Arrival, Boarding Zone, Identification Requirements then we are boarded!

Embarkation to board nowadays needs more paperwork. We were given an arrival appointment time in which we were asked to heed to to minimize out wait time in line. We had to produce our pre-printed boarding pass, passport, copies of COVID-19 vaccination, copies of cruise travel insurance and proof of a RAT Test no more than 24 hours prior. Once completed we were scooting up the gangway and smiling huge smiles to our welcoming on board crew and staff. 

My cabin mate Kaye and I on the balcony surveying The Rocks

The Museum of Contempary Art. I have been told there a balcony on the 4th floor where one can enjoy a coffee whilst admiring the view. 

View looking back at the city as we pass through the Heads.

Looking south along the ragged cliff coastline, just past our departure through the Heads. 

On our way. We had just finished dinner and were heading to see the Karaoke and then listen to the entertainment in the Piano Bar. 

Carnival Splendor South Pacific from Sydney

Tuesday 13th June 2023 8 nights

I can't believe it! Finally our cruise booked way back in May 2019 to depart April 2020 is actually about to happen. What with the Covid-19 pandemic where cruising had been placed in a hiatus for over 2 years, this cruise was an uncertainty. Carnival had offered us either a full payout of the cost of our cruise or a Future Cruise Credit and a $900 On Board Credit per cabin to rebook at a later date. For me I was unsure of what the future would be, really, I might not be alive if and when cruising resumed, but my cruising buddies were positive in the prospective outlook and the $900 had a great bearing on taking up the F.C.C. Virgin Airlines were great too, giving us a credit for our future flights. The original cabins we had booked together were ocean view, however I was happy to agree with everyone that a balcony cabin with the fresh air would be preferable if we were confined to our cabin in the event any of us tested positive to Covid-19.  

We flew into Sydney the day before sailing and stayed in the Rendezvous Hotel in the heart of Sydney's The Rocks, only a short walk with our suitcases to board the ship. We could actually see part of the ship from our balcony!. AND, how fortunate were we, Sydney's Vivid light show was showing on the night we were there.

So once we settled our rooms, we ventured out to explore part of the Rocks, have a light lunch then wander around the waterfront of Circular Quay, walking past the Overseas Passenger terminal to view the Harbour Bridge, stopping off for tea at what I thought was a great find, Bar Mille.

Sitting in the open air section of the restaurant with the coloured lights showing on the walls behind.

Bar Mille during the day, with the first floor balcony seating area. 

The night was perfect to wander around the waterfront area. The temperature and still night was ideal. Being a public holiday in Sydney attracted many locals and tourists alike, strolling around the pop-up food vans and displays. Across the Quay buildings were projecting strobe beams into the skies. Buildings all around were lit in bright colours. 

Opera House lit with various themes.

Opera House lit with Aboriginal designs, strobe beams pointing across. 

Different lights travelling across the Bridge.

Note the crowds milling around.

Old warehouse lit by different light designs. 

We decided to head back to our hotel, winding our way through the small narrow streets of the Rocks. My  room mate and I were fortunate to have a balcony which overlooked the roof tops of the buildings close to the Quay. So when the Drone Show started, we were in a position to glimpse some of the displays over the roof tops. 

Strobe Beams seen over roof tops from our hotel balcony.

                      Drone show seen from our hotel balcony. 

Next day, Kay, my room and cabin mate and I decided to head out early to grab a coffee before meeting Faye and Gayle at a later time for breakfast. We had such an adventurous discovery of seeing the alleyways and narrow streets of The Rocks. Sometimes we could see the outline of the Harbour Bridge in the background as we wandered around. We would see notice boards giving the history of various buildings, wells or unusual structures. 

When we set out for breakfast, we found a café which served an ideal menu of breakfast courses and the view down the street increased the excitement for our pending cruise.

How about that view down the street from where we had our breakfast? Carnival Splendor!

We wandered around to discover the interesting shops around The Rocks before heading back to our hotel to collect our luggage.  One particular shop made Rock Candy. $450 for 6 kilos of specialized wording. The Candy which was made when we were there was Isabel 18th in red and white. 

Not very clear in the photo, but it reads ISABEL 18TH

 

Sydney Sunday 30th April 2023

 It is always sad to wake up on our final day on board our cruise. No matter how often we have experienced that final morning, it still does not get any better! Our departure started probably 3-4 days ago when we were notified of our last laundry service. Hmm. Then a form to notify the ship's crew our transport arrangements on disembarkation which included pick-up times, flight times be it international or domestic or train or bus connections arrived on our bed 2 days before. Then Australian Foreign Affairs form for arrivals from overseas sheet. What the? Oh yeh we were in international waters when we sailed past Willis Island! Then the coloured luggage tags, times to disembark and departure lounges notices. Finally the collection of suitcases we leave outside our cabin door the night before. Also our gratuities to our Cabin Stewart and various waiters who have looked after us so well. 

I had booked our 2.15pm domestic flight home, allowing for the chance the ship could be late sailing into Sydney Harbour. Knowing we had a long wait at Sydney Airport, I arranged to have one of the last disembarkation times off the ship. This morning we woke early, but of course, not as early as other passengers, showered, dressed and left our cabin for the last time. When we walked past our vacant neighbor's cabins we could see past the open doors, into the de-sheeted beds and the stewards preparing the cabins for the next shipload of passengers. The names on the cabins deleted, all in readiness for the eager cruisers. The next cruise was bound for Hawaii on a 35 day return cruise, then the World Cruise for over 100 days. 

We breakfasted in the main dining room, then made our way to the gangway. Once on shore, we didn't need to have any luggage checked by customs (wonder why?), just handed over the arrival form and left the building. Taxi to Sydney Airport through virtually empty streets (Sunday morning), arriving at Virgin Airlines departure area by 9.30am. Great service by a Virgin Airlines attendant who helped with Paul's fold-up electric wheelchair (his name was Rob, and had the cutest moustache).

After the drawn out wait at the airport, we flew back home happy and for myself, relieved all had gone to plan. Woo Hoo!

Sydney Skyline as we look out from our balcony, Circular Quay in foreground.

Famous Opera House.

Ship's position at Circular Quay.

  

 

Brisbane Friday 28th April 2023

We decided not to disembark the ship but stayed on board to enjoy the amenities. Princess offered a $39 odd shuttle service into Brisbane. As we had already enjoyed this service on a previous cruise and Paul was happy to stay on board, we saved $80 to put our wine bill. 

I am appalled to see the new Overseas Passenger Terminal is alongside the effluent treatment works of Brisbane! What! the first impression for our overseas passengers was the steam wafting off the black paddocks of the sewerage farms alongside the brand new building. I am not sure if it is noticeable from ground level but from the deck of the ship, yes most certainly. What a shame. But then maybe with the hype and rush of getting off the ship to go on a tour, most people could miss it. 

Brisbane River with Gateway Bridge in background.

View of the city of Brisbane from our balcony with Brisbane River and sewerage pipes crossing to the treatment works in foreground.

Map of Brisbane River and location of Overseas Cruise Terminal.

Micat- The Morton Island car ferry.

Sea day, Thursday, 27th April 2023.

We experienced considerable 'movement' of the ship and rain. I couldn't resist taking these photos of the pool water in the inside Lotus Pool. There were nets over the pool to deter passengers using the pool.

The decking around the pool was very wet and the worse thing was we had to walk very carefully to have our soft-cone from the 'swirls' ice-creamery!

 

Willis Island

Wednesday 26th April, 2023

Blink and you may miss it! Our sail past Willis Island occurred between 9.15am -9.45am, a whole 30 minutes! We had a special broadcast from an Australian Meteorologist  who was living on the island. He mentioned he had been there since late last year with 3 other meteorologists taking data on temperature, wind, sea and tidal statistics in the Coral Sea for around 6 months. One of the jobs was maintaining the equipment involved cleaning off the build-up of seabird guano (I goggled guano to find it is eggshell, excrement and carcasses).  He explained staff provided wildlife sightings and behavior for scientists studying these animals. Willis Island is a nesting ground for green turtles. He described his living conditions, amenities for entertainment and hobbies and the lack of fresh food, giving cause to a lot of work preserving and repacking the fresh fruit and vege. they bring onto the island. 

Close-up of the island

A little further out from the island.

Willis Island, its pristine reef circling the island and lagoon. 

Map of the ship's sail-past and distance from Cairns. It was shortly after our sail-past that the ship was in international waters. 

Map just after we sailed past. I don't know what the other land/reef was just south of the island. 

Cairns Tuesday, 25th April 2023

Arrival into Cairns occurred whilst we attended the Dawn Service, so when we left the theatre the ship was docked at the passenger terminal. I used this time to disembark and walk to the nearest letter box, which I was informed by the Information Volunteers offering their services in the terminal, the closest happened to be the main post office in Cairns. It was almost eerie walking through the streets as being Anzac Day it was a public holiday and most people were attending the Dawn Service or still in bed, enjoying the opportunity to sleep in. Letters posted, I returned to the ship to see more movement as passengers were joining their tour buses or being picked up by private cars. 

The weather forecast for our time in Cairns was showers and temperatures ranging between 28C-30C. Just perfect for a walk in the rain! Paul and I decided to explore the marina precinct of Cairns which offered a good pathway spaced with artworks from the terminal to the restaurants and bars lining the marina. We stopped at one of the last restaurants, Salt House, which overlooked the entrance to the river to enjoy a pizza and wine. (the wine was a least half the price of what Princess was charging on board!).

Map showing the marina and esplanade of Cairns.

Photo of our balcony on Portside of the ship.

Close-up of our balcony.

 View of Cairns from our balcony.

A collection of three boats moored alongside each other to form the Pawn Star Seafood Restaurant. When we walked past there were several patrons using the facilities but I can imagine it could get quite busy on weekends and in the 'dry season' when Cairns is in the peak tourist season. 

Salt House restaurant with the view of Coral Princess through the window.