Cruises.com.au Blog

Technically our destination today was Willis Island, a tiny atoll in the Coral Sea, manned by two women and two men who look after the Island’s weather station.  We dropped anchor a mile or so offshore for a matter of minutes thus qualifying the ship’s journey as an international one.  This enables the ship to sell duty free products and a lot of duty free alcohol.

This morning I was fortunate enough to be invited by the Captain to view the Bridge.  Sandra and I went through extensive security checks before entering the Bridge area.

Again, so many activities, the rock climbing wall was a popular destination both with adult and child climbers (at separate times).  We were having lunch with the Hotel Director, so a lighter breakfast was in order.  Room service took our order and the food arrived in less than fifteen minutes.  John Rae, the Scottish Hotel Director proved to be a great wealth of information.  I had met John at the official launch of Royal Caribbean in Australia last year.  The Captain also joined us for lunch.  As usual  the food was great and I had a Mexican main course followed by an old fashioned rice pudding with a side order of pecan ice cream.  In the main Edelveiss Dining Room there is also a buffet salad bar in addition to the a la carte menu.  John, the Hotel Director, told me that Australians loved the salad bar.

There are some unique things to do on board such as “The Shed”, a get together place for males to discuss “men things”.  There are church services for various denominations as well as  all the usual shipboard activities.  What has now become our regular trivial pursuit team met in the Schooner Lounge and once again we managed to not win.

Tonight is “Pure Country” with a tribute to Nashville in the Broadway Melodies Theatre and after dinner at 10.30 p.m. a Country Dance Party with live music  and a barbecue buffet.  (Just what we need – more food).  All my clothes have shrunk, must be something in the sea air.

There are movies daily on the stateroom TV as well as a multitude of international channels.  I love going to sleep while watching TV, just as well the movies are repeated or I would never get to see the end. PHOTO: The well stocked ships library.

John Pond – Editor at Sea, Cruise Passenger Magazine