Broome 17th April 2023

 

                                             Sunrise over Roebuck Bay, Broome

Beautiful start to the day. I sat out on our balcony, early. It must have been around 5.15am and I wasn't going to miss this sight. It was pitch black for many minutes before the sky started to lighten, then this golden hue appeared in the east, over the bay. I sat, marveling at the change of colors as night transformed to day. We have experienced quite a few mornings like this during our 4x4 camping days and sorely miss witnessing this amazing sight. This morning I felt blessed to be able to do so again. (one of the drawbacks of city living).

I waited for the rush of passengers departing on their tours before joining the shuttle bus into town. The bus drove past the historical cemetery where Broome's Japanese and Chinese grave sites are located. Broome had quite a few Japanese and Chinese migrants who settled  and prospered in Broome for its lucrative pearling industry. 

View from lookout.

The bus dropped me off at Chinatown, the heart and soul of Broome. Firstly I walked to Roebuck Bay lookout on the foreshore of the bay. From there I walked along Dampier Tce. where there are quite a few jewelry shops promoting the locally farmed Willie Creek and Paspaley Pearls. Amongst these shops was a display of various Pearling Luggers used during the height of production. 

The DMcD lugger was used for pearling in Exmouth, Onslow, Point Samson, Port Hedland, Cone Bay in King Sound and Broome. It holds the record catch of more that 100 tonne of pearl shell in 1979. It is currently awaiting funding for restoration. 

The Sam Male lugger named in honour of Sam Male, a well-known Broome pioneer who died in 1976. The lugger was part of the fleet, fishing Mother of Pearl shell and collecting live shell for its cultured pearl farms at Kuri Bay. 

Display of pearl shells. 

The pearling lugger is a gaff-rigged ketch or lug-sail rigged. The wooden 36-40 feet long vessels were built from malalueca, jarrah and imported teak or beech.  When pearling, the lugger uses a drifting anchor regulating the speed for the pearling divers as they walk across the seabed, collecting and farming the pearl shells. 

Broome Sunday, 16th April 2023

Our approach to Broome

We had a lovely sail-past the coastal area of Broome

before docking at the port. 

Reddell Point, just south of the town  

Gantheaume Point.

Lighthouse and residence.

Area where Dinosaur Footprints are visible at low tide.

Pilot escorting the Coral Princess past Entrance Point to the deep water port. 

The ship had arrived 3pm the day before the expected date as we had gained extra sailing time by missing out on the day port in Geraldton. The weather is an ideal high 20C's to low 30's and sunny. Broome did not experience any damage from the Cyclone IIsa, so it was pleasant to see everything operating as usual. The ship docked alongside the commercial port where a long jetty protruded out from the coast to the deeper waters of Roebuck Bay. The township supplied a free continuous shuttle bus service into Chinatown, the boutique retail hub and sites of historical areas

 

 

Day 2 Friday 14th April 2023

Our Geraldton port day had been cancelled due to half meter swells expected in the port. Cyclone Ilsa struck close to Port Hedland, north of Geraldton, around midnight on the 14th, the strongest to hit in 14 years. Much to my disappointment, I had arranged to meet my nephew who has made Geraldton his home and I was looking forward to having him show us around.  

Life on board the ship was reasonably subdued due to the movement of the ship. As we are still experiencing possible Covid-19 infections, the ship's policy regarding the wearing of face masks while indoors ad physical distancing is maintained.  

Our cabin is towards to aft of the ship, about 5 cabins before the aft lifts. During the high seas there was a lot of loud banging and groaning heard in our cabin but on the starboard side of the aft lifts we could hear load metal-on-metal screeching sounds and thought how lucky we were to be in a cabin on the other side (port) and little further away from that noise. I really don't know how the passengers in cabins near-by cope sleeping with that din. It is interesting that the Coral Princess is doing the World Cruise in early June and apparently not going into dry dock until after this cruise. OMG! I think there will be some unhappy passengers. 

It is lovely to see all the usual events happening to amuse passengers and tempt them in spending their money. Inch of Gold Event, Chinese Herbal Remedies, makeup and skincare event, Effy (jewelry shop) Watercolor Collection Unveiling and raffle, bingo, Silent Art Auctions,  Fashion Jewelry Event and photography portraits. 

Then around the decks in the evening is the live entertainment. There are Comic Magicians, Multi-instrumentalist singers, String Duo and a Quartet performing around the decks. Then Karaoke, Game Shows, movies and games. It is so lovely to experience this holiday style again after the 3 year hiatus of Covid-19. 

During the 3 day sailing to Broome I have managed once to walk around the promenade deck in the morning, the weather on the other days was too rough to walk safely outside. However i do manage to get 'my steps in' just walking from one end of the ship to the other several times a day. 

  

 Embarkation Day. Thursday 13th April 2023

Coral Princess Northern Australia Cruise

Thursday 13th April 2023

Adelaide to Fremantle via Qantas and taxi.

Ugh! Early start for us today. Our taxi collected us at 4.15am to deliver us to the airport in time for us to board the 6.10am flight to Perth, WA. Oh my goodness, I think age definitely has an influence on my inability to stay asleep last night. I think I managed to get 3 hours initial sleep but then the brain started to go over what was needed for our 17-night cruise around the top end of Australia. Have I watered the pot plants sufficiently? what about the need for a double adapter? Yes, have I packed the rechargers? Yes, all the necessary documentation, do I have it? Yes. Blah blah goes the brain. By 2.30am I decided to get up and get ready as I certainly wasn’t about to get that hour sleep until the alarm goes off at 3.30am.

My Darling Husband now has a blood disorder which leaves him breathless and tired due to low hemoglobin production which necessitates the use of wheelchair mobility. I had organized assistance through Qantas to transport the wheelchair and provide the use of a wheelchair on departure and arrival. The company and staff were great in their service.

It was a 3 hour plus uneventful flight served with choice of a hot or cold breakfast dish. I did manage to have a couple of minutes sleep, enough to keep me sane. Once in Perth we collected our 1 suitcase and Paul’s folded wheelchair then spent 2 and a bit hours’ wait to taxi to the ship. We had an easy embarkation in Fremantle, having to show our double vaccination certificate, photo ID and proof of negative RAT (which showed date and ID of whose test).

Once on board we dropped off our hand luggage and headed to the restaurant for a sit-down lunch. I think the ship’s cruise organizer had mistakenly posted the restaurant would be open as normally the restaurant would have been closed on a port day. Not complaining. Nowadays embarking passengers just need to report to their muster station and watch the emergency drill on the TV.

Whilst having dinner the captain announced due to rough seas and high tides our visit to Geraldton would be cancelled. Bummer, Bum and Bum. We had arranged to catch up with my nephew who lived there and for him to show us around his adopted home-town.

Once having left Fremantle the seas became quite ‘bumpy’ and I was grateful to call an early night considering our start time of our day. The movement of the ship during the night wasn’t too bad considering we needed to two-step shuffle walking to the bathroom or around the cabin.  

Coral Princess whilst in Adelaide, South Australia on Saturday 
 9th April (Easter Saturday) 2023.

I took Paul and two of our grandchildren on a mystery drive today to see 'a big white structure'. The 6 year old grand-daughter chimed in with "a unicorn!" 

The Coral was in port for the day after visiting Kangaroo Island the previous day. When it departed, it was headed to Bussleton WA, then onto Fremantle where we embarked on Thursday, 13th April. It was rather exciting to see the ship we were to sail on in 5 days time. 

Whoo Hoo!. 

Adelaide 10th March 2023

Arrived safe and sound into Outer Harbour, the cruise terminal for Adelaide. We had a most enjoyable cruise on the old Dawn Princess, which is now rebadged as a P & O Cruise ship Pacific Explorer. The main public areas have been redecorated with a more modern décor but the cabins have not changed. The old carpet, furniture and wall coverings in the cabins are looking tired and I think sad, but serviceable for our cruise.  The lifts I found were always full with passengers not just going the direction of the lift but making sure they weren't waiting for one to go down (or up) and instead getting into a lift and riding it until it changed direction. It was most annoying, especially when we needed to use a lift for the wheelchair. 

We found the Production Shows and live entertainment excellent. The format of dining was different from what we had experienced. Food was not available 24 hours, only at certain hours. 

It is now 3 years since Covid-19 made its mark on the world. To cruise we had to show we had two vaccinations and a RAT 24 hours prior and proof of the test with the date and ID in the photo. We disembarked on the 10th March and did not catch Covid-19, much to our relief. Masks were not worn on the ship though it was not frowned upon if anyone did. 

Melbourne 9th March 2023

Sailed into Port Phillip Bay and calm waters. Our day in Port Melbourne saw us berthed alongside the Grand Princess which was disembarking passengers from the completion of its cruise when we disembarked. Then when we returned to the Pacific Explorer we encountered utter chaos with new passengers embarking the Grand Princess all lined up waiting to board with their numerous suitcases blocking the pathway for us to rejoin our ship.  It was worse navigating our way as my husband is in an electric wheelchair. When we first entered the terminal on departure we joined a huge line, thinking it was the way out, but NO! after 10 minutes and many passengers lined up behind us, a lady stood out in front of one of the bends in the line to announce the line was for people looking for advice and help for the local metro bus and tram service, not the way out! Well; what the? 

On our way past the line we felt a wave of relief knowing we were finally on the move out of the terminal. We travelled along the well travelled esplanade of Port Melbourne, past various memorials, rotunda, statues and historical markers. I had been to Melbourne on many occasions but this was my first time to visit this particular part of the metropolitan beaches. The local buildings built with the iconic Melbourne Bluestone. We had arranged to meet my cousin in a local patisserie on Port Melbourne Road where we spent a lovely couple of hours catching up. 

                             Pacific Explorer in front and Grand Princess