We_like_to_cruise

There were a couple of our ports that required proof of vaccination or you could not get off the ship.

All passengers except for the director David Crathorne. I think the current choir, since the Sydney segment, has almost 200 members.

Honestly the pictures do not do it justice. Although we did not see any turtles, you can see better images at this link: https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=Great+Barrierr+Reef+underwater+pictures&iax=images&ia=images

Cairns, Australia Our visit to Cairns (pronounced “cans”) starts later than any other port so far. Our scheduled arrival at the pier is 10 am. Research from months ago indicated all private excursions left much earlier, closer to 8 am. So, we reluctantly booked the ship excursion – and in retrospect we are certainly glad that we did. This awesome day, or at least the second half of it, was truly one of the highlights of our years of traveling. Weather wise the day was much brighter than yesterday and you could even see the shore! Still cloudy though … Our sister ship the Coral Princess has beat us to the port. After breakfast we met with our group in the MDR at 10 am and waited for the all clear to disembark. We walked as a group about 10-15 minutes down the pier to our waiting catamaran. I venture to say there were less than 100 of us and ship staff told us that was half capacity so plenty of room for everyone to get a seat. There were two air conditioned indoor decks with cushioned seating (some with tables) and a large outdoor deck with attached metal chairs. After a mandatory safety briefing we waited in line to get our wet suits to guard against jelly fish stings, our masks and snorkels and flippers, and life preservers or noodles if desired. There was equipment for certified scuba divers as well as “first timers” neophytes who were interested. I was, but the medical form we had to fill out showed I was taking cholesterol medication (who over 60 isn’t) so they would not allow it. Well, something to try closer to home in Florida when we return. The Great Barrier Reef is over 1500 miles long and composed of nearly 3000 reefs. Our excursion would be going to Hastings Reef, about 60 km from shore (over 35 miles). It took more than 90 minutes and the weather got worse the further we traveled. When we finally anchored it was pouring out and the ship was bopping around. Well, we are here to get wet, so let’s get to it. Because of the rocking, you had to push off from the dive platform so you didn’t crash back up against the ship. There were safe areas for snorkeling we were instructed to stay within due to the conditions. Honestly the first time we went out, it was disappointing. The water was murky limiting visibility and the sea bed was a distance below us. If you went out further the swells bounced you up and down. The captain had announced earlier he expected weather conditions to improve over the course of the day, so we took a break. Great timing – lunch is being served. There was a buffet of cold salads, jumbo prawns, hot foods like chicken and curry and rice, bread and rolls, etc. Coffee, tea and water were available and a snack bar sold beer and wine, ice cream and other snacks. After lunch the water was much calmer and the skies were brighter. No rain. We went on a free guided snorkeling tour with four other passengers. The tour was led by a Master Reef Guide and a marine biologist. They took us much much further away from the ship than our earlier forays. What a world of difference. Now we saw hundreds of beautiful colored fish, corals, sea anemones, starfish and other sea life. This is why we booked this excursion! The reef guide would dive to the bottom to point out specific interesting things and explained them at the surface. We even got to pet a sea cucumber, ha-ha. At some points we were so close to the bottom I was nervous about hitting something and causing damage with my flippers. So beautiful. The tour lasted about 20 – 30 minutes. We spent the next couple of hours on our own exploring this new world. It was a fascinating experience like swimming in a salt water aquarium. Our catamaran spent about five hours at the reef and we truly enjoyed the second half. The staff on the catamaran was mostly young people (in their twenties?) and they were so kind and cheerful and helpful. Everyone we interacted with wanted to make sure we were happy and felt safe and comfortable. Our fellow passengers also stepped up to assist those getting on/off the dive platform and to tend to those who were stricken with the mal de mer or who decided snorkeling was just not for them. So Princess, thank you for organizing an excellent tour. Perhaps I need to be more open minded in my future excursion bookings! Disclaimer: My GoPro is out of action. So the GBR photos are public domain (no copyright) but give you some idea of the beauty of the reef.

Oh, sorry Ursula. That is a little outside of my comfort zone. You might want to post on our World Cruise Roll Call to see if you can get more info.

Sorry it took so long. I went over to the Lotus Spa and confirmed that our ship has the thermal suite and four hot tile beds. 🙂

Airlie Beach, Australia It seems darker than usual in the cabin when I awake. Hmm, no need to get out of bed, let’s check the live video feed from the bridge cam on our TV. Oh boy. When I pull open the blackout curtains to the balcony a dismal dark rainy foggy day greets me. (Was that enough adjectives to make the point?) Airlie Beach is situated in Australia’s Whitsunday region of Queensland. Ironically, according to the port guide we received last evening, “Here Comes the Sun. Queensland is also known as the Sunshine State, a perfect name since it enjoys 300 days of sunshine every year.” Just our luck to be visiting on one of the 65 crummy days. 😞 This is a tender port so getting into town is a commitment. We decide to exercise, have a leisurely breakfast and keep an eye on the weather. Twice there seemed to be breaks of sunlight peeking through. So, we made our way to the tenders (no lines and no waiting!). Each time returning soaked pax tell us “Don’t do it!” And despite the occasional brightening of the skies the rain never stopped. Oh well. Since this is not a sea day, many of the usual activities that keep us busy are not scheduled. Plan B. We get cozy and eat turkey sandwiches in bed while watching “Death on the Nile” a 2022 adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel. The movie is over two hours long, so it is by far the longest our TV has ever been on in the room! Hopefully the weather will be better tomorrow for our snorkeling excursion to the Great Barrier Reef.

Makes sense. Thank you.

Moreton Island, Australia Transferring from the ship to the tender is very challenging as the tender was banging up against the ship with every wave. Guests hang on to each other during boarding and the staff are very careful to monitor each person’s entry. The choppy ride takes about 20 minutes. Guess we don’t need to pay for a banana boat ride onshore! We disembark the tender and are now guests of the Tangalooma Island Resort. There are numerous aquatic activities to purchase even if you did not have a pre-booked shore excursion. Most are here are to simply go to the beach, although other options included snorkeling, Segway tours, 4wd vehicles, stand up paddle boarding, swimming in the pools and boat rides. And, since the island is over 90% sand you can even go sand tobogganing on one of the giant sand dunes. The resort is popular for residents of Brisbane, as it is only a bit over an hour away by ferry. However, numerous announcements on the ship advised us we were forbidden to take the ferry to Brisbane. (Moreton Island was not considered an official port). The beach is large and clean and we scope out a mixed sun/shade spot for a few hours of sunbathing and swimming. Later we walk about half a mile down the beach to the “Tangalooma Wrecks”, a popular spot for snorkeling. Over a dozen vessels were intentionally sunk in the waters about 50 years ago and they are now home to coral and numerous species of fish. Although you can swim there directly from the beach, the current can be strong so a guided snorkeling excursion was recommended. We return to the tender dock along an uphill trail in the sand for some views and pictures. Along the way we pass some colorful plants and flowers. The resort had a restaurant and bar but unlike Princess Cay (which this port was likened to) there was no included barbecue / lunch / drinks. Our return tender ride was uneventful in the much calmer seas.

Interesting that you mention the VISAs. Pre-boarding we were told we had to get an eTA for both New Zealand as well as Australia. So far no one anywhere (including Princess) has asked us anything about it or even proof that we did get it.

Technical issues Darn. My smartphone is acting up and I can’t get access to my pix. (It is also acting wacky in some other ways). Sadly this might affect the future progress of this report. I will keep you informed. This post was supposed to come before the Sydney post, but never made it to this page.

Sydney, Australia The outdoor decks were crowded very early in the morning to view the sail in to Sydney, Australia’s oldest and largest city. As the skies brightened and we entered the harbor, the Opera House and the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge came into view. The ship slowly made its way to the pier and by 6:15 am the sounds of the Princess Harmony Choir filled the air. They were dubbed the “Bathrobe Brigade” as they were indeed all wearing Princess bathrobes for this early morning concert. The choir had assembled on the bandstand on Lido Deck and director David Crathorne led them in song. We were docked at the Ocean Pacific Terminal at Circular Quay, so walked right off the ship into the terminal. Turning to our right we made our way uphill to The Rocks part of town with its sandstone cliffs and then uphill to the Sydney Observatory Hill for sweeping views of the harbor and the city. Re-tracing our steps we traverse the harbor front with its many ferry wharves. We visit the Sydney Opera House for some close up pictures and continue onward to the Royal Botanic Gardens. When we reach Hyde Park we visit St. Mary’s Cathedral at one end and the ANZAC War Memorial at the other as well as the Archibald Fountain in between. The cathedral is immense – some sections of pews had wall mounted monitors so congregants could see the main altar. We wandered past the Sydney Tower and then through Chinatown and Paddy’s Market, but too early for lunch. One of our goals was to also get to Bondi Beach so we make our way back to the ship to change into swim suits and get some towels. On the way we spend some time browsing in the elegant Queen Victoria Building with its multiple levels of posh shops. We grab a light lunch at the ship, stock up on water and sunscreen and then walk to an adjacent wharf. Our research had shown that we could take a ferry to Watson’s Bay and then pick up a bus to Bondi Beach. We discuss our plan with a friendly young man at the wharf and he talks us out of it. He felt it would be much more time efficient if we instead took a bus on the next block directly to the beach. There would be frequent buses to the beach today as it was the weekend. The urban transit system (buses, light rail, ferry) use either an Opal card which you can add money to, or any modern contactless credit card. So we waited a few minutes for the next bus and watched fellow passengers “tap in” and we did the same. Easy peasy. The bus took about 45 minutes, was air conditioned and not crowded and we easily got a seat. We got a tour of some of the local neighborhoods traveling the city. As we went down the hill of a beachside neighborhood, the large beach (over ½ mile long) was spread out right in front of us. It was jammed with people on this beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon. We “tapped off” as we exited the bus and made our way through the mass of sun worshipers, surfers and swimmers. It would be an exaggeration to call some of the attire “swim suits” they were so tiny. (Both women and men!) It was lovely and relaxing and the water was refreshing. Unfortunately after a while dark clouds started to appear. We were washing up at the restroom when a boom of thunder shook the beach. Serendipitously our bus home had just pulled up so we boarded and got a seat. At that point we were at the opposite end of the beach than where we originally first got off the bus. By the time we got to that bus stop the bus was completely full and packed and many were forced to wait for the next bus. We get alerts from our credit card for international purchases. The bus ride charge was $0.69! (That can’t be right, can it??) Once back at the ship we took a long shower, grazed in the Horizon Court and then decided to watch the sail-away from the comfort of our balcony. Feet up on our foot rests, we sipped some wine and rested. Nature put on a show for us with gigantic bolts of lightning and terrifying crashes of thunder. Not much rain, though. Well, that eventually subsided, but – we were surprised by a totally unexpected and awesome fireworks display over the Sydney Opera House. It lasted about fifteen minutes or so and we could hear all of our neighbors oohing and ahhing. We all cheered and applauded at the end. A splendid ending for a fantastic visit to Sydney. (Unfortunately I still cannot access any of my pictures of the rest of our day in Sydney). 😞

Yes, we really did like Melbourne ! Lovely city and very friendly people. 🙂

The Pub Lunch has been offered a few times in one of the specialty restaurants. There are different food theme nights posted in the patter for the Horizon Court.

Sorry, I inquired about this but did not get an answer that I am confident about. Will try to do some more research for you.

1. Yes, the free shuttle is in both directions. 2. The restaurants and shops we made purchases from all took credit cards (including the crafts fair. But, not all vendors at the fair may take cc). 3. We were in Russell for about two hours. About half the time was walking up to Flagstaff Hill. 4. No, did not see any ATMs but did not look. I would guess they are more likely to be in Paihia and not at Waitangi Port,

Melbourne, Australia Part Two We walked and walked through the CBD (City Business District) and then onward to Queen Victoria Market, a huge indoor/outdoor market. The produce section had fruits and veggies not found in our local Publix supermarket. Nashies? Wombok? Some fresh figs and cold fruit juices refresh us . Around the corner we bump into an Aldi store and are amused that the Vegemite is right next to the “American Style Peanut Butter”. Two very different spreads! We hop on one of the free Melbourne City Circle trams and get off at Parliament House. Sadly the next tour is in two hours, so we head to the nearby Old Treasury Building. The Old Treasury Building is one of the finest examples of 19th century buildings in all of Australia. Inside is a lovely free self-guided history museum. The basement holds bluestone vaults originally designed to hold stockpiles of gold from the gold rush of the 1800s that transformed Melbourne. By late in the afternoon the temperatures are in the mid 90’s although not quite as humid as Florida. Back onboard a cool breeze on the balcony refreshes as we watch a jet-ski perform pirouettes by the beach.

Melbourne, Australia Part One Passengers are advised we all must attend a mandatory passport inspection and there needs to be a zero count on the ship. So everyone off. Assigned times are provided to those with ship excursions and private arrangements as well as those who wish to ultimately stay on board. Our early disembarkation is painless, there was no line and the Border Force agent simply glanced at our passports and paperwork. However, she was very interested in hearing about the world cruise! A free shuttle bus was provided into downtown Melbourne, about 20 minutes away. Unfortunately there was no signage, no clearly defined lines and ultimately chaos as boarding the bus was attempted. Princess needs to work on that. (The return trip was much less dramatic). We walked along the Yarra River to head towards the Royal Botanic Gardens. When one member of the local rowing club saw me watching them and taking pictures he asked if I wanted to row with them. He was serious. Further questioning revealed they would be out for a couple of hours, so I demurred. Thank you for the offer! The gardens were beautiful and very large so we spent a few hours walking through and admiring them. We walked to the Shrine of Remembrance, one of the largest war memorials in Australia, paid our respects, and then continued onto some of the city “laneways”. These are smallish streets with restaurants and shopping. Some were pedestrian only. When we passed the flagship H&M store in the iconic Melbourne GPO building we took a peek inside. Hmm, “New Jersey, United States” t shirts on sale. How unusual. 🙂

Valentine’s Day In the morning there was a very well attended renewal of vows ceremony in the Princess Plaza. Cole gave a nice thought-provoking speech about relationships and love. The Captain read the renewal of vows to the assembled. The Princess Harmony Choir sang some romantic songs and musicians played appropriate music. The ship was decorated all around with red hearts and cupids. Dinner was valentine themed and there were some available up-charge menu items. Pictured is the heart shaped brioche and the beef tournedos and shrimp. A large decorated cake greeted the MDR diners. (Not edible, built on a plastic base!)

Super Bowl LVII Sunday, er Monday My friends and family on the East Coast of the US gathered together at parties in their homes for the 6:30 pm kickoff on Super Bowl Sunday. Passengers on WC2023 assembled by 11:30 am on “Super Bowl Monday” at loungers and tables around the large MUTS (Music Under The Stars) outdoor screen. Since we had crossed the International Date Line we would be watching the live game on a Monday and not Sunday. The weather was sunny but cool with a breeze, so plenty of blankets were in use. There was much jockeying for position to find the ideal spot keeping in mind the sun, the wind, the shade and the viewing angle. Chances are your final seat choice would be yours for the next 3-4 hours. The Sanctuary guests even had their own VIP section cordoned off by velvet ropes. Fancy schmancy. Chiefs and Eagles fans were scattered all around, so cheers, and groans, as the game progressed came from all directions. Pax good naturedly ribbed each other as their chosen team took the lead. The game was broadcast without a hitch on ESPN, although we did not get to view any of the regular network broadcast commercials. The roaming bar staff were busy busy supplying beers and other libations as fans anxiously watched the game. Bags of warm popcorn were handed out as snacks. Some of the cruise entertainment staff dressed in sporting attire. At half-time we made our way to the adjacent Horizon Court buffet for some anticipated Super Bowl themed lunch. Hmm, we discover the theme inside is “English Pub Lunch”. What ??? Not Super Bowl grub at all! Didn’t the kitchen get the memo ?? An indoor SB party, also well attended, was being held down at the Explorers Lounge. Appropriately they were offering tortilla chips with salsa and guac, crudités with dips and chicken wings. Okay, not typical Buffalo style hot wings, but at least they tried. The excitement of the game lasted until the final seconds as we were all on the edge of our seats. Super Bowl at sea – a memorable game in more ways than one!

Waitomo Glow Worm Caves Although, as noted, photography was not permitted, here are some from other sources: https://www.stayatbase.com/new-zealand/photos-of-waitomo-glowworm-caves/ https://www.waitomo.com/glowworms-and-caves/waitomo-glowworm-caves

Tauranga, New Zealand Our original scheduled time in this port was 6:15 am to 8:15 pm. With that in mind, months ago we had arranged a private tour which would take us about 2 ½ hours from the port. However, the night before, an announcement was made that we would now arrive at 8:15 am with all aboard at 5:00 pm. We texted the time changes to the tour operator and they advised adjustments could be made. The tour was billed as maximum 12 people, so we were pleasantly surprised when the small touring van held only one other couple from our ship. Our driver / guide was polite and knowledgeable and a careful driver. Our primary destination was the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves. The glow worms are attached to the ceiling of the cave and use bioluminescence to attract prey. (We learned they are actually maggots, but “glow maggots” does not have the tourist friendly sound of “glow worms”). We passed many farms (mostly cattle – the sheep are more common in other parts of NZ) as we learned of history, geology, political, educational opportunities, etc. It was a pleasant ride with pleasant people. The caves were quite interesting and worth the long trip. We waited a few minutes after arrival and then joined a group of about 20 for a walk down numerous steps to visit various chambers in the cave. Stalactites, stalagmites, water pools and dripping water at each turn. At one stop our Maori guide demonstrated the acoustics and sang us a native song. One feature of this cave is a boat ride to view the main attraction – the glow worms. He pulled us via overhead ropes and soon we entered a pitch black section covered overhead with thousands of blue dots of light. We were cautioned to be quiet and no photography was allowed. It felt like we were floating in a planetarium. As the boat ride eventually ended we were allowed to take a few pix of the exit from the cave. Next on our tour was The Kiwi House. Our guide was concerned about the timing if we stopped for the sit down lunch originally planned. We all agreed to stop at a local café, grab a sandwich and drink, and leave more time for site seeing. At The Kiwi House there were convenient picnic tables so we dined al fresco. The Kiwi House features viewing of the nocturnal kiwis in a natural night time setting. Well, it must have been past their bed-time. We stared and stared into the dimly lit environs to no avail. The only kiwis we saw were the ones provided by the taxidermist in a display at the entrance. Our leisurely trip home used a different route so we were able to stop at a scenic lookout. When we got into town our guide was surprised by the unexpected lack of traffic. So, he continued our tour and showed us Tauranga as well as the beach area.

Auckland, New Zealand Welcome to the City of Sails, home to nearly one third of the population of New Zealand. Additionally there are well over 100,00 yachts, sailboats and marine craft within its harbors. We disembark at Princes Wharf and follow a walking tour with the GPSmyCity app. This app is designed to be used offline and no internet connection is necessary. Some of the locations we visit or view include: Cathedral of Saint Patrick & St. Joseph Sky Tower St. Matthew-in-the-City Auckland Town Hall University of Auckland Clock Tower Albert Park The Government House The Civic Theater Auckland Art Gallery Victoria Park The Auckland Harbour Bridge Late in the day as we walk through the Wynyard Quarter in the harbor, we stumble upon a TV show filming. We are encouraged to line up to enjoy “free food” as an episode of “My Kitchen Rules” is wrapping up. This is a popular Australian cooking competition show. The chefs have been judged and now samples of their creations are available to the public. Auckland was a great port - we appreciated the friendly residents and the unrushed pace. However we did not anticipate the changes in street elevation as we made our way to the sites. We spend our last few hours relaxing by the harbor with a cold drink and give our feet a rest.

Bay of Islands, New Zealand The tender drops us off at the Waitangi Wharf and we are greeted by visitor ambassadors. Unlike most of the other ports where we are told “it is too far” or “take a cab” our query about walking into town is greeted with great enthusiasm. There is a free shuttle bus available, but we follow the directions for the 20 minute walk into Paihia. Along the way we visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the historic site of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi between the British and the Maori, a founding document for the country. In Paihia we purchase tickets for the small ferry to Russell, New Zealand’s first seaport and first capital. I sit adjacent to the friendly captain, but am a little disconcerted by the reminder on the windshield to repair the water pump! Russell is a lovely town for strolling and, feeling ambitious, we hike up Flagstaff Hill for views of the Bay of Islands. The hike starts easy enough along the road, passing lovely homes, but then leads to many steps upward and finally a rocky dirt path, so we certainly got our daily exercise. Back in town we browse the shops on The Strand and peruse the Duke of Marlborough restaurant menu – New Zealand’s first licensed establishment. It is a little early for lunch so we continue onward. Although Russell was nicknamed “Hell Hole of the Pacific” in the 1800s due to its popularity with sailors on shore leave, we find its streets charming. I read that in the 19th century it was described as “lawless and bawdy”. Back in Paihia a lively craft market catches DW’s eye. So we survey the offerings at the booths, chat with the vendors and contribute to the local economy. There are many more stores and casual eateries in Paihia. A light lunch of shared fish and chips along with some Australian ginger beer is enjoyed outdoors in the park. After walking back to Waitangi, we are met with a very long line for the return tender. Drats. On a bright note, in the early evening the Island Princess passed alongside the "Hole in the Rock" in Cape Brett. A boat trip through it earlier today was a popular excursion for many of our fellow passengers.

Itinerary change Cyclone Gabrielle is headed towards New Zealand, so Captain Rikard Lorentzen announced last night that unfortunately there will be some changes to our itinerary. Our upcoming New Zealand ports of Picton, Wellington and New Plymouth have all been cancelled. We will have a few sea days before heading to the newly added substitute port of Melbourne, Australia