Nothing much to report today. Spent some money at the shops, lost some money on the pokies (which were open for the first time since we came onboard), had free hors d'oeuvres before dinner - Adam was keen to try even though I know they're seriously ordinary, then dinner at the Crown Grill.
Later: I have to apologise for my comments about the hors d'oeuvres - for the first time ever, they were really fresh and tasted really good. Dinner at the Crown Grill was also delicious, but that's expected!
Tuesday 28 January 2020
Monday 27 January 2020
Monday 27 January - Port Lincoln
Beautiful day in Port Lincoln today.
First stop on our shore excursion was the Axel Stenross Maritime Museum, where we could have spent hours reading all the information on all the displays, but even the short stop we made was interesting.
Next stop was at the Fresh Fish Place where they gave us a lot of information about fish and fishing, and showed us a number of different fish they buy and sell. We also saw a demonstration of shucking oysters - apparently if you work there you need to be able to do 40 dozen per hour! - and filleting fish. Then we got the most delicious fish and chips for lunch.
Finally we drove around other parts of Port Lincoln - all through the tour the lady running it had been explaining various bits of history and current information about (mostly) the fishing industry and this continued for the last part of the tour - we saw all different sorts of boats and businesses before being returned to the ship.
Had a restful afternoon on board followed by dinner.
On the tour, they suggested that we should keep an eye out when we're sailing out of port for the holding pens where they fatten up the tuna. What they do is go out to see and gather a whole lot of appropriate tuna, then they gradually bring them back to these holding pens - it takes a week or two at no more than 2 knots to get back to the pens. Then they carefully move the tuna into these pens and spend the next 6 months feeding them pilchards every day, all the time monitoring their health and growth. Then, when they're big enough, they're harvested and pretty much all end up in the Japanese market. And we did see them - photos to be added later
First stop on our shore excursion was the Axel Stenross Maritime Museum, where we could have spent hours reading all the information on all the displays, but even the short stop we made was interesting.
Next stop was at the Fresh Fish Place where they gave us a lot of information about fish and fishing, and showed us a number of different fish they buy and sell. We also saw a demonstration of shucking oysters - apparently if you work there you need to be able to do 40 dozen per hour! - and filleting fish. Then we got the most delicious fish and chips for lunch.
Finally we drove around other parts of Port Lincoln - all through the tour the lady running it had been explaining various bits of history and current information about (mostly) the fishing industry and this continued for the last part of the tour - we saw all different sorts of boats and businesses before being returned to the ship.
Had a restful afternoon on board followed by dinner.
On the tour, they suggested that we should keep an eye out when we're sailing out of port for the holding pens where they fatten up the tuna. What they do is go out to see and gather a whole lot of appropriate tuna, then they gradually bring them back to these holding pens - it takes a week or two at no more than 2 knots to get back to the pens. Then they carefully move the tuna into these pens and spend the next 6 months feeding them pilchards every day, all the time monitoring their health and growth. Then, when they're big enough, they're harvested and pretty much all end up in the Japanese market. And we did see them - photos to be added later
Sunday 26 January - Kangaroo Island
This is a tender port, and we didn't have any excursions booked. Then after the disastrous fires, we thought that the best thing we could do is go there and support local businesses, as the SA government is asking.
So, once we were dropped off at Penneshaw, we went up to the markets that they were running and spent more than I normally would have on various bits of jewellery and other things.
Then we went to a local cafe and had lunch - delicious meal of fish & chips. We topped this up with a walk on the beach and then went to catch a tender back to the ship. It took quite a long time because lots of people decided to go back to the ship at the same time. A couple of ship's crew were very unhappy because they apparently didn't consider the risk of long queues and needed to get back to the ship quickly to start work, but the Princess officer waiting near us in the queue refused to give them a break and told them to go to the back of the line.
After we returned had a wander around the ship to do stuff like checking out tonight's dinner menu. We then tried a cocktail each - Adam had raspberry baileys which he enjoyed (I didn't really like it) while I had something called Dusk which if I remember correctly contained coconut rum, Midori and banana liqueur topped up with pineapple juice. It was delicious!
Later in the afternoon:
Last tender from Penneshaw was meant to leave at 4:00. It's 4:30 right now, and there are still two tenders out there, presumably waiting for missing tour groups.
4:45: Another tender is just heading out from the ship to Penneshaw. Hopefully they're just picking up the last of the Princess staff and gear (e.g. their big umbrella, iced water buckets etc) from the dock.
Finally left port an hour or so late, but it isn't a long sail to Port Lincoln. This was the first time we have sailed in anything remotely like open sea since we left Adelaide and unfortunately Adam got seasick. He didn't throw up, just felt miserable and couldn't sleep. He finally said something about midnight and I gave him a couple of Kwells so eventually he managed some sleep.
So, once we were dropped off at Penneshaw, we went up to the markets that they were running and spent more than I normally would have on various bits of jewellery and other things.
Then we went to a local cafe and had lunch - delicious meal of fish & chips. We topped this up with a walk on the beach and then went to catch a tender back to the ship. It took quite a long time because lots of people decided to go back to the ship at the same time. A couple of ship's crew were very unhappy because they apparently didn't consider the risk of long queues and needed to get back to the ship quickly to start work, but the Princess officer waiting near us in the queue refused to give them a break and told them to go to the back of the line.
After we returned had a wander around the ship to do stuff like checking out tonight's dinner menu. We then tried a cocktail each - Adam had raspberry baileys which he enjoyed (I didn't really like it) while I had something called Dusk which if I remember correctly contained coconut rum, Midori and banana liqueur topped up with pineapple juice. It was delicious!
Later in the afternoon:
Last tender from Penneshaw was meant to leave at 4:00. It's 4:30 right now, and there are still two tenders out there, presumably waiting for missing tour groups.
4:45: Another tender is just heading out from the ship to Penneshaw. Hopefully they're just picking up the last of the Princess staff and gear (e.g. their big umbrella, iced water buckets etc) from the dock.
Finally left port an hour or so late, but it isn't a long sail to Port Lincoln. This was the first time we have sailed in anything remotely like open sea since we left Adelaide and unfortunately Adam got seasick. He didn't throw up, just felt miserable and couldn't sleep. He finally said something about midnight and I gave him a couple of Kwells so eventually he managed some sleep.
Sunday 26 January 2020
Saturday 25 January - all aboard
Had a nice lazy start to the day. We went out for breakfast early, then later we went shopping again - Adam wanted to go to a couple of stores that sell second-hand cameras and lenses, but nothing caught his eye. Meanwhile I had decided that I wanted to buy a new pair of shoes, and was gravely disappointed when I absolutely fell in love with a pair, only to discover that she didn't have any left in my size. Found some different ones though - all I have to do now is work out how to get them into my suitcase!
Our hotel was quite close to Adelaide station, so the trip to the cruise port was simple as there's a a train that goes all the way from that station to Outer Harbour where the ships dock.
The lady checking us in had trouble with the booking so it took a little while for us to get all checked in, but no real drama. By the time we got to our cabin Adam's suitcase was already there, but mine wasn't. Needless to say after our recent "Qantas suitcase problems" I immediately started worrying that mine had somehow been left on the street outside the cruise port, but it did eventually arrive.
This cruise is just from Adelaide to Melbourne, but it was also sold as a longer cruise that started in Melbourne and returns there. Just the same, when we had the muster drill - which was only for people joining in Adelaide - in the Princess Theatre, it was packed. The theatre holds around 1000 people, so I'd guess more than half of the passengers are just doing the Adelaide to Melbourne leg, as we are.
I was a bit annoyed that they scheduled the muster drill at a time that made it impossible to get to our dinner restaurant on time - we've got traditional dining on this cruise - but I thought I'd see if they'd let us in although we were late. And lots of other people had the same idea, so they did let us in.
They've put us at a table for 8 which is annoying because those tables are too big unless everyone has the hearing capabilities of a 30 year old. Only two other ladies showed up, so we'll see if anyone else appears later in the cruise. The food was good, and between us, Adam and I demolished a bottle of wine.
Adam and I decided not to bring formal gear, so we've already got a specialty restaurant booking for that night (since it's only the main dining room where they insist you should dress formally)
Our hotel was quite close to Adelaide station, so the trip to the cruise port was simple as there's a a train that goes all the way from that station to Outer Harbour where the ships dock.
The lady checking us in had trouble with the booking so it took a little while for us to get all checked in, but no real drama. By the time we got to our cabin Adam's suitcase was already there, but mine wasn't. Needless to say after our recent "Qantas suitcase problems" I immediately started worrying that mine had somehow been left on the street outside the cruise port, but it did eventually arrive.
This cruise is just from Adelaide to Melbourne, but it was also sold as a longer cruise that started in Melbourne and returns there. Just the same, when we had the muster drill - which was only for people joining in Adelaide - in the Princess Theatre, it was packed. The theatre holds around 1000 people, so I'd guess more than half of the passengers are just doing the Adelaide to Melbourne leg, as we are.
I was a bit annoyed that they scheduled the muster drill at a time that made it impossible to get to our dinner restaurant on time - we've got traditional dining on this cruise - but I thought I'd see if they'd let us in although we were late. And lots of other people had the same idea, so they did let us in.
They've put us at a table for 8 which is annoying because those tables are too big unless everyone has the hearing capabilities of a 30 year old. Only two other ladies showed up, so we'll see if anyone else appears later in the cruise. The food was good, and between us, Adam and I demolished a bottle of wine.
Adam and I decided not to bring formal gear, so we've already got a specialty restaurant booking for that night (since it's only the main dining room where they insist you should dress formally)
Saturday 25 January 2020
Friday 24 January - flying to Adelaide
As usual we planned to be in the cruise departure city a day early just in case of travel problems.
There was a bushfire near Canberra airport on Thursday afternoon and the airport was actually closed for a while. But, it was open again later that night so we thought all would be okay.
Turns out, not so much.
Qantas was still trying to catch up with planes not being where they needed to be after that closure, then on Friday morning storms closed Sydney airport.
So, Adam and I got to Canberra airport in plenty of time on Friday morning, our flights were reported as being on time, all good.
But then we started hearing about delays. After quite a bit of confusion it turned out that even though the aircraft for our flight was sitting just outside, the flight crew were coming in from Sydney, so of course weren't in Canberra. At this point, the flights scheduled from Sydney to Canberra were running up to four hours later than scheduled.
We finally ended up leaving Canberra a couple of hours late. By this time, we were already going to miss our connecting flight in Melbourne, and Qantas had already rebooked us (and a stack of other people) on later flights.
We were due to arrive in Melbourne about 15 minutes before boarding was due to start for the new flight, but we were delayed out on the tarmac and in the end were getting off the plane basically as we were meant to be getting on the flight to Adelaide.
However, that flight was also delayed. Adam asked at the counter and they assured him that our luggage would make it onto the flight to Adelaide, so, all good. But, we arrived in Adelaide only to discover that although most luggage - including my suitcase - had made it, four people's bags, including Adam's, were still in Melbourne.
As with our flight back from Brisbane in December, they promised to deliver the luggage to us, and to be fair it did arrive by about 7pm. I'm so glad because I really wasn't looking forward to trying to buy replacement clothes for Adam; it's always such a trial because he's just a little fussy (in other words - incredibly difficult) about clothes.
Anyway, all is good. Our room is in the Holiday Inn Express just down from Rundle Mall, so plenty of shops and restaurants nearby. And, it's only a couple of minutes walk to the railway station so we can easily get a train out to the port to catch the cruise.
Dinner was an absolutely delicious Katsudon at a nearby Japanese restaurant. Then we just basically crashed after such an exciting (!!) day.
There was a bushfire near Canberra airport on Thursday afternoon and the airport was actually closed for a while. But, it was open again later that night so we thought all would be okay.
Turns out, not so much.
Qantas was still trying to catch up with planes not being where they needed to be after that closure, then on Friday morning storms closed Sydney airport.
So, Adam and I got to Canberra airport in plenty of time on Friday morning, our flights were reported as being on time, all good.
But then we started hearing about delays. After quite a bit of confusion it turned out that even though the aircraft for our flight was sitting just outside, the flight crew were coming in from Sydney, so of course weren't in Canberra. At this point, the flights scheduled from Sydney to Canberra were running up to four hours later than scheduled.
We finally ended up leaving Canberra a couple of hours late. By this time, we were already going to miss our connecting flight in Melbourne, and Qantas had already rebooked us (and a stack of other people) on later flights.
We were due to arrive in Melbourne about 15 minutes before boarding was due to start for the new flight, but we were delayed out on the tarmac and in the end were getting off the plane basically as we were meant to be getting on the flight to Adelaide.
However, that flight was also delayed. Adam asked at the counter and they assured him that our luggage would make it onto the flight to Adelaide, so, all good. But, we arrived in Adelaide only to discover that although most luggage - including my suitcase - had made it, four people's bags, including Adam's, were still in Melbourne.
As with our flight back from Brisbane in December, they promised to deliver the luggage to us, and to be fair it did arrive by about 7pm. I'm so glad because I really wasn't looking forward to trying to buy replacement clothes for Adam; it's always such a trial because he's just a little fussy (in other words - incredibly difficult) about clothes.
Anyway, all is good. Our room is in the Holiday Inn Express just down from Rundle Mall, so plenty of shops and restaurants nearby. And, it's only a couple of minutes walk to the railway station so we can easily get a train out to the port to catch the cruise.
Dinner was an absolutely delicious Katsudon at a nearby Japanese restaurant. Then we just basically crashed after such an exciting (!!) day.
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