Australia Day Weekend Cruise on P & O Pacific Pearl
The most unusual style of cruise we have EVER experienced! There are several reasons; a couple I won't go into but a three day cruise where passports were not required attracted a different demographic passenger from the other cruises. For most passengers it was party time from the time they boarded the ship to about Sunday afternoon when the seas became reasonably rough and the paper bags came out!
The ship left Sydney's Barangaroo Wharf about 4pm on Friday afternoon, sailed out under that world famous 'coat hanger style bridge' The Sydney Harbour Bridge, past the Opera House, through the remainder of the harbour before passing the 'Heads' to a little choppy, open water. I should have had an idea of how a lot of the passengers would cope with any type of seas apart from mill pond…..there were the excuses like the food is too rich, or I have had too much to drink and I am feeling a 'little off'. The ship stayed out in open water till very early morning before sailing back into the harbour. We woke on Saturday morning (Australia Day) to see we had tied to Athol Buoy, just about 50 metres off the shoreline of Tauranga Park Zoo.
DH and I come from a different state from NSW, where we celebrate Australia Day in a more sedate fashion. I knew we were in for a lively commemoration day when we stepped out from our cabin to see several passengers walking past dressed in Australian flags, stickers and stick on tattoos on their faces and exposed body parts. By the time we arrived at the buffet for breakfast, we realised practically all the passengers on board were enthusiastically adorned in Australian decoration clothing. There were hats, wiggly head bands, wigs, shorts, t-shirts, sunglasses, jewellery, dresses, swimming attire and anything else sporting the Australian Flag, colours or Boxing Kangaroo.
The ships' crew had bunting, balloons or streamers adorning many parts of the entertainment venues. A metre wide cake in the shape of Australia had been placed on display at the entrance to the restaurant.
The day's events were themed around celebrating Australia Day. Pie eating, thong throwing and water volleyball competitions, Bogan trivia, Aussie style BBQ on the pool deck and many more. The ship was in prime position on the harbour to observe the activities organised by Sydney's Australia Day Committee. We were lucky to be invited onto our friends' portside balcony to observe the various water events, with of course, a strawberry Daiquiri in hand. The Ferryathon started off the first of the water events. A number of Sydney's private ferries had a race from Fort Dennison around Shark Bay and returning back under the Harbour Bridge. This event attracted a variety of launches and speed boats to motor what looked like as close as they could to the ferries without colliding.
A fly over of Hornets, 21 gun salute near Mrs Macquarie's Point, a competition of the best dressed vessel on the harbour, a regatta of up to 700 sailing craft participating in scores of races and special events, even a barge set up for a concert sailed past the ship pushed by a tug! Mid-afternoon we viewed a Tall Ships Race. The Pacific Pearl sounded its horn to mark the start the race for Southern Swan, Soren Larsen, Bark Endeavour, James Craig and the RAN"s Young Endeavour. Wow, we were certainly in prime position to watch these impressive historic ships sail past.
By about 7pm three tug boats pushed or guided the ship to the Darling Harbour wharf we had left 24 hours before, to take advantage of the prime position to view the fire work display at 9pm. Obviously it must have been cheaper and safer to use the tugs rather than start up the engines of the ship to sail the short distance to Darling Harbour.
Saturday night was a beautiful warm balmy night, which allowed the passengers to party up on deck to guest performer Jessica Mauboy and her entourage while the sun set on Sydney. After Jessica had finished her show, we headed to the aft of the ship to view the fireworks. I must acknowledge we were a considerable distance from the action but our view was not abstracted. DH and I stayed at the aft of the ship after most passengers headed back to the dance party on the top deck and we settled down to a newly vacated table and chairs. It was here we enjoyed the night views of Sydney Harbour's Luna Park, Bridge, Opera House, passing ferries and waterside buildings as the ship sailed through the harbour once again to head out to open water. We only stirred from our awe struck position when the coastline reseeded into the darkness and the fresh sea air drove us back inside to adjourn to our cabin for the night.
During the night a low band of weather had moved closer to Sydney which caused fairly high seas and rain. By mid-morning the Captain announced he was waiting to receive special permission from the Sydney Harbours Board to seek shelter back in the harbour for the rest of the day. It wasn't until late afternoon the ship was able to turn north again into the worsening weather conditions and then sail into the harbour late that night. I saw a lot of passengers walking around with open paper bags in their clutch……and I wonder how many passengers had stayed in their cabins during this time. This is the worst thing about cruising and for some can make their holidays a nightmare. I know there were several hours on each of my first two cruises on the old ship Fairstar which had me thinking we had wasted our money. We had scrimped saved to pay for an experience I was not enjoying. But as anyone who is reading this blog will know I have not been deterred and I think will say cruising is a great way to holiday.
We woke on Monday morning to see the ship docked at Circular Quay with a view of the Opera House from our cabin window. Talk about wow factor!
