ARRIVAL INTO SYDNEY HARBOUR – 11TH OCTOBER, 2013

How wonderful is the cruise through the Heads and slowly making our way up the Harbour as the city wakes to a beautiful day.  The sheer volume of lucky people who have this view every single day just probably don't know how lucky they are – it is a totally awesome sail in to the new White Bay Terminal and we are so excited about seeing our family and friends again.

 

Our last visit to Horizons for our 'port' brekky – will miss those beautiful omelettes with 'the works'…..  will have to make them at home, but know they won't be as perfect!!

 

One daughter dropped us off at the ship 3 months ago and the other has picked us up – yummy hugs - and then HOME SWEET HOME!!!!...... for a few days anyway, then off to the States for 2 weeks for a family wedding.

 

Thank you to so many people who have made this voyage such a pleasure with unforgettable memories – firstly to Joanne for her tireless months of fielding queries, giving facts and info., organizing the most amazing tours, being so much fun – always smiling;   then to Ros for the huge magnitude of organization involved in so many fun activities for our Dawn Nomads, plus all those other occasions that she just seemed to organize so effortlessly;  to Ray for making up all of our name tags;  to Evie for her 'trivia' input;  to all our new and old friends for your wonderful company;    and lastly to every single crew member on board the "Dawn Princess", for making our holiday such a safe and happy journey –  Colin and Judy had the time of their lives!!!

 

Despite the challenge of writing 'my diary for the world to read', I'm so happy that it is now complete and the memories are in print….. until we sail again – au revoir!!!

 

Photos:  Our pretty sail in to Sydney Harbour

 

 

DAYS 86/90 - 6/10 OCTOBER, 2013 – DELERIOUS SEA DAYS!!!

Very mixed emotions now as we think about that awesome task of packing all our goods and chattels gathered over the last 3 months, along with photos and memorabilia magnetized to our walls, into those few suitcases under our bed and 'hope' they fit!!

 

But there are still 5 sea days and we have a big day ahead (well for us anyway!!!)- a good night's sleep,  boots have been polished, the adrenalin is rushing, our 'Rooster' has been groomed and is ready to strut his stuff….  Our enthusiastic followers arrived early to acquire the best seats on Deck 12 and the hunters and gatherers have done good with pre-dinner nibblies….   And it's game on – the Roosters playing the Seagulls in the Grand Final….  We all cheered, kicked, boosted our engery with hamburgers and 'refreshments', to get them over the line, for a super win – Well done you 'Roosters'!!

 

Missed the Australian Pie Buffet in Horizons – that would have been worth a look, but there is so much going on -  many 'last things' happening around the ship – last Pop Choir Concert, Photo Competition Finale, our last Cruise Critic gathering – really fun pre dinner get together exchanging tacky souvenirs by random tickets, and our last Formal Night (thank heavens – ran out of glad rags!!) think my handsome husband looks so spiffy in his white dinner jacket!!  The Production Show – Piano Man was really lovely and the brilliant musician, Sara Dyer, excelled herself – again!!

 

To be continued…….

 

Continued…….

 

The Round Europe Farewell Balloon Drop Party in the Atrium was very well attended, especially with so many of the staff also enjoying the celebrations, the music and the dancing.

 

The bags are 'jam packed' and the cabin looks rather empty but the farewells continue with lots of exchanges of names and numbers and also reminiscing the adventures and our weeks of living next door to each other in our big, beautiful floating hotel.  We enjoyed our last pre-dinner drinks with good friends and also our last supper which included the waiters parading with their Baked Alaska….  It was sad to say our farewells and thanks to the very hard working dining room staff.

 

Then as is the tradition on the last evening of the cruise, we filled the Princess Theatre and were entertained by the crew in their International Talent Show, and they put on a very good evening's entertainment.   Last visit to the Wheelhouse to farewell those very happy gentlemen 'behind the bar'!!

 

Photos:  Happy snaps of good times and great mates as we head home down the coast of Qld and NSW.

 

DAY 85 - SATURDAY, 5TH OCTOBER, 2013 - DARWIN, AUSTRALIA

Just divine to set foot on this beautiful soil of ours, the lucky country!!  Despite the most brilliant trip abroad, there is no place like home and we are so very blessed!

 

Again have been to Darwin so many times in the last 10 years, either by ship or caravanning, and it is a lovely city but there again there is a job I have to do – crazy, but need to get to the shops to buy a nice wedding outfit (as we have decided to go to the States on our return to Sydney – 5 sleeps, for a family wedding in the Napa Valley, CA).  Caught a cab with Ros & Arnold and did the rounds of the shops but as all of their summer clothing was 'everywhere', have decided to wait until we return home to investigate further…. 

 

The clocks have been against us of late and it's another early sailaway – all aboard by 4.30pm please – the Dawn Princess sails for Sydney!!  This was the last port we farewelled this cruise and it was very 'joyous', a lovely evening with such good mates on Deck 11, as we set off on 'our way home'….

 

Photos:  The port of Darwin and the very attractive residential blocks, complete with shops, cafés, beach and wave pool.