Bogof Mondays... More Like Bugger off Mondays...

A little tradition that has evolved over the years is the pre cruise dinner at the Pyrmont Bridge Hotel…  There was a lot anticipation for tonight and we had 50 people who were happy to come along. 

We manage to fill most of the top floor dining area and as everyone arrived we gathered out on the Terrace just in time for Happy Hour. On arrival we were told being Bogof Monday the special for the night was buy one meal get one free….

You can imagine everyone’s shock when we went to order only to be charged full price…  Of course we question this only to be told “you are a large group you can’t have it”…. If we walked down to the other levels we could order the special but as soon the manager cottoned on and banned the staff from allowing us to order anywhere but the bar on our level.

Well it is a shame as everyone did have a great night regardless with lots of laughter and a little frivolity… 

So Shame Oscar Shame, you have lost any future business from us

NB: I have just received an email from Big Manager Andy apologizing for the miscommunication between himself and Oscar.

Ship Happens!

This week we headed into the city to have dinner with friends… what type of friends you ask... what else, cruising friends of course, and what is the first thing you do when you know you are heading into the city?  Like a true tragic you look up the Sydney Ports Cruise Schedule!

Well lo and behold which ship is in, non-other but our Sun Princess.  This was an opportunity to grab some extra footage of the ship sailing out from a land perspective. We timed it so that we would be at Barangaroo just as she sails out of White Bay…

What a wonderful job they had done with Barangaroo.  Turning a once ugly looking area into a beautiful green headland with large honey coloured sandstone blocks terraced so that you can step right down to the water’s edge.

We positioned ourselves in a perfect spot to capture the Sun Princess as she moved away from the wharf and entered the water way which would lead her out under the bridge, pass the Opera House and through the Heads out into the open sea.

Tick tick tick tick, we waited… due to leave at 4 pm, but maybe 4.15 or 4.30.  We are getting a little anxious now as our meeting time with our friends was 5 pm at King St Wharf…  We watched as the real sun started to set and the sky changed colours in hues of reds and oranges. Our eyes searched for any indication of movement to encourage us to stay just that little bit longer… But alas nothing…

At 4.45pm we were done, we had to leave… as we made our back down the street, we kept looking back just in case she was sailing… No longer able to walk along the waterfront we walked up into Hickson Rd and zigged zagged through the maze of construction barriers …  and of course what happens, as soon as we step out from the Streets of Barangaroo we see her gliding pass us, probably snickering that she snuck out while we were not watching… 

Oh well… we have 2 more opportunities to grab more footage… cause after that, it will be our turn.

Come on let's cruise ya got nothin' to lose

Come on let's cruise ya got nothin' to lose
So come on let's cruise ya got nothin' to lose
Baby come on

I am walking around the house humming like a beach boy!



Starting to suffer from withdrawals, it is 2 years since our last trip and here we are again, just 30 days out from our next big adventure.

No flights this time, YAY!   Just  unpacking and packing once.

On every other occasion this far out from a cruise, I would have already selected all my clothes and bought all the toiletries and other consumables needed for this trip… How blasé one becomes with each cruise.

Packing should be similar to our 2014 Grand Adventure.  We will be covering all four seasons in the three months that will be on the ship. Heat and humidity through Asia, the cold of Alaska back to the heat as we sail through the Hawaiian and South Pacific Islands. At least this time we won’t have the weight restrictions due to flights.

As with all our Grand Voyages our Cruise Critic Roll Call has exceeded expectation with a membership over 170 leaving Sydney, so big that our first meet and greet has been scheduled to gather in the Marquis Dining Room. This time we will be known as the Pacific Circlers.

Our group has been so active that there have already been several get togethers organised in most states. A great way to get to know each other and to start new friendships that will be cemented during this cruise. As with tradition we will be having our pre cruise dinner at the Pyrmont Bridge Hotel, all to help build the excitement. 

So the tours are booked, spreadsheets nearly complete and money all exchanged. Boarding passes printed, new passport obtained and all that this left is for the Visa’s to be picked up. I really should start a list ….. yeah maybe tomorrow!!

Our Pacific Circle Trailer

Pacific Circle 2016 Trailer..... Click here!