17 March - Up, Up and away

The first 'up' for the day, was getting up early, in order to meet at the airport about 7am.

For Bron, Mike and Dad, that meant early up, and into an Uber to collect Koula before heading to Tullamarine.

For Sue and I, same thing, up early (no thanks to Sue, who set her alarm that didn't go off) then catch the 6.30 courtesy bus to the airport.

We all arrived around the same time, got our bag tags and boarding passes sorted at the kiosk and bags dropped, before a quick cuppa and toast, then onto the gate where plane was boarding.

Meet up at Tullamarine.

An uneventful flight...

We walked out of baggage claim to taxi rank, straight into a cab that would fit six and luggage, a lovely cabbie who chatted to us all and Dad in the front...he dropped us right at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay, and we were able to drop our bags off - about 5 metres away...then a short walk to take some pics of nose and bum of ship...it's all a tad exciting by this time.

In the cab

First sight of the Bridge

Dad had the rockstar front seat.

The bum of our boat and the Opera House.

A brief but hot walk over to the rock for something cool -a gelato (the only place open at this point.)

The choc honeycomb was the best, but the passionfruit quite refreshing.  

Enjoying some shade in an already warm Sydney just before 11am.

During our morning, it became obvious that Koula had a Vista Suite on board, and unknown to Sue, we had all upgraded to Vista Suite also. I had mentioned to the rest that Sue wasn't aware of the upgrade, so just keep it quiet. So they played it up, that Koula was the person we needed to stay sweet with, as hers would be the party room and place to be. Due to our upgraded bookings, we had priority boarding on our boarding passes, but we just passed that off as hanging with Koula and we sailed up and through immigration onto the ship at about 11.30. 

Sue didn't make it through border security unscathed, the woman who collared her was the most unhelpful, pain in the butt.

Sue getting scanned.

Bron and Mike got some champagne confiscated, which will be returned to their room on final night.

Waiting on deck for Bron and Mike to get onboard.

We went straight to the Lido deck, via the glass lift up the atrium, where we 'bagsed' a table and had a wander around, before lunch.

In the Atrium glass lift to Lido Deck.

Looking up the Atrium from Lido deck.

After lunch we headed off to see Koula's Suite on Deck 5, then down to see ours - which Sue was still thinking were in the bowels of the ship. Down one floor to our even BIGGER Vista Suite - it's totally luxurious.  So Dad has one of the rear corner suites on deck 4, and Sue and I have the other, Bron and Mike and Koula have the two corner suites on deck 5, and amazingly ours are a little bigger, so we get a 'room' outside our bathroom, for makeup/sitting etc.

Looking for our rooms.

All our luggage was at our door, once we had had lunch. Here is Sue, about to learn that we too have a Vista Suite.

It's pretty big really...moving through our make up room from lounge, towards bedroom.

Pretty impressive really.

Some wandering around the ship, awaiting departure at 5.30.  Prior to that they called us for our Safety briefing, where we had to meet on the deck at our allocated muster points, in case of emergency. From there back to Dad's suite/balcony to watch our departure from Sydney. While there we noticed two 'snipers' on the roof of Quay restaurant, plus two police boats and two helicopters overhead, it was all very mysterious and a little scary. After a little research, I think it was all connected to the ASEAN conference in Sydney.

Out on the Dad's Balcony.

A bit of walk, deck 3.

Also saw the pilot boat come and drop the pilot off, who we assume will be driving us out of the heads a little later.

Drop the Pilot...(makes me think of a song)...Fly my balloon.

Eventually we took off, with our back end rooms, being prime spot to back out of Circular Quay and leave the Sydney Harbour Bridge behind, then sailed past the Opera House, up the Harbour and out of the heads, where we watched the pilot boat pull alongside and collect the pilot.  An amazing feat out in the swell and with two moving boats.

Safety muster

Bron and Mike had decorated Dad's door.

Champagne on Dad's Balcony.

Enjoying the views as we back out of Circular Quay

Sailing out of the Heads, here comes the pilot boat alongside to collect the pilot.

Sunset

Sydney is back there in the sunset.

Champagne and pizza on the balcony for a departure snack.

Once out to sea, we had a little time to freshen up before dining in the Empire Dining room - lovely meal, and all a LOT stuffed at this point. Bed is calling.