This cruise is the replacement for our Mediterranean cruise planned for our 50th wedding anniversary this year.
4pm - We are sailing !! Got away right on time and the Bay looks smooth. Will see how we go when we turn right up near Caloundra and then head South.
Boarding was very easy - took us about 10 minutes from when we arrived at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal door at 11:00am to getting on board. The cabin was ready so we moved right in and our luggage arrived by 1pm. So we are unpacked and just watching the land slide by.
Our friends Graeme and Kathy are about 6 or 7 cabins down from us and we will be meeting them for 5 OClock Wine OClock before heading to dinner at 6pm.
A day at sea tomorrow sailing down the NSW coast and arriving at Eden near the NSW / Victorian border on Sunday morning.
Dinner in the Bordeaux Dining Room. Quality of food was average but staff were very attentive and helpful.
Smooth sailing overnight with only slight movement in the water. The bed and pillows are Good nights sleep - over 7 hours for me !! Up at 5:45am and got ready for a walk on the deck but the wind and spray made that so retreated to a quiet area and just did the floor exercises.
Breakfast in the a la carte Bordeaux Dining Room instead of the buffet in an attempt to get a table for two and reduce the exposure to colds, flu and Covid. No such luck !!! Everyone was trying the same trick and we could only get a shared table. The confirmed the reason we go go cruising - what an amusing group and a hoot !! In particular,there was an 80yo mother, Una, travelling with her 40ish daughter, Tara. First cruise for Tara and apparently she made a mess of herself on Day 1 with 5 Margaritas through the afternoon and evening. As it happened, the other couple at the table, David and Sandy, were in the same lift at the end of the evening with Tara
and had to help her on her way to find her cabin. Just as we were leaving, another couple from the table beside us congratulated Tara on her performance last night too !! Obviously she enjoyed her start to the cruise.
Sea day today. Mostly overcast and strong wind blowing across the deck so there wont be much outdoor activity.
Went to the Port Lecture for Eden. It has a population of about 3,500 and, apparently, has one of the deepest harbours in Australia. With the construction of wharfage about 5 years ago, it will allow us to go alongside instead of having to tender ashore. In days gone by, it was a large whaling centre. We are in port from 10am - 8pm and I read somewhere there is a Sunday market. Not sure how many passengers are going to still be in the throbbing metropoli of Eden on a Sunday evening for fine dining or even the local Chinese !!
Everyone seems to be obeying the mask rule and is covered up unless they are at a table and eating or drinking.
at the front of the ship. On most other ships the buffet restaurant is located at the back. Observed dolphins following the ship.
Quiet afternoon reading and watching TV. The wind is increasing dramatically - now at 30 knots and buffeting the side of the ship - we can feel the wind gusts.
Drinks in Explorers Lounge before heading to dinner at Sabatinis, the Italian Specialty Restaurant. $25 per person but good food and good service. Ate too much though !!
We are currently off Woolongong (9pm) and the seas have picked up - definitely more movement and wind tonight. But it is still not rough.
Now docked in Eden (10am) - sun shining but cold outside. Was 3 degrees on arrival but warming up to a balmy 10 degrees at the moment with an expected high of 13 degrees.
Looks exactly what it is professed to be - a small fishing harbour and village. Going ashore after the initial rush at about 11 am.
a kilometre into the township up a longish hill. Easy walking but uphill on the way in. Free shuttle buses were provided all day but the older and disabled passengers were the main users.
Eden did live up to its reputation - but it is still a nice little town.
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