On our way, six bags, two hand luggage (110kg), two wheelchairs and Anne and yours truly, picked up by Maxicab (thanks Pierre) from Basement 1.
Sailaway from our Balcony
Bass Strait Oil Rigs between us and the Victorian coastline
First walk along the promenade deck (note I did not say around the deck), too cool and windy on the other side
Dinner in the dining room, table of 8, at a window so we have table with a view.
First formal tonight, champagne tower, crew executive introduction and Captain’s speech.
While meeting the Captain he commented about my bow tie “should get flashing bow ties for all the crew”
Itinerary change, we are spending an overnight and morning in Melbourne to help us avoid the worst of the seas in the bight, see swell map below.
Melbourne sparkled this morning as we sailed into Port Philip Bay
Day 3 Monday 22nd May 2017 Melbourne
Enjoyed Federation Square and a coffee before Gallery Exhibition
Next walked along the river and stopped for a small thickshake at $7.80 each, they saw us coming.
Full bus so I rode chair backwards will Anne enjoyed a normal seat.
Hard to imagine how big Port Philip Bay is, here we are about half way across with Melbourne disappearing into the Horizon
Need to see this sign more often on the Promenade Deck (code for need to do more walking).
Pre dinner drinks
Windy and cold with a rolling swell so not much time outside
Cheese and Glutton (sorry meant Gluten) free crackers for lunch
I do not know the correct term for this swell, we can see a swell that is rolling probably 3-4 metres height that we are crossing at about a 30 deg angle
Second load of washing ready to go
Still rough and jerky so wheelchair to breakfast
Kevin to cards then Anne to Pop Choir
First visit to see her long lost friend JIM (GYM).
Left ship at 9am and caught the train into Perth (30 minute trip).
Did some shopping, had coffee then off to the Craft and Quilt Fair.
Back to Fremantle, stock up at Coles on water, shampoo etc before back on the ship to make use of our last Telstra phone and Internet for many weeks
Compulsory, Abandon Ship practice, unpacked, yes we found a place for everything.
Quickly back into cruise mode, breakfast in the dining room at a shared table of 8, two younger ones, (30s) going just to Melbourne, older couple on their 6th full World Cruise, and a couple going to Dover on their first Princess Cruise.
Church 8:30am
Kevin to 9:30am cards
Coffee (Caramel Lattes)
Fruit for lunch.
Day 2 Sunday 21st May 2017 Sydney
Sunset at 5pm from our balcony
Bus into the Art Precinct and Van Goof Exhibition
Tram back to the boat arriving home around 2:30 from our 9am start.
Dinner and then our first show, a Neil Diamond impersonator, very good.
That ends a day where the Melbourne weather shone as we wait for the swell in the bight and head to Fremantle tomorrow.
New wheelchair worked out great, Kevin did 17,000 steps keeping up with Anne who at last count for the day just missed 12 pedestrians who stepped across her path.
Day 4 Tuesday 23rd May 2017
Melbourne till 11am then at sea
Kevin did a quick IGA walk for last supplies before we left at 11am. It will take until 2:30pm before we drop off the pilot and turn right for Fremantle.
Last regular posting as depending how close to the coast we travel, we may not have Telstra until we are near Fremantle
Tomorrow’s swell map.
Dolphins escorting us out of the bay
Stormy weather ahead
Day 5 Wednesday 24th May 2017
At sea
Hope the Captain knows we did not take the overland route from Sydney to Melbourne as shown on the TV map.
Dinner, clocks back an hour, Kevin went to the show and Anne had an early night.
As we cross the Australian Bight, we have a 3 metre swell and Anne is back to a wheelchair to get around.
Below pictures of the pool early this morning before it was drained.
Kevin played cards then unfolded wheelchair for Pop Choir and a quick walk along the deck
Anne will walk more once the seas calm down.
Dinner tonight
Message from Captain
Warning to be careful moving around tomorrow morning as we a hitting another front.
Day 6 Thursday 25th May 2017
At sea
Breakfast as usual in the dining room, Kevin to Cards and then Anne to Pop Choir (I counted a 100 singers)
Day 7 Friday 26th May 2017
At sea
Dinner, clocks back an hour tonight, Kevin enjoyed the ventriloquist show
Day 8 Saturday 27th May 2017
Fremantle
New chair is a great pack horse with stores from Coles. Why??
Big 1.5 litre bottles of water 70 cents in Coles, 600 ml water on board $3 each
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