Day 58 - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea 

Sunday, March 9

Rabaul was once the provincial capital of East New Britain province.  After the volcano erupted in 1994, the capital was moved to a town about 12 miles away.  Papua New Guinea has been under the control of the Germans, the British, the Australians, and the Japanese before becoming independent.

I awoke about 8:40 to a beautiful sunny day.  The port presentation made it sound like it would be hazy due to the ash from the volcano.  There were school children singing on the pier below my balcony.  My tour was not until 12:30 so I stayed in where it is cool (outdoor temp is about 86F/30C).  The man came to fix the partition on the balcony at about 9:30 so it was good I got up early.

Since I was up and I was going to miss lunch, I went to the Lido for breakfast.  I then took some pictures from the starboard side of the ship out to some of the other islands.

Met in the Queens Room for my tour "Pacific Memories".  We left around 12:30 in a large minivan/small bus (held around 18 with the jump seats).  Our first stop was the Kokopo War Museum.  They had a number of rusty artifacts out in the grounds (rather than being kept away from the elements).

Then we went to the War Cemetery.  The tour booklet said there were soldiers and natives buried there but we only saw the graves of Australian soldiers.  It is kept up by the Australians and was very serene and beautiful.

Our last stop was a Japanese Barge Tunnel where the Japanese hid some of their boats during the war.  When the Japanese arrived they built a series of tunnels for protection throughout the area for various purposes.  Many of the native men were made into slave labourers (women and children had been evacuated to Australia before the Japanese arrived).

Our guide, Joyce, told us about beetle nuts (sp?) that many of the adults chew on.  Evidently they give some kind of a high.  Most people grow their own although we did see them for sale at the street markets.  These turn their mouths and teeth (what they have - not sure there are any dentists!) red.

The tour booklet said we were supposed to go to a village for a cultural show but that did not materialize.  Although nothing will likely happen, I think I will bring it to the excursion desk's attention.

We arrived back at 3:30 which was the time we were supposed to sail.  We were about a half an hour late leaving because another group was not back.

Although the volcano spewed ash all day (which it seems to do all day every day), I did not come back as dirty as we had been warned.

Watched the sail-away by the Lido Pool as usual and then back to cool off in my stateroom.

Went to the 7:45 trivia in the pub.  I had 9 out of 20 correct.

Six of us for dinner tonight.  The show was "La Danza" with the Royal Cunard Dancers.  It was a repeat but I had not gone to the previous one.  After the show I tried again to star gaze with my new app but it was overcast.

We have five sea days before we get to Japan (and cold weather😞).

Street market across from the pier

Enjoying the beautiful blue water on a hot Sunday

Beetle Nuts at top

Children collecting donations (many of the people do have blondish curly hair)

Many of the rusting artifacts from WWII

Two views of the War Cemetery

One of the Japanese tunnels

Four street scenes

Ash spewing from the volcano

Smooth sailing until next time!

Days 56 and 57 - At sea

Friday - March 7

After going to bed at 2 am (I was playing with my new astronomy app and trying to figure out what I was seeing in the sky), I had no motivation to get out of bed.  Awoke about 9:15 to check if there was anything to see.  We were stopped at Yorkey's Knob for the Australian officials to complete their customs and immigration paperwork.  It was cloudy, hot, and I could not see anything from the balcony so I went back to bed.  I would sleep for about a half an hour, wake up, look at the clock, decide I still had no motivation to get up and repeat.  Finally dragged myself out of bed at 10:50.

After watching the morning show and getting dressed, I took my form (immigration for PNG) and card down to the Purser's Office.  Got a new key card and went to the Lido for lunch.  Ordered an orange juice with my card and when the server came back with it, she said it would not scan, so after eating it was back to deck one and the Purser's Office.

Had to test out my second new card of the day so off to the casino.  One of my favorite machines was vacant so I pocketed a hefty win of $2.39 (obviously I will not need Gamblers Anonymous when I get home) and then decided to read at the midship bar on deck three.  Right before two it gets very noisy because people are playing cards (Whist, I think) around the grand staircase (won't all fit in the card room) so I relocated to Cafe Corinthia on deck two where we have Needlework/Knitting group.

After Needlework/Knitting group I went to trivia in the pub.  Really bad day with only 4 correct answers.

The weather has turned worse, with rain, some fog, and rough seas.  Word has it that a cyclone may be heading for Airlie Beach where we were yesterday.

After returning to my stateroom I was trying to watch the port presentation on Kagoshima, Japan but could not keep my eyes open.  I had a long, drawn-out dream where Gavin, the port presenter, was on the radio and I kept asking people to turn it off.  I finally woke up (an hour and quarter after falling asleep) and turned off the TV.

Tonight was a formal night and once again there were only five for dinner (two of our regulars have bad colds).  We have a new Australian couple that are going from Sydney to Hong Kong.  They had been at another table where nobody ever showed up so they asked to be at a different table where they would have people with whom to talk.

The show tonight was a short presentation with the Royal Cunard singers and dancers and then another performance by Danny Elliott, the Australian that sings, dances and plays many different instruments (eight tonight).

No balcony sitting tonight as it is still raining and blowing onto the balcony.  I need to go to bed  early anyway as I have my pedicure appointment first thing in the morning.

Saturday, March 8

Got up around 9 and we were traveling slowly through many small islands of Papua New Guinea.  Lots of tiny fishing boats in the water (which is much smoother than last night).

Had my pedicure at 10.  It wasn't my best pedicure nor my worst but certainly the most expensive.

Next I went to exchange my tour ticket.  I had checked the wrong one (both the same price).  No problem because I think many people are not going to even get off in Rabaul.  It is on an island where the volcano frequently erupts obliterating parts of the island.

Lunch in the Lido and then sat on my balcony because it had started drizzling.  The afternoon got rainier and foggier as the afternoon progressed.

Stopped in the library to check out a book and went to Needlework/Knitting group early and finished the Bill Bryson book (which I had been reading since he was on board) before the group started.

Tried to go to 4:15 trivia but every seat in the pub was taken so I went to the Lido and had a scone instead and started on my new book.

I needed to do a load of wash so I went in about 5:10 and two washers and two dryers were empty!  Started my wash going and then came back to work on this blog.  Clothes went into the dryer at about 5:45 (there were still two empty dryers) and all were dry by 6:45.

Tried the 7:45 trivia and was able to get a seat.  I got 10 out of 20 correct.

We had nine present for dinner (Lynn is still sick).  The show tonight was a variety show with a juggler and a swing singer.  Decided to give it a pass.  Came back to go out on the balcony and all the furniture had been moved around and I had to push them out of the way to get out.  Then I noticed that the divider with the next balcony was swinging freely.  Called the Purser's Office and they sent a young man who checked it and found the lock was broken.  He tied it up and said someone would fix it tomorrow (hopefully not too early in the morning😴).

One man fishing boats

A small settlement on a tiny island

Day 55 - Airlie Beach, Australia

Thursday, March 6

Airlie Beach is a tender port so I knew it would take some time to get those on ship tours off so I slept until 9:18.  Watched the morning show, got ready, and was passing the clock on the way to the Queens Room as it chimed 10:00.  Picked up my tender number which was 25 and they were calling 16 and 17.  The room was packed so I went into the Golden Lion Pub to wait.

Morning trivia was being played so once again I played against myself - I got 13 out of 20, my best score ever.  Once trivia was over I went back to the Queens Room.  At 10:35 my number was called.  We are not using our own tenders but catamarans - they hold more and are much more open and comfy.  It took about 20 minutes to load and then the ride was 10 minutes.

Luckily, there was a shuttle bus service from the marina into Airlie Beach.  The bus driver was a hoot!

There was a small market set up where the bus dropped us off but most of the items were not locally made so I was not tempted to get money from an ATM to augment the A$5.50 I had left.  Stopped at a McDonalds and had a large coke for A$3.35.  Tried to use the free wi-fi but could not get connected even though it showed up as an available service.  People around me had the same issue although a few were able to connect.  I was able to get on some wi-fi long enough to download e-mail but then I lost it.

Since it was after one and I had no breakfast and the McD food was starting to look good, I decided it was time to head back to the ship.  Walked along the beach which was beautiful.

After taking the shuttle bus to the marina and then waiting in line for the catamaran, I arrived back on board at about three.  Just made it to the Lido buffet before it closed.

Went back to my stateroom to get my book and then back to the pub for afternoon trivia.  Did not do as well as this morning with only getting 8 out of 20.

It was then time for the sail-away party.  talked with some friends until about 6 pm when I went to sit on my balcony.  Watched the sunset and then fell asleep until 7.  Time to get ready for dinner and then went to my third trivia session of the day - this time I got 12 out of 23.

Once again we only had five for dinner.  My key card is still not working in the slot machines so I could not lose any money.  I did ask about it and the lady at the casino said I needed to get a new card because the machines are more sensitive than the door locks.  I will go tomorrow and get a new card because I have to turn in an immigration form for Papua New Guinea in the same place.

The ship from the beach

Main Street of Airlie Beach

Stalls set up along the beach

Picnic shelter

Many shelters in Australia have free grills

Sand art

What's wrong with this picture?  Beautiful day, temperature near 80,  gorgeous sand and water and nobody is swimming.

The answer - it is jelly fish season.  The little holder on the right holds vinegar to use until you can get emergency attention.  They sell special suits (like the guy is wearing) to protect against the nasty varmints!

Smooth sailing until next time!

Day 54 - At sea

Wednesday, March 5

I awoke just about 8:50 before the alarm went off.  Watched the morning show and then went for my haircut.  I did get a good hair cut but with two caveats.  One, the entire time she was cutting she was trying to sell products and services even suggesting some kind of a color to bring out the white in my white hair (did not understand that at all).  Second, I ended up with one of those dos where you look like you just rolled out of bed and your hair is going in every direction possible.  I left it all day to see if it would grow on me but before dinner I brushed it back into its usual style.

Read some before having lunch at 12:30 and then worked on finishing up yesterdays's blog.  the internet was not being co-operative so I went back to reading.

Then back to my stateroom to pick up my knitting for Needlework/Knitting group.  According to one of the ladies there, we picked up 380 people in Brisbane.

Went to 4:15 trivia and played against myself.  I got 10 answers (out of 20) correct which is better than the last two times I played with a team.

Instead of afternoon tea I had the soft serve ice cream from the Lido.

Tonight was a formal night.  Many of the Japanese ladies on board were dressed in beautiful kimonos.

We once again only had five at dinner.  After dinner I watched the dancing for a while and then tried to lose some money on the penny slots but the machines would not read my key card (I have had issues with it before).  It took about six tries before my door would open.

It was a gorgeous night for sitting on the balcony.  Temperature in the 70s and a clear sky with huge, bright stars everywhere.  (Sorry, snowbound people!)

Tomorrow is Airlie Beach.

Smooth sailing until next time!

Day 53 - Brisbane, Australia

Tuesday, March 4

We are now in the Australian state of Queensland (Sydney is in New South Wales).  When I was in Australia last time we drove slowly (there was a huge traffic jam) through Brisbane and picked up people at the airport, so that was all I saw of it.

We arrived very early this morning and when I woke about 8:45 we were already docked and they were making announcements about going ashore.  I watched the morning show and got ready for the day.  The view from my balcony is nowhere as good as in Sydney - I overlook the airport!  We are in a cargo port as Brisbane does not have a real cruise terminal.

Since I had seen so much of Australia on my last visit, I did not book any excursions here.  Cunard ran a shuttle service into the city and that suited me just fine.  It was about a 45 minute trip into the city but the shuttle dropped us at Creek and Queen Street (the heart of the CBD) and the tourist board provided us with a map of central Brisbane with the pick up spot marked (so no getting lost).

My first stop was the Apple store.  I had a question about my iPad and wanted to use their really fast internet (what bliss👍).  The problem I had, of course, did not do it while I was there, but she told me to feel free to use the internet, so I found a stool and started answering some e-mails that had photos attached (they take forever to send on board).  I wrote five or six emails but AOL would not send them.  I asked the nice young man who worked there what was I doing wrong.  He gave me a long, detailed, technical answer which I mostly did not understand. Then he looked at my settings and suggested I try sending them through my Comcast account (thank goodness I did not cancel it which I was thinking of doing to save some money) and even showed me how to change the account without having to rewrite the e-mail.  They went through right away on the Comcast account - not sure why AOL doesn't like me any more (even though I can get email just not send).

I then walked over to the David Jones store (Aussie department store chain) in the Queen's Plaza.  Had lunch in the food court - a delicious meat and cheese quesadilla. Then I walked the  length of Queen Street Mall which is a pedestrian zone that has some outdoor restaurants, is nicely landscaped, plenty of places to sit and people watch and even one unusual bird (at least for a city).  Time for some obligatory souvenir shopping and then a mango-pineapple frozen drink at McD.  The cashier apologized for the slow internet but I found it quite fast and caught up on some of my Cruise Critic threads.

A bit more of a walk and then it was time to catch the shuttle bus back.  Returned to the ship just  after four and went to the Cafe Corinthia for not one but two glasses of the delicious orange juice (covered on my soda card).  I also found out that they serve pastries and such at various times of the day.  I ordered a strawberry tart to go with my second juice.  It was very tasty.

Took my purchases to my stateroom and then up to deck 9 for sail-away which was supposed to be around 5:30.  At  5:45 still no movement.  I met Lynn(one of my dinner companions) and we talked about what we had done today - still no movement.  We started talking to a man who had just joined today from the QV and he was telling us about their trip around South America.

We were in the right spot to see the problem because one of the aft lines was too tight to let go.  They tried a number of ideas before the line finally loosened enough that it could be released (sorry I don't know the technical terms) and we finally sailed after 6:30.

Played trivia again with four CC friends but we only had 8 out of 20 correct.

At dinner there were only five of us.  We still don't know if the empty two seats will be filled.

At the last moment I decided to go to the show.  The performer was an Australian, Danny Elliott, who sings, dances, and plays at least eight different musical instruments.  He did a wide variety of songs and it was a good show.

When I returned to my stateroom I could not sit on the balcony because it was raining and blowing in.  It was very warm and humid.  I worked on my pictures instead.

traditional style Queensland houses

Anzac Square

Queen Street Mall

unusual bird for the middle of a city

Queen Street Mall

Beautiful old building that houses the Apple Store

problem solved and aft line being let go

Smooth sailing until next time!

Day 52  - At sea

Slept until 10 and the watched the morning show.  It is a beautiful day and the coast of Australia is just visible on the port side horizon.

First off, I went to the spa to make my appointments for my hair cut (on the 5th) and pedicure (on the eighth).  Then I purchased the soda card for this segment.  Not a lot of soda choices (Pepsi, diet Pepsi, English lemonade [which they think tastes like Sprite - I think it tastes like diet Sprite with a yucky aftertaste] and tonic water) but there are a number of juice choices including a really good orange juice (nothing like the orange water served in the lido labelled "orange juice") as well as others.  This soda card might make me healthy with all the juice! 😉  Next it was time to go to our next Cruise Critic Meet and Greet.  We had close to 25 show up - many were CC members who had not joined our roll call but it was good to meet some new arrivals.

Rumour had it that 900-1000 Japanese were joining the cruise.  I don't think it is near that amount but there are quite a few (my new next door neighbors for example).  The Lido buffet had an "Asian" section and the Chef's Corner had sushi.  I also saw two groups being given a guided tour of the ship by a Japanese guide (in kimono)

After a late lunch, I went by my stateroom and picked up my new yarn for Needlework/Knitting group.  Everyone liked it and I finished the first four rows.

When the meeting broke up (we are losing two members in Brisbane tomorrow), I went to the Commodore club to enjoy the view.  While I was there an announcements was made (they don't happen frequently) that some people had been told that tonight was a formal night (because the Australian Ball is tonight and most ball nights are formal).  So tonight is a "formal optional" night.

There was a 7:45 early trivia in the Golden Lion Pub.  Two of my CC friends came in and we played, not very successfully.  Luckily, they play for fun unlike the team I was on last time.

We are down to eight at the dinner table now (much more manageable than eleven) but there are a few people getting on in Brisbane so our numbers might change.

The show tonight was "The Leading Men" composed of four men who all who have been leading men in Australian musical theatre.  They were quite good.  Hilda, Jim, and I went.

At about 1am our time the QV and QE passed silently in the night.

We set our clocks back another hour for Brisbane.

Smooth sailing until next time!

Days 50 and 51 -  Sydney, Australia

Saturday, March 1

Awoke at 6:15 to watch the sail-in to Sydney.  It was very overcast with an occasional shower.  We have a huge banner saying, "Happy Mardi Gras" in honor of Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras today.  Vanity Faire, a drag queen whose name is actually Ben, rode into port on a giant stiletto.

We docked around 8 am and could disembark at 9.  I waited until closer to ten.  Walked around The Rocks market (held every Saturday and Sunday), found an ATM and then bought a few things. I found some beautiful hand-dyed silk yarn that I am going to make into a shawl during Needlework/Knitting group time.

The Visitor Information Centre has free wi-fi - not very fast but free is free. Spent over an hour trying to get some tax information (unsuccessfully) my daughter needs to complete my taxes.

Tried to find a drug store nearby but all that is near Circular Quay are convenience stores with sky high prices.  I'll leave it for tomorrow.

Got a coke in McDonalds (A$2.95 for a medium) - free (very slow) wi-fi but no toilets!  (Have I mentioned recently how much I love Comcast and its high speed internet?)

I was going to ride the Hop-on Hop-off bus today but decided to wait until tomorrow in case the weather is better (didn't get really good pictures in San Francisco because of the weather).

Went to the show by Indigiearth, an Aboriginal group, but they were late arriving so I left early so I would not be late for dinner.  I could have stayed for the show since I was the only one (at a table for 11) that showed up.  I was finished by 9:15 (dinner starts at 8:30) when usually we don't finish until 10 at the earliest!  Decided to sit on my balcony and look at the Opera House.  It was raining but it did not blow into my balcony.

Sunday, March 2

Today was disembarkation day for about half the passengers (if the rumors are true) and the same number will be getting on.

I woke up at 8:45 and was on Hop-On, Hop-Off bus by 9:20.  I did a complete circuit first to decide if I could find the places I needed (My original plan was to get a haircut and pedicure in Sydney but I did not see any nail salons and only one hair salon - so I will be making appointments on board at about three times the cost at home).

Went back to the area of the CBD (central business district) around the Queen Victoria Building.   I found a drug store and stocked up on more hairspray, toothpaste, etc.  There was a Westfield Shopping Centre and I was hoping they would have free wi-fi like the one in San Francisco but my iPad did not pick up a signal.  I did have a sandwich in the food court.

When I went outside it was pouring.  Luckily I had the rain poncho that I had been given on the HoHo bus in San Francisco in my bag.  I only had to wait about 10 minutes for the next bus but it was standing room only because nobody wanted to sit on the open upper deck.  After about a half an hour people got off and I had a seat for the remainder of the journey.
Got back to the ship just after 4pm and went to the Lido for tea.  (BTW, as I have been typing up today's entry I have been sitting looking out at the Opera House.). The muster drill for new passengers was held at 4:45.  Once you have done one in your embarkation port you do not have to attend another (unlike some cruise lines).

There were three ships in port today (all cousins since they are all owned by Carnival Corp.) - HAL Oosterdam, Costa Deliziosa, and the QE.  We had pride of place with our berth at Circular Quay (the Costa ship was anchored in the harbour and the HAL ship was docked on the other side of the bridge close to Darling Harbour).

Sat on my balcony and looked through the excursion booklet trying to decide what I will do when we get to Japan and China when I was not looking at the Opera House.

Because sail-away was scheduled for 9 pm, I ate in the Lido looking at the Opera House (reading back over this I have mentioned the Opera House frequently but it is one of those iconic structures, like Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, etc. that is so amazing when you see it in person).

The drizzle stopped just before we pulled out and it was a beautiful sail-away.  I decided to watch the port presentation on Brisbane on the TV and make it an early night.  I also purchased more internet time (hopefully the last I will have to buy when the free time I get is added on).

Vanity Faire

The Rocks

The Rocks Market

The Rocks (where Sydney started)

Circular Quay (taken from my balcony)

Queen Victoria Building

late 1800s homes

Darling Harbour

people climbing the bridge

the "Coat Hangar Bridge, QE, and the Opera House

Smooth sailing until next time!