World cruise 2025 number 2!!

[77T]

Yeah - you sort of buried the lead on Hobart, Richard...

Here ya go - I sent it to AI rewrite for a new lead...

Hobart is a delightful place that brings back fond memories of the charming days in the UK! It's a peaceful haven filled with friendly faces, where everyone gracefully steps aside to let each other pass. The city strikes a perfect balance between old and new architecture, creating a beautiful visual tapestry. With its serene atmosphere and minimal litter, Hobart feels clean and tidy, making it a joy to explore. It's a refreshing escape that truly showcases the best of community spirit!


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[kpetrey1]

@richardbartlett Enjoying your trip. What would the Nov. 21, 141-day trip cost for 2 in a cheaper cabin minus personal expenses? Thanks

[RichardBartlett]

Originally Posted by kpetrey1

@richardbartlett Enjoying your trip. What would the Nov. 21, 141-day trip cost for 2 in a cheaper cabin minus personal expenses? Thanks

Trieste to Trieste
inside cabin
tips/gratituites included. (compulsary so it's a tax not an option!!)
all meals have drinks available coffee tea soft drinks water beer and wine inc
15 named free excursions (as specified by Costa not interchangable/refundable unless previously done a WC with them)

internet extra!

£13500.00 per person.

[RichardBartlett]

Sydney day l

A tender port . Which again was a shit show. Australia custom officials seem almost as adept at their American counterparts as making cruise ship passengers go through hell just to step on land.. which in our case is literally just by the opera house!

We visited Sydney on our first WC in 23 and I was so impressed I told my daughter Living in UK that she should consider emigrating especially as her job is on the skills shortage list getting there would be relatively easy. Sadly she's not ready to go but hopefully she'll leave UK in the next few years. It's also the place I tried my first ALS on at the local AD . Sydney has all the big guns here. There's money here.
Anyhoo again we have an overnight stay. Seems almost compulsory with cruise ships here tbf
We had intended to go up the sky tower but low cloud and heavy rain put the dampers on that. So we walked to parts of the city we hadn't walked last time. I'm still as impressed. It's quite a fabulous city. Perfectly proportioned , beautifully laid out, not too busy, not too quiet. A lot of the old splendid buildings retained but mixed with some modern ones. Plenty of green park spaces immaculately kept. I hope it stays this way ..

Only two things let it down
I, the weather (too changable)
ll, it's very expensive (very very)

We don't normally dine or drink off the ship as we're fully all inclusive but this time we (umm ok ok Dalia) decided to try something different.
Dalia isn't a fan of spicy food so her choice of cuisine was a tad puzzling KOREAN!! Ok let's see how this pans out..

I tripadvisor'd for a suitable restaurant close by and after struggling to find it as it's extremely difficult we walked in.
We were the only non Koreans in the place throughout the time there and it was extremely busy. That to me, seemed a good sign.
We chose from the menu and tbh it was excellent. Dalia obviously struggled with the chili and couldn't finish hers so poor me had to eat both. tbh not overly expensive and we'll worth it.

Then we went to a bar for the atmosphere of a Friday evening in Sydney with the locals
Oh and a drink too.
The cost of a pint and half of beer ( beer not lager) =35 Australian dollars ..I'll let you work out your own currency exchange. It might be reasonable in your town but for us that's extortion!! But it was great to be around young lively people having fun enjoying themselves instead of 2000 coffin dodgers being irritable for no apparent reason..we had a great time.

Once departed , we meandered badly back to the ship.

Day ll early start tomorrow
tenders start at 08.00 as we're T2 we need to be ready by then.. hopefully we will walk the bridge but only at road level as weather is too poor to go up and over..

I took hundreds of pictures as it's so photogenic but as above I limit to 9 per post.



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[Moondoggy]

Keep it coming, thanks.

[77T]

No risk of sunburn Friday. Hope weather is better tomorrow.

We sent a team to Optus (HQ'd there) and they stayed for 3 years as we bought a stake for our international division.

They all raved about Sydney and its surroundings.


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[RichardBartlett]

Sydney day ll
What a difference a day makes...24 little hours.

Totally different weather today. Started out at 07.00 for breakfast with slight clouds but warm. No rain
We were supposed to tender from 08.00 but they called T1 at 7.40! Panic we were eating still but as we were T2 we had to rush. Unlike yesterday tenders were much better organized. So we were onshore by 08.10.
Having never walked the Sydney bridge we decided as per yesterday to walk the path route to the opposite side to the opera house. And jolly glad we did. House and apartment prices are almost new York stupid. But it's such a lovely family safe area l can fully understand why. We even doorstepped an open door auction on a grotty 2 bed terrace cottage tiny garden needing full back to brick renovation guide price $2.2 AU

We walked several miles till my knee started playing up (old road running injury) that we took the ferry back. Again something I hadn't done before. Really glad to have done that area.

Went back to the ship for lunch shower and change then back out again. Walked around an open market then around the town and back.

Did out "time to say goodbye" on the rear pool bar deck. Where we ate breakfast in the morning. Best views in Sydney by far!!

Every port irrespective of how much we liked or hated we play the "here or Tenerife?" Game. This is the first time in 3 WC Dalia has said not Tenerife..!!


Melbourne in two days time.

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[Speedbird-1]

Like everyone here, Richard, we are really enjoying your travelogue and photographs.
Be careful of that sun damage on your scalp.....can you get hold of some Calamine Lotion?



Sydney seems more welcoming than Tenerife, to tourists at the moment.
I don't blame the, Tinerfeños for protesting, some lovely places on the island have been spoiled. I first discovered Los Christianos in '72 (honeymoon). It was a small, beautiful, very quiet fishing village with a couple of family hotels, it looks more like Benidorm these days. Sad.


News photo's of tourism protests.

[Moondoggy]

Thanks Richard a beautiful city is Sydney

[Cassian739]

Enjoy, safe travels! Looking forward to seeing the updates. What watches did you take with you?

[77T]

Wonderful day down under.
Sounds like things went better.


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[RichardBartlett]

Originally Posted by Cassian739

Enjoy, safe travels! Looking forward to seeing the updates. What watches did you take with you?

nothing too fancy as it's too much of a hassle. My EXP ll polar dial which i've had since 1994 new and I always take it everywhere tbf a louis Erard Alan Silberstein for off the ship (as people assume it's a Swatch so I walk care free ) and a Direnzo because I really like them.

I don't want to risk anything more on such a long cruise. I've seen old ladies walking down the ramps with solid gold rolexes and old men with Bluseys all on show and I'm thinking they are such an obvious easy target in places such as South Africa, Marseille , Barcelona etc seems mental to me


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[RichardBartlett]

Originally Posted by Speedbird-1

Like everyone here, Richard, we are really enjoying your travelogue and photographs.

Be careful of that sun damage on your scalp.....can you get hold of some Calamine Lotion?







Sydney seems more welcoming than Tenerife, to tourists at the moment.

I don't blame the, Tinerfeños for protesting, some lovely places on the island have been spoiled. I first discovered Los Christianos in '72 (honeymoon). It was a small, beautiful, very quiet fishing village with a couple of family hotels, it looks more like Benidorm these days. Sad.





News photo's of tourism protests.

I saw these pictures a while ago. We never go to that area as it's 'Blackpool in the sun' grim luckily my partner choose the nicest area to live in so we are happily away from those 'Brits abroad' types. This area is the worst tbf and it's that they are protesting about not tourism in general.

But yes if I was local I'd be fuming at what greedy corrupt officals and certain business men like Palmer carved up the island for their own benefit.

However the 'we can't afford to live here' is just the same as everywhere else in the world. i used to work a lot around Mayfair but I could afford to live there either so drove 2hrs every morning and evening. Plus until the tourists came (and it was developed FOR tourists NOT locals) no one wanted to live there which is why it was a sleepy port

They want best of both worlds but like the rest of us mere mortals they are really not that special in my eyes.

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[RichardBartlett]

Melbourne

Hmmm..

This is a real tricky one to nail. On the face of it, it's a great city.
Lots of old buildings, open spaces, parks aplenty, nice looking houses and apartment bloacks offering amazing views, some fantastic old buildings of extremely high quality. Fine wine growers on your doorstep, lots and lots of glass towers. F1 & tennis open cafes,bars and restaurants everywhere

It really should appeal to absolutely everyone as for who wouldn't want to live in such a lovely city? but for some reason it just doesn't grab me.
Nor a few other passengers who felt the same. Everyone I spoke to onboard when questioned "Sydney or Melbourne?" Not one person said "Melbourne" .....

It feels soulless and lifeless, the ever increasing number of glass towers tower over the city and like a slow motion tsunami seemingly intent on engulfing the city.
If you're from here it probably feels like the best city on earth but as a visitor it's nice.

We were on a scheduled tour which was supposed to leave at 11.30. this time slot kills the day so lots with the same time slot never bothered to show up..
However We thought we'd try a cheeky sneaky and went down and bluffed our way into the French bus leaving at 09.30. result! Not so fast as delays and coach microphone issues meant we never actually set off until 10.50 ! Damn.

Anyhoo **it happens so finally off we went. The tour guide was a Lovely lady who spoke several languages so she narrated in both french and English. After
3/4 of the coach tour on advice from the guide we decided to leave the coach and walk around town to get a better feel of the place..which we did.we also stopped and had burger fries and a beer each which came to 69.60 $AU. Which was good if not good value
Again convert to your currency and decide if it's reasonable to your world.

We then decided to walk 1.5hr back to the ship. After 1 hr of walking in bright sunshine Dalia decided that we really should try the tram as it's part of Melbournes' history!.
so we rode the last bit the line ended back to within 300 yards of the ship..! Result

Maybe I need to live there to appreciate it, maybe I need more time to get to know Melbourne. I don't know..l just don't know... I'll think on.

Fremantle in 3 days..

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[1William]

Interesting take. I am enjoying your reports.

[NAVY]

Those burgers look tasty and HUGE!!

[Moondoggy]

Melbourne is great but it was better, very poor governance for ten years has changed the social fabric of the town.

Thanks for pics, have you done any arctic cruises we are looking at doing one Iceland, Faroe Islands, Greenland etc, been there before but never cruised it, looking at Seabourn cruises or Ponant cruises.

[77T]

Thanks for the photos and experience. The mixed skyline resembles many cities' environs and a jumbled set of milieu.

Can you tell us what this building is?




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[Moondoggy]

Originally Posted by 77T

Thanks for the photos and experience. The mixed skyline resembles many cities' environs and a jumbled set of milieu.

Can you tell us what this building is?




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That is the Shrine of Remembrance, in honour of fallen soldiers.

[RichardBartlett]

Originally Posted by Moondoggy

Melbourne is great but it was better, very poor governance for ten years has changed the social fabric of the town.

Thanks for pics, have you done any arctic cruises we are looking at doing one Iceland, Faroe Islands, Greenland etc, been there before but never cruised it, looking at Seabourn cruises or Ponant cruises.

We did Iceland last year. Really enjoyed it.

Was meant to go to Greenland but too much sea ice prevented the ship going.


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[RichardBartlett]

Originally Posted by 77T

Thanks for the photos and experience. The mixed skyline resembles many cities' environs and a jumbled set of milieu.

Can you tell us what this building is?




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It has a huge basement area as a museum to the AU forces

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[RichardBartlett]

Fremantle (Perth)

Saying goodbye to Australia!

Firstly for some reason l got it in my head that Fremantle was about 100 miles away from Perth which in reality it is about 6 miles. Hmm ok.
Second, l always thought of Perth as the Cinderella to Sydney and Melbourne. A one horse hick town like Cairns.

I was obviously wrong on both counts.!!

Fremantle has over the past decade preserved it's historical buildings to a very high standard. Perth has it's old buildings and a few glass towers mainly belonging to the large mining companies

Most of the old buildings which remain have been repurposed of course but their persona remains and refinished to a high standard.

Our day:
We were booked on a 11.30am 4 hr excursion but that kinda kills the day so we got up early walked down and asked a tour guide "if we could go with the Italians bus leaving at 07.15? " A firm "NO not possible" put paid to that.. so we were resigned to having our last day in Australia messed up.

However, we then hit on asking the lady responsible for the French busses if we could with their group at 07.30?

Her answer was "it's possible, just follow the group down to the coaches and if there are free seats, if so, jump on"
So arriving at the depot outside we went to the highest bus number of the 4 french coaches No/13. On the basis that they'd fill up coaches 10;11;12 first and those passengers left would be on 13.so there was a chance of spare seats.

Good thinking Batman!!

The operator standing by coach 13 ticking people on asked us "if we are booked on coach 13?"

"YES WE ARE!"

"Oh ok on you go then'

IT WORKED!!

So we set off at 07.45 (result) on 'the gentle tour of Fremantle and Perth' excursion

And it was very pleasant. Our driver Blake only spoke English which is hilarious as the French absolutely hate anyone not able to speak French but we just sat there enjoying his commentary.

The tour ended at 12.00 so we went back onboard showered changed ate and went back out to take a closer look at Fremantle old town

Being Saturday and a bank holiday weekend it was by then very lively as there are plenty of cool and hip places to eat drink and be merry.
We got the 15.15 shuttle bus back to the ship as it was 31c+ by then..

So my thoughts on Fremantle and Perth'
Everywhere was immaculately kept. The roads and especially the parks were beautiful. The locals really respect their respective town and l respect them for keeping it so pristine.

The area is a fantastic place to bring up children almost ideallic . (Only the extreme summer heat is a minus)

It has a young people's vibrancy to it as apart from us sea faring coffin dodgers l hardly saw any oldies around.

Could l live there? Probably not. It's a huge city. Not in population but in area and the gaps between everything is too large (l couldn't live in America for that reason either) .

But It has a bit of everything. Laid out like American towns but with real historical buildings dotted around. Beautiful Parks one the largest urban park in the world, beautiful golden sandy beaches (c/w shark netting. )
Whilst standing there admiring the sea our driver told us we were witnessing the lifeguards wizzing around in circles in a speedboat just outside the barrier scaring off a shark! "We do get attacks here tbh" he said..)
If you have millions like the richest person in Australia has you can have a rather splendid house in a very nice area (as she does in Fremantle) but generally the houses are small bungalows , small almost no garden with high fences so no views .. hardly inviting to us personally.

but like Melbourne I just don't get a feel for it. Again like Melbourne the locals probably think it's the best city in the world to live and they are probably right


Australia has a lot to offer hard working outdoor types and I respect how amazing the country is but for us only Sydney could tempt us and only then if we had several million to spend..

We leave Australia (to return in around a years time) it's been absolutely great and the only disappointment is we never stopped in Adelaide..

7 days at sea lie ahead to reach Madagascar so I'll go quiet unless something major happens..







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[1William]

Very nice.

[Moondoggy]

[Ellz]

Richard- I have never messaged before but I so very much enjoy reading your travel blog/adventures :-). Please keep us updated- one of my favorite threads!!!!

[77T]

Great photos.
A week at sea - friendly seas ahead for you and the ship.


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[RichardBartlett]

Couple of quick things

Firstly thanks for all the lovely comments. Really appreciated

Secondly it seems we are going to Mauritius port Louis then Madagascar!

Seas quite calm just the usual rocking and rolling..

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