BTimmer's Almost Live Downunder 2022 - (10/2/22 to 12/6/22 on the Westerdam)

[The-Inside-Cabin]

3 hours ago, Btimmer said:

We had a good stop at Port Arthur.  The projected winds did not materialize so tendering was smooth.

 

No new Covid cases today. 10 total in isolation (8 passengers and 2 crew).

 

Enjoy a few pictures.

Our walking track

 

The black ball signifies we are anchored.

 

Tassie meat pie

 

creek bridge

 

Sonething separated us!

 

 

 

 

Were there local taxi's available if you wanted to go elsewhere?

[Btimmer]

17 minutes ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Were there local taxi's available if you wanted to go elsewhere?

No.  It's an isolated location.  But we are now arriving at Hobart a few hours later and there are definitely there.

[Btimmer]

Today, Sunday, 11/27/22, we are about to depart Hobart for Adelaide and the Captain in his departure announcement has projected some strong swells overnight.  
 

There are 4 new Covid cases with 12 passengers and 2 crew in isolation.

 

We spent our time here visiting with very good friends and didn't do any touristy stuff.

Edited November 27, 2022 by Btimmer

[Btimmer]

Here's a picture of the Westerdam passing by Kingston, Tasmania today, Sunday. 11/27/22.  The picture was taken by our friend whom we ate lunch with today.  She was very excited to see the ship depart.

[Btimmer]

Overnight the seas were quite rough and they are continuing this morning as we make our way to Adelaide.  An elderly gentleman took a hard fall near me but appeared to be okay and immediately attended to by HAL staff.

[Btimmer]

As of noon the Covid numbers are up with 20 passengers and 3 crew in isolation.

 

The seas have subsided but there is still a lot of motion to the ocean.  We're clipping along at 19 knots which is 2 knots faster than required to make Adelaide tomorrow around 2pm.

 

[Btimmer]

At the Ask the Captain session we learned why Phillip Island was dropped from the itinerary.  After the port was selected, an investigation team visited the dock and determined it would not work for HAL's tendering operations. It would have required an angled plank from the dock to the tender and strong currents plus a 2 mile tender ride.

 

Once again the Captain spoke for an hour and then entertained more questions for 30-45 minutes down in front of the stage.

 

Then to lighten things up a bit, here are some flowers from an arrangement by the Pinnacle grill.

 

 

[Charlene1985]

I haven’t had the chance to read this entire thread- I keep meaning to. Anyway, now that you are a week from disembarking from such a long journey, do you find yourself anxious to get back home?  No matter how long my trip is or what I’m doing, the last day is always “I just want to go home”.   I was just wondering, on a personal level- nothing to do with what went right or wrong in your cruise, if you feel like you just want it to be over and on your way back home. 
 

I hope you had a wonderful trip. 

[Btimmer]

15 minutes ago, Charlene1985 said:

I haven’t had the chance to read this entire thread- I keep meaning to. Anyway, now that you are a week from disembarking from such a long journey, do you find yourself anxious to get back home?  No matter how long my trip is or what I’m doing, the last day is always “I just want to go home”.   I was just wondering, on a personal level- nothing to do with what went right or wrong in your cruise, if you feel like you just want it to be over and on your way back home. 
 

I hope you had a wonderful trip. 

While we have family and grandkids to come home to, it's not a strong pull just yet.  If it weren't for prescriptions, I could easily go 60 days more.  We like living in under 200 sq. ft.  Some people ask how we are enjoying our cruise vacation.  My response is that this is our life; it's not a vacation. It's pretty normal for us.
 

We'll have 10 days in Australia after the cruise with friends that are as close as family.  

[Lido deck main]

I really like your blogs and writing style, information about the ports, pictures and life on board.  No drama, just comments about what is going on, good and bad.  Thank you, have enjoyed following. 

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

I have very much enjoyed your blog. Thank you for doing it.

[Btimmer]

We're just approaching the dock in Adelaide with our clearance to be about 2 pm.  We'll be here overnight.

 

[Btimmer]

We were greeted by a German band.

[Btimmer]

Today in Adelaide, we took a wonderful excursion with Taste the Barossa.  Our tour was Adelaide highlights with Hahndorf and McLaren Vale wine tastings (2).  We were gone from 9am to 7pm and the tour was organized by Beatrice here on Cruise Critic.  Angela and I highly recommend this tour.  We appreciated the overview of Adelaide after walking a portion of it yesterday; the view from Mt. Lofty was spectacular; the German town of Hahndorf was very nice; and we fell in love with the Australian wines at the tastings at the Shingleback and Chapel Hill wineries. And none of these wines were all that expensive.  Most were under $20AU per 750ml bottle. And much of the production of this region is exported to the USA.

 

Here are a few pictures from today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                         

[oakridger]

I did a wine tour from the Indian Pacific Train in 2019 of that same area near Adelaide.  It was a really great tour, and our two tastings and dinner were just wonderful.  I'll bet the same tour companies cater to both the train and cruise passengers.  

 

~Nancy

[Btimmer]

Some things are worth waiting for.  We waited for 6 years for the opportunity to return to Kangaroo Island after we missed it in 2016 due to weather conditions when we circumnavigated Australia on the Maasdam.  Today we ended up sharing a car with another couple and it was a delightful time and we were able to cover a great deal of ground and see a couple of Australia's unique animals.

 

Our covid count is up by 7 passengers today with 30 passengers and 3 crew members being held in isolation.

 

My daily blog has much more information.  

 

Here are a few pictures from today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Btimmer]

It has been a pretty uneventful sea day until just before dinner when the the Captain announced there was a bearing failure on a component on the #4 engine and that it would be out of service for an indeterminate time.  Therefore our stop in Melbourne will be cut short by an hour, and it will not affect our arrival time there or in Sydney.

 

He reported 6 new Covid cases with a total of 30 passengers in isolation and no crew in isolation.

Earlier today there were reportedly dolphin and whale sightings, but we didn't see any.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

16 minutes ago, Btimmer said:

It has been a pretty uneventful sea day until just before dinner when the the Captain announced there was a bearing failure on a component on the #4 engine and that it would be out of service for an indeterminate time.  Therefore our stop in Melbourne will be cut short by an hour, and it will not affect our arrival time there or in Sydney.

 

He reported 6 new Covid cases with a total of 30 passengers in isolation and no crew in isolation.

Earlier today there were reportedly dolphin and whale sightings, but we didn't see any.

Whales always seem to know where you are - and appear on the other side of the ship.

[Fred321]

Thanks for your picture of the Adelaide cruise terminal. Good to see that the golf course across the street is still there. Looking forward to playing it when and if we get there on the world cruise.

[Btimmer]

We spent Saturday and Sunday with very close friends in Melbourne.  Back on the ship, tonight was the Orange Party and my Royal Dutch Soccer Club shirt was a hit given that Netherlands beat USA to advance to the next round facing Argentina. Tomorrow is our final day at sea on our way to Sydney and the end of our cruise.   

 

I was speaking with the Captain at the Orange. Party tonight and thanked him for a wonderful cruise.  He's looking forward to being home in Holland watching Netherlands play Argentina.  He said that the total Covid cases are 49 passengers and 2 crew.   

 

Here are some pictures from the Orange Party.  It was a pretty nice party in the BBKing lounge.

 

 

Chris, our cruise & travel director serving Dutch snacks.

 

Some of the crew:  Charlie, entertainment director; Albert, executive housekeeper; unknown, and Jessica Schumann, hotel general manager.  There were more earlier, but I forgot to take a picture.

 

Bartenders

[Snorkel kid]

Hi Tim and Angela

In case we don't see you today, thanks for organizing the meet and greets and all the great information you have passed on to us all.  It was a great adventure.  Hope to see you on another cruise!

Pat and Cathy

[Btimmer]

1 hour ago, Snorkel kid said:

Hi Tim and Angela

In case we don't see you today, thanks for organizing the meet and greets and all the great information you have passed on to us all.  It was a great adventure.  Hope to see you on another cruise!

Pat and Cathy

You're welcome.  We're blessed to have met and travelled and done shore excursions with you. We'll look forward to doing it again!  
 

I'm wearing the same bright orange shirt today.  We're having a LIDO lunch with another couple and a final Pinnacle Grill dinner.

[Btimmer]

Christmas decorations onboard are starting to happen.

[Btimmer]

We enjoyed a nice last dinner for this voyage in the Pinnacle Grill.   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[oakridger]

It's been a great trip enjoyed here on my computer thanks to your wonderful posts and blog!  Have good travels back home.

 

~Nancy