Cheaper than a divorce and worth every cent! 28 days cruising around Aus by Vicki

Our stateroom (a fancy name for a cabin with a queen bed and not much else) has a private verandah. We are on the west coast now of our circumnavigation of Oz, having commenced in Sydney approx 1 week ago. Being on the west coast of course means our starboard verandah now has the sunset rather than the sunrise. To the sunset though – which is fast approaching, tomorrow we will view it from Cable Beach, Broome; reputed to be the most beautiful western point from which to view the sunset, adding to the excitement: I will be on camel back. Looking at the sea here is everything we have heard about, deep green and clean, I imagine the reason that the pearls grown here are so magnificent and highly coveted.

I really am astonished how calm the sea can be so far out into the Indian Ocean – there is hardly a movement. We are on the Riviera deck which provides instant access to all things important to me – the gym, pool and health spa with the internet café below the gym. The sun is completely gone now, and I have captured it in a progressive photo journal. Looking at the photos of us now with the moon behind us is like the photographer has put one of those filters over the lens that softens the subject and makes them look considerably younger.

I didn’t really expect to be so well catered for. I’d heard so much about food constantly available – so it is not the amount that surprises, but the quality and type. I love Japanese and Indian and particularly like to eat Japanese for brekky. Both have been plentiful, along with sushi. Sushi making classes coincided brilliantly with a book I found in the ships library – now there is a room with a view!  Huge expensive leather lounge chairs made for throwing your legs over the side or curling up completely with your chosen find, the occasional gaze out to sea and the passing walkers on the deck. Add into that mix the warm sun and for readers it is a recipe made in library heaven.

My morning tradition is to be up early enough to take a brisk walk around the deck in my weighted walking shoes, as a warm up before my weight circuit or gym class. Usually about 5:30am before the slower walkers immerge. (Lapping the passengers twice is embarrassing). Now before you commend my enthusiasm, my only reason for such a level of activity is so I can sneak up to the sweets buffet each night before retiring. We learnt we can be much more greedy at the buffet rather than ordering off the sweets menu in the dining room!    So ensconced with food, and releasing myself from any guilt I tuned the tele to an old movie, hubby snuggled in and there we stayed.  The joy of long cruises I guess is that when the mood suits you can just ‘waste’ a day!

Travelscene Samford would like to thank Vicki for this lovely travel article (it was so difficult to condense down), stay tuned for the final instalment in the next issue.  Don’t forget that only Travelscene American Express lets you travel anywhere, any time and pay with your membership rewards points so contact us on 3289 3700 and let us help you turn your American Express membership rewards points into your next trip.