Just a cruise note…

On my 2 cruises that I’ve done now, I would carry around several small notebook and a pen with me on the ship or while on shore excursions, so I can take note of the things I want to remember while on the cruise. This way I have detailed notes of all the things that I want to remember in my small notebooks.

I generally during a quiet time will find somewhere on the ship, in a public place and sit there and write my memories down before I forget the things I want to remember.

I write down the funny things I’ve seen and heard, I write the names of crew members who have gone above and beyond to make sure that I’m having a good time on my holiday (handy for the compliment cards from the Passenger Services Desk on the ship and the survey at the end of the cruise), I write down the informative things, the amusing things, the entertaining things, the highlights of the cruise, about the wonderful people I have met and conversed with.

I like going back to my notebooks and rereading what I have written and remembering those moments.

On my last cruise from Adelaide, South Australia to Fiji and return back in November 2019, I could be found on the Lido Deck scribbling away in my notebook, or in the Explorer’s Lounge, or on the Promenade Deck.

Writing notes at various times during the day or the evening during some down time helps me to remember a cruise, as does taking photos and video’s on my phone.

On my first cruise back in 2018, going from Adelaide, South Australia to New Zealand, on that cruise I had taken so many photos that the friend I was travelling with, jokingly called me “a Japanese tourist” lol. Funny how she wanted half the photos I had taken so she could print them off for herself lol.

The next cruise for next year, December 2023 from Adelaide, South Australia to New Zealand, as it’s going to be a Christmas and New Year’s cruise, I was considering getting the internet package on the ship and do some live videos while on the cruise, especially on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve but for this cruise, yes, I will be bringing along a pack of small notebooks to write my memories in.

However you remember your cruises, I hope you look back on the memories and smile as you remember the crew members who made your cruise enjoyable along with the memories you made on your cruises.

Until Next Time

Kaye

Welcome back…

Sunday April 17 marked a big date in the calendar, the cruising calendar, as that was the date cruise ships and cruising finally returned to Australia after a 2 year absence, due to the covid-19 pandemic that swept the world.

The first cruise ship to be welcomed back to Australia? P&O’s The Pacific Explorer, or the former Princess Cruises Dawn Princess, for those who remember her.

I must confess that after seeing videos on Facebook from the cruise director currently on the Pacific Explorer, seeing her return home to Sydney on board the ship, even I teared up as she shared her excitement in her live Facebook videos.

I’ve never sailed with P&O before but I could feel her excitement as the ship sailed through Sydney Harbour as she shared what she was feeling and witnessing through the live videos.

The world is slowing returning to normal, or a new normal as we have to deal with protocols and procedures for keeping everyone safe from covid.

I’m sure that when it comes to my cruise in December 2023, that the possibility of all restrictions will not be a thing. No testing before a cruise, no face mask wearing, no covid regulations while cruising, that the process will be relaxed.

As someone who has cruised previously, for those who are reluctant to get on a cruise ship for their very first cruise, or who are reluctant to go back onto a “floating Petri dish” after the Ruby Princess incident, Princess Cruises did get a rap over their knuckles for not being open and transparent with the Australian authorities and the passengers on the ship at the time but I know that the Australian authorities would have received the hardest rap over the knuckles for not doing their jobs properly.

Any cruise ships visiting a port have to follow that country’s laws. They have to follow the health authorities rules, customs and immigration rules for a country and the port authorities rules, a cruise ship captain and the crew simply are unable to override those rules in place, set by that country they are currently visiting. The Australian authorities messed up big time over the Ruby Princess.

I for one, am looking forward to cruising again and I hope you are too.

Welcome home Pacific Explorer and to all the other cruise ships who have home ports here in Australia as you too come back home.

Happy sailing!

Until next time

Kaye

The Love Boat…

One of my favourite TV shows growing up was The Love Boat. I would sit in front of the TV each week just to see who the guest stars would be and what the crew of The Pacific Princess would be up to that week.

It was pure escapism and it captured the minds and imaginations of not just me but also most people who watched the show.

The Love Boat was the show TV stars wanted to appear in, as it was extremely popular in a prime time viewing timeslot.

The Love Boat was also the show that got people curious about cruising and got people going on cruises.

On my last cruise back in 2019, from Adelaide, Australia to Fiji and return, there was a The Love Boat themed deck party, which was repeated as a Sail Away party, which was fun. Then when the cast of The Love Boat received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Princess Cruises had placed replica’s of the plaque to be placed on their ships in the Piazza.

Now my happiness has increased because one of the TV stations here in Australia is playing episodes of The Love Boat and they have it on their website for streaming. Yep, I’m binge watching.

I’m really enjoying watching the show again as I’ve only seen random episodes on YouTube or Dailymotion as it hasn’t played on TV here since the original run.

Finding The Love Boat is the perfect escapism TV for me in these times of living in a pandemic. I can escape with the passengers and crew on board the Pacific Princess and forget about the world for an hour or several hours, depending on how many episodes I can watch.

Yes, I also sing along with the theme tune as it plays…

Until next time

Kaye