Singapore 30th January 2020

Day 11 Thursday 30 January 2020 Singapore

Weather wise, today has been a good day to visit this usually hot and humid country. The temperature is still warm to hot but a gentle breeze fanned this clean modern city, keeping the humidity to a minimum.

We headed out to catch the MRT (underground train service) to Little India. The underground transport is beautifully air conditioned and easy to navigate. We changed lines Dhoby Ghaut to travel onto Little India. A cost of SGD2 each.

We checked out the Veeramakakiamman Temple where worshippers rang little brass bells on entering. DH and B ventured in but R and I waited outside. Those entering needed to be barefoot and as I had been to similar temples considered I could see as much from the entrance as going in. The colourful statues of animals and people decorating the facades of this Hindu Temple stood out to the backdrop of the high rise buildings built around. The temple is dedicated the wife of Shiva who Hindus believe destroys ignorance and protects by maintaining world order.  By now we were looking for a cool spot to recharge in order to continue for the day. It was about 10.45am and most of the little restaurants in the area were just setting up but we managed to talk a restaurant owner to sell us a Tiger Beer which we shared whilst sitting in a shaded outdoor seating area.

Back on the train for Chinatown. SGD 1.80 each. We had an interesting walk around the shops before heading to a Hawkers Corner type eating area where most of the locals eat. This week is Chinese New Year so the streets here were decorated in a lot of red and gold. We spoke with a local gentleman who is a pilot for Singapore Airlines who described his life to us and an interesting point he made was that Singapore is an expensive place to live. We found there is a 10% tax and a 7% GST on food and beverages.

Our last train trip took us to Bayfront, the station for Marina Sands Hotel. Train cost SGD 1.80 each. We headed to the First Tower where we ascended 57 floors to the Italian Restaurant on top. Once there we enjoyed a coffee and magnificent views. The best scenic spot for Singapore and I think a little known venue.

By this time of the day we all decided to catch a taxi back to the ship. Singapore is famous for its inexpensive taxis so when we were charged SGD55 for the short ride we all nearly fell over backwards…….what? The car we caught was signed as a taxi but it was actually a chauffeur van with a minimal cost of SGD55.  OMG we won’t be caught again with that! We were so careful in saving on costs then BAMM. I will say no more!

To top off our day, we sat on the ship’s back deck 11 which overlooked to skyline of Singapore. The sun had set and a gentle breeze circulated around our deckchairs. We quaffed our wine while we waited for the city’s Chinese New Year fireworks to start. It was just perfect.

29th January 2020

                               This is the view from our obstructed view cabin.

Note the beautiful calm seas. 

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.

Day Six, 25th January 2020

Day six.  First day after Fremantle, WA

Our sailing conditions today have been ideal. I walked the Promenade Deck for 30 minutes before heading down to the International café for a coffee then back to the cabin to drink with our delivered cereal and fruit. I have tried the coffee which is included with our breakfast but prefer the bought stuff. (Of course).

Today I headed to the Mah-jong playing area and joined a dozen or so other friendly ladies. Princess provide the sets for Mah-jong but after inspection we found quite a few cases were missing tiles, but managed to compile 3 complete sets. It looks like on sea days my mornings will be busy playing Mah-jong. Who Hoo!

Then I headed to join beginners Ukulele classes. The guitarist from the ship’s band is running the classes. This is not my first attempt to learn but consider all I had been taught has somehow got lost. This also looks like I will be involved in Ukulele lessons for the whole cruise; again classes are on sea days. You never know, I might learn something!

6pm this evening the ship held Memorial Service for the 645 sailors who lost their lives on the HMS Sydney in 1942, all the crew members of the ship. This accounted for a third of the sailors who lost their lives during WW2. At the time of the service we were sailing 12 kilometres west of the wreck.
Then before dinner DH and I drank our free champagne (?) served to the passengers for the Captain’s Welcome address. The usual champagne glass pyramid didn’t get many people pouring champagne, so few of the glasses filled. I think we are becoming blaze’ as long term cruisers!

                                                        Formal Night 'glad bags'

                                                      Service for the HMS Sydney

The back of the ship decorated for the service.

Service program.

Champagne Waterfall for the Formal night.

Day 5 Fremantle, Western Australia

Friday 24th January 2020

Fremantle. Western Australia

Last night I kept asking DH if we were actually sailing. After the rockin’ and rollin’ of the past couple of days and nights, the calm seas we were sailing in seemed sur-real. No staggering around the cabin and in the bathroom. Gee, we became so conscientious of closing drawers and wardrobe drawers for fear of crashing into them, the cabin looked very neat and tidy.

Thank goodness today turned out to be picture perfect, slight breeze, sunny and calm seas, just ideal for our trip to Rottnest Island. Our good friends booked our ferry and bus tour on the island for us over 2 months ago, Thank you to them. The ferry left from Shed B, just about 500 metres from the ship’s terminal. A shuttle bus provided by the City of Fremantle, took us from the terminal to the front of the railway station. Some passengers caught the electric train to Perth from here, or walked to the Maritime Museum of Ship Wrecks, or in our case, a short walk to where the ferry left for Rottnest Island.

The ferry took 30 minutes to cross to the island. Once arriving at the jetty we joined the crowd of tourists, most of them walking with their own bikes, to the little settlement of shops and accommodation. The main form of transport is either a shuttle bus (for people using the accommodation), tour bus to see the sights, Segway or bike riding. Generally people rode bikes, either their own or hired. There were whole families riding along the single lane bitumen roads, enjoying the scenery and stopping to look at the wild Quockers, sometimes on the way to swim and snorkel at one of the pristine beaches.

We were interested to see a lot of private launches moored in little protected bays around the island. Then of course the penny dropped….it is Friday, just before the Australia Day Long Weekend AND the last day of the school holidays. The weather is ideal. Lucky people. BUT then who is going on a 55 day cruise around the Indian Ocean?.....derrr.

Our trip back to the mainland on the ferry was uneventful and our walk to the cruise terminal, I am sure, saw us on the ship earlier than if we walked over to the train station to catch to free shuttle.
On arrival most of the new passengers embarking here in Fremantle were on board and about to attend the compulsory Muster Station Lecture. The ship is buzzing with excitement.

Internet is really slow so I will post photos at a later date.

                                  Boardwalk at North West Cape on Rottnest Island

Mini Admiral's Arch

                                                               Clear blue waters

If we travelled due west (which is behind us) we would end up in South Africia!

Lighthouse on island, 45 metres above sea level and one of the second highest                                                   lighthouses in the Southern Hemisphere.

Single lane road with bike riders visible in distance.

                                            Osprey nest, one of two on the island.

          Apparently the moorings for Rottnest Island are owned by the boat owner.
No one can moor in an unmarked area, this is a measure taken t protect the sea weed.

One od many ship wrecks on the island's coastline. This one is ideal for snorklers
                                                         as it close to the shore.

                                                            Two hansome men.

Many bikes which are taken off the ferry. Though a lot of passengers take along their                                                                             own.

                                                      Two beautiful ladies.

Rough Seas in Great Australian Bight

First day sailing started well,  then.....

Our first day started with a 45 minute walk around deck 7 then breakfast in our cabin before a soak in the back pool. However after about 30 mins in the pool the weather became cooler and windy, short cutting my swim/soak. 

By late morning the seas turned choppy and the skies became grey. 

The day before we were due to arrive in Bussleton, we were informed our scheduled port visit was cancelled due to unsafe sea conditions. Bummer, we had to cancel our Avis rental and missed out on seeing some lovely coastline and a visit to a local winery or two.

Our cabin is towards the front of the ship and it was the first time our beds 'lifted' when we were in bed when the ship sailed through some high waves, some more than 8 metres or maybe more. The ship shuddered constantly over a 24 hour period. 

We still managed not to miss anything on board, but hey, hopping across the cabin floor whilst dressing was tricky.

Countdown........10 more sleeps!

Lists, lists, lists and more.....tick, tick

My 'To Do' lists are slowly getting smaller. Our excitement on the other hand is getting stronger.

We have booked through a larger travel agent this time, and they hosted a meet and mingle for passengers sailing on our cruise.  We were given an update on Princess' management on the Sun Princess, most of which we have been aware of via an internet site called Cruise Critic. Like us, the people we met had also booked on the first day to cruise was opened. 

We intend to carry-on 3 cartons of beautiful South Australia wines which we will be paying corkage on of $15 per bottle. Still cheaper than paying the ship's prices for a decent bottle of wine. Also maybe an extra suitcase....all the luxury of embarking our cruise in our home port of Adelaide. No extra luggage to deal with when flying into a different embarkation port, like Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. Woo Hoo.

Now we have the last of our appointments, hair dresser, podiatrist...etc. You know we want to start our 55 days fresh and up to date. Wardrobe is sorted, suitcases will be packed a couple of days before we leave. Excitement!