Embarkation

Boarded after the usual Customs and Immigration checkpoints and some more forms at the Tax Rebate Desk. Then onto the wharf and have our pic taken by the ships photographer then suddenly we’re on board!

Our cabin is more that we could have imagined with a huge porthole – Helen is very pleased.

A Room with a View

Feeling at home already

There’s time to explore a bit of the ship before Emergency Drill. The view of Darling Harbour from the front windows in the Dome is nothing worth getting excited about. Better start reading all about the activities for the rest of the day.

Pacific Daily – when is the first Art Auction???

At 4:20 we slip away from the wharf in steady rain - passengers (including us) huddle out of the wind and rain on around the pool on Lido Deck to the sounds of "Love Shack". The weather is so lousy that the cloud has enveloped the tops of Centrepoint Tower and the other tall skyscrapers in the city.

 

View from Caribe Deck towards Goat Island and the Sydney Ports Auth Tower

A few brave passengers out in the rain

Get a big wave from the bridge climb groups as the ship passes Luna Park. At least we were have some cover compared to these guys. Dropped off the pilot as the ship rounds the last channel mark and heads into the Pacific Ocean. We’re finally at sea about an hour after pulling away from Wharf 8.

Goodbye Sydney

We settle into some deck chairs to watch the coastline disappear amongst the showers and cloud until the cool breeze chased us inside. So much for a summer holiday!

Discover the Piano Bar on Plaza Deck and celebrate our escape with a pre-dinner glass of champagne - feeling very decadent. Wondered what the "poor" people were doing back home (NOT) ;-)

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Welcome to Sydney

The planned trip out to Bradley's Head was a sensational experience but was almost a complete disaster. As expected, the ship's Webcam was temporarily switched off when the shipgets within range of terrestrial wireless internet services.

I got up at 4:30am so it was impossible to how close the ship was to the coast. I arrived at the locked gate to the headland just before first light to be suprised and delighted by Pacific Dawn sliding almost silently through the water just off the headland. Less than 2 minutes later I would have missed it!

If you've never been there, Bradley's Head is a narrow headland protruding from the north shore of Sydney Harbour just south of Mosman. It's close to the Sydney - Hobart yacht race starting line and just down Military Road in Mosman. The nearest neighbour is Taronga Zoo with stunning views of the city, the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.

Bradley's Head (centre of photo)

It's location for watching and photographing all the the shipping and boating activity of our beautiful and spectacular harbour is unparalleled.

After running the last 100m (after realising that Pacific Dawn had almost rounded the headland), I watched this beautiful white ship from the HMAS Sydney foremast (monument) "appear" around the point and get so close I almost could have called out to the passengers up on the Lido Deck making the most of the last few minutes of their "Summer Sessions" cruise.

The plan was to take some photos with the new camera. With low light, no tripod, heaps of wind and a ship moving away quite quickly (sounds like I'm inventing lots of excuses) a great photo was pretty much impossible. Might have to come back and try again next summer.

Pacific Dawn approaching Fort Denison

We arrived at the passenger terminal around 10am and sailed (ha ha) through checkin as the crowds don't arrive until later. Time for drafting and uploading this blog before boarding at 12:30.

Arriving in style - not our Limo :-(

Pacific Dawn waiting for us to board

More latter.

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The Anticipation/Preparation

Less than 48 hours to go until sailaway!

The bags are packed (almost) and every concievable issue and contingency has been gone through. 

Shopping for extra bits and pieces has been completed (I hope) .

Helen says she's excited about going - I don't think the excitement will really set in until we've pulled away from the wharf and start steaming down the harbour.

The end of this week is a pretty amazing time for passenger cruise liners Sydney Harbour. There are 2 ships arriving and leaving on Friday - Pacific Dawn from Darling Harbour Wharf 8 at 4pm (that's us) and Superstar Gemini (berthed at the Overseas Passenger Terminal until 18:30 before heading off to Queensland.

We should see her as we pass Circular Quay on the way to the heads.

That makes way for 3 more cruise ships arriving on Saturday. The Sun Princess will be at Darling Harbour Wharf 8, the Statendam at Harbour Wharf Wharf 3 and Mercury at the OPT.

Sun Princess arriving in Darling Harbour

Statendam - Hilo Harbor, Big Island, Hawaii

Mercury, Sitka Alaska

This might sound a bit crazy but I'm planning to get up early (around 5am) on Friday morning, come into town and watch Pacific Dawn come through the Heads and round Bradley's Head then steam up towards the Fort Denison and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. (I realise that a modern diesel engine ship can't actually steam anywhere but it just sounds right).  Helen has opted not to come with me (at this stage anyway). Unfortunately the forecast is for showers increasing so there might not be any photos worth uploading.

If you're interested in taking a look at Pacific Dawn leaving the harbour there's a great web cam in Kirribilli looking towards Bradley's Head that will give you a birds eye view (subject to the weather). Here's a daytime shot (from today). Click here to go to Live WebCam. There's even a hi resolution option.

Sydney Harbour Webcam

For those interested - there's quite a lot of information about the cruise on the P&O Web Site. The official cruise number is W803N. We're away for 7 nights and returning on Friday 25th. 

That's about it for now. Come back and check out this Blog from time to time. The plan is to upload a short desciption of our holiday everyday (subject to the quality of the connection to the satelite).


By all means please feel free to post a comment.

Roger & Helen.