Embarkation day, Wednesday 27th December 2017

Today is the day. The Pacific Aria is at dockside waiting for us to arrive, and the other 1400 passengers.

We arrived at Portside at about 11.20 am for our 11 am check-in. This was the earliest time slot and there was quite a crowd in line. We finally made it on board and deposited all our stuff to our cabin, and met our stewards. Our luggage had also turned up, beating us there. The cabin is essentially exactly the same as the cabin we had in 2015. Only the colour of the throw cushions were different. Click here for cabin 9066.

Next was lunch and we headed to the pantry to check it out.

Seating in the pantry area.

Dinner

Tonight's menu in the Waterfront restaurant is Swedish.
Some of the meals tonight:

 Chicken satay

 Vietnamese rice paper roll

 

Classic Swedish meatballs

Slow cooked pork shoulder in dark beer gravy

 Wattleseed and mango creme brulee

Trio of cheeses

Tonight's entertainment

• Welcome aboard show

Latest world cruise blogs - Amsterdam 2018

Ahh...once again I'm world cruising from my armchair at home.
The world cruise, or Grand Voyage, by Amsterdam with Holland America Lines (HAL) has set sail.
It has left Fort Lauderdale heading to Grand Cayman. This year it passages the Panama canal and sails across the Pacific to French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Africa,  Puerto Rico, and back to Fort Lauderdale. There are many other countries in between, this is just a snap shot of the 114 days.

Blogs to follow...

• Captain Jonathan

• The inside cabin

• Around the world again

• World adventures

• Voyages at sea

• Following the equator

• Treasures of cruising the world

• Postcards from the transition

Also the cruise by Crystal Serenity

• Roy's grand voyages

Following in a few weeks is the world cruise by Pacific Princess

Blogs to follow...

• Round the world writer

And another on the Black Watch by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

• Cruise Miss

I'll add to this list if I find anymore.

Pacific Aria 2017 new years cruise to New Caledonia

Itinerary

Well I can't believe it's soon our turn for another cruise.
This time it's over the new year for 9 nights on the Pacific Aria. All stops are in New Caledonia and the current schedule is as follows:

I have pre-booked snorkeling at Jinek bay on Lifou, and the bus to the beach on Mare island.

We have been to Noumea twice before but each time has been an afternoon-evening port of call. This time we are there all day. We are undecided whether to take a taxi out to the cultural centre, go to Duck island for the day, see the maritime museum or try to do the lot. It will probably depend on the weather so fingers crossed.
As for the weather, it is officially cyclone season but the chance is quite small in the beginning of the season. I did have a look at the Fiji met site and there is a tropical depression developing between Vanuatu and Fiji so hopefully it won't change direction and build up speed. Hopeful for some calm seas this cruise.

Cruise ships Brisbane 25th December - 9th January 2018

This week we embark on our new years cruise in the Pacific Aria. This list will have the cruise ships in Brisbane for the next 2 weeks.  

Scheduled for Portside

Wednesday 27th December 2017 Pacific Aria

Thursday 28th December 2017 Pacific Dawn

Thursday 4th January 2018 Sea Princess

Friday 5th January 2018 Pacific Aria

Saturday 6th January 2018 Pacific Dawn

Tuesday 9th January 2018 Pacific Dawn

The Oceania Regatta was late arriving in Brisbane on Friday so I only had a short time to quickly take some photos.

I hope everyone has a lovely Christmas and a fabulous new year.

Cruise ships Brisbane 18th - 24th December 2017

Only three cruise ships in Brisbane this week.  

Scheduled for Portside

Monday 18th December 2017 Pacific Aria
Thursday 21st December 2017 Sea Princess
Friday 22nd December 2017 Oceania Regatta

I'm hoping to go out to take photos of the Oceania Regatta on Friday.

From my photo archives

Sea Princess at Portside Brisbane 2017

Cruise ships Brisbane 11th December - 17th December 2017

Only four cruise ships in Brisbane this week.  

Scheduled for Portside
Tuesday 12th December Pacific Dawn
Sunday 17th December Sea Princess
Friday 15th December Pacific Aria
Saturday 16th December Pacific Dawn

From my photo archives

The pool on the Sea Princess, April 2017

Cruise ships Brisbane 4 December - 10 December 2017

A quiet week for cruise ships in Brisbane this week.  Only 2 and both at the end of the week.

Scheduled for Portside

Friday 8th December Pacific Aria
Saturday 9th December Pacific Dawn

From my photo achives

Portside at Hamilton, Brisbane