Come sail with me on a virtual cruise on Majestic Princess to Fiji!

[ellie1145]

10 hours ago, cnd crsr said:

Hi Ellie,

Congratulations on winning second place in the Progressive Trivia! I think all of us (The Cruising Adventurers) should  raise a glass of the  better champagne to you and your team mates for a job well done! CHEERS!!!!!!🥂

 

You and azbirdmom have great Hallowe'en pictures. I think the crew like having this opportunity to entertain the guests.

 

Gail

 

 

Thank you, Gail, for that. We were pleased. It is always nice to win, but we get so much out of meeting up with people that winning is only secondary. Coming second was great, and you learn so much. Sadly we also seem to forget more than we learn! 

 

 

[ellie1145]

6 hours ago, RLK33853 said:

As many have commented, Halloween cruises are unbelievable.  Especially if you take part and dress up. 

 

Any of the theme type cruises are some of our favorite times on a ship.  If you haven't tried one, you definitely should consider doing so.

 

The mystery is how do they transform an entire ship over night?  And the amount of space to store the various theme decorations (Christmas, Valentine's Day, St Patrick's Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc) must be massive.

 

On our first cruise In Enchantment of the Seas inaugural season we were lucky enough to spend Christmas onboard. The ship was beautifully decorated with dozens of trees, all with a different theme. Before we left we saw the company that decorates them come onboard and literally throw all the decorations into boxes. We were so shocked! 

[ellie1145]

4 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Most of it isn't stored on the ship.

We've seen the Christmas decorations going up and down. They're brought on the ship (and removed) by an outside company that does the decorating during the cruise before the holiday starts.

 

Yes, we have seen that happen, too. It’s amazing to watch them packing everything away.

 

The wonderful carvings and gateaux must have been done onboard and were fantastic, especially as they are always so busy when a cruise is ending. 

 

One of the joys of cruising, I think. 

[azbirdmom]

4 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Most of it isn't stored on the ship.

We've seen the Christmas decorations going up and down. They're brought on the ship (and removed) by an outside company that does the decorating during the cruise before the holiday starts.

 

We've seen this happen too.  I've attached a couple of pictures from our early December 2018 cruise on the Royal Princess.  We were surprised to see shrink wrapped decorated trees on the dock awaiting loading as we were embarking.  And by the next day we saw the trees in place, unwrapped.  I think elves did it overnight as we saw no evidence of anyone decorating.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ellie1145]

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodnight....
 

We make our way up to the buffet for a quick meal and enjoy seeing all the staff dressed up in their Halloween costumes. We finish in time to join our second trivia team for ‘Where in the World Am I?’ which is one of our favourite quizzes.

 

The Halloween Disco Party is in full swing in the Piazza and we stand and watch for a while as it’s very amusing. We are amazed at the costumes people carry onboard.

 

This dinosaur was having fun!

 

 

Then it’s back to the cabin for some last minute packing. Thankfully, we are going back to our hotel in Sydney for one night before we fly home.

 

We decide to go down to the International Cafe for a quick cup of tea, and a last coffee on DH’s coffee card, and to our great pleasure we see two of our second trivia team there. We join them and spend a couple of hours chatting there. They are a wonderful couple and we have so enjoyed their company over the last two weeks. We hope to keep in touch.

 

The ship gradually empties as people make their way to bed, so by the time we are ready to say goodbye to them it’s past one o’clock, and it’s like a ghost ship. How lovely it is to walk round a ship full of thousands of people and to have it all to ourselves!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back in the cabin we check everything is ready for the morning, before going out on our balcony to take a last look at the ocean. Majestic Princess is speeding along, the sea is calm, and the night dark. What a magical and unique experience it is to be on a cruise. After over 60 cruises I still feel just excited to be on a ship. I wonder if that overwhelming feeling will ever disappear? I don’t think so.

 

We have an early start tomorrow as we want to have our last breakfast in the buffet before we disembark. So we set our alarms and fall exhaustedly into bed.

 

Edited September 6, 2020 by ellie1145

[ellie1145]

1 hour ago, azbirdmom said:

We've seen this happen too.  I've attached a couple of pictures from our early December 2018 cruise on the Royal Princess.  We were surprised to see shrink wrapped decorated trees on the dock awaiting loading as we were embarking.  And by the next day we saw the trees in place, unwrapped.  I think elves did it overnight as we saw no evidence of anyone decorating.

 

Fantastic photos as usual, azbirdmom. What an amazing sight. Another part of the magic of cruising! 

[azbirdmom]

You were up late!  I'm guessing we had been asleep a couple of hours when you were wandering around the empty ship.  Unlike you we are headed for the airport and home in the morning.  I don't want this cruise to end!  😭

[ellie1145]

21 hours ago, azbirdmom said:

You were up late!  I'm guessing we had been asleep a couple of hours when you were wandering around the empty ship.  Unlike you we are headed for the airport and home in the morning.  I don't want this cruise to end!  😭

 

We certainly were, azbirdmom! But we were enjoying ourselves so much that we thought we’d make the most of the last few hours. 

 

Now as this is a virtual cruise you don’t have to rush to the airport!

 

No, we will be spending the day and night in Sydney and then flying to Singapore where we will have an overnight stay.

 

Don’t worry, your flight will still be waiting for you when you are ready to finally leave, as I will pop you in my Tardis and get you to the airport in good time. 😉

[ellie1145]

A few more photos before we leave the ship...

 

First, a few more photos of our final sunset, taken on my Sony camera. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

La Mer French Bistro

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Shops

 

Edited September 7, 2020 by ellie1145

[ellie1145]

Morning has broken....

 

 

 

The alarms go and we drag ourselves from sleep. This bed is really comfortable and the last thing we want to do is get up and leave this lovely ship.

 

But needs must, so we shower and get ready to go up to the buffet for breakfast.

 

But first, we take a final look at Sydney from our balcony. It’s a beautiful morning, and we can see the Rocks and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and they look amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the dockside the ship is getting ready for the next group of passengers and all the stores are being loaded. 

 

 

We leave our luggage in the cabin and pass our steward on the way, who tells us it’s fine to leave our things there until we’ve eaten.

 

The buffet is busy, but we find a table and choose our breakfast. We can see Sydney out of the window and the reality hits home. In a few hours someone else will be sitting at this table, hopefully with the same sense of excitement and expectation that we felt a short 14 days ago. But I feel slightly aggrieved that anyone else should take our place. How dare they sit at ‘our’ table, or sleep in ‘our cabin? 😉

 

I think that is one of the strange things about cruising. For me, I feel a bond with the ship, something that just doesn’t happen with a hotel. Whilst I am onboard she is ‘mine.’ When I have to leave it’s a real wrench, as the ship has become so much a part of me. In the same way, when I board a ship, and especially a Princess ship, it’s as if it wraps me in comfort and security, it’s like coming home.

 

 

Edited September 7, 2020 by ellie1145

[ellie1145]

 

Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House in the early morning sunshine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 7, 2020 by ellie1145

[ellie1145]

A final walk round the pool deck

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ice Cream Parlour - Swirls, now shut. 

 

People wait in Princess Live to disembark 

 

Edited September 7, 2020 by ellie1145

[ellie1145]

I hate to go and leave this pretty sight....🎶

 

 

So it is nearly time to bid farewell to the beautiful Majestic Princess. She has brought us safely back to port, and we leave with a host of wonderful memories, friendships made and experiences shared.

 

But it’s not over yet! 

 

We have a few more days before we are home, so I hope you will stay with me for the finale.

 

And don’t worry, my Tardis will get you safely back in time to catch your flights.

 

So I hope to see you all very soon with the next chapter of our adventure! 

 

Night night, sleep tight.

 

 

[azbirdmom]

1 hour ago, ellie1145 said:

Now as this is a virtual cruise you don’t have to rush to the airport!

 

No, we will be spending the day and night in Sydney and then flying to Singapore where we will have an overnight stay.

 

Don’t worry, your flight will still be waiting for you when you are ready to finally leave, as I will pop you in my Tardis and get you to the airport in good time. 😉

 

Since you've promised to let us use your Tardis so we can delay our flight, we've chosen to stay a bit longer.  We were up quite early and were very glad that we managed to see the amazing sunrise over the iconic Sydney Opera House.  Enjoy our very early morning views!

 

Still in my jammies I opened the back curtain and saw the tug.

 

I popped outside and could smell smoke.  Little did I know that this was the start of the most horrific series of fires that Australia has faced in a long while.

 

From our side balcony I started to see the Opera House and the bridge.

 

 

Just starting to dock.

 

 

Circular Quay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still a bit dark but this is always an awesome sight.

 

I think this is my favorite of all of the shots I took of the Opera House.

 

Morning has broken!

 

And this was the enormous balcony on Dolphin deck below us.  Huge balls of soot are visible and this was the worst we had seen the entire trip.

 

 

[cnd crsr]

I absolutely love the sail in to Sydney harbour!  The Opera House and Sydney bridge are iconic. Another day in Sydney sounds wonderful. I can hardly wait until we head out on another adventure here... Where will we go, what will we see?

 

Gail

[AF-1]

The above pics taken by Ellie and azbirdmom are stunning.  The harbor in the morning with lights on and then with the sun up are beautiful.  Thanks for posting these pics.  

[TRUEBLUE66]

Love all the photos! Just loved the sail in/out of Sydney. Did the Harbour Bridge climb when Celebrity Solstice was in port.

Ellie, quick question,  (which I may have missed!) but did you take malaria tablets for the Pacific Islands?

They seem to be recommended on some of the sites I've been exploring.

We chanced it last year in South Africa but took them for Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Thanks.

[ellie1145]

21 hours ago, azbirdmom said:

Since you've promised to let us use your Tardis so we can delay our flight, we've chosen to stay a bit longer.  We were up quite early and were very glad that we managed to see the amazing sunrise over the iconic Sydney Opera House.  Enjoy our very early morning views!

 

 

Wow, azbirdmom, what a wonderful sunrise over Sydney Opera House. Fantastic photos, thank you.

 

I’m afraid we were too late to bed to catch the dawn but what a fabulous sight it was. We were also on the other side of the ship so would only have seen the bridge.

 

Fantastic way to end the cruise. 👍

[ellie1145]

20 hours ago, cnd crsr said:

I absolutely love the sail in to Sydney harbour!  The Opera House and Sydney bridge are iconic. Another day in Sydney sounds wonderful. I can hardly wait until we head out on another adventure here... Where will we go, what will we see?

 

Gail

 

Wasn’t  that a wonderful suprise, to see dawn over the Opera House?

 

Glad you are staying around. It’s time to disembark, ready for our next adventure.

[ellie1145]

7 hours ago, AF-1 said:

The above pics taken by Ellie and azbirdmom are stunning.  The harbor in the morning with lights on and then with the sun up are beautiful.  Thanks for posting these pics.  

 

Thank you AF-1. I absolutely love Azbirdmom’s dawn photos. They are wonderful.

 

We may be able to find you a McDonald’s today, AF-1! 😉. After all that delicious food on board ship a Big Mac may be just the ticket.

 

[ellie1145]

3 hours ago, TRUEBLUE66 said:

Love all the photos! Just loved the sail in/out of Sydney. Did the Harbour Bridge climb when Celebrity Solstice was in port.

Ellie, quick question,  (which I may have missed!) but did you take malaria tablets for the Pacific Islands?

They seem to be recommended on some of the sites I've been exploring.

We chanced it last year in South Africa but took them for Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Thanks.

 

Hi, TrueBlue66. Nice to have you along.

 

Wow! I am very impressed with your Harbour Bridge Climb. Was it scary? The views must be incredible. Do you have any photos you could share?

 

In answer to your question, we have visited the islands twice now and we have not had to take malaria tablets. We understand that malaria is not a risk in Fiji, but of course, it is always advisable to take advice from your medical professionals or a government website. We certainly have not had a problem, although there were plenty of mosquitos when we visited the village in Vanuatu. But It is our understanding that they don’t have malaria in Fiji. Hope that helps.

 

 

[ellie1145]

Regretfully they tell us, 
But firmly they compel us,

To say goodbye to you! 🎶

 

Our walk over, we return to our cabin for the last time, to pick up our luggage and say goodbye, and thanks, to our cabin steward.

 

I hate leaving this lovely cabin, but our car will be waiting soon so we must leave.

 

Outside the terminal we see our driver waiting, and recognise him as the same gentleman who brought us to the ship just two weeks ago.

 

 

With a final look at our lovely ship we are on our way. All around us are excited passengers getting ready to board. We hope they enjoy Majestic Princess as much as we have. 

 

 

The hotel is not far away and we are swiftly transported to the door.

 

 

 

Our room is ready and waiting for us so we go straight up. Looking out of our balcony we can just see the bow of Majestic Princess in the distance. 

 

 

 

We are feeling a little tired as it was a very short night, so we make a cup of tea and rest for a while, but we have plans for the rest of the day as we are going to explore The Rocks, and visit a museum, after which we will walk from one end of Sydney to the other. 

 

So get your walking shoes on! 

 

Edited September 8, 2020 by ellie1145

[cnd crsr]

Hi Ellie,

So glad we are exploring The Rocks, we absolutely loved that area and found a couple of wonderful restaurant patios last time we were there. My walking shoes are on and I am ready to walk Sydney from one end to another... let's go!

Gail

 

[TRUEBLUE66]

13 hours ago, ellie1145 said:

 

Hi, TrueBlue66. Nice to have you along.

 

Wow! I am very impressed with your Harbour Bridge Climb. Was it scary? The views must be incredible. Do you have any photos you could share?

 

In answer to your question, we have visited the islands twice now and we have not had to take malaria tablets. We understand that malaria is not a risk in Fiji, but of course, it is always advisable to take advice from your medical professionals or a government website. We certainly have not had a problem, although there were plenty of mosquitos when we visited the village in Vanuatu. But It is our understanding that they don’t have malaria in Fiji. Hope that helps.

 

 

Thanks Ellie,

                        Good to know from someone who has travelled there. 

Unfortunately you cannot take your own camera on the bridge climb. Guess they don't want accidents on the road or water below incase they fall! They take a group photo and you can purchase a package of others. You are in overalls and hooked to a line. I never told Kaye that we were doing it until we got there (panic)  but she loved it and wants to go again! Taken at a slow pace with commentary via headphones throughout. 

Would highly recommend to anyone without mobility issues as completely safe and the view from the top is Wow!

Cheers 

David 

Edited September 9, 2020 by TRUEBLUE66

[ellie1145]

12 hours ago, cnd crsr said:

Hi Ellie,

So glad we are exploring The Rocks, we absolutely loved that area and found a couple of wonderful restaurant patios last time we were there. My walking shoes are on and I am ready to walk Sydney from one end to another... let's go!

Gail

 

 

Glad you are ready and waiting, Gail. It’s a fascinating area so off we go!