Navigate the World with Bill & Mary Ann on the Zuiderdam's 128 Day 2023 Grand World Voyage

[StLouisCruisers]

41 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

They are on their blog not Facebook.  I used to get emails from their blog but I don’t anymore.  Hopefully someone will share the link to the blog.

 

Here's the blog address, @Oceansaway17

 

https://cruisingwithbillandmaryann.blogspot.com/

[SusieKIslandGirl]

cruisingwithbillandmaryann.blogspot.com   is what I have on my favorites list. I hope this works.

[Florida_gal_50]

14 minutes ago, SusieKIslandGirl said:

cruisingwithbillandmaryann.blogspot.com   is what I have on my favorites list. I hope this works.

Yes, that works.  Thank you.

[WCB]

Report #37  Sunday  February 5, 2023   Wellington, New Zealand  8am-6:30pm    Overcast And Cloudy With Rain Showers 72 Degrees   Port Side To Dock   Part #1 Of 6...........69 Pictures

 

Our last port in New Zealand was a big one….Wellington, the capital of the country, and a cool one at that.  This city is commonly known as the windiest city in the world, and it is said that the erratic weather adds zest.  That would definitely apply today, as we entered the Wellington Harbour under very overcast and cloudy skies and then docked close to 7am.  This happens to be a working port with no cruise terminal building, so it was mandatory to take a shuttle bus to town.  There would be no walking off of the ship in the dock area. 

 

We watched the guests going off on tours, and realized there were three shuttle buses as well.  We stayed onboard until 10:30am, working on yesterday’s reports and pics.  We are determined not to let the day go by without completing what we did and saw.  When we went down the rather steep gangway, local info people were there handing out city maps.   This is such a big help for those of us on walking treks.  The two bus stops were well-marked, and we did sort of recall where they dropped us off at Lambton Quay and Brandon Street.

 

Our plan began with finding the Cable Car Lane where the famous cars went up the mountain.  There was a short line to purchase the tickets, which were $6 NZ each.  The ride was quick, even with four stops along the way.  The first was Clifton Terrace, then Talavera, and Salamanca University, and Kelburn at the top, which was the end of the ride.  There is restaurant there, restrooms, and a Cable Car Museum.   By accident, one of us picked up some Cable Car brochures, but soon discovered they were in Spanish and German. Duh….  From what we could figure, the funicular was inaugurated in 1902 and carried over 4,000 people at one point.  

 

One of the main reasons for the ride up here was to stroll through Wellington Botanic Garden, a protected forest with a deliberately-planted garden to test what would do well in this part of the world.  Many of the various species of trees and plants were imported from Europe and even from California.  One of the successful trees to grow happened to be the Monterey pine from California.   Some of these trees are towering and quite old.  Due to drought and the pine borer, many of the California trees are dying.  We know first hand since many of our 40 year old trees have died or fallen with the excess rain recently.  Nowadays, the pines are grown for their lumber and have become a major industry.

 

Anyway, this park is tiered off of the hillsides with steep trails lined with many trees, shrubs, and ground cover plants.  It is built on 25 hectares and has many of the same flora that we have back home.  The largest and oldest has to be the kauri, eucalyptus, and pines.  We even saw one bunya-bunya tree that was smaller than the one we have planted in our garden. Last summer, that tree produced 135 cones weighing over 5 pounds each.  We made it a point not to sit under that tree.  Other plantings were used for construction, food, fiber, and medicine by the local Maori  people.   We covered every trail taking photos along the way.  We have to admit the steepness of the walkways messed with our knees.  We sure don’t remember those trails being so steep in parts. 

 

We located the Treehouse Visitor Center along with the botanic garden shop.  We did not have the time to go inside, but did walk around the surrounding veranda.  The Discovery House is close to the treehouse.  It is designed to teach the younger crowd the importance of plants and how to take care of them.  Continuing downhill, we came upon a display garden with bedding plants.  Surrounding these plants were clumps of curley parsley, which looked good enough to eat.  As a matter of fact, there was a man there picking some of the stems and stashing them in his bag.  We assume he was a local who was collecting fresh herbs.  We know from experience that the more you pick parsley, the better it grows. 

 

From here we had to go back up the trail to reach the rose and herb garden.  Up and over the hill, we made our way down the zigzag trail to Lady Norwood Rose Garden.  This garden opened in 1953 and designed in a British way with formal rose beds and 300 varieties of roses.  We don’t think they were in the peak of their bloom period, but they were still pretty. 

 

The Begonia House is located in the rose garden area.  Two buildings contain tropical and temperate displays with numerous begonias, anthuriums, palms, bananas, and every tropical blooming plant we know.   There are two ponds with water lilies as well.  They add to the humidity in these hothouses.  Between the rose garden and the begonia house, we must have captured hundreds of pictures.  Even on such a dreary day, close-up shots of the flowers should come out just fine.  Attached to one side of the Begonia House is a Picnic Café, offering excellent food and coffee.  Greg and Heo had also come to this garden and had lunch there today.  Lamb pies are what they ordered and said they were as good as they can get at home in Sydney.

 

The Bolton Street Cemetery was the next stop on our way downhill.  This cemetery served the Church of England and the Jewish community.  All others were buried in the public cemetery.  A new urban motorway had to be built through the middle of this old cemetery, so in 1968,  3700 coffins were exhumed and moved to a large vault beneath the Early Settlers Memorial Lawn.  It took worker three years to complete the move.

 

At the bottom of the hill, we crossed over a bridge that connected the cemetery to the town streets.  Crossing a few streets, we found ourselves at the famous Beehive and Parliament Buildings – all government owned.  One off us relaxed on the benches of the Beehive, while the other went up to photograph the Sacred Heart Cathedral.  Directly across the street from here was the Victoria University of Wellington, a stately old colonial building.  Following Lambton Quay, we passed by The Supreme Court  and many other downtown businesses.  Within a few minutes, we found the entrance to the Cable Car and figured we had gone full circle.  Using our map, we found the street that led us past the Intercontinental Hotel and the shoreline at Waterloo Quay.  We knew we were close to the restaurants along this harbor, and found Portofino, where we have eaten lunch on past trips.  They were still serving lunch at 2pm.  And it was good timing because it had begun to sprinkle and we did not have umbrellas with us.  Lucky for us, it stopped.

 

We found a table for two at a window, and ordered two Stella draft beers.  Then we shared a Hawaiian pizza with ham and “rocket” – salad greens on the top.  All was delicious although a bit pricey.  But it was like eating at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco where the food is higher than everywhere else.  Just part of the territory. 

 

The walk to the bus stop was short, but we still had some New Zealand money to spend.  A Countdown market was right next to the Cable Car Lane, so we went inside and bought some room snacks.  Part of our purchases included some packages of Tim Tams, which we love.  The bus was waiting on the corner, and we were off for the ride back to the ship.  It was around 3:30pm by now, and most of the riders were crew members who had gotten some time off.  They love to go shopping for clothes and snacks.  This downtown area had all of the popular stores for clothes and shoes.  At stop # 2, the driver picked up more crew members and filled the bus. 

 

All aboard was 6:30pm,  so we had time to spare.  We knew the rain was coming again, and did not want to get drowned.  The winds had picked up significantly by now and it was getting chilly.  Glad to be back on the ship, we hung out working on the computer and taking notes on where we went and what we saw.  It was another marathon day.

 

We watched from our veranda as the gangways were removed.  That’s when the drizzle began, which eventually turned into driving rain.  The Zuiderdam left the pier by 7pm and headed out into the Cook Straits.  Captain Friso warned that the sailing would get rough with some deep swells and very high winds.  He was so right.  By dinnertime, we looked out the windows of the dining room to see whitecaps and driving rain.  At one point the ship began to list and was not correcting.  That’s when Captain Friso came on the speakers and warned us about what was happening advising us to be careful when walking.  He even had to slow down to wait out the winds in hopes our sailing would improve.   These are dangerous waters in between the North and South Islands and it takes skill to get us through it safely.  We may have a rocky ride this evening and into tomorrow as well.

 

It was Barb’s birthday today, so we toasted her to another year and wished her many more.  After dinner, the waiters came to sing the birthday song, and present her with the cute little cake everyone gets.  Since we had already eaten our desserts, she donated the cake back to our waiters Nik and Gofar.   That made them quite happy.

 

We now have three sea days to rest up for another fabulous city…..Sydney, Australia.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

[LouChamp]

Aloha. Please wish Barb blessings for a happy birthday!

[WCB]

Report #38    Monday  February 6, 2023  Sea Day Enroute To Sydney, Australia    Cool And Windy With Rain Showers  66 Degrees  12' Seas And Rough  Part #1 Of 1.........28 Pictures

 

The clocks went back one hour last night, but despite the fact we get an extra hour of sleeping, one of us wakes up at 5am no  matter what.   Actually that turns out to be a good thing since the internet works great that early.

 

The rocking and rolling kept up through the evening, letting us know that we are crossing the Tasman Sea.  We will have three days to make the trip to Sydney.  During breakfast, we were watching the white caps in the distance when one of our buddies noticed something different about the waves.  Guess what we all saw?  Whales spouting…at least three of them.  The ship was going rather fast, so by the time they were pointed out, we were well past them.   Of course, we looked for more sightings for the rest of the day, but never saw any more.   Now we wonder if these whales are humpbacks or southern right whales? 

 

Most of our day was spent working on yesterday’s photos.  We did take a couple of breaks to take a walk outside, but the temperatures have dropped, and the wind just about cut through the warmest jacket or sweatshirt we have.  The Tasman Sea is notorious for being treacherous, rough, and extremely windy.  On the other hand, we have done this crossing many times when the weather was perfect.  Captain Friso came on the speakers and announced for everyone to be careful walking inside and outside the ship. 

 

To keep the guests busy, there was a lecture on shore excursions for the upcoming Australian ports.  A much more fun activity was “Let Them Eat Cake”, which was a dessert extravaganza held in the Lido at 3pm.  Sounded as if they did this and replaced the usual everyday dining room tea time.  The ship’s Classic Duo performed live for the dessert hour.  We had forgotten to go, but we did see photos from Greg and Heo at dinner tonight.  One thing that was missing this evening was a show in the Mainstage.  It was dark tonight, as it is twice a week now. 

 

Another rare sighting for us was seeing an albatross flying at a distance alongside the ship.  These birds are commonly seen in the Southern Hemisphere.  To be exact, the bird we spotted was a young wandering albatross.  The reason we know it was young was because the upper colors were mottled brown.  It takes seven years to develop adult plumage.  These giants can live up to 42 years, and spend most of their time at sea.  The female will lay one egg every two years, and both parents rear the chick.  They make mud and vegetation nests on bare ground on hillsides.  The chick will stay in that nest for 10 months until the bird launches itself off of the cliff.  Eventually they can reach 25 pounds and measure 4 ½ feet from beak to tail.  Their wingspan is an impressive 11 feet.  Their style of flying is called dynamic soaring and allows them to fly immense distances.  They can rise and fall with ease and little effort.  And it is considered good luck to have them follow the ship.  We searched for more birds, but only saw one.  Perhaps the next two days will produce more sightings. 

 

Lunch was part dining room menu and part room service menu.  We shared a gouda burger, a wedge salad, chicken soup (great on a cool day), and a few macadamia nut cookies.  We asked for some red apples, but were lucky to get one green apple and three very green pears.  Apparently, they have run out of fresh apples.    It is the same story with the fresh berries.  They are about all gone.  We figure they ordered a smaller quantity in Auckland, but will re-supply in Sydney where the costs may be less.  Just a guess.

 

Dinner had some strange-named entrees, some of which we needed further explanation from our waiter.  Katzu described a breaded pork steak, served with a sticky rice.  More Asian than the usual schnitzel.  Fish and chips was a recognizable entrée, while one of us had the everyday salmon, which looked way better.  What is missing is the every day available lasagna.  It does appear every now and then, but not every night.  The fresh fruit plate continues to be tasty, but the sweet desserts of cake and ice cream are good too.  The ship had so much movement, we all watched out the aft windows as the full moon went up and down like a yoyo.  Of course, it wasn’t the moon moving, but the ship.  Guess we are all good sailors and none of us ever gets seasick.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

 

[Coco39]

Happy Birthday to Barb! What a great way to celebrate.🍷🍾

I really hope the Aussie officials ask for those visas.  It an hour and a half to do the application.

Enjoyed traveling "with" you in New Zealand--always wanted to go there.

 

[WCB]

Report #39     Tuesday  February 7, 2023    Day At Sea  Enroute To Sydney, Australia    Cloudy And Windy With Some Sun  68 Degrees  Calming Seas 3' Swell   Part #1 Of 1.......0 Pictures

 

Sixty-eight degrees is about as warm as it got today.  Add the wind to that, and it was even cooler.  However, we are not complaining since it wasn’t long ago that we were sweltering in Tonga.  No, this is much better for walking the promenade deck, which we did several times today.  One thing for sure….very few folks were out and about on that deck, even on the lounges.  Those that were relaxing out there were dressed like mummies, covered with several towels.  We also know for a fact that some folks get sea sick, and will spend time sleeping it off on the promenade deck, as the fresh air can help.

 

The seas were much better today and the swells have decreased.  We have kept a watch for more albatross, but only saw a pair of what may have been petrels.  Come to think of it, we have seen the fewest birds on this trip than ever.  Perhaps the best sightings were on the Pacific coast after leaving the Panama Canal.  We had hoped to see a lot more gannets near Auckland, but we saw only one.  They are the most fun to watch as they dive from very high to catch fish.  We still have a lot of time ahead of us, so there is hope for more sightings.  The only wildlife we saw today were two large flying fish.  Only two.

 

This morning after breakfast we had to pick up our passports for a face-to-face inspection in Sydney on Thursday.  Expecting a long line down the hallway like the last time we did this, it was a surprise to be the only one there.  This time there was no paperwork, so it was as easy as handing over the receipts.  The paperwork will come later we suspect. 

 

The sun had come out and it was actually warm on the aft pool deck, where we sat in the lounges for a while.  The wind eventually sent us packing.  There were only two other people on the other end of the deck.  What a difference from the last cruise we did on this ship, where an empty lounge could not be found.  With a few exceptions, we feel that this is an older crowd, which is normal for such a long trip.  At our President’s Club gathering a few days ago, we discussed the average age of the guests on this grand voyage.  We were told by the officers that the average age was in the high 70’s, and that takes into account that there are four or five kids under eighteen.  

 

The usual seaday activities took place with one of the highlights being a trivia session with the officers vs the guests.  Bet that was fun and it must have run overtime, since most of our tablemates were late for dinner.  Speaking of dinner, we have been noticing that the service has been slow starting with getting menus, taking orders, and finally getting served the courses.  We have the same waiters, but they seem to be stretched.  This is an area that will show stress if there is not enough wait staff on duty.  Recently we heard that several of the crew members had problems getting visas renewed.  Those that did not come through on time had to pack up their belongings and leave the ship.  One of them was a spa worker who had already boarded a plane for home, when they found out their visa had come through.  They left the plane, got their luggage, and came back to the ship.  Not all of the others were so lucky. 

 

Anyway, at dinnertime we mentioned to Stephen, the food and beverage head honcho, that the menu was really repeating itself quite often.  And it appears we have run low on many popular items in the fruit department.  He had no explanation but did promise we would be getting re-provisioned in Sydney.  Then he was off and running as he always does.  Finally, we all had menus and our orders were taken.  One of us had the mahi mahi, which was quite good, and the other prime rib, which we have not seen recently on the menu.  Desserts were fruit and one flourless chocolate cake with ice cream.  Even though only a few of us order the ice cream, it just appears for most all of us anyway…just in case.

 

Goods news – the clocks went back one hour tonight.  That is always appreciated.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[Oceansaway17]

On 1/3/2023 at 1:41 PM, WCB said:

Thanks for all of the nice comments!  The photos will be coming shortly....stay tuned.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

So I found your blog after some folks on cc shared the link and I must say I can now see why you have not posted much here in the way of photos.

Over on your blog they are nicely documented and described. 

My favorite so far is your Panama Canal crossing.  OMG you got so many wonderful photos including birds.  Nice to see the first bridge completed as I was there in 2018 and it was not completed.  I have done the Canal twice, once as an excursion on partial transit on Zuiderdam in 2011, and then a full transit on NCL Bliss first time largest cruise ship in new channel 2018.  For the 2011 trip, I did the full transit on a smaller boat and then we bused back to Colon.

 

I am glad I found your blog and it does look like you have others.

Continue having a nice trip.  I liked Wellington too.

[WCB]

Oceansaway17 :  So happy to hear you are enjoying the photos as well now that you found the link.

 

Stay tuned....there will be more.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[WCB]

Report #40     Wednesday February 8, 2023   Sea Day Enroute To Sydney, Australia   Sea State 9' Swells   Partly Cloudy 75 Degrees  Part #1 Of 1.........0 Pictures

 

Well, it appears we have almost completed another segment of the Grand World Voyage.  This segment began in Papeete, Tahiti and will end in Sydney, Australia tomorrow morning.   The distance traveled will be 4,463 nautical miles or 5,133 statute miles. We also had 17 fewer crew members than the first segment out of Ft. Lauderdale.   

 

Our third day of crossing the Tasman Sea has found less wind and 9 foot swells.  The skies were mostly sunny and the temperature remained a steady 75 degrees.  Sure doesn’t look like rain, but that’s what we have found in the forecast for tomorrow.  Hope it’s wrong.

 

So here is some info on Australia.  The population is 23.7 million mostly English-speaking citizens who for the most part (89%), live on the coastlines and in big cities.   The country consists of 7.7 million square miles and is as diverse in terrain as can possibly be. Their capital is Canberra.  The animal life is also diverse beginning with the furry and cuddly ones such as the koala, kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, or platypuses.  The wombats are furry, but not necessarily cuddly.  We have seen one almost bite a lady who did not listen to directions on how to pet a wombat.    The ferocious ones are crocodiles, sharks, poisonous snakes, spiders, and Tasmanian devils.  The oceans and sea sides are full of whales, fur seals, sea turtles, and ***** penguins.  Birds found here are emus, ostrich, and cassowaries and many more.  The smaller ones are parrots, parakeets, and pretty cockatiels and cockatoos.  

 

Must see places are Kakadu National Park, Ulura or Ayres Rock, or the Great Barrier Reef.  Since we will be sailing down under Southern Australia, we will not be visiting these areas.  But the Blue Mountains and the many vineyards in the Barossa Valley are a possibility.  And an interesting fact, according to the University of Sydney, reports that there are 10,685 beaches in all of Australia.

 

Today was a lazy one for us, with the exception of taking several walks.  We had the promenade deck almost to ourselves during the second Seaday Brunch in the dining room at 11am.  It’s not our cup of tea, and it may have been not as crowded at the first one.  We heard there were over 600 guests the first brunch, but today’s was 300. 

 

There was a Q&A session about the upcoming ports with Ian and Nyron in the newly-named “World Stage”, no longer the Mainstage.  Now all of the ships will have a common name for their show lounge, although the ones on the newer ships like the Koningsdam have a round-walled stage, and allows for a whole different entertainment experience.   

 

Sign ups for the upcoming On Deck for a Cause were held in the Ocean Bar for a $25 donation.  These days the charity is the Ukraine instead of breast cancer.  Recently we read that guests had contributed $450K between all of the HAL ships.  We suspect this will be repeated during the rest of this long trip. In addition to this event, another Charitable Cause & Silent Auction Announcement arrived in or mail slots.  As well as a money donation, guests are invited to donate goods for the silent auction.  The proceeds will go to the Bernard Nordkamp Centre in Namibia and will take place March 18^th in Walvis Bay.   Then there will be the donations from Project Linus, making this the most charities we have ever seen on one cruise.  All for good causes.

 

The biggest job of the day was filling out the Australian incoming passenger cards we need to hand over at tomorrow’s inspection.  We were given detailed directions on how to fill it out correctly.  We were also given Group # 7, which debarks by 9am.  However, that is too early for us, and we plan to go off by 10am.  We have that option being members of President’s Club.  This is a zero count port, so no one will be allowed back on the ship until everyone has attended the inspection.  They estimate that will be about 10:30am, but that depends on how things go.   It could be later.

 

The Australian currency was available at the front desk, so we got some, even though it may be easier to use our credit card.  Always good to have both options.

 

All were present for dinner where most of us ordered the Australian chicken parmigiana.  We asked Greg and Heo who are from Sydney, what was different about that entrée.  They described the breaded chicken as having a slice of cheese on the top, then broiled.  That would be placed on a bed of spaghetti covered with a tomato sauce.  When the plates arrived, they looked the same as always…..nothing Aussie about it, but very tasty.  The everyday salmon was really good again.  They do a varied version of the alternate every evening.  The chocolate stacked brownie dessert was the most popular. 

 

Since we will have two days in Sydney, we expect the dining room to be rather empty tomorrow.  Looking forward to a quieter dinner where we can all hear each other talk.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

 

     

[WCB]

Report #41    Thursday  February 9, 2023  Sydney, Australia Day #1     Cloudy With Rain Showers And Afternoon Thunder Showers  75 Degrees   Part #1 Of 5.........73 Pictures

 

The Zuiderdam sailed into the Sydney Harbour under cover of darkness too early this morning for all of us to get a scenic sail-in.  Back in the old days, the ship would have arrived at daylight, and there would have been a running commentary on all of the outside decks, as well as inside the lounges.  That does not happen anymore, due to local regulations forbidding noise coming from the cruise ships.  And another good reason for the early docking is the fact that ships our size must use the White Bay terminal, simply because we can fit under the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  According to Captain Friso,  we had just enough room to clear the bridge legally because of the higher tides.  Now there would be two other choices of where we could dock.  The first option was at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, located at Circular Quay.  That had always been our spot, until the mega-ships began visiting here.  The other option could be anchoring across from the Opera House and tendering to shore.  That would be our last choice, so having to take a shuttle bus to Darling Harbour from White Bay wasn’t such a bad idea.  By the way, we will be here for two full days.

 

Also in port at White Bay today was the old Prinsendam, now called Amera and owned by Phoenix Reisen.  Considering it was launched in 1988 as Royal Viking Sun, it still looks great.  We went on her last world cruise in 2001 when the ship was the Seabourn Sun, and again in 2005 and 2010 for grand voyages after it was sold to HAL.  The other ship in port was docked at Circular Quay, and that was the Carnival Splendor, launched  in 2008 with 2974 passengers who are described as young couple with families. 

 

Sydney has been described as a glamourous city with all of the beaches, boutiques, high-end shopping, and bars.   They are big on shellfish, bugs (shovel-nosed lobsters), snapper, trevally, and whiting.  Oysters and prawns are common entrées. 

 

Tours offered today included a walk on your own in the Rocks -$50, or a stroll in Manly and North Sydney - $50.  A city tour and Bondi beach was $90, while for the thrill-seeking folks, a climb up the Sydney Harbour Bridge was $500.  Sydney sites and Opera House tour was $130, and a visit to the Taranga Zoo was $140.  A drive to the Blue Mountains was $200, and an evening performance at the Opera House was $400 for A seats or $300 for B seats.  That did not even include cocktails or a dinner.

 

Yesterday we had been given instructions about the Australian Immigrations procedures.  Our time slot was 9am with group 7, but we inquired about getting off later, and were told that was fine, as our group has that option.  So we went to breakfast at 7:30am, and finally left the ship around 9:30am.  By then, most of the ship’s tours should have been off and cleared immigrations.  By the way, we were asked to wear masks in the terminal, although, the note that came with the complimentary masks stated we “may” be asked to wear a mask.  It’s a fine point, but tomorrow we will have to look for the mandatory mask sign, since today we don’t recall seeing it. 

 

The line to present ourselves to the officials was like being in Disneyland.  Zig-zagging for about six lanes, it took way longer than most people expected.  Of course, we were mixed with the tour groups, and not all of the agents were proficient at their job.  The fellow we got ended up asking his lady colleague for help.  Once we cleared, we were handed our passports and off we went to the waiting coaches.  The ride took only 20 minutes across the Anzac Bridge to the backside of the Sydney Aquarium at Darling Harbour.  The last shuttle was at midnight.  One thing we missed were the offerings of maps with lots of information.  In fact, they only had a few street maps left, and some brochures.  Then they ran out according to Barb who followed behind us.

 

We have to mention that the weather was really looking like rain….very cloudy and humid.  Greg and Heo had mentioned that if it rained, it would be light and passing.  Boy did that turn out differently, but not until later in the day.  We did have some sprinkles along the hike, but for the most part, our umbrellas kept us dry.  But more about that later.

 

Locating Market Street by going up the escalator, we followed it to the Queen Victoria Building, then on to Pitt Street.  It is a pedestrian only street lined with every high-end store that exists.  Even at this early hour, there were street artists playing music for some tips.  Judging by the store window displays, the clothing is geared towards the younger group and quite colorful and up-to-date fashionable.  The famous Uggs are sold here, but we figured it is way easier to go online at home and buy them that way.  We are restricted by weight for our luggage, so we have to be careful.  Window-shopping was as good as it gets here. 

 

Going downhill, we found we were close to Circular Quay and the many ferries that leave from here.  That’s where we saw the Carnival Splendor docked with lots of folks coming and going with luggage in tow.  We are not sure, but it appeared the ship may be having a turn-over today.  Most of the passengers we saw were very young with kids.  The cafes and restaurants were in full swing by now since it was close to lunchtime. 

 

We made our way to the Opera House, and that’s when the sprinkles began.  Just enough to wet the umbrellas, but then stopped.  The drizzle was off and on for the next hour or two.  After circling around the back of the Opera House, we got many more pictures to add to the collection.  The entrance to the Royal Botanic Garden was right there, so we hiked through the entire park, checking out each display and testing several nice park benches.  It was the least crowded we have even seen, but that had to be due to the weather.  Despite the drizzle and occasional winds, it was still warm.  One spot we had not seen before was the Calyx, which turned out to be a nice garden with a snack corner and restrooms.  And a shop of course.  If there was a display there, it was closed.

 

We made our way to Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, situated on the point opposite the Opera House.  One of us climbed down the rock steps to reach the actual “chair” created from natural rocks.  This is where Mrs. Macquaire sat while watching for ships from England.   On the way back, we passed by the staging area of an entertainment venue with the Opera House and Sydney Bridge in the backround.  Following the path along Farm Cove, we made our way back to the park’s entrance once again. 

 

Our destination was The Rocks, the area where convicts lived in barracks in the 1800’s.  It is thought that these prisoners worked for the government during the day, and the rest of the time, built the houses, shops, and pubs creating a new life for themselves.  The Rocks is a living museum these days and every place has a story to tell.  After passing by the busy ferry area of Circular Quay, we began the climb up George Street.  We noticed that many of the pubs and eateries had expanded their seating areas into part of the street, closing it to traffic to all but one lane.  This practice has popped up where we live as well in downtown Walnut Creek.  Some of the side streets have closed totally with tables and chairs with many umbrellas for shade.  This really took off during the Covid period and has remained popular with the diners.

 

Near the top of the street is a plaza where you can find the best pizza ( in our humble opinion ).  It is called Caminetto’s , and despite it being after 2pm, we were lucky to find a table outside mostly under the overhang.  We ordered two draft beers and one Hawaiian pizza to share.  So far, this was the best pizza we have had, since it was covered generously with ham, pineapple, and tons of bubbling hot cheese.  By the time we were finished, thunder and lightning exploded right overhead.  Numerous times, we saw the flash followed by cracking thunder.  Naturally, the rain began and soon became super-heavy.  We scooted under the overhang as much as possible, then one of us pulled out the umbrella to keep the spray from getting us too wet.  The patio was full of locals, who did not seem to skip a beat during the passing storm.  We ordered a different dessert of ice cream rolled with nuts and chocolate in the center, enjoying every bite until the rain let up.  By now it was after 3pm, and time to find our way back to the shuttle.  We noticed that all of the street dining venues had emptied out totally all the way back down George Street. 

 

It was a long hike back to Market Street, then back over to Darling Harbour and Cockle Bay where the bus was waiting.  By now the rain had begun to fall again, so our timing happened to be perfect by accident.  A few more passengers were waiting at a different spot, and the nice driver stopped to let them in the bus.  The ride back this time was slower due to a previous accident that caused a back up on the roads.  Since we were so close to White Bay terminal, we exited the freeway and were back to the ship by 4:30pm.  We had completed a 7 hour hike and appreciated relaxing until dinnertime.

 

Watching from our veranda, we began seeing groups of mostly well-dressed guests heading off for that performance at the Opera House.  Rather amusing to see some of the tux-wearing gents sporting white tennis shoes.  Actually Greg and Heo said these days, the locals are nowhere near as formal as they used to be.  Casual is the common dress code for most venues, including the Opera House.

 

Susie and Woody mentioned that they had gotten a notice to bring Woody’s wheelchair to an inspection session prior to leaving the ship.  One of the staff members had to check the tires and make sure they were soil-free.  Interesting, as we have never heard of that before.  Must be heightened biosecurity measures.  By the way, they passed.

 

Although the dinner menu seems to be repeating itself quite often, a few appetizers appeared that we like.  One was the Thai beef salad and the other the deep fried rice and cheese treats – arancini.   Mains were everyday salmon again , since there was no other fish option, and one plate of meatballs and spaghetti.  Made one of us very happy.  Greg and Heo had made a run back to their home, taking care of business and checking on family.  Greg also went shopping, and brought back some tasty Tim Tams, a favorite treat for all of us, including our waiters.  And because the cranberry sauce that is made on the ship is so unappetizing, Greg brought two jars of Ocean Spray cranberry sauce in jars, no less for Susie.  Speaking of waiters, we had a nice surprise when a new head waiter appeared at our table.  It was Oscar, who we have known from many a world cruise.  He had boarded today and made it a point to search out the folks he knew.  And he hasn’t changed one bit….always friendly with a smile and a laugh we all remembered. 

 

Tomorrow will be another day to explore, but we hope the sun will be shining.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[Duck Creek]

Hi Maryanne and Bill

Webcam of you leaving Sydney. Hope you had a nice time in our lovely city!

[MarinerLad]

Hello Bill and Maryanne. I am loving once again following your blog on your website. Unfortunately, unlike on your previous trips, I’m not able to see the pictures when I click on that link. I’m asked to request access and then told “request for access can’t be sent”. Is there a way around this? Thanks. Patrick☘️

[WCB]

Report #42     Friday  February 10, 2023  Sydney, Australia  Day #2    A Very Sunny And Warm Day 85 Degrees    Sailaway 6pm   Part #1 Of 5........72 Pictures

 

Our second day in Sydney could not have been nicer as far as the weather was concerned.  Yesterday it was cloudy, windy, and raining with lightning and thunder.  Today we had mostly sunny blue skies, with a few scattered clouds and temperatures in the 80’s.  Couldn’t ask for a better day.

 

We stayed onboard after breakfast to finish yesterday’s report and photos.  One of us decided not to wear the tens unit for my back, since coming back through shoreside security was not as easy as everywhere else.  I failed the xray screening, and had to be scanned on the side.  Finding the tens unit in my pocket, the security girl asked to see it.  Not sure she was understanding it was for back pain, but finally she let me go.  I decided it was best to leave it on the ship today and avoid a repeat performance, although I may regret it.

 

We left the ship at 11am going off of the gangway that had been attached shoreside.  It was located on deck three sort of mid-ship.  Boarding the waiting shuttle bus, it took off the minute we sat down.  Once again the ride was quick to Cockle Bay despite the ongoing construction on this side of the harbor.  Greg mentioned that an underground transit system was being created, and will immensely help with the traffic problem. 

 

Once off the bus at the Aquarium, we turned right this time, and headed towards the restaurants and shops along the harbor.  Most of the ferry landings and wharves are here as well as Captain Cook Cruises and private yachts for dinner cruises.  We ended up at Barangaroo, a new development that has risen from the old dock we used to use here.  Our first destination was a visit to the new Crown Resort building, with 75 floors and measuring 890 feet high.  From a distance it resembles a rocket, or more like something you would see in Dubai.   The construction began in 2016 and finished in 2020.  Currently it is the tallest building in Sydney, and the 4^th tallest in all of Australia.  It consists of a hotel, restaurants, high-end shopping, apartments, and a casino.  Doing some basic research, we learned that the powers to be built this elaborate casino/hotel to attract Chinese high-rollers that normally went to Macau to gamble.  Over the years Macau has lost its luster, so here was an opportunity to attract this group.  There were many hiccups before the final construction was completed, and in record time.  Quite impressive.

 

Continuing on, we walked the waterfront path enjoying the views of the Darling Harbour and the surrounding bays and inlets.  We could even see the two ships in White Bay.  Yesterday we thought the Amera had left, but it stayed overnight like us but did leave by 5pm.  More construction was ongoing in the Barangaroo area, and Greg said that more towers of apartments are being created.  The Barangaroo Reserve was further up, mostly parkland with rock beaches.  One of those rocky coves was a place to swim with restrooms nearby.  Many swimmers were in the water, but it sure looked cold to us. 

 

Leaving the reserve, we began the stretch on Hickson Road where the old wharves from 1901 still stand.  Due to shortages of cement during WWI, these wharves were built with timber.  Eventually they were obsolete with new shipping technology, but these wharves were refurbished and repurposed into residential, restaurant, and cultural hub.    Wrapping around Dawes Point, we ended up at the base of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  We have never been walking in this part of town, so it was a nice discovery when the Opera House appeared as well as Circular Quay.  What a photo op.  And there was a wedding couple having professional shots taken with the same back round. Sweet.

 

Speaking of weddings…..we watched as we were walking the reserve to see a plane writing letters in the sky.  By the time we saw it, he had printed “Will you marry me, Wudi”.  We waited to see if there was more.  He printed an R with a heart in the center for O, ending with a D.  Yes, it was Rod proposing to Wudi.  Wonder if she said yes?

 

Now we were searching for the way to the Rocks to go back to Caminettos for lunch.  Cutting up a side street from the Overseas Cruise Terminal, we ended up right across from the area of the Italian restaurant.  There were only a few tables left, and we took one of them.  The owner welcomed us back, laughing that we had a much better day today.  We liked our lunch yesterday so much, we did it again.  We could have relaxed there longer, but all aboard was 5:30pm with the last bus at 5pm.  It was already after 3pm, so we headed off to walk up to Woolworths and stroll through the Queen Victoria Building.  It was a long hike uphill, but we made it.  We did not find what we needed, but did enjoy the walk through the famous QVB. 

 

Back at the shuttle stop, we boarded the bus and were off to the ship without any delays this time.  When we entered the terminal we ran into Greg and friends visiting at one of the few tables there.  He introduced us and we chatted for some time as we all have mutual friends. By the way, we learned from Greg that the flag displayed on the bridge along with the Australian flag was the Aboriginal flag. 

 

One of us was not looking forward to the xray check.  And for good reason.   The buzzer went off like I knew it would, but there was a line of folks to check.  They just kept lining people up to wait for the wanding.  Finally, it was my turn, and nothing was found.  Duh…. Took them 10 minutes to figure that out. 

 

Sail away came about 6pm, and we watched from our veranda.  We have never seen so many sailboats, so there must have been some kind of regatta taking place.  Many boaters flanked the ship all the way out to the headlands.  Gosh, the wind took hold of those sails and some boats were sailing at an angle that was unbelievable.  Takes some special skills to man these vessels and obviously they know what they’re doing.  Glad it’s them and not us.  We finally left the harbor and sailed out into the choppy seas, heading for Port Arthur in two days from now.

 

We all agreed at dinner that our stay here was beyond fabulous.  Exhausting, but well worth it.  Our dinners were a bit underwhelming.  The hot soup was reportedly salty, as were some of the entrees.  We all wondered if anyone ever tests the food before it is served.  Two bones were found in the snapper, which was otherwise very good.  Those slivers of bone are what has kept one of us almost a non-fish eater.  Shiver me timbers….those bones are off-putting.  Anyway, some of our tablemates reported this to our new head waiter, who went off to inquire about the over salting and the fish bones.  We never saw him for the rest of the evening.  What we did see was a fantastic setting of the sun, without many horizon clouds.  People jumped up and took photos with their cell phones, waiting for that green flash.  Don’t think we saw it. 

 

Happy to have a sea day tomorrow to rest up for another Australian port.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[WCB]

Greetings Patrick,

 

Go to this link and click on pictures here at the bottom of the report.

 

Happy to have you tag along.....

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

"Treasures of Cruising the World" with Bill & Mary Ann

[MarinerLad]

Thanks Bill and Maryann .. but unfortunately I followed the link and it did take me to your blog but when I clicked on the pictures link it still gave me the message that my request for access could not be sent. It’s so strange because I’m using the same email address and search engine I’ve always used to follow your travels. Grateful I have the narratives but really miss the pictures. Patrick☘️

[Florida_gal_50]

10 minutes ago, MarinerLad said:

Thanks Bill and Maryann .. but unfortunately I followed the link and it did take me to your blog but when I clicked on the pictures link it still gave me the message that my request for access could not be sent. It’s so strange because I’m using the same email address and search engine I’ve always used to follow your travels. Grateful I have the narratives but really miss the pictures. Patrick☘️

It seems to be your computer.  I’m having no problems seeing the pictures on my iPad.

[woodworker&knitter]

15 minutes ago, MarinerLad said:

Thanks Bill and Maryann .. but unfortunately I followed the link and it did take me to your blog but when I clicked on the pictures link it still gave me the message that my request for access could not be sent. It’s so strange because I’m using the same email address and search engine I’ve always used to follow your travels. Grateful I have the narratives but really miss the pictures. Patrick☘️

I use my iPhone and don’t have any problems. 

[superoma]

17 minutes ago, MarinerLad said:

Thanks Bill and Maryann .. but unfortunately I followed the link and it did take me to your blog but when I clicked on the pictures link it still gave me the message that my request for access could not be sent. It’s so strange because I’m using the same email address and search engine I’ve always used to follow your travels. Grateful I have the narratives but really miss the pictures. Patrick☘️

Just checked on my iPad and also no problem using the link and seeing the pictures. Did you recently make changes on the computer you are using? Or do you have an update outstanding? You could try clearing your cookies and browsing history and then going to the link. 

[WCB]

Report #43      Saturday February 11, 2023     Day At Sea Enroute To Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia    Cooler And Sunny 68 Degrees   Part #1 Of 1..........7 Pictures

 

We are appreciating these days at sea more and more, especially after a 2 day stay in a big city like Sydney.  It allowed us the time to complete the activities and photos of our second day we spent there.  One thing that was missing were the ubiquitous brochures we used to pick up at the info centers all around town.   They were jammed with all the maps and details we would need to know about every district and site in town.  Perhaps they are not being printed anymore, which is sad.  Not all of us travelers use a cell phone on these cruises, and have always relied on local brochures and booklets.  In fact, the ship used to provide a map and suggested restaurants, major tourist sites, or shopping areas to see and visit.  On this cruise, we have gotten maybe one or two flyers with local info.  Guess those days are gone.

 

Since tomorrow’s stop is in Port Arthur, we will have to listen to Ian’s lecture on what to see and do.  We have been to this port a few times on past cruises, but it has been many years ago.  The first time here, we took a tour from Hobart, which is very close by.  At that time, we toured the old prison grounds, but also saw other things on the way.  We sure cannot recall anything in the way of cafes or restaurants, or even shops in Port Arthur.

 

During his noon address, Captain Friso brought up a problem with the water system on the ship early this morning.  Something occurred that shut down the pumps for a short duration.   There was no water.  By the time Bill got up, he noticed the water from the faucet coming out rust color.  That was not a good sign, although eventually it did clear up.  He also mentioned that today’s nice weather may not hold up during our stop tomorrow.  He is expecting high winds, cloudy, partly sunny, and some rain.  Well, that covers everything, but snow.  We might have some scenic cruising on the way there, but it will be early in the morning.  On the way out after 4pm, we will be cruising Cape Raoul with sandstone rocks and wind cut cliffs.  This will be a tender port, and if the winds pick up, it may be dicey.  Captain Friso’s new slogan is:  prepare for the worst and hope for the best.  We second that.  His final bit of news had to do with a cyclone currently heading up through the Tasman Sea.  Boy did we dodge that bullet or what?

 

The biggest event today was the delivery of 32 Coke Zeros for our every other week President’s Club amenity.   We have a nice stash now since it has not been that hot outside.  We do enjoy sipping the sodas with our room service lunch, which was excellent today.  A cobb salad, one club sandwich with extra potato chips, a bowl of Grandma’s chicken noodle soup, and some apples and cookies were shared.  Certainly tides us over to dinner at 7:30pm.

 

During our dinner time, we have enjoyed the input about everything Australian from both Heo and Greg.  They have been a big help filling in the gaps with missing information.  We have learned more about the culture, cuisine, history from them than any speaker onboard.   Tonight’s menu was created by the culinary council with specialized appetizers and entrees.  Most everyone ordered the crab cakes, salads with shrimp, or the soup.  Mains were barramundi, prime rib, chicken something, and top ramen with tempura vegetables.   However, the veggies were sauteed, not tempura, but tasted good anyway.  An added chicken breast rounded out the meal.  Our waiter is quite helpful in putting together possibilities beyond what is printed on the menu.  And our plates are arriving hot every night without asking.  Desserts were a tart and a fruit plate, a refreshing way to end a meal.

 

Once again we watched as the sun went down, presenting a pretty neat sky – similar to this morning’s sunrise. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[alibabacruisers]

I do not see any pictures on your blog either, no matter what I have tried.  Just a little thumbprint photo of the map with a tiny picture of the town/city.

 

Thanks for your blog, though, I truly love hearing things from your prospective!

 

 

Edited February 11, 2023 by alibabacruisers

[Hogladyrider]

@WCB......you are so right there are MANY folks who are not into all the technology in today's world.

 

My mom is one of those folks and I for one feel that folks who are NOT into the technology "thing" are being taken advantage of thru no fault of their own.

 

It is very sad indeed the state of our society in today's world.  I could go on and on but will leave it there just wanted you to know you are NOT alone with the frustration over brochures, maps, etc etc.

[WCB]

Report #44   Sunday  February 12, 2023  Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia  At Anchor 8am-3:30   Cloudy And Windy With Some Sun  70 Degrees    Part #5 Of 6..........69 Pictures

 

Today’s port of call was Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia.  Luckily, one of us was up early as usual to get some photos when entering through the headlands, as it was quite scenic.  The sun had come up by then, and it was the perfect exposure to see all of the colors of the windblown cliffs as we sailed into the bay.  This happened to be the better part of the day weatherwise, as things deteriorated later in the morning. 

 

We went to breakfast at 7:30am, and when we saw the view of where the ship anchored, we thought we were back in Alaska’s Inside Passage.  The tree-studded hillsides at this end of the scenic bay were quite similar.  Since we had some catching up to do with yesterday’s exploits, we stayed onboard until closer to 10 am.  One of us had been reading while sitting in the sun on the veranda, when we looked up and saw an ominous black system heading our way.  The Captain had mentioned that things can turn on a dime in this part of Australia, and he was right.

 

By the time we reached the tender boat, the skies had darkened, and the rain started.  Of course, we had umbrellas, but with the wind, they may not have worked well.   Most of the tour groups had left the ship already.  Here are a few of what was offered:  A tour of Port Arthur and geological panoramas for $80, Tasman Island Eco Cruise for $160, Port Arthur behind the bars a walking tour for $80, the same walking tour with food & wine for $180, a lavender farm with wine for $130, or a trip to Tasmanian Devil Unzoo for $100.  We have done a couple of these tours years ago, so knew we could cover a lot of ground on our own today. 

 

The ride over went smoothly, although the Captain had warned that the ride back may be difficult if the winds picked up.  This may have scared off some guests from going ashore.  This stop today did not take you near any town or village, but only the prison grounds.  The Port Arthur penal station was created in 1830 as a timber working camp, with prisoners as laborers that produced sawn logs for the government projects.   Eventually by 1840, more than 2000 convicts, soldiers, and civil staff lived here.  They produced everything from worked stone and bricks to furniture, clothing, and even boats and ships. 

 

For the prisoners, it was a punishment station for repeat offenders from all of the Australian colonies.  Discipline, punishment, religious and moral instruction were extremely imposed on the convicts, men and women alike.  There was even a boys’ prison for ages 9 to 17, keeping them separate from the adults.  They were taught a trade as well as learning to read and write. 

 

On the other hand, the community of military and free people lived in stark contrast to the convicted ones.  They enjoyed parties, regattas, and literary events in their beautiful gardens situated far enough out of sight of the prison buildings.  Eventually the penal system closed in 1877, and many of the structures were dismantled or burned in wildfires.   By 1920, many of the existing old buildings had become museums, hotels, and shops.  In time, the state government acquired portions of the property and a major conservation project began in 1980.  Then in 2010, Port Arthur and 10 other similar sites were inscribed on the World Heritage List as the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage property.

 

We had to laugh at the length of the line of people waiting to take our tender boat back to the ship.  There were over 100 folks ready to board the tender.  They had not been prepared for  the sudden change of weather, and had no place to stay out of the rain. Oh well, more room for the rest of us.  One of us was happy to see some young greeters handing out maps and brochures of the property.  Everything we needed to know.  With those in hand, we headed straight for the penitentiary, the largest building on the property.  It was originally a flour mill and granary in 1845, but was converted into cells for the worst of the convicts.  The two lower floors contained tiny cells for the repeat offenders, with the top floor for the better behaved convicts.  They got to sleep in bunks.  A library, mess hall, and a chapel were in the same building.  Devastated by fire in 1897, all that remains of it are the masonry walls and barred windows. 

 

It was very full of tourists, so we headed off on a seaside trail, which led us for a few miles around Mason Cove to Carnarvon Bay, leaving the property by climbing up steps that went up and over existing fencing. We came across a town which turned out to be Port Arthur.  Since it was raining heavier here, and we had lost the protection of the ancient trees, we decided to head back the way we came.  Then we saw the strangest thing.  There were some people snorkeling along the rocky shoreline, as if searching for something.  Very odd, since that water had to be ice cold, and the area was not really accessible from the trail we walked.  We did not stick around to ask questions.

 

Most of the trees here were eucalyptus and older than dirt.  One had the diameter of 6 feet, and probably measured over 25 feet in circumference.  If only these trees could talk.  The trail sides were covered with mossy rocks and ferns.  We even saw what appeared to be blueberries, but darker blue growing like a bulbing plant.  When nothing appeared to be eating them, they were more than likely poisonous.  We finally got back to the prison property and continued our extensive tour of the entire place.   Heading straight up the side trail, we visited every building reading the signage at each display.   There were quite a few restrooms throughout the property as well.  The only part we missed was the Dockyard where the convicts built as many as 150 small boats and 16 large vessels. There was a lime kiln here which was used in the brick and stone laying in the old days. 

 

We also did not take the ferry that went to the Isle of the Dead, where between 1833 and 1877, 1100 people were buried in this cemetery.   It was the final resting place for not only the criminals, but also civilian and military officers, their wives and children.    The Point Puer Boys’ Prison was also accessed by a ferry.  The ages of the boys were from 9 to 17, but their young age did not protect them from the stern discipline and punishment.  However, they did receive an education before they were released into the general population.

 

The nicest part of the property had to be where the civilian houses were built along with the remains of the Church overlooking the government gardens.  From here, we made our way to the Visitor’s Center and museum.  There was a restaurant on one side of the center where they served coffee, cakes, snacks, and light desserts as well as light meals with wine and drinks.  Greg and Heo dined there with Rich and Ginni and raved about the meat pies that they all ordered. 

 

That got us thinking about lunch, and decided we had walked our legs off, and a room service lunch was in order.  The ride back was windy and cold, but getting on the tender boat was easy with lots of crew helping.  Back on the ship by 2pm, we ordered salads and sandwiches which arrived by 2:30pm. 

 

About 3:45pm, Captain Friso announced that we would be leaving shortly.  The clouds were breaking up, but he said the Tasman Sea was vicious once we left the headlands.  He said the winds were gale force and we could expect motion on the vessel.   He did promise some scenic cruising on the way to Hobart, especially around Cape Raoul where there are some impressive pinnacle-shaped spires all standing at attention.  We braved the biting winds and went down to the promenade deck to get some pictures.  Not exactly dressed for the gale force winds, one of us went back to the room to warm up. 

 

By 7pm, we began seeing civilization on the coastline as we got closer to Hobart, where the ship would dock by 8pm.  Ian had announced that there was a holiday there and a regatta festival was in progress.  Fireworks over the harbor were promised at 9:30pm.  We were off to dinner by 7:30pm, and all were present.  Thank goodness that hot split pea soup was served.  Nothing better on such a cold day.  Mains for us were one fried pork chop with sides I like, and one salmon dinner.  Desserts were not-so-warm sticky date pudding with ice cream and a fruit plate with the sweetest pineapple and watermelon.  Heo and Greg were going to bundle up and head to town this evening, while the rest of us headed back to our rooms to hopefully watch the fireworks.   We heard the noise, but never saw the fireworks.  Oh well, it would take 2 hours to write the day’s report, not counting doing the photos.  Keeps us busy for sure.

 

We will spend the night here and leave tomorrow around 4pm.  Got to rest up for another day of exploring.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[WCB]

Report #45     Monday  February 13, 2023    Hobart, Tasmania, Australia     2-12-23 -7pm  Over night Till 2-13-23 -4pm  Docked   Mostly Cloudy With Some Rain Showers   Part #1 Of 6........71 Pictures

 

One nice thing about today was the fact we were already docked in Hobart since we arrived last evening by 8pm.  Those folks that were on tours were about the first to get off without having to wait to be cleared by the local officials.   The only requirement by Ian was to announce the biosecurity alert regarding products that are not allowed off of the ship.  We know it by heart now.  Anyway, some of the excursions offered today included a historic walk in Hobart for $50, or a ride to Mt. Wellington and the Botanical Gardens for $70.  Out of town tours went to the Huon Valley and Terhune Forest walk for $170, or Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary to see some of Australia’s famous animals for $90.   In the past, we have visited the sanctuary finding it a lot of fun.  How about abalone, oyster, and whiskey tasting?  That went for $180.  Something to do on your own was a trek to MONA, or the Museum of Old and New Art, which is reportedly controversial, according to our dinner mates.  A “unique” experience but leave the young kids home.  A great way to see the sights is a ride on the local ho-ho bus, which can be done on your own.

 

We had so much to do after breakfast, we stayed onboard until noontime.  It just so happened that today was the final day of Hobart’s Wooden Boat Festival, which was declared a holiday here.  Everyone and their brother was at the marina, including us and the passengers on the Ponant Le Soleal (2013) which holds 264 passengers.  A small ship at 10,944 gross tons, it is contemporary chic for young-minded couples and singles.  It is about all inclusive with 12 zodiacs for offshore exploring.  The only complaint we read was there is no walking or jogging deck.  Chances are their cruises are much shorter in duration than what we are doing.  And port intensive…so who needs to jog?

 

We have to mention that today was Superbowl LV11 with the Kansas City Chiefs VS the Philadelphia Eagles.  The kickoff was at 10:30am here, so many guests stayed onboard to watch the game in the World Stage. It was not announced, but food was available, and the beverages were charged like always.  There was no big hype with a fast food buffet and drink deals like we had in the past.  But usually this would not be happening on a port day.  So things changed with the festivities. 

 

We walked from Macquarie Wharf at Sullivan’s Cove where we were docked and ran into Ian, who was coming back to the ship already.  We have been here before, but it has been a long time.  We asked him which way to turn up the street, and he said we couldn’t miss the crowd when we turned left.  Boy, was he right.  Throngs of locals were crowded at Victoria and Constitution Docks.  There were several ancient steam locomotives set up with engines running, attracting folks that knew what they were looking at….mostly the guys.  Further up, the marina was full of boats of all kinds, but more so, the tall wooden vessels from the past.  Some were opened for people to go onboard and have a look.  The deeper we got into the crowd, we realize we were passing by dozens of portable eateries.  People were lined up at each venue to buy all types of food.  Tables, chairs, and even picnic benches were available to eat the meals.  No social distancing here, and absolutely no mask-wearing that we could see.   Kids were out of school today, and they were running amuck in the melee. 

 

Passing two piers, we ended up at Parliament Square and the greens that were in front of the Parliament House (also closed today).  There were local families sitting on the greens enjoying lunch and watching a three- person acting team put on a show for the younger kids.  We happened to pass by a hop on hop off bus stop where we found one of their brochures.  Somehow we missed that info center in the cruise terminal when we left the building.  Anyway, we got our bearings and followed the map up the street to get away from the crowd. 

 

We found St. David’s Park which housed many trees, two of which were gigantic coast redwoods from California.  Going further up the street we located  St. David’s Cathedral, Anglican Church we assume.  They were hosting the 55^th annual floral festival, so we went inside to check it out.  Inside the foyer were two docents that handed out brochures and also a slip of paper to vote for the best floral display.  The theme of this festival was really recognizing the importance of water in relation to growing flowers.  It was tied to the bible from what we read.  After circling the inside of the church and seeing all of the displays, we agreed that one with yellow, orange, and white flowers was the best.  They were all nice, so we really think the reason for the voting was to obtain your email address and get you on their mailing list forever.   We wrote down that we were from the MS Zuiderdam…. period.  

 

Continuing on, we passed by numerous period buildings/turned businesses.  They were all in the Central Business District, although we did not have enough time to explore that area.  On the way back, we went through another park called Franklin Square.  A huge fountain was here as well as lots of seating surrounding the fountain.  A group from the ship was on their walking tour here, but no one we knew.  Walking downhill, we located the information center which was loaded with brochures.  Can never get enough printed info.  Just so we remember for the next time we may be here, there were big restrooms across from the travel center.

 

Locals were still dining at the food stalls while we checked out those wooden sailing boats from the old days.   Some were taking reservations for a harbor ride.  We could hear some kind of competition going on at the marina.   Turned out to be a derby race with kids that had created a boat from scratch.  Unfortunately, most of the craft sunk, leaving the kids swimming in the water.  The one that was made from an old bathtub won first place, but it had also sunk to the bottom of the marina.  Pretty funny, but it was a big deal for those who competed. 

 

There were some real restaurants near the marina that were opened, but were jammed pack with customers.  No lunch or beer for us today, since all aboard was 3:30pm.  Back at the ship, we ended up with a room service lunch which was also perfect.  Had to include a bowl of their chicken spaghetti soup since it was so cold out today.  It looked like it could rain all day, but it never did.  Of course, we had the umbrellas just in case. 

 

The ship left the pier by 4pm, and we watched as all of the boats came out of the marinas.  We felt as if they were out there to watch us leave the harbor, or it was the official end of the four day festival.  Hobart is actually located on the River Derwent, so when we got out into the open waters, it was windy and rough.  And cold.  By dinnertime we had come out into Storm Bay, and the going got even rougher.  But before we got to the open waters, a cool rainbow appeared on the port side of the ship.  It came and went, but eventually appeared in full colors.  Ian came on the speakers and said to check it out.  We always consider a rainbow a good luck sign.

 

Speaking of dinner, we had company tonight.  Heo and Greg were off to a special anniversary dinner for friends, so Susie had invited mutual friends Ginni and Rich to join us.  We had a really nice visit with them, and even though we have known them for several years, this ship is so much bigger than the Amsterdam, that we seldom cross paths.  We all had three years of catching up to do.  Dinner starters were fried calamari and chicken noodle soup again.  Salads were eaten, then one of us had the barramundi and the other a pot roast meal….both good.  Desserts were one very decadent chocolate cake, which was more like a hunk of chocolate fudge with ice cream.  The fruit plate was great as always. 

 

We have one day at sea to relax, then we will be two days in Adelaide, another fabulous city down under.

 

Bill & Mary Ann