Home Sweet Home

No other city can beat this view!

Our final sea day delivered quite the dramatic farewell. Big swells and stronger-than-expected winds meant plenty of exhilarating motion on the ocean! With the open decks wisely closed and evening shows cancelled, it was a perfect excuse for some enforced quiet time in our cabin, catching up on truly "relaxing" activities like reading, watching Netflix, and, of course, napping!

The feisty weather also nudged our arrival back into Sydney by an hour and a half. The silver lining? We were treated to the iconic, stunning Sydney views as we sailed in with sunrise, rather than at some dark, ungodly hour. There’s truly nothing quite like sailing back into this magnificent harbour – I absolutely love it! However, this beautiful entrance also brought with it the bittersweet realisation that our cruise had sadly come to an end. While this particular voyage won't rank among my "top" cruise experiences, I genuinely cherished the time spent with my fantastic cruise buddy, and I managed to tick off many exciting "firsts" from my travel list!

Final Thoughts: Has Princess Cruises Redeemed Itself?

So, after this voyage, has Princess Cruises managed to turn the tide and fully redeem itself? The answer, I'd say, is a nuanced yes and no.

This cruise experience was undeniably an improvement compared to our previous sailing on the Royal Princess. The food, for one, was generally better. While it never quite hit the "excellent" mark, it was consistently good and never plunged into "bad" territory. Being on a longer cruise also changed the dynamic among passengers and how they sought to spend their time. People were more relaxed and friendly, spaces felt less crowded, and there was a wider array of activities on offer. Our waitstaff also appeared noticeably happier, and getting to know the crew emerged as a genuine highlight of the trip. And let's not forget, the drinks offerings remain a strong point for Princess! 

However, some aspects remain unchanged. The ships still felt old, dated and tired. Our cabins were tiny. Whilst there were many offerings in terms of activities, they weren't outstanding.

Would I Sail Princess Again?

The answer remains the same as before! I would consider sailing with Princess Cruises again, but only for the right itinerary and at the right price. It's a balance, and while this trip showed definite progress, there's still room for improvement to truly elevate the overall experience.

Stormy weather

Last chance to enjoy the bars

What a way to come home!

Thank you to my cruise buddy for an amazing trip!

Brisbane

 

Brisbane skyline

Finally our last port stop, Brisbane. Another city, another cousin of Fiona's. This time Clem. 

Relaxing day exploring Southbank. Cultured day went into the Queensland Art Gallery pretending we appreciated art. Quick gyoza lunch as we were craving good Asian food. We finished off the day visiting Mount Coot-tha. Beautiful view and afternoon tea.

After days of sailing and exploring, our final port of call arrived: the vibrant city of Brisbane! Another city saw us finding another one of Fiona's wonderful cousins! Clem picked us from the port, ready to show us around. It's truly amazing how a local guide can transform a visit, adding layers of warmth and insight you'd never get otherwise.

Our day in Brisbane was all about relaxed exploration, beginning with the iconic South Bank. This sprawling cultural and recreational precinct along the Brisbane River is a fantastic hub of activity, offering everything from lush parklands and swimming lagoons to a diverse array of eateries and cultural institutions. Feeling suitably cultured (or at least pretending to be!), we ventured into the Queensland Art Gallery. While I won't claim to be an art connoisseur, there's a certain quiet pleasure in wandering through galleries, soaking in the different styles and stories, even if some pieces leave you scratching your head! 

This was part of an exhibition showcasing photography of Australian streetscapes. One one hand, I'm thinking I could take a better photo...on the other I loved the subject as it was probably what I would take a photo of!

For lunch, we chose a spot serving up fancy gyoza. After weeks of cruise ship fare, a serious craving for authentic Asian cuisine had set in. The little parcels of savory goodness was exactly what we needed to satisfy our yearning.

To cap off our Brisbane adventure, we headed up to Mount Coot-tha. This elevated perch offers simply breathtaking panoramic views of the entire city, stretching from the glittering CBD skyline to the distant ranges. We arrived just in time for a serene afternoon tea, sipping on coffee while soaking in the stunning vista. It was the perfect end to our time in Brisbane, offering a moment to reflect on the beauty of the city and the incredible journey we've been on.

View of Brisbane

Honeycomb and fig dessert!

Yuzu mocktail with lunch

I must be old. I enjoyed the Buddy Holly show!

Sea Day

By now you'd be tired of my sea day rant...this is just a short to remind myself in the future what I did this day!

Our paint and sip effort. The timeless image of Positano

Another day, another cocktail

Collecting our prize for the scavenger hunt. Thanks to Fiona's persistence, we managed to get every single signature possible!

Willis Island

That is it. That's Willis Island!

Willis Island? Where? Yup we had never heard of it either prior to today. We cruised to look at said island, in the Coral Sea past the Great Barrier Reed, which was home to an Australian Bureau of Meteorology weather station. Fortunately the commentary was provided by the resident meteorologist on the island rather than the ship's expert! She provided an outline of daily life and what they do. There's a great article on the ABC with photos if you were interested in reading more.

The rest of the day was another enjoyable sea day. We did have dinner at Sabatini's tonight which was one of the specialty restaurants onboard. The Italian fare was nice enough but for my tastes not worth the $80 extra charge. Enjoy our silly photos!

We get asked every day if we were sisters, or twins. We just say yes now...

A full very intense rainbow!

The camera couldn't do the colour pop justice!

We finished our book club discussions!

Napkin folding

Time to channel our inner Picasso

Our own sip and paint session

Pre-dinner drinks. Loch Ness Martini, and Bangkok mule

Dinner at Sabatini's

Tonight's show Encore, the same one as on the Royal Princess. They had better singers, this cast didn't knock the candelabra over lol.

 

Cairns & the Atherton Tablelands

 

Lake Barrine

Hello Cairns! While we've certainly embraced the rhythm of sea days, we very much cherish our port stops, and today was our first taste of Queensland charm. As the ads go, "Queensland...beautiful one day, perfect the next!". The locals informed us that we had just missed a bout of heavy rains, and Cairns greeted us with glorious sunshine and a balmy 27 degrees –  perfect!

I was relieved to find the Cruise Terminal in Cairns operating with far greater efficiency than our experience in Darwin. We disembarked swiftly after docking, hopped into a quick Uber to our awaiting rental car near the airport, and soon enough, we were cruising in our trusty little MG3. We had outsourced ChatGPT to craft an itinerary in the Atherton Tablelands for us which covered sightseeing, swimming opportunities and, crucially, delicious food stops.. It delivered. With drive times, addresses, and stops timed to the minute, we completed our circuit with 45 minutes to spare. Good job ChatGPT!

Breakfast with a view

Cruising into Cairns

Stop #1 - Lake Barrine 

We were in cassowary territory! Unfortunately we didn't encounter any this trip

The very large and tall curtain fig tree

Hearty bacon and potato soup at Gallo Dairyland

Some of their chocolate selection

Milla Millaa Falls

Our "tropical" uber ride back to the cruise terminal

Coffee Works

The roads were pleasantly quiet, winding through a picturesque landscape of lush, vibrant greens. A word of caution for those prone to motion sickness: the ascent and descent to the Tablelands involve a fair share of windy turns and twists, so be prepared! For those curious about our meticulously planned day of exploration, here's the ChatGPT-generated itinerary that guided our adventure:

8:00 AM -Pick Up Rental Car

• Location: Cairns Airport Car Rental Center (Hours 7am-7pm)

• Address Bargain Car Rentals, 410 Sheridan Street, Cairns, QLD 4870

• Drive Time to Stop #1: ~1 hour 5 minutes

9:15 AM - Stop #1: Lake Barrine Tea House & Rainforest Walk

• Description: Enjoy a light breakfast overlooking the serene crater lake. Stroll along the easy 5 km circuit track through lush rainforest.

• Location: Lake Barrine, Gillies Highway, Yungaburra QLD

• Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM

• Drive Time to Stop #2: ~15 minutes

10:45 AM - Stop #2: Curtain Fig Tree

• Description: Marvel at this enormous 500-year-old strangler fig, an iconic natural wonder. Short walk from the car park.

• Location: Curtain Fig Tree Road, Yungaburra QLD

• Drive Time to Stop #3: ~10 minutes

11:30 AM - Stop #3: Gallo Dairyland

• Description: Sample locally made chocolates and cheeses. This family-run dairy also serves lunch made with fresh, local ingredients.

• Location: 721 Malanda-Atherton Road, East Barron QLD

• Opening Hours: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM

• Drive Time to Stop #4: ~25 minutes

1:00 PM - Stop #4: Millaa Millaa Falls Circuit

• Description: Visit the famous Millaa Millaa Falls, a postcard-perfect waterfall set in the rainforest. Take a refreshing dip if you're feeling adventurous. Optionally, explore nearby Zillie and Ellinjaa Falls.

• Location: Theresa Creek Road, Millaa Millaa QLD

• Drive Time to Stop #5: ~40 minutes

2:45 PM - Stop #5: Mt. Uncle Distillery

• Description: Mt. Uncle Distillery offers a beautiful café where you can enjoy a coffee or locally sourced treats. The grounds are stunning with friendly animals roaming around.

• Location: 1819 Chewko Road, Walkamin QLD

• Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

• Drive Time to Stop #6: ~30 minutes

4:00 PM - Stop #6: Coffee Works

• Description: End your adventure with a visit to Coffee Works, where you can sample world-class coffee and chocolate.

• Location: 136 Mason Street, Mareeba QLD

• Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

• Drive Time to Cairns Airport: ~1 hour

5:30 PM - Drop Off Rental Car

• Location: Cairns Airport Car Rental Center

Other helpful information:

The Uber set-down and pick up area was clearly marked and right at the Cruise Terminal. The uber ride from the port to the airport will set you back $12-25 depending on demand, but the wait was quick. 

With our Atherton Tablelands adventure wrapped up with time to spare, we seized the opportunity for a refreshing dip in the ship's pool. For dinner, we decided to shake things up and try the onboard Gastropub, a welcome change from the main dining room scene. I mean...they had me at lobster mac and cheese. 

And the evening's entertainment? Well, it turned out to be my absolute favourite so far! A magician comedian by the name of Johnny Balance took to the stage, and he delivered an unexpected torrent of laughter. I'm so glad I didn't decide to skip the show – a truly fantastic end to a wonderful day in Queensland!

Dinner venue

Starter

Lobster mac and cheese! Delicious with lots of lobster chunks

Learning in the Pacific

Charcuterie board

You'll be pleased to know this post will be super brief...

Things I learnt today:

• -40 in Fahrenheit is the same as -40 in Celsius. Keep that one in the bank for trivia
• A brilliant cut diamond has 58 facets
• Pablo Picasso's full name is...ready for it...Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno Crispín Crispiniano María de los Remedios de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz Picasso

Never too late to try to be more cultured...

My favourite drink

It has been a while since I posted food pics. Here was my starter - Tasmanian salmon roulade

Indian to Pacific

 

Some part of the land is the distance is Cape York

Alright, class is now in session! Today's post will be a geography lesson, mainly for my own future reference!

We continued our journey eastward from Darwin. We sailed from the Timor Sea through the Arafura Sea and onto the Coral Sea, marking our transition from the Indian Ocean into the more familiar Pacific Ocean. This leg of the voyage has been filled with geographical milestones for me! Firstly, the experience of sailing through the Torres Strait was a definite highlight. Secondly, circumnavigating Cape York, Australia's northernmost point, was another significant "pin on the map" moment. We've now officially sailed into the next Australian state on our adventure: the sunny shores of Queensland! 

Oh the shame, we were beaten in sudoku by a very elderly lady who did it in 2 min 32 seconds

Today's craft - making snowflakes. Sorry Baymax was upside down

Sailing through the Torres Strait

It was windy on the top decks! 

My new favourite drink

Cheers!