Can now say we have cruised

We have now seen the Dawn Princess, our home for 53 nights in May. It was wonderful, except that Katie felt seasick most of the time. She was fine walking and eating but sitting wasn't very good......but at least we did discover that ginger does no good, dramamine does, but just sends her to sleep and lying down also helps! So needless to say she didn't venture out onto our balcony or look out at the view (rolling sea) unless we were stationary in Melbourne and Sydney harbours. Never mind, we will go the wrist band/doctor drugs route for her next time.

Our toothbrushes enjoying it out on the balcony door

We managed to find our way around the ship with the aid of the small map and the signs near the stairs/lifts advising what was on each deck! After seeing and tasting all the food I have decided we did the right thing by using the stairs and not the lifts, we will also do this in May......our deck is 11 and the dining is on 5, so a good excuse to walk off the desserts. I also enjoyed a walk around the promenade deck in the rain and wind while Katie had a lie down, I needed it after the icecream cones we had just devoured. And I will admit to losing my sense of direction a couple of times by thinking that I was facing the front of the ship (we had just done a loop of the Horizon Court buffet looking for a seat) which in fact I wasn't as Katie pointed out, and then she decided to test me a few times throughout the trip by asking,  "which way are we facing now?"  I'm sure I'll be fine come May!!!

Had to have a cocktail :)

A couple of things I thought I would try out before the big cruise  :- 

Note magnets on wall and Katie's legs not mine!

Using magnets on the walls was a great thing, I had bought some that were clips as well so they held paperwork and our lanyards. I also used 2 pegs on the bottom of the shower curtain, it didn't grab our legs at all but I didn't try it without to see if it would. The beds weren't as hard as I was expecting after reading many posts about them, but we will probably take our own pillows. Katie will be buying a Kindle after seeing how great mine was, we both love reading.

All in all (apart from seasickness) we both decided that we could see no reason at all not to absolutely love being on the Dawn Princess for nearly 2 months. Plenty to do when in ports and plenty to do (or not) while at sea.

Lifejacket drill

My shirt matches the life jacket

Atrium

More Atrium

More Atrium, it was impressive!

Cruise to Sydney

Only 4 days now  and Katie and I get to set foot aboard the Dawn Princess for a 2 night practice cruise from Sydney to Melbourne. This will be our first cruise and we get to check out the the same ship that we will call home for 53 days, hope we like it! I just looked at the weather for Melbourne to Sydney next week and it shows rain and some more rain. Never mind, we'll find plenty to do between the rain showers and then when we get to Sydney we can shop for cruise "things" . Then it's back to work to count down the days until I have 3 months off.............bliss!

Another random photo.....Australia Zoo 2009

No Pyramids

Well there are actually still pyramids, but we aren't going to get to see them on this trip. Oh well never mind, we didn't choose this cruise for the pyramids alone, they were just one of many exciting things to see. Here is part of the press release from the Princess Site.

Due to the current political unrest in Egypt, the US State Department has issued a travel warning which recommends that US Citizens avoid travel to Egypt at this time. Based on this information, and the ongoing unrest, we have decided to alter our itineraries for 18 cruises departing May through November 2011.
We understand this may come as a disappointment to passengers booked on these voyages, and we hope they understand the decision was made because the safety and security of our passengers and crew is always our foremost priority.
We will continue to evaluate the situation, and if it improves and/or the US State Department lifts the travel warning, we will return to our original published itineraries. 

Pretty much doubt they will return to the original itinerary as changing ports for 18 cruises would be a logistical nightmare in the first place, then to change it back...........

So instead of Egypt we get to spend 2 days in Istanbul in Turkey and from everything I've read from other cruisers we aren't really losing out at all :)

So the pyramids and Egypt are back with the Northern Lights, Terracotta Warriors, Alaska,  Angkor Wat and numerous other places I would still  like to see , (but if not..... there's always books and the internet!)

Woo Hoo

Woo hoo .....the countdown clock says its only 99 days until the cruise. How very exciting!! Its also my birthday but that isn't so exciting anymore. Turning 51 is such a nothing birthday, whilst turning 50 is a thrill cause you still feel young but can say you are 50.   But 51 just sounds old .............maybe cause its an odd number.

I also got my Indian Visa for the trip, that in itself can be a triumph. Katie posted her passport and visa application today, I just hope it, (the passport not the visa) comes back quickly because we need it for our mini cruise in 3 weeks time!

Back when I thought 51 was ancient!!

Nothing else to report, just thought 99 days was newsworthy.........

LAST 3

With only 3 more ports to do before we "get" to London, I've nearly finished my trip and I haven't even stepped onto the ship ( very exhausting work this, I need another holiday!)

 After we leave Barcelona we have a sea day before we arrive at Casablanca , Morocco. There were a few choices here but for the moment it will be this Princess tour maybe......I seem to be getting less sure the further we go.
The exotic capital of Morocco welcomes you with its beautiful parks, historical buildings, and cultural delights. Your narrated driving tour explores the city's highlights and photo opportunities. Visit the magnificent Royal Palace, built in 1864 and a superb example of Islamic architecture. At the heart of the palace lies the Mechouar, a magnificent garden courtyard. Continue to the Mausoleum of King Mohammed V, one of the country's most important shrines. Located next to it is Hassan Tower, a 144-foot-high minaret built in the 12th century. Enjoy a refreshing mint tea at a preeminent restaurant. Then, it's on to Oudaya Kasbah, the city's picturesque old quarter, where narrow alleyways lead to the lively souks. There, the Chellah Gardens occupy a site originally abandoned by the Romans in 1150. At the completion of the tour, you may choose to be dropped off in Casablanca for sightseeing. Return to the ship independently.

Rick's Cafe......

And now on to Lisbon where we don't arrive until lunch time and leave at 8pm. Here we will do one of the more fun things on the trip, we intend to hire a gocar, probably in a group or just on our own. They look like tons of fun :) The have self guided audio tours programmed into their GPS systems, how can we go wrong!! Here is a link for more about them http://www.golisbon.com/tours/gocars/

Last stop after 2 welcome days at sea is Le Havre (Paris/Normandy). Not sure here what to do, whether to take the long trek into Paris to have a rushed look at the world famous sites or to just do a short tour to Honfleur -Explore the narrow streets of Honfleur, a charming, 13th-century Norman fishing village, on a guided walking tour. Once the base for France's 17th-century voyages of colonization, Honfleur was also the birthplace of the Impressionist and Romantic art movements.
Katie, I think will be able to spend a few days here after we separate while she still has 4 months of Europe to see, so it would only be me missing out on Paris. Will decide this one once on board I think.

 










That is it as far as the cruise is concerned, the next day we dock in Dover and spend a week in London before Katie meets up with her flatmate and continues her adventures for another 4 months.

Those ports of call have all been written with the sun shining, the temperature perfect and no problems happening in 54 days at sea, but...................reality can be, we miss ports due to unforeseen circumstances, think Egypt now, engine troubles (last years cruise), bad weather ( again last year couldn't make Dublin) and who knows what else. I know if we miss the pyramids I will be very disappointed as this is probably my only chance, but I won't be angry or let it worry me. Pretty sure there are far worse things in life to overcome and  get you down, missing a port on a cruise that we are very very lucky to be able to be on certainly isn't one of them!

Not sure what I can blabber on about for the next 108 days til we sail and I can actually experience all my planned excursions and then compare the fantasy to the reality. Though we do have our first taste of cruising ever on the same ship in just over 4 weeks time with our mini cruise from Melbourne to Sydney. I should be able to report back about how sea sick we were or weren't and how fabulous the Dawn Princess is !

And not how silly I was to book a cruise lasting 54 days without ever having cruised before.............

FOUR MORE

We just left Naples and have no sea day to get over it before we get to our next port, and it seeing it was Katie's birthday last night I may have to keep nudging her awake and give her lots of water today in .......

 Rome:-
I have arranged a private tour here ( and Naples)  for Katie and I with RomeCabs and Stefano who was highly recommended on TripAdvisor. I have no doubt from the prompt emails we have already sent back and forth that the praise was and will be warranted . He has provided us with links to purchase tickets for some of the attractions to avoid queues, which this being the height of summer I'm sure they will be long, which is why I felt it would be too rushed with a bus load or ten of fellow cruisers. Here is a part of what we get. I have also booked the private guide for The Vatican. The standard tour we provide in Rome is designed to cover the city major sites in one day. Pick up at the pier at 08:00 AM to finish  at 05:30 PM. The driver will meet you right on the pier holding a sign with your last name.  We'll drive in a smooth motorway through the country and see the Etruscan Landscapes. It will take approx. one hour and ten minutes to get to Rome.The drive will continue along Ostiense Road and arrive at the Pyramid built for Caius Cestio .At this stage of the tour we will be inside the ancient Roman Wall built by Emperor Aureliano. We will then arrive at the Circus Maximus, the large ancient stadium for chariot races. Behind the stadium you will see the Palatine Hill where the villas and the domus of the emperors were built. At this point you will be able to see the Arch of Constantine and the Colosseum. We will stop here, and you will be able to visit the Colosseum and the Roman Forum on  your own if you wish. Following the Colosseum, we will stop at the Piazza Venezia where you will see the Vittorio Emanuele Monument, dedicated to the first king of Italy. Now will be the time to visit the Vatican Museum where you will be able to admire the vast collection of

masterpieces, including the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel. If you want VIP admission(no line if any) please book admission tickets only at the 01:00PM or 02:00PM timeslot If you wish to have a tour guide in the Vatican Museum I can book one.... It will take two hours to visit the Museum,The Sistine Chapel and The Basilica. I strongly suggest you book a guide as the Vatican can be confusing. Our next destination will be the Pantheon, once the temple of all Roman gods, then a church and burial place for kings and artists (Raphael). Trevi fountain will follow. Here you can toss a coin in the fountain to ensure a return visit to Italy. Finally, you can rest and have a seat on the Spanish Steps. Please note that the order in which we will visit the sites may vary pending traffic conditions or other third party act. The tour can be altered to personalize your desires.

No rest as it's on the the next port in Italy Livorno :- Here you can visit Florence or Pisa or both or the Chianti wine regions or whatever you like. Problem is Florence is over 90 mins away and it would be a very quick whirlwind tour, and from what I've been told its best to spend days here (much like most of Italy) . So after much thought I have decided we will do the short trip to Pisa and get the requisite Leaning Tower photo, browse around and after the previous packed 2 days this will be a pleasant change.

No sea days again and straight off to Monte Carlo :- Here we will just do our own thing. Probably download a walking tour to our iPhones and check out how the other half live.

Again no rest between ports and we get to Barcelona :- It is here that we encounter 2 other cruise ships. There is a internet site http://cruisett.com/ships.php, which shows which cruise ships are at what ports throughout the year. Our ship has 1950 passengers who could disembark for a visit, the other 2 ships Carnival Magic has 3652 and Norwegian Epic 4200! This could be a rather crowded town.....but I'm sure they are used to it. Actually looking at the site those 2 ships cross paths at quite a few ports, bad luck for them!. So here for the moment I have decided on a Princess Tour









Rarely is an architect so closely identified with his city as Antoní Gaudí is with Barcelona. On this stunning four-hour tour you will view Gaudí's masterpieces, from the soaring spires of La Sagrada Familia, to the quirky charm of Parc Guell and finally the undulating curves of Casa Batllo.

WHAT YOU VISIT
La Sagrada Familia - Designed in 1883 and unfinished after more than a century, this awe-inspiring building boasts three massive spires yet lacks complete walls and a roof. Your guide describes the church's features including the massive nativity façade, the flamboyant spires and the modern stained glass windows. The Gaudí Museum on the lower level traces the architect's life and achievements.

Parc Guell - Gaudí's signature touches are to be found everywhere in the park, from the whimsical shape of the cast-iron benches and porticoes to the stunning mosaic work. Enjoy free time to stroll about the park.

WHAT YOU SEE ALONG THE WAY
Board your motorcoach and drive down Passeig de Gracia, a wide boulevard lined with superb Art Nouveau buildings, passing Casa Batllo en route to La Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell.

SPECIAL NOTES
Wear comfortable walking shoes and clothing suited to the day's conditions. Bring a hat and adequate sun protection.

Hurray we get a day at sea before we sadly have only 3 more ports to see before we arrive in Dover for our week in London. Those ports being Casablanca, Lisbon and then Le Harve (Paris).

HISTORY AWAITS AT EVERY STOP

Having now left behind many ancient wonders of the Middle East we spend a day at sea before arriving at the beautiful..................

 Mykonos :- We will walk around by ourselves as we are only here for a short time. Take some photos, have a coffee or wine and dream of returning. Pretty much like every other place we visit on this trip..........

No sea day straight on to.......

 Istanbul :- Here we have already joined a private tour with others we  "met" on our roll call on cruise critic. Here is a excerpt from the email about the tour.

Starting from the port at 9am, finishing at 6pm,

you will have good enough time to see:

- Blue Mosque (Ottoman, 400 years old),

- Hippodrome (Roman-Byzantine, 1700 years old / s short stop since not much is left to this day),

- Topkapi Palace & Harem Sections (Ottoman, 500 years old),

- St. Sophia (Byzantine, 1500 years old)

- Basilica Cistern (Byzantine, 1500 years old) and

- Grand Bazaar (Ottoman, 500 years old).

After Istanbul we spend the next morning cruising in Anzac Cove from 6am to 11am, a service will be held on board and as the cruise will be a majority of Aussie's and Kiwi's I'm sure it will be a touching time for many. The bugle usually causes a tear or two to roll down my cheeks at the best of times! We then head on to....

Athens :-  Have decided to do the Princess tour here, as we would love to be able to see everything there is in Athens and to spend time appreciating it , it's just not possible, so this is our compromise.

Acropolis, National Museum & Plaka Experience the best of Athens on a guided driving and walking tour highlighting its major sights. Explore the ruins of the Acropolis and see the Parthenon. Visit the National Archeological Museum and its trove of Greek antiquities, and enjoy free time to stroll the colorful shops and cafes of the Plaka. WHAT YOU VISIT Acropolis - The Acropolis dominates the Athenian landscape. Your guided walking tour begins with a walk up steep steps through the Propylea, which extends 150 feet across the western face of the Acropolis. Beyond the Propylea, on the highest point of the Acropolis, stands the Parthenon, which was dedicated to the virgin goddess Athena.National Archaeological Museum - This treasure trove of Greece, is filled with important archaeological finds from all over Greece. You will have the opportunity to marvel at the perfection, presence and power of the bronze statue of Poseidon along with a plethora of gold items such as the Mask of Agamemnon, the Greek Commander-in-Chief during the Trojan War. SHOPPING IN THE PLAKA There will be approximately an hour of free time to browse through Athens' famous shopping district. The cobbled pedestrian lanes are lined with shops, boutiques, souvenir stands, jewelry stores and flea market stalls offering a wide variety of items. LUNCH A delicious buffet lunch with wine will be served during your excursion. WHAT YOU SEE ALONG THE WAY Board your motorcoach for the approximately 30- to 40-minute drive to the heart of Athens. Your narrated drive passes a host of major sites, including Hadrian's Arch, the statue of Lord Byron, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Constitution Square, the former Royal Palace, the National Gardens, the Academy and the University Library.SPECIAL NOTES The tour involves climbing approximately 80 steps at the Acropolis, as well as walking over some uneven and slippery paths. There will be a 10 minute walk from the motorcoach drop-off point to the Plaka area. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Passengers with limited mobility should take this into consideration before taking this tour.This tour uses headsets.

We now have a day at sea before we do 5 ports in a row without a sea day to recover, first stop and last for this entry is....

Naples :- Here is where we are having a private tour using Stefano from RomeCabs (also using his company in Rome) and will be visiting Pompeii, Sorrento, Positano and where-ever else our driver suggests. Pompeii has always been one of those places that is a must see for me, not every port has one, so am looking forward to this stop. We should also be able to sample some lovely fresh cheese, olives and a nice wine or two. Throw in some shopping, breath taking views and this will be a wonderful day! It is also Katie's 22nd birthday :)

Next stops are  Rome, Florence, Monte Carlo and Barcelona. Its a hard life but some-one has to do it.