Premier Inn Heathrow
Day 2
Travelling for hours and hours
Ice on the windscreen at Heathrow but all good on car drop off, passport control and security checks. Flight delayed by an hour on the way out and not a lot of transfer time at Changi (or so we thought). Flight was long but ok apart from the guy in front fully reclining his chair. Zero sleep for John and only an hour or two for Polly.Arrive at Singapore Changi almost on time circa 12 hours flight. Changi airport is huge but we end up with nearly 2 hours between flights. Fabulous coffee from a bean to cup vending machine.
Delayed by an hour
Next flight down to Sydney takes around 9 hours and the seats aren’t bad but more Egypt flight than long haul. Arrival at Sydney was hassle free collect suitcases and off for the transfer. Instructions not great but end up at the right place and no pick up. Polly phones and an admin error says no car coming. We take a decision to get the train / tube. John does the cash machine after DA’s Egypt shenanigans $200 Aus is about £120. It costs about a dollar and drops us in the rain at Wynyard. Find the hotel (after walking past it) really trendy type of place - lifts don’t have buttons just pre programmed cards that give access to certain floors in the building.
Adina Hotel - Sydney
Drop bags and go up to the top floor restaurant, can’t hear Gilberto the waiter for the “happening jazz’ but get the just we order by app. Check the prices and get our coats!!! Wander aimlessly it’s after nine and almost everywhere is closed. Find an Italian and get sat outside - too tired and didn’t really get the menu and approx forty dollars a dish. Ended up with a Maccies and sat outside to wolf it - nowhere to sit near the \240actual food outlet.
Grand Hotel Sydney
On to the Grand Hotel for a quick pint of pale ale, too cold to taste but great to unwind.
Got into bed about half ten and straight to sleep, absolutely knackered. Unfortunately both wide awake by four in the morning and out the door by seven.
Day 3
Exploring Sydney
Walked across to Barangaroo and around the Batangaroo reserve to the harbour bridge
Had breakfast at a cycle themed cafe overlooking a quay near the harbour bridge, very nice and joggers everywhere.
What’s the waiter saying to Da?
View from morning coffee
Not sure what the waiter was trying to draw in Polly’s coffee!,Walked around to the opera house and jumped on a ferry to Manley beach - still only about half eight in the morning.
Manley Ferry
Budgy Smugglers Manley
Manley Beach
The size of the cruise ship is mind blowing when set against the harbour bridge and opera house.
Celeb Solstice
That is our boat ready for boarding Thursday morning. Ferry back was a little more challenging as the wind and waves had picked up, a little choppy in places.
Back on dry land and after a walk around the opera house a tube up to find Paddy’s market on the edge of China town. Loads of food vendors here - Fraz would love it.
Seafood noodles for Nodge and Thai green chicken curry for Da.
On to find Ugg boots for the girls then a well earned pint in the Grand and time for a nap - over ten miles marched on very little sleep.
Refreshed and raring to go off down the hill to circular quay for food and to watch the sun set over the harbour bridge. We get a seat in the sun at a Mark Wahlberg restaurant and order their signature Wahlbergers and two IPA”s very nice way to spend a few hours. First cruise ship gone - leaving a parking place for ours. Back to the Hotel for half eight and lights out.
Day 4
Join the Celebrity Solstice
Sleep was solid until I woke and checked my watch, luminous dials in a pitch black room said half seven - brilliant. Unfortunately it was upside down and only half two. Da read me the riot act and asleep again until just after five. Da still snoozing at seven thirty when I put the TV on.
Celebrity have \240emailed apologising for the transfer error and have advised us to make our own way to the ship. We are to be out of the hotel at half ten and board the boat circa four.
Checked the harbour webcam and the ship is on the stand at circular quay.
First job was to confirm we had the room right up to 11:00 and then update the cruise booking. Now getting on board at 14:00.
Breakfast was at the grumpy bakers down a little passageway absolutely the best coffee so far.
Back to the Hotel until 11:00 then check out and tram down to circular quay. Bag drop at the vessel was hassle free then off for a quick beer or two until departure time.
Was describing the size of the vessel to a woman in the hotel lift and was shot down by an American accent - it’s not the biggest I’ve been on!
Joined the boat about half one reasonably hassle free apart from the requirement for a visa for Bali - boat insists we have one British embassy says it’s not required.
Lunch was pizza for Da and a mixed salad for Nodge - followed by gateaux and cheesecake 😳
Boat set sail at 18:45 but it was quite chilly we were wrapped in blankets as we waved goodbye to the opera house. Hadn’t realised we had sat in smokers corner so won’t make that mistake again. Several bars tried, none of the beers great, Coopers IPA, a Mexican lager XX and an Adams American lager. So we went for a red wine instead and that was fine. A Mexican jazz trio were ok but not for us, missed the start of the comedians set in the theatre so gave that a miss. In bed by ten and lights out.
Nodge woke half six and had a while on the balcony with a book until the call of breakfast was too strong - magnificent muesli bar followed by smoked salmon- breakfast number one. Took coffee down to Da - all good.
The fiasco getting visas for Bali continues, four and five hour waits is normal. All available to do online but the internet access appears too slow and the Indonesian website cant cope with shiney photo’s or certain e mail addresses to name a few. A good couple of hundred people with the same issue. E mail from celebrity stated only americans and canadians required the visa. Waste of a full day really.
Started the visa process circa 10:00 and gave up around 12:00 the queue was moving slower than a snail on a work to rule. After spending hours on line with my phone and I pad and failing joined the queue again about 16:00 ships time - completed on line bit by 18:30 then joined the queue at guest liaison for another two hours and emerged with the paper copy of the visa what a terrible waste of our first ever days cruising!!!
We got the forms in hand at circa 19:30 and straight for food, salad, then Indian then fish in a butter sauce for Nodge and Da had a plate off Rosemary beef stew. Lunch was roast beef \240for Nodge and Mexican chilli for Da.
Day 5
Into Brisbane
Up with larks ( even Da got up), so excited to come into Brisbane, loved the place last time I was here. Cappacinos at sun up as we approach Brisbane - fabulous
Brisbane Ferry
Brizzy
Breakfast was muesli / fruit then smoked salmon baguette for Nodge and Da had wallpaper paste porridge followed by toasted bagel with apricot jam.
Shuttle bus tickets secured $20 and all before half seven. On the first bus at eight and dropped in central Brisbane at Anzac square and a short walk down Anne street saw us at the hotel I stayed in when I last came.
Got Down to the river and walked a little way to the ferry terminal, nowhere to buy tickets. Spoke to the deckhand and he told us to buy them at the central station but unlikely any ticket checkers will join the boat. So we got on with the idea we would buy tickets when close to somewhere to buy them. Two hour ferry ride for free was fabulous.
After the ferry was a walk into the City centre and the Mall where we had a gorgeous steak dinner and a pint of freezing cold Heineken. A short walk back to Anzac square and straight on the shuttle bus for the thirty minute ride back to the boat. Re-joining was a well practiced seemless experience. Da down for a well earned kip - got her up far too early.
Up to the sky bar for a beer and watch the sunset and sail away. Too much food, salad, Indian and then a huge chicken leg in crushed cornflakes for Nodge. Da had salad and then a vegetarian Indian dish that tasted divine.
A couple of wines at the cocktail bar and a chat with a nice couple Da met in the visa queue. Bed to watch the Pool Everton game but asleep before the end.
Day 6
A day at Sea
Da awake at six ready for the rugby, off she went to get nice coffee, but an hour till it opens so just a mug of the filter stuff. Pop the tv on and the England v South Africa game is half way through and England are leading. Unfortunately England lost but sets up for the best teams in the final I think.
Getting a sun bed after breakfast was a challenge all but bagged with towels but Da sniffed two out near the pool and we managed to sit in the sun reading until about half one. We did try to go to lunch at half twelve but all tables taken, much better later.
After lunch we sat in the sun too long on the sun deck drinking white wine. Out the cabin at half six to go and watch the rock show which was ok. Then watching people lose hundreds and hundreds of dollars in the casino. Novel game of poker playing against the house, reminiscent of black jack and no idea how craps works. Off to bed just after ten, day off the boat tomorrow.
Day 7
Airlie Beach
Very early wake 06:30 for the arrival into the Whitsundays. Doesn’t look quite so impressive with the early morning sun but once the sun gets up the whiteness of the sand and turquoise blue of the sea are amazing. Boat transfer across the bay and a short bus ride into Airlie beach itself. Not huge but pristine beach and lagoon pool. Little tourist market on and plenty of shops. we got T shirts souvenirs for the grandkids and grandparents. Three hour wander then back on the catamaran for a \240transfer to the Solstice for just after 12:00 - we need to be back on for three and we have to add on DA’s tolerance time 😂
Back on board by around one and straight into lunch. Too hot on the sun deck and too hot on the balcony. Hid from the sun for the afternoon then martini bar after six and met Dave and Lilly - they took a flight over the whitsundays - photos were amazing. Show wasn’t fab with a Ricky Sunak doppelgänger with a falsetto voice taking the lead. The flank steak was gorgeous for dinner - but both our portions sizes are back to normal 😂. We watched a bit more poker then an acoustic guitarist playing Beatles songs in the second theatre on the boat!!
Day 8
Cairns
Another boat tender transfer today, but we need to pay for the shuttle bus into cairns. The cat over to Yorkeys knob was great fun about 30 mins from the cruise ship. Not much water in the harbour saw one of the prop boats damaged and the one we returned on was only 10% full to keep weight down and buoyancy up. Cairns was a $20 bus ride but the lagoon was great and we splashed in there for an hour, wander round the shops and an IPA before the bus and cat back to the ship for lunch. Spent the afternoon mainly in the cabin it’s so hot and humid outside without the breeze from ship movement. Did look into a helicopter flight out over the barrier reef at $300 but no seats available. Booked our anniversary dinner in a posh restaurant on Thursday and somehow got a 20% discount - which is nice! Buddy Holly show tonight at 19:00.
Day 9
At Sea
A big sleep for a change saw a very late breakfast. Nothing to do but sit in the sun round the pool all day watching the coastline, desert islands and reefs as we sail on to our last stop in Darwin. It”s dress up night on board so Da has a posh frock on and Nodge wearing a jacket for the first time since he retired! Apart from Becky’s wedding said Da. Met a nice couple from Melbourne who explained the meaning of the menu cards being tilted over - apparently means table taken. Oops we had been sitting down and straightening them up.
The show was ok a female singer followed by Daffyd (the only gay in the village) who was grown up into an opera singer. Good voice but did he fancy himself, perfect for a cruise. The martini bar was a riot with Dave and Sue.
Day 10
At Sea
Awake at nine after an early 22:00 bed time, up for brekkie, eggs Benedict. Happy 38th wedding anniversary - booked the Tuscan grill for tonight’s dinner. It was a six course menu but we only managed two plus breads with oil and balsamic. Crab cakes for N and calamari for D and we both had rib eye with a Caesar salad side. They made us a little Anniversary cake (which was nice).
Day 11
Darwin
Awake Far too early poor nights sleep (probably to do with the amount of red wine I sank) up for a packed breakfast area and then off the vessel to explore Darwin. The queue for the shuttle buses was huge and slow moving. Advised to walk it as it’s only ten minutes. After a couple of wrong turns we get on track.
Nodge needed to use a public loo, all touch sensor automatic doors no locks auto flush when you wash your hands etc, very uncomfortable. Onwards to the golf shirt for a ‘tour shirt’ but whilst in the shop overheard a girl asking for a round with buggies and club hire, wasn’t as bad as I expected so Polly and I played the nine hole Darwin golf club in 80+ degrees.
No idea of bus times so walked back to the city centre and had an ice cold pale ale with the locals - heaven
On to the food court at the Mall Thai green for Da and a fabulous Tom Yum soup for Nodge. Back on the boat for half two.
Balcony and books for one of us and bed and a nap for the other. Off to the martini bar for a Corona then took it to deck five and watched the sail out of Oz as the sun set.
Main theatre had a hypnotist on who was a bit different. Then a drink with Dave and Lilly \240- not happy paid for a Celebrity trip four hour bus ride to see some termite mounds.
Day 11
At Sea
After yesterday’s exertions we slept really well, from ten through half eight. Trying hard not to hear or see the England score, showing it onboard at three. It got silly hot on the top deck around 13:00 so we retired for a shower to the cabin and then for Food. Watched the England game from the room - fab book the papal assassin. Out to meet Dave and Lilly at six at the martini bar. It was the Jersey boys tonight which was ok. But the lady singer with an acoustic was better and we even had a dance to the Beatles tribute in the main atrium.
Day 12
At Sea
Another clock change so an extra hour in bed this morning. Up for the “normal” brekkie then into the sun by the pool. Da lasted nearly ten minutes before running for cover. Got beds in the covered area and saw several small schools of Tuna fish and numerous fishing vessels. Lunch was salad a fajitas for Da and the normal salad then Indian for Nodge. Looked at Indonesian money and there are 20,000 rupees to the pound. Shan’t let Da anywhere near the ATM. \240Met Mr and Mrs Jacobs for a couple at the martini bar and then to the show. A mix of classic and modern music with an amazing floor and ropes show.
Day 13
Bali
We are delayed today by an hour, waiting on the tide to get into the harbour. The trips provided by Celebrity are four and five times dearer than Courtney’s app. So we will wait till we get off then wing it me thinks. However a closer inspection of queues etc saw us take the safe option of a celebrity excursion. Temples, houses, traditional Balinese meal and a wonderful bamboo village in the mountains. Set off at half nine and returned at six,
mopeds, mopeds everywhere. The guide got on the bus with a bag on snake skin fruit - it was fowl really fusty tasting, taxi driver said never take big ones just the small sweet ones - taste like pineapple. Big issue with the gangway saw us queuing for over an hour to get back on the boat, an irate and very tired sweaty crowd not happy with arrangements booing the crew. Quick shower then beers food and a very early bed at nine. Nodge asleep with the remains of his glass of red in his hand!!
Day 14
Bali
We Decided on a beach day today, off the boat at nine thirty and jumped in a cab down to Katu Beach, got to the drop off point and taxi driver had no change. It was a twenty five dollar trip and I only had a fifty dollar bill, taxi driver promises to be back by two!!! Walked for miles amongst the shanty bars and stalls and then the heat was too much and we played in the surf of the Indian ocean. Da paid to get showered off so then a wander round the shops to get flip flops for Da. Beer O’clock called - so hot and humid, lovely bar called Dulang for large cold beers - fabulous and after 12:00 after all 😂. So we only had a $50 bill and the taxi driver had no change but promised to pick us up at 14:00 Da says its ok on Bali they are very trustworthy. By 14:25 he still hasnt shown I started to look for an ATM when up he pops just before half past - restored our faith somewhat. Very apologetic for being late, he couldn’t leave us as Balians follow the Hindu religion and strongly believe in Karma. He told us about his two children and how his wife was killed on her scooted a year ago. He got all the rest of my Indonesian money.
Back on board and managed to get some food before the buffet shut then a chill on the balcony watching the boats going in and out.
Day 15
At Sea
Another Sea day as we head up to Singapore. Nodge has serious case of Delhi belly and no diocalm tablets left. Rang the medical centre and they wanted to lock down Nodge for 24 hours - immediate improvement from Nodge.
Evening show was an excellent Stevie Wonder tribute act, steak and chips and an early night.
Day 15
At Sea
Another Sea day as we head up to Singapore.- Da itching to pack the cases. Crossed the equator changing us from polliwogs to shellbacks - got the certificates to prove it - few beers with Lily and Dave, cases packed and ready for morning.
Day 16
Singapore
Up at seven to find us docked in Singapore 82 degrees and humidity rising. Getting off the ship was slow due to passport control and we feared missing our 09:30 pickup. So we got off the ship a few decks before our allotted time. Printed sheet was used for a taxi driver to scan and we were driven straight to the holiday inn atrium. Huge hotel with no rooms ready, checked in, dumped bags, bought metro tickets and went. Ended up in a massive shopping centre plaza Singapora. Lunch in a Japanese restaurant was an experience but good.
Back to the Hotel for an afternoon siesta but no room yet, settled for a beer but $18 each sees only one before a nap!!
Back on the metro down to Marina Bay Sands, Polly didn’t fancy the height of the famous hotel bar so we went to the quayside of the Marina Bay overlooking the Fullerton hotel and city skyline. Watching the sunset and the city illuminated was amazing, grabbed a beer and ordered food at a bar overlooking the fountain and light show far from cheap but fabulous.
Home just after nine and asleep in minutes.
Day 17
Singapore
Awake very early, no coffee, no breakfast, used Courtney’s app to pay for the open top bus but had to be there for half nine. Metro tickets from yesterday no longer worked but Apple Pay was fine. Got to the stop at the Sun Tec centre with two minutes to spare - did the full yellow tour east / west for 90 minutes. Both getting hangry so into the Sun Tec centre for£ court for peanut butter toast for Da with sweet coffee and the same for Nodge but sweet tea and semi boiled eggs!!
Then straight onto the red bus for North / South - got to little India and it looked amazing so got off the bus, unfortunately it took two hours to get another, too many stalls, piss poor maps and infrequent bus. Got back to Sun Tec very very sweaty. On to Raffles Hotel long bar - the long way - right through the posh section, rather than via the plebs entrance. Queue to get in was 45 minutes and Singapore slings worked out at £30 each but good fun.
Back on the yellow bus to an area called the Zion food centre - best bowl of noodles ever - Tom Yum pork and aPork noodle dish for about £3 a bowl and a Chang beer between us for £5. Back to the hotel to pack about eight. Long but fab day.
Day 18
Singapore To home
Alarm set for six and pick up at half passed to Chennai Airport.
