Did our walking early – went through the Botanical Gardens all the way to the Quay. The Botanical Gardens are an amazing wilderness in the middle of the city. In one section, there were thousands (and I mean thousands!) of bats hanging in the trees and making the biggest screeching sound you’ve ever heard. Some were flying around overhead making for a fantastic site on the way down to the harbor. Also making for a hazardous walk through an awful lot of bat guano through the woods. Yuk!
Walked to the Opera and saw that our ship had in fact come in! So, since we knew we had our ride, we headed back to prepare to board.
Note about The Coronation Hotel: This hotel, where a few fellow Cruise Critics also stayed, is an outstanding value in this city. It’s a great location, right in the heart of everything, and is very nicely appointed for an economy hotel. Our room was very nice, quite large and clean. A desk, table, mini-fridge, and lots of storage. Also, as I mentioned earlier, a 24-hour pub, a restaurant and a bottle shop. What more could you want? The only oddity was the shower. It was a European-type shower that has no stall – it was literally a drain in the tile floor with a shower curtain hung around it. Great shower, hot, good pressure, but you had to learn to become a human down spout so the water would run down you and into the drain – not fly out all over the place and flood the bathroom (and probably the bedroom since there wasn’t any water catch by the door). The only negative is the lift, which was very old and a little quirky. We were on the 2nd floor so we just walked the stairs – not a problem for us – but could be for others.
Checked out at 11 – and ready to roll. Went outside for a cab, which were in short supply. Met up with fellow C.C.ers – Earl and Carolyn – who were also in search of a cab. After 10 fruitless minutes trying to hail a cab, Earl walked up the street to a queue of cabs and grabbed 2 for us. They arrived, we hopped in, and tried to head off to the ship. Told our cabbie where we were going - and he gave us a blank stare. Tried to explain – Circular Quay, the cruise ship terminal, big ship – even showed him where we were going on the map – he had no idea. So we told him to follow the other cab thath Earl and Carolyn were in (we’re now thinking we’re in the Amazing Race – follow that cab!). Cabbie said fine, but Earl’s cab was turning left and our cabbie couldn’t understand it. We needed to go right, not left. So, I asked if he could take a right to turn onto George Street (where we needed to be). No, he said he couldn’t turn right there – well – duh! So, “Please follow that other cab sir”. We made it, of course we’re in the back telling the cabbie which street he’s going to turn on as we head through town because we’re more familiar with the place than he is! We made it – thankfully – Stevens 2, cabbies 0!
Finally at our home away from home for the next 30 days! Embarkation was the smoothest we’ve ever had. Stowed our bags on a truck (we were on the upper level, it takes them down to the lower level to load), stood in line for about 10 minutes until they opened the boarding process, then flew right through. We were the very first passengers on board – pretty wild!
Found our room, met our steward, Phillip, dumped our bags and were off the ship by 12 noon to wander through Sydney for a while before we sailed. Watched a great street performer juggle, do tricks and then finally mount a huge pole with spikes/nails on top, lie down on the nails and juggle. He was really good – plus – he had a little 5 year old come out and help him (along with other adults) and he told the 5-year old if he would do x, y an z, he’d give him 10 bucks. Well we all thought he would just joke it away – nope – he gave the kid 10 bucks! Talk about priming the pump. When he was done (and after his spiel about how this is how he makes his living, etc.), he really made some dough from the crowd.
Afterward just strolled through the Rocks, had a beer (2 for 1) and wine (1 for 1) at the Harborview hotel and watched the Bridge climbers come back down. Found the Weiss store and bought some souvenirs then headed back aboard the Sapphire to begin our “Epic” journey to L.A. (Epic, because that’s what the staff and captain keep calling it!).
Settled in, unpacked, got familiar with the ship, exercised, then went up top for sail away – which was a majestic sight. The bridge, the Opera, the city, all lit up and fading away as we sailed into the night. One little ditty – the Opera is only lit on the Quay side, once you get to the other side facing the bridge, it’s no longer spot lit.
Dinner in the buffet tonight since we were right there and didn’t want to dress for the dining room. Had an enjoyable time with some fellow CC’ers, Ro and Murray, then to the show and home. Very good start to our cruise adventure!
Walked to the Opera and saw that our ship had in fact come in! So, since we knew we had our ride, we headed back to prepare to board.
Note about The Coronation Hotel: This hotel, where a few fellow Cruise Critics also stayed, is an outstanding value in this city. It’s a great location, right in the heart of everything, and is very nicely appointed for an economy hotel. Our room was very nice, quite large and clean. A desk, table, mini-fridge, and lots of storage. Also, as I mentioned earlier, a 24-hour pub, a restaurant and a bottle shop. What more could you want? The only oddity was the shower. It was a European-type shower that has no stall – it was literally a drain in the tile floor with a shower curtain hung around it. Great shower, hot, good pressure, but you had to learn to become a human down spout so the water would run down you and into the drain – not fly out all over the place and flood the bathroom (and probably the bedroom since there wasn’t any water catch by the door). The only negative is the lift, which was very old and a little quirky. We were on the 2nd floor so we just walked the stairs – not a problem for us – but could be for others.
Checked out at 11 – and ready to roll. Went outside for a cab, which were in short supply. Met up with fellow C.C.ers – Earl and Carolyn – who were also in search of a cab. After 10 fruitless minutes trying to hail a cab, Earl walked up the street to a queue of cabs and grabbed 2 for us. They arrived, we hopped in, and tried to head off to the ship. Told our cabbie where we were going - and he gave us a blank stare. Tried to explain – Circular Quay, the cruise ship terminal, big ship – even showed him where we were going on the map – he had no idea. So we told him to follow the other cab thath Earl and Carolyn were in (we’re now thinking we’re in the Amazing Race – follow that cab!). Cabbie said fine, but Earl’s cab was turning left and our cabbie couldn’t understand it. We needed to go right, not left. So, I asked if he could take a right to turn onto George Street (where we needed to be). No, he said he couldn’t turn right there – well – duh! So, “Please follow that other cab sir”. We made it, of course we’re in the back telling the cabbie which street he’s going to turn on as we head through town because we’re more familiar with the place than he is! We made it – thankfully – Stevens 2, cabbies 0!
Finally at our home away from home for the next 30 days! Embarkation was the smoothest we’ve ever had. Stowed our bags on a truck (we were on the upper level, it takes them down to the lower level to load), stood in line for about 10 minutes until they opened the boarding process, then flew right through. We were the very first passengers on board – pretty wild!
Found our room, met our steward, Phillip, dumped our bags and were off the ship by 12 noon to wander through Sydney for a while before we sailed. Watched a great street performer juggle, do tricks and then finally mount a huge pole with spikes/nails on top, lie down on the nails and juggle. He was really good – plus – he had a little 5 year old come out and help him (along with other adults) and he told the 5-year old if he would do x, y an z, he’d give him 10 bucks. Well we all thought he would just joke it away – nope – he gave the kid 10 bucks! Talk about priming the pump. When he was done (and after his spiel about how this is how he makes his living, etc.), he really made some dough from the crowd.
Afterward just strolled through the Rocks, had a beer (2 for 1) and wine (1 for 1) at the Harborview hotel and watched the Bridge climbers come back down. Found the Weiss store and bought some souvenirs then headed back aboard the Sapphire to begin our “Epic” journey to L.A. (Epic, because that’s what the staff and captain keep calling it!).
Settled in, unpacked, got familiar with the ship, exercised, then went up top for sail away – which was a majestic sight. The bridge, the Opera, the city, all lit up and fading away as we sailed into the night. One little ditty – the Opera is only lit on the Quay side, once you get to the other side facing the bridge, it’s no longer spot lit.
Dinner in the buffet tonight since we were right there and didn’t want to dress for the dining room. Had an enjoyable time with some fellow CC’ers, Ro and Murray, then to the show and home. Very good start to our cruise adventure!
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