P&O Sunk

 P&O have been around for 90 years and we have just tried our first ever cruise with them and we have brought the kiss of death, as the ship we predicted would be sold off soon has been sold off. Not only that, it was our first cruise and our last cruise, as all future P&O cruises from next year have been cancelled.  The two remaining ships may be rebadged as Princesses or something else but will not necessarily be sailing in Australia.  Maybe Royal Caribbean or Virgin will take up year round cruising in Australia. Carnival say they have not given up on Australia but it looks like it.

P&O has P&Oed

Specific Pacific

 I have now cruised in Europe 5 times and the Pacific once. On the balance of just one cruise here, I prefer the Mediterranean.  The weather here has forced cancelations and required adjustments that haven't suited but that is part of cruising, rihgt now the water is 3.5 kms deep. I have noticed there is an outdoor crowd and an indoor crowd on this ship.  There are events that don't get advertised but those in the know are always there. Why is hackey sack played in the centre of the main staircase, blocking everything? Why are the pools closed on sea days?  These and other mysteries will have to wait as we are getting off tomorrow at 9:00am, so if our Clancy travel friends read this we might see them then.

This map was auctioned not sure what it went for

The Princess and the Explorer

Once upon a time a Princess was born in a Carnival but all she wanted to do each day was get up early and go and sail the seas.  She became known as the Dawn Princess but as she got older the wear and tear from constant weather, wind and water was starting to show. The Carnival people did not want a beaten down Princess so they started calling her Pacific Explorer but still let her out on sea voyages. This way maybe she would not be noticed as being so old.  Ten days in a leaky boat lucky to remain afloat or so the song goes the same way as the Pacific Pearl.  

Yamamoto's Bunker

 We woke up in Rabual which is a volcanically plagued town in the outer islands of Papua New Guinea. We could see the cinder cone that destroyed this town in 1994. The other claim to fame is that the Japanese made it their Pacific HQ. Yamamoto setup camp here due to the great harbour and flat ground for an airstrip.  We walked to his bunker and then into the town for a total of 7km and we werew drenched in sweat. We had an unnerving experience in the bunker. It is a concrete sweat box. The main rooms are not cool but some of the rabbit warren staircases are stifling. We are also much larger bodies fitting thru their openings. We emerged into a higher concrete roofed room and the light on the phone went off. This room was way to hot and now jet black. We retreated backwards down the stairs and got the light back on.  There was also a museum next door with much faded documentation of Japanese atrocities on Australian soldiers. We got back to the boat for a lazy afternoon.

Pandora the Explorer

 Another 'At Sea' day means we can check out more of the ship. We looked in at the onboard shops as there is usually some sort of souvenir. As a general rule avoid these shops but as it happens one of them was a Pandora. We have chased these charms all over the world and today Pandora unveiled their ocean going liner. We also spent $20 in the casino here. Everything on board is tied to your door key from your own casino bank, internet access and ordering a drink to getting on and off the ship. There are 860 staff looking after 2600 passengers, which is almost at capacity. This ship is old by shipping standards at 27 years old. It leaks, it's rusted, there are numerous broken windows and the air con has broken down at least once but it's what happens when you ply the Pacific every day. 

This is bracelet number two

SuperSlide

 We are having a rest day today so can catchup on some parts of the ship we haven't seen, like the waterslides. There is also a waterpark that is more for kids but I did not see many in it as I climbed the tower. The slides are similar and side by side for racing purposes. We only tried it once so far as the water is warm and the tunnels filled with steamy vapour but when you emerge into the pool it is instant cool down.  The weather is better today, if you can call 30 plus degress in a tropical setting better. We have gone from pool to shade, shade to pool, bar to shade, shade to bar, shade to food, food to pool, waiter to shade etc. I am sticking to my one toblerone or mudslide per day. Debbie has gotten out her pencils so we must be slowing down.

Sanctuary

 This boat has a couple of adult areas. The Sanctuary has been closed up until now due to high winds and being at the very top and front of the boat.  It has overhead shade cloth and a very shallow pool almost bathtub like, just to cool off.  The bar was closed though.  It is interesting how beds always seem to be available here. We lounged for 3 hours in yesterday's afternoon Sun. Today is tropical downpour heavy duty rain but our guide from this morning says yesterday was lucky to have no afternoon rain.

Pacific Explorer

 We had to upgrade the internet package here to $30 per day for one person one device at a time. The measly allowance we had ran out on the first day but we did not see that usage anyuwhere. This boat is the oldest P&O have but it is still typical of these ships. We  have not located the Black Circus as yet but we have a show there in two days. We have found most things except the Edge as that has been closed due to high winds which is the same as both of the main pools.  There is an adult only pool that has been opened the whole time. The physic's there are different being located at the back and deeper in the ship.  The boat is old but it works. The showers are hot and strong in the rooms and there are plenty of spare  seats and lounges so far. There is no main dining hall but rather they  have largish restuarants. We have had Italian and Asian so far and tonight's is called Waterfront, seafood maybe.  A lot of the people here are into see food, they see food and eat it.

                                                        pool closed for two days so far

Sea Day 1

We have to get the sea legs going in these 40 knot winds. There are people around us not feeling well but we have not had a problem. Our biggest deal is working out the sleeping.  We are not used to a water bed, an extra large waterbed.  We had the standard cooked breakfast but I followed it with a hefty 20 min bicycle machine ride in the gym. There was a lot of spray but we found there are protected areas if you go hunting around. The very aft of the ship was good as the prow sliced the wind at the other end. The main pools have been closed but there is a well like pool in an adult area that we tried.

At the back

The Well

A Toblerone

Underway

 The boarding process was a bit of mayhem but then again when you are herding cats it is never easy. I am typing this in our room so I am not sure if it will make it out. We have just got back from an Italian restaurant three course meal. We have been moving for 30min and there was a bit of rain so we did not go on deck as the Cairns lights retreated. I will leave out photos for now but am told there is better internet in the more public areas. Had to move to the Atrium for a better connection although I am in a thoroughfare. I need to find a lounge with tables and chairs. 

More Whaling

Some photos have come in of our Whale excursion. We have had no camera since the first few days so have had to try other means, like paying for somebody else's.  These were taken using a long lens on board our catamaran.  I was using the video and Debbie got a lot with her phone but these are closeups.

Thar she blows

On the Prow

Tail Lift

Pod

Tail Smash

All at Sea on the 4th of July

If you make a special fuss for 130 Canadians on Canada Day well then what will you do for 1104 citizens of the USA.  One thing for sure is NOT to mention politics.  We are having a rest day and well earned.  We did not play the deck chairs game today. On Infinity numbers were slightly down eg 1800. Here on Constellation it is almost full at 2100 so pressure for sunbeds, with a mattress in the shade is like real estate gold. We could have got up at 6:00 am but slept in til 8:30 am bonus.  We did find padded chairs and a table for lunch so that worked out.  Right now it is siesta for us while I can see some people doing a type of aerobics on the pool deck.

Last night's exit past small islands

Crazy deck dancing below

Waking not sleeping

Wot's Tsat?

To quote Julia Roberts but in this case we are talking 600 steps in a 1 km haul uphill to Tsat Castle. We are in Rijeka still part of Croatia and have one more day in Croatia tomorrow. This is a big day. We have been invited to the sail away party on the Helipad which is normally off limits. We had already booked Q-sine at 6:00 pm not knowing the schedule was changed to 7:00 pm for the show in order to get an adult show in at 11:00 pm. We stopped for a rest and a beer at 11:00 am inside the Tsat.. The waiter said do you want to pay in the corner?  We looked over at the corner and it wasn't even in shade. We said we could pay here just as easily but he said do you want to pay in the corner, much more slowly?  Eventually we worked out he was asking about paying in Kuna, which we had plenty of, as we were in the country three days. Are they ever going over to Euros?

Tsat

Last night's passage 9:45 pm

Infinity v Constellation

It's only day two but the the comparisons continue. The entertainment schedule and standard are tried and true. High quality cover type acts are brought on board, interspersed with the on board troupe which is orchestra (8),singers(6), dancers(8) and acrobats (2).  This is exactly the same formula on both Infinity and Constellation. This cruise is fuller ie closer to its 2100 compliment, so seemingly the staff are more stretched.  This ship is also having an upgrade but we found out it was only going to take 5 weeks.

Zadar

Another good port of Call with a unique swimming spot known as the Sea Organ.  We have been to Croatia before but not to Zadar which happens to be where our neighbour across the road in Clifton Springs has his holiday house in the old country. This also has an Old Town with its Roman Ruins and has a shopping town known as SuperNova which we took two buses to get there. The Pandora stores seem to like the new shops not the old locations. Dubrovnik had no Pandora and She who collects Pandora remembered that Croatia was missing from the bracelet. So yet another charm, this time a golden charm, was added to her collection.  We went back by taxi, only 45 Kuna (7 euros).  We finished with a dip at the Sea Organ, where wave action generates sound through an organ.

Sea Organ Jump

A Roman?

A Charming Hunt

Vaporetto and People Mover

Six yar ago we got off a boat here and took the people mover to the end for a bus to Munich. This time we got off the Vaporetto at Roma and took the people mover from the start to the cruise terminal to board the boat. This closes a loop that took 6 yar to finish with a side trip to Australia in between. The Constellation is essentially a mirror twin of Infinity. It is a 3D spot the difference game. I already notice that a tricky sliding door has a more conventional door on this ship.  Many people are sitting in the heat for hours fully clothed as they did not put their swimmers in the carry on. Amateurs.

Liassidi Palace bus stop

Tiny Beans update

We know nothing compared to some. The lady at lunch near us had specifically travelled to Ballarat because her father served in WWIIand had leave there and raved about it all his life. She used the Roller Coaster at Luna Park. She travels the world by cruise ship to gain access to Roller Coasters having used over 1300 different roller coasters around the world. She has gained elite cruise class on nearly all cruise lines and is waiting for the first roller coaster at sea which is due on a new ship in 2020.

Stage Shows

I can't really distinguish this cruise ship theatre with any other. The entertainment has been first rate. Even the on board crew have put on several big productions. There have been many scenery and configuration changes that I haven't seen on a boat. Lift well floors, gynormous screens etc. And this ship is being updated next year! Last night there were around 25 people on stage including the orchestra and there was still plenty of room.

Revolvers

Sea Day II

This cruise is winding down with an all day blue on blue view, although I can see two islands, a small boat and some flag markers floating past right now.  It is 11:00 am I have had a 30 minute bicycle workout which is at least the sixth time I have managed that. This is a better effort than previous cruises. We have some lounge type beds undercover but around the main pool it is hot and no breeze getting thru. I tried some after dark photos last night.

Arty Aluminium

RADAR

Music of the Night

Celebrity X

This ship has less gadgets so seems not to appeal to families as much as Royal Caribbean. It helps that the ship is not quite full, so plenty of beds even today when all day at sea. The towel policy is better here as there isn't one. No checking in or out of towels as they are everywhere. The birthday massage is in swing. I  just saw a guy walk into a mirror thinking his sunbed was down there. How disorienting.

Aromatherapy

Awakening

Birthday at Sea

There are some unique birthdays that come along but this is a new one.  Do you know how hard it is to get flowers delivered to a boat?  And this is a day at sea so unless you can get a fast moving charter to pull alongside or get a helicopter down on the deck both of which are reserved for emergencies or my preferred option of getting them dropped by a passing plane so I could lean out the balcony to grab them and then go surprise.  There have been emergencies, including getting the Cruise Director off the ship because he wasn't recovering from an issue!  Not a good sign.  So far the birthday schedule has been breakfast in bed, flowers delivered at 9:00 am and a bicycle session in the gym. Right now as I type this it is smoothies on the deck.

Blooming Sea Flowers