around the bottom of Tasmania, the clouds came back threatening rain. And with this wind, we are sure to have some rocking and rolling tonight.

 

As we have done in a few other places in the world, we had to set our clocks back 1/2 hour this evening. We will surely do this half hour back again soon, but not sure where. Whatever, it's still better than going forward.

 

Also, forgot to mention that last night, we received two Moleskine journals, the ones that were missing in the beginning of the cruise. The most useful part of this logbook are the maps of the world in the back. And if you are fond of stickers, there was a pocketful of them in the back of the book.

 

Think we have one day at sea as we sail towards the next port of Adelaide.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[MMDown Under]

Bill and Mary Ann. I'd like to complement you on managing to write your comments daily, no small feet, especially after a tiring full on day in port.

 

Do you ever feel like not writing one?

 

As we sailed around the bottom of Tasmania, the clouds came back threatening rain. And with this wind, we are sure to have some rocking and rolling tonight.

 

I hadn't heard of a cruise ship sailing around the bottom of Tasmania before. What an adventure you are having.

 

(BTW Queenslanders love Tasmania as it is so different from the tropics.)

[WCB]

Report # 50 Day at Sea February 19, 2013 Tuesday

 

As the Amsterdam headed in a northerly direction around Tasmania, the weather has turned on a dime. It was downright cold this morning with high winds and rolling seas. It was no surprise that there were a total of five people walking on the promenade deck even by 11am. If there had been any rain showers last night, they were all but gone by dawn. Only the clouds were left, the storm probably blown away by the high winds.

 

That gave us plenty of time to send emails about the same time trivia began in the Ocean Bar. This game has become a blood sport. Positioning for the seats in the lounge begins early, like 11am. The overflow ends up outside in the hallway. The chairs we like to use to do emailing on this part of deck five are right outside the ship's liquor shop. The nicest fellow works in there, and we think his name is Christopher. Anyway, he knows us from previous cruises, always coming outside to chat with us. Recently, he has been setting up tables to display the shop items such as area souveniers. Today they were selling mini boomerangs, digeridoos, shotglasses, everything Aussie. When the guests stop to look at the items, we say they are 2 for 1, that is, if we know these people. That sends Christopher out to say oh no, not exactly. He seems to enjoy the joke and it certainly doesn't halt his sales. When the trivia group split up, they cleaned off half of his tables.

 

Our other job for today was filling out the Indonesian arrival and departure cards. Good thing for us, the office people have already printed most of the information on those cards. All we needed to add was our occupation and signature. It is acceptable to mark retired if there is a space for that. Why they need to know is a mystery to us. We can guarantee that we would not seek employment in Indonesia while passing through for a few days. But you never know.

 

There was a second cocktail party for our travel group at either 4:30 or 6:30pm in the Queens Lounge. We gathered at a table with Pauline, Mike, and Karen, and were soon joined with four other CC members we have recently met. It's really nice to get to know each other a little better. The number of guests attending this party is less than a quarter of the group number of 400 plus. Most of the folks eat early, so the first party was crowded according to Tom M. our host. Hey, that's OK, because there were plenty of mixed nuts and canapies for the rest of us.

 

Everyone is looking forward to the port of Adelaide tomorrow, including us. We have a short tour to see some of Australia's neat animals.

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[WCB]

Report # 51 Adelaide, South Australia, Australia February 20, 2013 Wednesday

 

Adelaide can be described as a solid, dignified and civilized city with a manner no other state capital can match. It has a wonderful setting with the city's center surrounded by parks, churches, pubs, and nightclubs. Adelaide has the backdrop of the Mount Lofty Ranges, the beaches of the Gulf of Vincent, and the Port Adelaide River and the River Torrens. Rundle Mall in the center of town has all the stores, shops, and restaurants you can imagine. And once again, stately 19th century buildings fill the city streets.

 

We had the chance to see most all of the city today on our way out to Cleland Wildlife Park. But since our tour did not meet until 12:50pm, we had a bit of time to walk the immediate area where the ship was docked. We began our morning by stopping and chatting with the welcome band that had been entertaining the cruisers as the ship was secured. They were really great musicians and singers. They told us all about living in Adelaide, and the recent drought problems and fires burning up the east coast where we have just been. Actually, once they found out we were from California, they said this whole area could compare to our Bay Area. The climate was similar as well as the terrain. This is wine country, with growing seasons quite the same as ours. They were also proud of the fact that Adelaide has recently built a desalination plant to help ease the effects of the dry spells. Of course, that came with a price....a lifetime of higher taxes. But they felt it was worth it to keep what they have green and clean. This same band will be playing at the deck BBQ at 5:30pm.

 

Anyway, we strolled on a newly paved walkway that brought us to a nice boat harbor with some restaurants. Sure wish we had more time here, because we found a nice seaside restaurant that served pizza.......at least 25 varieties of it. On the way back to the ship, we turned left to find the pathway to the beach we could see from the promenade deck. Again, if we had more time here, we could have spent some time beach-combing. A nice local lady took the time to welcome us and told us more about the area around this pier. People are sure friendly here. And for future reference, a complimentary bus shuttle was available from the pier to downtown Adelaide, a 45 minute ride one way. It ran from 10:30am to 9pm. Perhaps we will take advantage of this if we ever visit here again.

 

The four hour tour we chose had two busloads of folks that wanted to see the Cleland Wildlife Park, about an hour's ride through Adelaide. It was the perfect way to see the city on our way to the hills of the Mount Lofty Ranges. We were given 2 hours to explore the 172 acres that housed the huge collection of Australia's native animals. At the park, we were given a map and set free to roam through enclosures where the kangaroos, emus, wallabies and smaller animals roam free. Most everyone ran to be first for the photo op to hold a koala for a $30. charge. Even though these cute animals look cuddly, they really are wild little creatures that happen to be rather smelly. We have had friends that did the photo thing, only to find out the hard way that holding the furry critters left a large stain on their clothing that they had to smell all the way back to the ship. No, we were perfectly content to take photos of them in their natural setting while holding onto a tree limb.

 

We spent more of our time walking around inside the wetland area that included a large pond with streams and a small lake. We saw many waterfowl that included ducks, geese, swans, pelicans, spoonbills, coots, and plovers. Since it was later in the afternoon, we almost had the whole park to ourselves and our bus mates. Other enclosures had Tasmanian devils, mostly hiding because they are night animals. Smaller marsupials like potoroos, and bettongs resembled large rats. They ran the trails looking for food that you can buy in the visitors center for $3.00 a bag. Not expecting to view the wombats or echidnas, we were happy to see that they were out and about also looking for the pelleted food from visitors.

 

One of the best large enclosures was the dingo display. Two females were roaming among the grasses and trees, appearing to be like domestic dogs. However, a park ranger girl happened by, and told us everything we wanted to know about the wild dogs. Yesterday, the females laid into the male, giving him a large gash that had to be stitched up. Even though these dogs have been hand-raised, they still retain that wild nature that the caretakers have learned to respect. Because these dingoes can easily take down sheep, they have been eliminated from some areas of Australia. She explained that when too many of the dogs were killed, the kangaroo population exploded, a bad thing for the rest of the grazers. So, it's not nice to fool with nature, as the saying goes.

 

We ended up at the goanna display and finally the reptile house near the visitor center. Even the snakes were active in the darken viewing room. Luckily all these reptiles were behind thick glass. The two hours went by in a flash, and we were the last ones to join the bus at exactly 4pm. The traffic on the way back was light because we were going back to town, while the locals were on their way home. From what we saw, the homes in these hills were really nice as were the houses back in town. Our guide said pricing for the homes here was much less than in Sydney, but then the wages were proportionately less too. As in most countries, it is relative more or less. There is no doubt that this part of Australia is a great place to live.

 

Two couples were absent from dinner tonight, because they went to the Aussie deck BBQ. We took photos from deck 9 of the steaks, lamb chops, and chicken being grilled. And of course, there were skewers of shrimp on the barbie as the Aussies say. The trio, The Old Gum Tree-O Bush Band were performing sounds from down under and had the crowd singing and dancing in the aisles. What fun.

 

Every evening after dinner, we walk the promenade deck. Tonight we had a neat sighting of a dolphin swimming right next to the docked ship. Birds were flying in the lit area around the deck and also sitting out in the harbor waters. Strange to see them flying in the dark, but the lights must have been attracting fish for them to eat. Perhaps those fish were also bringing in the dolphins. Pretty cool.

 

Tomorrow will start early for us with a tour that begins at an ungodly 7:20am. Gosh, gotta hit the hay right now! The port of call, Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, is a new one for us and the Amsterdam, we think. It is also a tendering port, so hope that works out OK.

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[JamesEM]

Enjoying your post, have a great day on Kangaroo Island.

[WCB]

Report # 52 Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island, Australia February 21, 2013 Thursday

 

In all of the times we have sailed around Australia, we have never even heard of Kangaroo Island. To our surprise, it is the third largest island belonging to Australia. Located a mere 9 miles from the southern part of Australia, specifically, Cape Jarvis, Kangaroo Island has a population of 4400 people, most of them descended from islander farmers and fishermen. The island is 155 kilometers in length and filled with soaring cliffs, dense forest, sand dunes, wetlands, parks, and miles of white sand beaches.

 

Since this is a new port for us, we booked a tour to see some of the island's sights. Don't know what we were thinking when we pre-booked this at home before the trip, since the start time was 7:20am. We also forgot that this was a tender port, which takes a lot more time. Anyway, we bit the bullet, and joined the small crowd in the Queens Lounge waiting for four different tours. At least this morning they had opened two exits for the boats, and no one would be held up very long to go ashore.

 

We had a full bus, since we understand this expensive tour was sold out. Our nice coach driver was also our guide. As we drove out of tiny Penneshaw, we headed past beaches and rolling hills that reminded us of California. Maybe because it is dry here, like our state is in the heat of the summer. There is always the threat of fire danger here, as in much of Australia. And recently, there was a big one here. In fact, the smell of smoke was in the air, clouding all the island. It was coming in the wind from the mainland.

 

Our first stop was at Clifford's Honey Farm to listen to a talk on the special honey produced by Ligurian bees. We got a demo on how the honey is extracted from the hives with specialized machinery. We browsed through their store of all things honey and waxes and creams, etc. And we bought a small jar of honey after tasting three types.

 

Close to this stop was the eucalyptus distillery, which used to be a major industry on Kangaroo Island back in the 1930's. Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery is the only oil distillery in operation in South Australia now. The owner, Larry Turner, gave us a tour of the outdoor equipment and an explanation of how the process works. It's pretty simple with the leaves being boiled in water, and the steam carried through a system of cooling pipes, where the oil is separated and put into containers. This raw oil is then further refined to produce a clear oil. Of course, there was a large store containing a million products related to this oil. Upon leaving, our guide handed each of us a small jar of this oil. Can you believe it can be used for disinfecting surfaces, a deodorizer, spot remover, washing woolens & clothing. You can also apply it to abrasions, insect bites, add it to bath water, or use it a small amounts for sore throats. Lastly, it can be used to clean paint brushes, your pets, and a penetrating lubricant for rusted parts. Now that's versatile.

 

Next we drove to Island Pure, the first sheep dairy and cheese factory established in South Australia. Unfortunately, we were too late to see the sheep milked, because it had already been done. But they did have a very good video showing the process of where the sheep are led to the milking equipment. While they are busy eating grain in a long trough, the milking cups are hooked to them. It takes only 10 minutes to milk them. This takes place at 6am and 3pm every single day. We tasted the several different cheeses produced from their milk, as well as two flavors of yogurt. The cheese products were also sold here, but we were afraid to take a chance buying them, since there are no preservatives, and the product may not last too long in our refrigerator. Been there, done that with sheep cheese we bought in Spain. It did not keep past two days, and the aroma almost drove us out of our cabin at the time.

 

On our way back to the pier, we drove through fields of low-growing eucalyptus trees and brush, where early in the morning we had seen some kangaroos grazing. As the day warmed up, most all the wild animlas were out of sight. While stopping at Pennington Bay for scenic photos, our guide pointed out a large eagle that was capable of killing and flying off with newborn lambs.

 

Back at Penneshaw by 1pm, we stayed for a short time to walk around town. That's all it took was a few minutes, because town was small. The hilite was strolling through the local market, the IGA, and finding the prices on everything was three times that of our food items at home. Of course, everything has to be shipped here. We did not see a suitable place for lunch, so we went back to the ship and had cheeseburgers at the Grill. After two days of touring, it was nice to relax the rest of the afternoon down-loading photos and emailing.

 

Few folks were at the sailaway party on the aft deck, since the wind was blowing hard, and the first dinner seating had already begun.

 

Three of our tablemates had gone to the Pinnacle Grill for dinner, so there was only six of us. It was nice for a change to have a more laid back quiet dinner, hearing what everyone did during their last two days in Adelaide and Kangaroo Island.

 

Now this was strange. For the first time that we can recall, the clocks had to go back one and a half hours tonight. Not that we're complaining, but we thought we would get the extra half hour back one day at a time. One good thing for the crew, however, was that a party was given for them very late in the Crows Nest we heard. Good way for them to spend the extra time.

 

We all agreed that having two days at sea will be great. Hope the weather stays good................

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[wwb]

We have also done the same tour about 10 years ago, although we did a 3 night stop as part of out Qantas Vacations Trip. We loved Kangaroo Island and the kind people who live here. I am so happy that you not only saw somewhere new, but that you had a nice day.

Keep having a blast and sharing it with us!

Wendy

[WCB]

Report # 53 Day at Sea February 22, 2013 Friday

 

It was sure nice to have that extra hour and a half to sleep last night. This morning many of our buddies were asking why we couldn't have done this in two days, like a half hour last night and one hour this evening. Made sense to us, but we would find out later tonight why we could not have done that.

 

We had been expected foul weather today according to Captain Mercer's talk yesterday at the sailaway. But once we went outside for our walk, we realized that we had not hit the bad weather yet. That's good, because we have been missing our sun time at the aft pool.

 

The regular activities were happening today, as well as two new speakers added for lectures. Bob Tonkinson, an Australian scholar talked about indigenous minorities of Australia,while Bill Crews gave the stories about cattle rustling in the country. And Barbara, our port lecturer, continued her lectures on Freemantle and Perth, our final ports in this wonderful country of Australia. We always make it a point to listen to her talks on TV, even if have been to these same ports before. She has many hints about different things to do and see on our own, which we plan on doing in Albany and Freemantle. Something Barbara stressed in her talk concerned using internet in some of the ports we visit. She gave a word of warning about the safety or not of using free signals with unknown providers. An alarming story she shared with us occurred while on the Asia/Pacific cruise last fall. Despite her repeated warnings about using free internet while in China, some folks found that their computer had been compromised and their entire contents turned to the Chinese language after leaving Shanghai. That's why we never fool around with taking the laptop off the ship. It's not worth it to us, not even where we live at home.

 

We finally had a formal night and a very unusual one at that. It was a medieval theme, where we stepped back into the time of epic battles, jousting tournaments, royal feasts, knights and maidens. We can relive the era of chivalry, rivalry, and revelry. Well at least that is what our daily newsletter stated. The only battle we might have was over the dinner rolls or the veggie plate among the knights and maidens among us. Yes, there was a royal feast which included caviar, pate, escargots, lobster, or steak. We ordered the blackened chicken caesar salads instead. Nice to keep it light as often as we can. The biggest difference with this dinner was the waiters and their assistants, who dressed in some pretty authentic outfits, although we are certain they were very warm and uncomfortable. As for the passengers, the only lady we spotted dressed in keeping with this theme, wore a hot pink cone-shaped hat with streamers of ribbons attached to the tip. No, she did not have a knight in shining armor at her side, but appeared to be a single maiden for the night.

 

Instead of receiving a formal night gift, like we used to get, we had the gift of one more hour back on the clock. That is why we did not split up the extra time we got yesterday. What we find that is strange is the fact that we have not traveled west enough to reconcile the time changes. Oh well, when in Rome, do as the Romans do, right?

 

One more day at sea, and we will be in Albany.

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[WCB]

Report # 54 Day at Sea February 23, 2013 Saturday

 

Well, we never did see the rain that was predicted, but it sure was rough, windy, and cool out today. The waters that we are sailing through, the Great Australian Bight, are known for turbulent seas, so it's no surprise that we are rocking and rolling.

 

There were few folks out at the aft pool, even though the sun was out. The wind was cool, and it brought a continuous spray from the swimming pool with it across the deck. A few brave souls actually swam in that icy water, while the rest of us tried to catch some sun. Cool sun can be deceiving, because one of us got a wee bit too much once again. Nothing that shouldn't disappear by tomorrow. Much more sunscreen will be used from here on out.

 

Most passengers must have gone to the lectures today, because they sure were not walking the promenade deck. One talk was about Australia's earliest visitors, and the second lecture dealt with the invasion of the European settlers on the aboriginal tribes.

 

The HAL Chorale group met for practice as they have been doing since the beginning of the trip. Sometime soon before we reach Hong Kong, they should have a grand performance. Many of our buddies are in the group, so we always look forward to going to the show.

 

Tablemate John had a birthday today, and we celebrated it at dinner tonight. One of our hosts, Tom, also shared our table this evening. The waiters gathered, sang the birthday song, and served up the delicious lemon-filled whipped cream cake. Fun night for all.

 

Tomorrow we will be in Albany, Western Australia. It will be great to be on firm ground after all this rock and rolling.

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[Welari]

Mary Ann and Bill,

Really enjoy your daily postings. Thank you so much for taking the time to write and post your daily activities.:)

[WCB]

Report # 55 Albany, Western Australia February 24, 2013 Sunday

 

Albany, founded in 1827, was a military outpost and the oldest permanent settlement in Western Australia. It was important for being the only deep water port for the Eastern Goldfields and the whaling industry. In fact, much of the tourism revolves around the story of this now long gone way of life for many settlers. Before the 1950's, the Whale Station was one of the major employers for the local population. Today, this station, called Whale World, offers tours of its museum and a real authentic whaling ship, the Cheynes. Other industries include fishing, agriculture, and sand used for cement. And to add to that, Albany and the outlying areas are really scenic and not too crowded with about 22,000 residents.

 

We visited here in 2005, taking the tour to the whaling center. Today we chose to spend our time in town, leaving the ship around 10am. It sure was overcast, although not really cold. The daily newsletter stated the temperature was going to be 66 degrees and partly cloudy. However, Captain Mercer had mentioned rain in the forecast, and we tended to believe him more than what was printed.

 

So we packed the umbrellas and found we needed them as soon as we left the ship. The local port authority had kindly provided free buses for us today. They ran from 8:30am to 4pm, and took passengers up the main drag, York Street, a 10 minute ride. While we waited for the next available shuttle, some friends came by and said to be sure to check out the Sunday craft fair nearby the drop-off point.

 

We did find it easily, because that was where most folks happened to be. A local band was playing Aussie tunes, despite the increasing flow of rain. Vendors were quickly pulling their crafts under cover so the water wouldn't ruin everything. One of the artists had some very interesting jewelry, priced very nicely, that was made from a resin used in space shuttles. A few years ago, we purchased a large butterfly pendant in Freemantle made of this resin. Brilliant colors of blues, greens, and turquoise are polished on the front surface of this unusual substance. Since the rain was getting heavy, and the grass was getting mushy, we decided to come back here after shopping at the local supermarket. The plan did not work, because we found out later that the folks pull up their stands by 1pm on Sunday. When we came back in the afternoon, they were all gone. Oh well, we are certain to find these items in Freemantle.

 

At the top of the hill, we found Coles and Kmart. Several other mall-type stores were in this minimall, but most were closed. Coles provided all the items we were shopping for, especially the soda we prefer, something the ship does not carry. And for a change, it was on sale. Twenty-four cans for $13. That was a good deal for this part of the world, and way better that the ship's prices on the other popular brand. With four bags full of groceries, we hiked down to the waiting shuttle. No sense getting wetter than we had to.

 

Unloading our stuff in our room, we dried off and went right back to the shuttle. We thought we would be able to find a suitable place for lunch, but the biggest places seemed to be McDonalds, KFC, Subway, which really smelled good, and many take-away bakery style eateries. We wandered through Kmart, which had everything you might be looking for and more. We scored with buying more yarn for days at sea projects for one of us, you know, something to keep busy while watching movies for instance.

 

By now, it was after 2pm, and most eateries had closed for the day. A few pubs were open, but all they had to offer were not what we were looking for. Strolling down both sides of the street, we took photos of the old buildings and churches along the way. Before we knew it, we were down to the bottom and across the railroad tracks. All aboard time was 4:30pm, so we had plenty of time walk back to the ship via the harborfront road. A small boat harbor housed some whale watching boats, although this is not the time of year to see them. We were told that when the whales come here to breed, the bay is teeming with them. Must be quite a sight. Anyway, the rain had stopped by now, and the walk did not take as long as we thought. Felt good to be strolling on firm ground after the night of rocking and rolling.

 

Our sandwich maker in the Lido made us excellent ciabatta bread sandwiches with crispy dill pickles and fresh potato chips. They were not exactly the pizza we had hoped to find, but hey, the price was right, and we didn't have to worry about getting back to the ship on time. We chatted with friends Pauline, Mike, and Kween Karen, sharing stories about our visit on Kangaroo Island. They had pre-booked an independant tour there, which took them to every attraction to be seen on the small island. It's obvious that they spend lots of time researching these tours well before the trip, and so far, they have had good luck. Sometimes it pays to be a bit more adventurous.

 

Bill had a 4:30pm appointment to get a haircut at the spa, and really got a nice one. He was back in time to still make it to the sailaway and get some excellent photos, since we did not get up early to watch the sail in. Actually, the sun had come out later in the afternoon, and the blue skies made the photos that much better.

 

During dinner, we all noticed that the seas had become really rough. Captain Mercer had mentioned that until we sailed around the southwest tip of the country and started heading north, we could expect some more rocking and rolling. This is just the way it was while sailing on the Prinsendam back in 2005, the last time we were here. Only it was much worse.

 

At dessert time this evening, The Captain hosted a special table for a passenger lady that turned 99 years old today. Bruce announced her celebration over the loud speaker and had everyone sing her Happy Birthday. After that, a raspberry filled five layer cake was served to everyone in the dining room. That's how big her cake was. We all agreed that it was amazing that she was still cruising at 99. Good for her. Hope we can all be that lucky.

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[WCB]

Report # 56 Fremantle, Western Australia February 25, 2013 Monday

 

The day started out like a regular sea day. But the difference was that we arrived to the port of Fremantle around 3pm. So while we were enjoying the comfortable breezes at the aft pool, we were treated to a commentary by Barbara H. on our scenic entry into the harbor.

 

Fremantle is a remote city and the gateway to the state's capital, Perth, a short drive inland. The city is full of restored historic buildings depicting the history of the past. Thousands of male convicts were sent to Western Australia from 1850 to 1868. They were used to build the Fremantle Prison, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which remained in use until 1991.

 

Whaling was also a huge industry here. Shipwrecks littered this harbor for centuries, and what was found is displayed in the modern Western Australian Maritime Museum. Other attractions to see here are the Botanic Garden, the War Memorial, Fremantle Markets, and Town Hall. Bathers Beach is very close to the dock, and is the place where the whalers used to pull the monsters onto the shore to process them in the old days.

 

Tomorrow, we plan on seeing most of these sites. But this afternoon, we walked to the nearby supermarket to do some shopping. Most of our buddies were doing the same thing, because we all seemed to congregate in the aisleways of Coles. Since Fremantle will be our final stop in Australia, this would be the last chance to find any recognizable products we may need before heading into foreign territories.

 

Our table was full tonight, despite the fact that many guests appeared to have left the ship for dinner. The ship will be here overnight, leaving tomorrow at 4pm. Our waiters were obviously anxious for us to finish our meals, because they had a chance to get out into the city too. That doesn't happen often.

 

There was one show in the Queens Lounge this evening called the Wadumbah Dance Group. This group showcased their aboriginal history through ancient music, dance, and story-telling. We have seen similar performances, and have to admit, they are extremely exotic and mystical, almost eerie to watch. Since there was only one performance, the showlounge was standing room only.

 

Planning on a fun day tomorrow in Fremantle.

 

Bill & Mary Ann