"Yesterday evening, we exited the Great Barrier of Reef through Palm Passage, entering the Coral Sea. Throughout the night, we maintained a North Westerly track taking us towards Trinity Opening. During the early hours of the morning, we re-entered the Great Barrier of Reef and with the help of our reef pilot, negotiated the narrow entrance between the reefs. We then continued to steam west towards the Queensland coast and our anchorage off Port Douglas."
I always believe I can hear when the ship slows down or starts, but when I woke up this morning three of our tender boats had already been lowered from their storage positions a few decks below my balcony.
I had lots of fun at breakfast meeting Mr Gary Pennington from the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service. He was on board to inspect our plants. I had actually not noticed we have live plants on board, mainly on decks 7 and 14, nearly a hundred of them! He explained to me that the plants cannot be on outdoor decks while sailing around Australia and that they need to be far enough from the doors to avoid insects to fly inside and join us for an international trip and possible contamination back into Australia.
I was then very pleased to follow his instructions for an exercise with the famous beagle in charge on board today. I had to place a few fruits in my bag on my way down to the tender boat. With no hesitation our lovely beagle proudly put his all face in my bag signalling with lots of energy my bad intentions. I was very happy he got his meaty reward. It is forbidden to all passengers to take food, plants or seeds ashore. We had to fill in an immigration form before boarding the ship in Melbourne, exactly like prior to an international flight. Our handbags are all x-rayed when coming back on board and our passenger card including a picture file is scanned going in and out.
I was then very pleased to follow his instructions for an exercise with the famous beagle in charge on board today. I had to place a few fruits in my bag on my way down to the tender boat. With no hesitation our lovely beagle proudly put his all face in my bag signalling with lots of energy my bad intentions. I was very happy he got his meaty reward. It is forbidden to all passengers to take food, plants or seeds ashore. We had to fill in an immigration form before boarding the ship in Melbourne, exactly like prior to an international flight. Our handbags are all x-rayed when coming back on board and our passenger card including a picture file is scanned going in and out.
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| Ooooops!! |
As I have done the touristic circuits already twice in the past, I did not go to any of the great tours proposed to Kuranda, Mossman, the Daintree rainforest or Low Isles.
I decided not to go scuba diving or snorkelling, but shopping instead! My favourite restaurant, Nautilus, where I went with my mother a few years ago was closed at lunch time, but I met fantastic people in Port Douglas like Yolande and Guido Bellingeri who have the Galleria dell'arte at the Marina Mirage (Caresses to your dog, I am taking your necklace around Australia!).
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| The Iron Bar where I kissed a toad! |
I appreciated the original hand-painted ceramic from Lynda and Todd Miller (www.lyndesign.com.au/fsbl.html) and the ant prints from Tzusk. My personal treasure was the purchase of a beautiful set from the Thomas Sabo's Adventures Collection at the Evert fine jewellery. A bit of pirate memories sailing the Coral Sea!
Four mile beach offered beautiful scenery, 29 degrees warm waters and a splendid lookout to make pictures of the Dawn Princess surrounded by beautiful white catamarans.
Back on board, I jumped in the pool for the first time, just to discover that the three of them are probably around 35 degrees! No need to use the spa baths! At sunset, a glass of Rothbury Estate sparkling cooled me down at the aft Oasis Bar!
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| Oasis Bar deck 14 |
