28-Night Round Australia Cruise

Sydney & Embarkation

Tuesday, 11 Nov 2014 – Yes, we have departed for ANOTHER cruise.  This time, we’re sailing on the Diamond Princess from Sydney, clockwise around Australia, back to Sydney again, with stops in Hobart (Tasmania), Melbourne, Adelaide, Albany, Margaret River, Fremantle/Perch, Bali (Indonesia), Darwin, Port Douglas, Airlie Beach, and Brisbane. 

It all started about 4:20 AM at home on Tuesday.  The previous evening, Jesse discovered he could not reserve our seats on the Qantas flight from Los Angeles to Sydney without paying $25.00 dollars extra for each seat until the last 24 hours before the flight.  He finally went to bed.  At 4:20 AM, now within the 24 hours, he tried again.  However, the system would not allow him to reserve seats because of a discrepancy between the way Princess cruises had our names on the airline reservations (i.e., “Jessewendell Ivy”) and the names on our passports.  We finally gave up until we could check in at the Peoria airport.

Although Sally worried that we wouldn’t be able to sit together for the 14 hour 40 minute flight from Los Angeles to Sydney, it worked out okay.  That was good news!  Also, when we went online in Peoria, more good news:  a message from Princess announced that we had received an upgrade to a balcony cabin!!  We had been contenting ourselves with only having a window.

For our journey, our three flights were all on time, and we managed to make it to all gates on time!  We departed Peoria at 5:37 PM, and landed at Dallas/Ft. Worth by 7:30 PM.  After landing there, we soon started walking to the next gate, which was very far away.   However, soon the driver of a “Handicapped Only” airport transport vehicle asked us if we would like a ride.  Of course, we did!   (Sally remarked that her age must be showing, but sometimes that’s a good thing!  She was already very tired.)  When we arrived at the next gate, the plane was already loading.  That plane took off at 9:12 PM for a 2 hour 25 minute flight to Los Angeles.

We landed at LAX at 10:00 PM (Pacific Time) and found a sign that directed us to the Qantas flight shuttle.  We found that place, showed our passports & tickets, and then waited for a few minutes for the shuttle to the international flight terminal.  But the shuttle didn’t take us anywhere close to our plane; we had to walk a long way (it seemed like a mile) to the specified gate.  Jesse suggested that we try to “look old” (which we did, anyway); however, since no handicapped vehicles were nearby, we had to push ahead – walking by gates occasionally, by a shopping center, on to more gates, etc.

Our seats were okay on this long flight.  We had aisle and middle seats, with an Aussie man sitting by the window.  As soon as we boarded the plane, Sally took her “sleep meds” and we shared a few cashew nuts with the non-alcoholic drinks that the airline provided.  At 12:15 AM Pacific time (Wednesday), the plane departed.  Then, when Sally was already half asleep, the attendant came by with menus; they were going to serve us supper!  We were hungry, and it was a good hot meal.  During the next 14 hours 40 minutes, we were in flight until landing in Sydney, Australia at 9:17 AM (Thursday – we had skipped through Wednesday).  Even Sally slept at least 6 hours, but kept waking up whenever her neck had a kink in it, which was frequent.  Jesse watched movies most of the time, sleeping through parts of them.  Sally was sleeping fairly soundly at about 6:30 AM Pacific  Time when the Aussie man wanted to get out.  (We got up to walk to the back of the plane at least 5 times during the flight.)  After that, we were awake for a while, and Sally tried watching a movie (but couldn’t understand much of it without having closed captions), which finally put her to sleep again.  Eventually, hot breakfast was served, and we landed at 9:17 AM (Australian Time, Thursday) to face long customs lines in the airport.  Finally, we took a taxi to the hotel.  (The driver had immigrated to Australia in 1999 from the Burma area; he said it was a problem to get used to driving on the left side of the road here – and the traffic was scary for us to watch.

When we arrived at the hotel at 11:30 AM, we registered and left our luggage.  Needing to kill some time until the 2:00 PM check-in time, we walked up the street about a block to a small café.  We had thought we might split a lunch (though we weren’t really hungry) and then relax over beers until after 1:00.  However, after Jesse ordered at the bar and found the cost for two beers was $10.20AUD, we didn’t have food – just the beers.  At 1:15 PM, we walked back the hotel and were able to get into our room.  This was the same hotel where we stayed in 2012, but this time we paid more to get a larger room; it was more comfortable and had a small refrigerator and coffee maker. 

By then, Sally’s legs were so tired and achy that she didn’t know if she could walk to a restaurant for dinner.  But after getting cleaned up, taking four ibuprofen, and lying down for a half hour, Sally felt she could survive a walk to a restaurant to satisfy her hunger. 

Before starting on our walk, Jesse had used the desk phone to call our Aussie friends that we met on a cruise last year.  Although her husband (Dennis) would be working during the day on Friday, Niona would be stopping by our hotel at 11:30 AM, Friday. 

Jesse said he remembered how to get to Chinatown and that it wasn’t that far away.  We couldn’t take the free “Green bus” at the corner as we did 2 years ago because the route has changed and now that bus goes down a street at least two blocks away.  After deciding that finding the bus line and then a bus stop might take longer than walking, we took off walking… and walking… and walking.  Sally had questioned all along whether we were headed in the right direction, but Jesse kept insisting that he knew the way.  Finally, we stopped and asked a man for directions to Chinatown.  He pointed back the way we had come and then off at an angle!  So, we turned around and retraced most of our steps.  Although Sally usually walks faster than Jesse, this time she kept telling Jesse, “Slow down!!!”  Anyway, we finally found an inexpensive Chinese restaurant, where we ate our dinner.  (We’re almost positive that we ate at that place two years ago.)

On our return walk, we bought breakfast supplies for three mornings (cereal, milk, juice) at a nearby convenience store (cost was $34.00AUD).  There didn’t seem to be any restaurants in the area that served breakfast.
 

Australian Mounted Police

So, Friday morning we had breakfast, coffee, and tea in the room, and straightened up some of the room for the cleaning staff.  We also watched the Aussie news channel (which presents much more “world news” than American news channels, with less repetition and no commercials).  The main topic now was the opening of the big meeting in Brisbane, Australia, where President Obama and other world leaders were gathering for the G20 summit.  It was a big deal, of course, though the Aussies usually downplay things, just the opposite of Americans.
 

Jesse Fantasizing

Niona arrived at our hotel at 11:15 AM and called us from the lobby.  It was unusually hot (33 C or 91.4 F, or more) in Sydney because the wind was blowing from the hot interior.  We had thought Niona was going to drive into the city, but she had taken the train.  Then we walked quite a distance with her, all three of us wearing hats, which helped a little in the heat.  Niona pointed out some of the sights, including fancy stores decorated already for Christmas.  We rode the escalator in one of them, with lots of lit Christmas trees on both sides.   For lunch, we ate at a food court, where there was food from various countries (including McDonalds).  We all ate Japanese while we sat and talked.  Although Niona had intended to walk more, it was hot outdoors and we enjoyed just sitting there, talking.  She is very knowledgeable about American politics. 

Niona remarked that Sydney is expensive.  She said most people who live here make good salaries/wages; however, because housing is very expensive, most people live in apartments.  (It sounds something like Seattle.)  In general, people here seem to be better off than in the USA.  She said that about 9 out of 10 Australians have passports, which seems surprising.   And, as in most other developed countries, they care more about the welfare of their people than in the US.  But they have their problems, too. 
 

Japanese Restaurant

Niona had planned to visit her mother in the afternoon, so she left for the train about 2:30 PM; we walked back to the hotel, where we watched more news coverage of the G20 Summit.  Later, we walked across the street to a tiny Japanese restaurant for dinner.  Though somewhat expensive side ($30.60AUD), it was wonderful food and probably worth the experience.  Except for us, the restaurant was empty, while the “Backpackers” Restaurant next door had a waiting list. (Not sure what’s up with that!)  We were in bed by 10:00 PM.

Sally awoke up about 5:30 AM on Saturday and Jesse was up by 6:30 AM.  We had both awoke the first time at 3:30 AM or so, but went back to sleep.  We had breakfast, coffee, and tea, and watched more news coverage of the G20 Summit.  It appears that President Obama is very highly regarded in Australia.
 

Cronulla Beach

About noon, Niona and her husband, Dennis, arrived at our hotel.  Dennis drove us to Cronulla, where they treated us to lunch and we took a short walk along the beach.  At first, the temperature was cooler than forecast (because it had rained earlier), so that we were a little cool in our shorts and short-sleeved shirts.  Afterwards, Dennis dropped us off at our hotel, where we continued watching more news coverage of the G20 Summit.

For dinner, we settled for “Mama Cups” from the convenience store across the street.  Although neither of us was hungry, we knew that we would be later if we skipped dinner.  Since we were both very tired, we were in bed by 9:00 PM.

We awoke Sunday morning about 7:30 AM, finished off our breakfast supplies, and packed our suitcases, barely making our 10:00 AM check-out time.  The hotel agreed to store our luggage until 1:00 PM, so we found our way to George Street, where we quickly boarded the Green (free) bus going (in the wrong direction for us!) to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.  Within five minutes or so, the bus driver announced that it was his last stop and that we would need to exit the bus.  When we told him our destination, he directed us to the Green bus going the opposite direction.  Since Australians drive on the left side of the road, directions are even more confusing than normal to us.

We made it to St. Patrick’s for the 11:00 AM Mass.  Although the priest sounded American, we didn’t have an opportunity to meet him.  Masses on Sunday morning were every hour on the hour, so we’re sure he was getting ready for the next Mass.
 

Diamond Princess

On our way back to the Green bus line, we stopped by the pier (Circular Quay) and took photos of our ship.  We also took a short video of an Aborigine playing a long, tube-shaped instrument (didgeridoo?).  (Sally didn’t think he looked like an Aborigine.)  After that, we boarded a Green bus and were back at the hotel by 1:00 PM.

We took a taxi from the hotel to the cruise terminal.  Although it was a short ride to the pier, we had to wait in line at the terminal to unload our luggage.  Slowly the meter clicked up from $15.00AUD to $34.00AUD as we waited our turn.  About 1:30 PM we dropped off our luggage, completed the health forms, and then waited in line until the 2:00 PM boarding time.

By 2:30 PM, we were onboard the ship and all but one suitcase had already been delivered to our cabin.  Our cabin steward, Zaldy, from the Philippines, introduced himself and went over the extra benefits that we would be receiving as Elite passengers (our first time), including a free mini-bar setup and free laundry and dry cleaning.  By then, we were very hungry, so we went immediately to the Horizon Court.   Although of course we had intended to have light lunch, instead we enjoyed our first feast onboard the ship.  A friendly Aussie couple sat at the table next to ours – Mick and Pat, from Melbourne.

Our cabin is in a prime location.  Horizontally, it is mid-ship, and very close to the central stairs/elevators so that we don’t have to walk the distance of a football field from either a forward or aft cabin to that central area.  And we are on Baja deck (deck 11), which is only three decks directly below Horizon Court on the Lido deck (deck 14), where we eat breakfast and lunch – and also where the main pools and Ice cream counter are located.  How convenient!

When we returned to our cabin after lunch, our last piece of luggage had been delivered to our cabin; we took turns unpacking our suitcases and resting.  Since we were both very tired from the day’s activities, we relaxed in our cabin until the 7:15 PM muster drill.

The muster drill didn’t seem to be very organized this time.  After being directed to the appropriate large room, we waited for quite a while before it started; then there were long pauses between announcements and instructions.  On our previous cruise on the Caribbean Princess, veteran cruisers were not required to carry life vests to the room – and the entire procedure lasted about 20 minutes as opposed to 45 minutes this time.

After the muster drill, we went to the Vivaldi Dining Room for dinner, where we shared a table with Val and Marko, from Auckland, New Zealand; and Pat and Glen, from Brisbane, Australia.  Val and Marko were originally from South Africa, but have lived in Auckland for the last 15 years.  This is only their third cruise.  She was in a wheel chair during their first cruise, after falling and breaking her ankle a week earlier.  Glen has actually visited Iowa!  He spent a couple of weeks in Sioux City, Iowa, and also made a brief visit to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

After dinner, we stopped by the Wheelhouse Bar and danced to a couple of songs by the Soul Wave.  We danced one Fox Trot and one Cha Ch; then, still very tired, we returned to our cabin and were both asleep by 10:45 PM.