Day 7 Australia Day

Australia Day 26th January 2020 (Day 7)

Our ship is full, 2200 passengers! not one spare cabin available for emergency occupation. I get the feeling all maintenance and repairs are attended to without delay. I reported our hairdryer as not heating sufficiently. The fans worked but not all the heating elements were working. I rang maintenance and within 5 minutes I had a knock at the door from security who then contacted whoever (?) and 5 minutes later I had a standby hairdryer to use, and the wall mounted one was repaired that night. Friends of ours on deck 11 had their section of cabins without water for a couple of hours but the repair fixed and a gift of (….) given for the inconvenience.

The theatre seems to be always full 30 minutes before a show, especially if it is a production. I went down to the Destination Expert presenting Singapore in the morning but it was standing room only 10 minutes before time. When we had rough weather we found it difficult to find a seat in and around the Atrium, probably because everyone had been confined inside, but now we have flat seas and warm days a lot of passengers are well and truly spread around the ship, resulting in a better chance in finding an empty seat. One of the restaurants is used in the mornings for Knitters and Knatters, Card Players (Bridge, 500, canasta), Mah-jong and board games, so this is where I head to meet up with over a dozen Mah-jong players.  It is surprising how many groups are gathered. It is not only the restaurant that is the venue for people playing cards. I walk around the ship a find many tables located in various decks surrounded with people playing their game of choice.

I am not sure how many people play Bingo but when we arrive to play Trivia, which is early to secure a group of seats for our team, the Vista Lounge is full within 5 minutes of commencement. There are also some really clever smarties who don’t take their hands down at the end of the game when indicating their score!

Australia Day Celebration kicked off around the pool area. Princess had a Beer and Wine Garden where passengers can spend $36 buying a token to purchase 6 drinks from 12 noon to 4pm. There was a section of Australian wines and Beers. Also an Australian BBQ for lunch and lots of funny games. Instead of horse racing they had Roo Racing; they had a pie eating competition and a Pavlova eating competition. The DJ had Australian music playing to help create the scene. A lot of passengers had Australian flags either draped over them or incorporated in the clothing. DH and I had an Australian themed cloth hat on to get into the mood of the day.

Another happy and fun day.

                             Photo taken from ship's cam. showing lovely flat seas.

                                                         Our position today.

                                          Everyone playing Bridge and Mah-jong.

                                                         Knit and Knatters

                                                                    Roo racing

                                                     Pie eating competition

                    Deck dressed up for Australi Day, Beer and Wine Marquees nearby.