Oops - did it again!

We love traveling. Most of the time we are in our caravan traveling around Queensland and New South Wales, as we are now. We have enjoyed a couple of cruises each year with my sister and brother in law. This year, we decided to try P&O again – the last time was 2009 – as it leaves from Brisbane, so no more expensive flights to Sydney. All the big cruise ships have left Australian waters as they consider this non cruising season, well that is simply not true. We have enjoyed three last minute cruises on Pacific Dawn this year. The first was after our newest grand-daughter was born, and it was a 3 night Food and Wine sampler in February. We had a great time. The next was a 7 night Pacific Island Hopper in April. Loved it. We had been to all the places, but Jon had not so he came along also. These were both last minute cruises booked about 7-10 days before departure. Our daughter also booked a last minute cruise for her and our son in law for their anniversary. We got to look after the two grand-kids for the weekend – woo-hoo! We were thinking as we needed to go in to pick them up on the Tuesday morning, maybe we could leave on the ship. I looked up where the ship was going next and decided to book another last minute cruise – so cheap. This was a 4 night Great Barrier Reef Experience in May, with the only port being Airlie Beach. We arranged to meet up with a family we met last cruise, and found out they were also on the first cruise we did this year – guess we were just meant to meet. 

As soon as we got on board we went to the Waterfront Restaurant to book dinners and have lunch. We met up with our friends - not planned - and booked dinner with them for each night. They like early dinner, 5.45, and it was really good. We have always booked late dinner 7.30-8pm, but at 5.45 one can enjoy activities that happen around the 7.30-8pm. This is my lunch from day one.

The food seemed a lot better this cruise, but maybe we are just getting use to it. Peter still can't believe that he can not get a small dish of chilli or chilli sauce with his meal. Our dinner day one: soup, tuna rissole, and chocolate cake with ice-cream on the side for me and some meat thingy and chips, and a cheese plate for Peter.

We enjoyed the trivia and knew most of the questions, and better still we knew some of the answers. We did win two ice-cream scoops each, and at $5 per scoop, that was a pretty good prize. New Zealand Ice-Cream is located on deck 12 outside The Pantry. We went up to get some after Pub Olympics one night, only to find it was closed – and it was only 9.15pm, so the following afternoon we enjoyed a scoop, a really big scoop of this lovely ice-cream. We explored some other parts of the ship that I had not been to - Peter had as he wanders when I'm doing morning trivia. We didn't dress for Gatsby Night this cruise - guess we are over it 😉.

Airlie Beach, just north of Mackay is known as the gateway to the reef. The tenders took us to Abell Point, where we paid $5 for a return ticket into Airlie Beach. It was not a very long ride, and we could have easily walked along the boardwalk into town. Airlie Beach is a coastal town of beautiful palm-fringed beaches, and many cafes and touristy shops. The bus dropped us at the far end of town where a market was taking place. We walked up to the top of town and then back down again, spending a little bit of time at the Lagoon – a man made swimming and water play area. It is beautifully landscaped and has covered seating, bbq's and life guards.

We have been to Airlie many times in the caravan and it has changed a little. There were many new buildings, especially after Cyclone Debbie that hit Airlie Beach hard at the end of March a year ago.

Back on the ship for late lunch, more trivia, and another sea day back to Brissy.

We tried to eat in the Waterfront Restaurant for most meals, as it is much better than the Pantry. Breakfast menu didn't change each day, but it is such a good menu it didn't matter. Lunch and dinner changed daily. I guess I must be getting use to the food, or combinations of what we can order extra. Breakfast was great – I asked for extra Vegemite so I could use it at lunch and in the evening. Lunch in restaurant, one can order sides such as chips, potatoes, vegetables, salads. This was good especially if only an entree was ordered. In the Pantry I would get either croissants, if it was breakfast, or bread rolls at lunch to have in the room in the evening. Dinners were good and I mostly ordered two entrees. We had early dinner, 5.45pm so after dinner it was Pub Olympics and then show. It was good to get back to the cabin early and enjoy a Vegemite bread roll while watching a new release movie. I actually enjoyed the food this time.

So when will we cruise again? We are off on a road trip for a few months, so who knows what will happen when we get back?