Live from the Dawn Princess Mar 11 Around Australia

[coo359a2]

I haven't seen your Great Barrier Reef review. Was Port Douglas your stop for GBR?

 

 

Yes it was and we missed it due to high winds and seas. Next stop is Brisbane then one more sea day and back to Sydney and home.

[coo359a2]

Is the Trivia is the same type questions you get on "US" Princess cruises?

 

 

Basically but a lot of questions pertaining to Australia or New Zealand or UK. i.e cricket, rugby, their football, their tv shows. But then they will have some questions that only US might know. So guess it almost equals out. FYI - gold fish get seasick just like humans and for a goldfish to ride a bus in Seattle it must lie still. It was totally useless info.:)

[DonahCBrown]

Tina had the right answer about the motion sickness in goldfish, too, but we didn't listen to her.:o

 

Trivias are sometimes really really hard (won one with an 8 out of 20 score) or sometimes pretty easy - a team got 20 out of 20 today - we got 18, but are more original than a lot of ships have been in the past. Ian in particular has been really good at coming up with good ones that are challenging without being ridiculous and he said today he has 300 quizzes stored on his computer. He'll be on the Golden for his next contract. He's on Dawn until the beginning of the world cruise, then off for 3 months.

 

We sat with the incoming Deputy Cruise Director Dave, at the most traveled lunch today - he will start in Sydney when Andre is leaving - nice young man from Dorset, England. His wife will be joining him in a few weeks in Hawaii -she is the assistant manager in the boutiques.

 

British Invasion premiers tonight - we're going to go tomorrow as it has been a busy day already and we want to save something for tomorrow. Only one more port - Brisbane, where part of our trivia team will be disembarking, and then another sea day to pack, and Sydney and the long flights home for us. Sort of envious of the Aussies who get to drive home.

[coo359a2]

We decided to see British Invasion tonight just in case something comes up tomorrow night – like doing the dreaded packing. It’s the pits when that time comes along.

The first show at 8pm was a “sell out” – no more seats by 7:20. So that left the 9:45pm show for us to see. Came down to the theater at 8:45pm and immediately ropes were put up to help form the line. After all cleared out of the theater, the doors were closed to have the stage reset. That was a first for us. Doors were finally opened around 9:20 and we could go in. It’s now 9:30 and theater is full. While still in line, we were told many times how great/fantastic the show was and we were sure to thoroughly enjoy it. So we are now seated and ready to see this terrific new show. Another first for us – people are sitting on the theater steps in a single file since all seats are taken.

Also found out from the Cruise Director that the production shows – Tribute, Save The Last Dance and Shimmy were shows for the Sun and Dawn Princess. The CD also told us that Tribute is just about at end of it production run. All three are very good shows IMHO.

[Pia1913]

We decided to see British Invasion tonight just in case something comes up tomorrow night – like doing the dreaded packing. It’s the pits when that time comes along.

 

The first show at 8pm was a “sell out” – no more seats by 7:20. So that left the 9:45pm show for us to see. Came down to the theater at 8:45pm and immediately ropes were put up to help form the line. After all cleared out of the theater, the doors were closed to have the stage reset. That was a first for us. Doors were finally opened around 9:20 and we could go in. It’s now 9:30 and theater is full. While still in line, we were told many times how great/fantastic the show was and we were sure to thoroughly enjoy it. So we are now seated and ready to see this terrific new show. Another first for us – people are sitting on the theater steps in a single file since all seats are taken.

 

Also found out from the Cruise Director that the production shows – Tribute, Save The Last Dance and Shimmy were shows for the Sun and Dawn Princess. The CD also told us that Tribute is just about at end of it production run. All three are very good shows IMHO.

 

Waiting for you to report back. We loved it (on the Star) and intend to see it again in a few weeks on the Grand.

[coo359a2]

Waiting for you to report back. We loved it (on the Star) and intend to see it again in a few weeks on the Grand.

gr

 

Hi Pia

It was really a fantastic show. Standing ovation at the end. I think I'm going to pack extra fast tomorrow afternoon and go see the show again tomorrow night.

 

We are rocking and rolling again. This has been a bumpy cruise since we left Darwin. I'm ready for some cruise seas.

[Pia1913]

gr

 

Hi Pia

It was really a fantastic show. Standing ovation at the end. I think I'm going to pack extra fast tomorrow afternoon and go see the show again tomorrow night.

 

We are rocking and rolling again. This has been a bumpy cruise since we left Darwin. I'm ready for some cruise seas.

 

Packing. YUK! BTW, I hope you didn't cancel 10/15 yet, because prices went down again.

[DonahCBrown]

British Invasion played to ANOTHER packed house - I think everyone who didn't see it last night (including Dennis & me) and a bunch of people who did and returned to see it again were there. Standing ovation - well deserved - I think it is one of the best shows we've ever seen on Princess.

 

Tomorrow is Brisbane, and we're hoping for good weather again - had some sunshine off and on today, along with intermittent rain.

[MMDown Under]

Forecast for Wednesday

 

Cloudy with a few showers. Moderate to fresh S to SE winds.

 

Precis: A few showers. City: Min 18Max 25Bayside: Min 17Max 25

UV Alert from 8:50 am to 2:50 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 8 [Very High]

 

http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/brisbane.shtml

[luxurysailer]

I think it would be more fun if the trivia questions were more of a global nature rather than so heavily weighted toward the countries being visited. Especially where sports is concerned. Aussies and Europeans have little knowledge of American sports and Americans likewise have little knowledge about European and Australian sports. Refraining from such sports questions would keep the competition more even-keeled and competitive.

 

Oh yes, a little significa thrown in occasionally would also be great.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

As I post they are sailing up the Brisbane River, to pass under Gateway Bridge and dock at Portside.

You can follow them on the bridge cam if you are on line now.

 

http://www.kroooz-cams.com/dawn/dawn.php

 

 

Dawn

 

 

 

[Kiwi Kruzer]

 

 

[DonahCBrown]

I think it would be more fun if the trivia questions were more of a global nature rather than so heavily weighted toward the countries being visited. Especially where sports is concerned. Aussies and Europeans have little knowledge of American sports and Americans likewise have little knowledge about European and Australian sports. Refraining from such sports questions would keep the competition more even-keeled and competitive.

 

Oh yes, a little significa thrown in occasionally would also be great.

 

I could happily forego all the tv and pop music questions as well, but I have learned a bit about all of those things - now if I could only retain it!

 

We're in the process of docking in Brisbane - looks like it is going to be a nice day (for a change!) and we're looking forward to exploring.

[Pia1913]

I could happily forego all the tv and pop music questions as well, but I have learned a bit about all of those things - now if I could only retain it!

 

We're in the process of docking in Brisbane - looks like it is going to be a nice day (for a change!) and we're looking forward to exploring.

 

Donna: Look at your email. Another nice surprise awaits.:D

[MMDown Under]

As I post they are sailing up the Brisbane River, to pass under Gateway Bridge and dock at Portside.

You can follow them on the bridge cam if you are on line now.

 

http://www.kroooz-cams.com/dawn/dawn.php

 

 

Dawn

 

 

 

 

David,

 

I clicked on "Where is Dawn Princess Now?" and it came up with Burnie, Tasmania. That is a worry for others! :)

 

Good that passengers have a nice day, after all the rain.

[DonahCBrown]

Finally caught a break with the weather and had an absolutely gorgeous day in Brisbane, which is a lovely city, very easy to do on your own, although with the Steve Irwin zoo, which is a major attraction in the area, 90 minutes each way, you may want to consider the ship’s tour. Otherwise, the ship docked near to the City Cat ferry stop at Brett’s Wharf – about 15 minutes walk, but only because you have to go in a very indirect way to get there, through the terminal building, outside and around through the shops (pricey, but there is a bottle shop and a grocery for any necessities) Pick up a Translink Map from any of the information centers for transportation (these are NOT available at the Tourist Information Centers!) On the back it has four different self-guided walking tours as well as the busway, train and ferry maps and a street map of Brisbane. Great resource! One way fares on buses and/or ferries are around $5 AUD per person, good for 2 hours. If you are an Aussie with senior citizen status, you can get tickets for less and locals can buy travel cards, but for the average out of country tourist, figure around $5 each way from the port and back. There are really beautiful gardens, tons of shopping for everything from ‘tourist’ stuff to very high end art, jewelry, shoes and clothing, as well as plentiful cafes, restaurants, pubs, etc. and a casino that is housed, whimsically enough, in the old Treasury building on George’s Square. More of the wonderful free CBD bus services, of course – gotta love the public transport in this country! We Yanks could learn a lot about how to do it right from Australia!!

 

We walked (a LOT) through this lovely city, exploring the Botanic Gardens, the historic district, the large pedestrian only Queen Street Mall shopping area (and the beautiful farmer’s marker as well) then the really impressive gardens and parks at Roma Street Parkland, which we found out from our trivia partners, was created from an old train yard. The massed planting and formal gardens were stunning, and the forested areas, fern grotto, and canopy high walkways were equally impressive.

 

There was substantial damage done to the CAT ferry landings along the river, and they have only partially been restored, but the service to get you to downtown from the port and back again is functional. Some of the extensive walking and biking paths have, likewise, been damaged and are as yet not repaired, but there is obvious and continuing work going on all along the riverfront.

 

All in all, Brisbane is a really nice city, and makes for a very pleasant port call that can be done easily on your own. There are several free volunteer guided walks on offer – one through the historical district (restricted to 10 people so you may want to make arrangements ahead) leaving from the visitor center in Queen Street Mall, and morning and afternoon tours in both the Botanic and the Roma Street gardens. There are also some interesting ship tours, and some adventure activities that you can do easily from here as well in the Kangaroo Point area. The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is also reachable in a reasonable time frame on public transportation, and, at the site of an expo some time ago, on Southbank, there are museums, Souithbank Parklands, and a man-made lagoon and beach.

 

Sail away was after sunset so we got to see the city lights and the lights on the bridge over the Brisbane River as we went under – very pretty. Down to our last day at sea, packing, and then the LONG flights home for us Yanks – short drives or flights for most of our newfound Aussie friends – lucky them!

[rkmw]

hi Donna i hope you have enjoyed your cruise around OZ and when you get off friday we get on and thank you again for teeing up the m&g

 

too bad you couldnt have done the cruise to Hawaii save the long flight home

[Pia1913]

Happy packing and safe trip home.

[CruzinNoony]

Donna and Tina, Thanks so much for your "live froms". I looked forward to them each day. Bob and I are looking into doing this cruise in the future. :D Meredith

[DonahCBrown]

Packing done, bags in the hall, wondering where all the time went! We really enjoyed our circumnavigation of Australia, all the places we went and people we met. For those of you who still are harbouring doubts about the "Princess Australia" experience - there are some differences, but more is the same than is different and the differences are somewhat based on the ship design and somewhat on giving the cruises a 'regional' flavor (the menus, mostly)

 

For the quiz/trivia buffs out there - do bone up on your Aussie/New Zealand history, geography, music, sport, and tv/movies or make sure you have some 'locals' on your teams!

 

We've really had a great time on both the Sun around New Zealand and the Dawn around Australia and would recommend both, happily.

 

Tonight is the crew show, and the movie of the day and evening tv was the excellent The King's Speech - if you haven't seen it, do, as it is wonderfully done, and very touching.

 

If I don't get back to this, thanks for coming along - hope this has been informative and helpful to those considering this wonderful trip!

 

Aloha everyone and mahalo for your comments and questions!

[DonahCBrown]

In the lounge - in this case the Deck 5 Dining Room - waiting for our color to be called. Disembarkation is proceeding smoothly.

[coo359a2]

I will second everything Donna has said. It was a great cruise around Australia and well worth the long flight over. Sydney has welcomed us back with beautiful weather. Now to get back home and to reality:(

[MMDown Under]

 

All in all, Brisbane is a really nice city, and makes for a very pleasant port call that can be done easily on your own.

 

Sail away was after sunset so we got to see the city lights and the lights on the bridge over the Brisbane River as we went under – very pretty. Down to our last day at sea, packing, and then the LONG flights home for us Yanks – short drives or flights for most of our newfound Aussie friends – lucky them!

 

Pleased to read that you enjoyed your visit to Brisbane, Queensland's capital. It is a beautiful place to live and often underrated by those from the South.

 

Thanks for sharing your perspective on your cruise around Australia with us all.

 

Hope you had a safe journey home. You live in a beautiful part of the world. We used to always stopover in Hawaii, en route to USA and UK, and felt it was a short flight versus the alternative! :)

[hollydog]

We'e seriously considering the March 2013 trans-Australia cruise on the Dawn Princess. Have cruised Princess 7 times so we know their smoking policies. Just wondering if Australians smoke as much as Europeans? Did any of you who have sailed this itinerary encounter more smokers than say on a Princess ship which departs from a US port?

[Flipper133]

We have sailed on sister ship Sun Princess on the Northern Explorer cruise in 2009. A lot of Aussies on board with a smattering of others from O/Seas especially UK.

 

My wife smokes, I don't, but that gives me the opportunity to observe smoking habits when I accompany my wife on her trips to the smoking areas.

 

Generally I would say that Ozzies observe the rules. There are some very restrictive laws on smoking in OZ so they are used to it. The few from oseas seem to conform..when in Rome as they say.

 

I think you will find that your cruise will be sensational with no smokling issues arising.

 

cheers