Today was the best weather day we’ve enjoyed since the Friday we arrived in Sydney. We had sun all day with a temperature around 80. Perfect!
Our arrival in Airlie Beach was originally scheduled for 10am, then amended to 9am once we boarded the ship, but the beautiful views started at sunrise. This section of the Great Barrier Reef is known for the Whitsunday Islands, “discovered” by Captain James Cook on Whitsunday, 1760. Several beautiful, tree covered islands dotted our approach to our anchorage at Airlie. We lingered over breakfast on the Terrace Deck, watching sailboats come and go from the Abell Marina, where our tender was going to arrive.
Luckily, large tenders (actually, ferries) from shore were used as the primary tenders and they were new and plush and smooth and manned by the nicest guys imaginable. We rode over on the upper deck, enjoying the gorgeous weather. Though those tenders were fast, it was still a long tender, as all of them have been on this itinerary. Once on shore, we decided to skip the $5 round trip transfer into the center of Airlie Beach and walked the 20-30 minute distance instead. Always after the daily steps! There was a nice boardwalk along the waterfront and the views all along the way were spectacular.
Like many beaches in this part of Australia, the water isn’t really safe to swim in. The main culprit is the deadly box jellyfish but there are plenty of other stinging nasties in the water too. Airlie has constructed a long, winding lagoon that is filled with filtered (and safe) ocean water that varies from zero depth at a beach entrance to a couple of meters deep. One end of it is shaded with high canopies and there is a large children’s playground. The other areas are oriented toward older kids and adults, and the whole lagoon is really beautiful.
The Golden Princess waaaayyyy in the distance.
These are long tenders!
The children’s end of the beautiful Airlie Lagoon
When the beach isn’t safe, they make a new one. We first walked past the lagoon to the Airlie market, similar to The Rocks market on weekends in Sydney. Locally produced crafts, jewelry and food is available for sale. Still, I didn’t buy anything. When I packed my jewelry for this cruise, I vowed to not buy a single piece on this trip regardless of how inexpensive or beautiful it is. None! Nine days in and I’ve managed to abstain.
We had lunch at an outdoor café along the waterfront (salad topped with prawns for me) and then swam in the warm water of the lagoon to cool off (it was a warm day!). Mid afternoon, we walked back along the waterfront to the tender pier and rode the ferry back to the ship. It had been a perfect day.
I wasn’t particularly hungry at dinner, and had just a smoked salmon starter and some ratatouille for dinner. We finished early and went to the early (6:45pm) performance of New Zealand vocalist Chris Powley in the Princess Theater. I looked at G and said “What is he doing on ships?”. He was amazing and a wonderful entertainer, combining his fantastic voice with humor. I hope we get to see him again this season.
We swung by the Piazza for a short (5 minute) performance of Beatles music by the singers and dancers, and then, for the first time in the evening this cruise, stopped into the Horizon Court Buffet for some fruit since we had skipped dessert after dinner. It was pretty impressive, especially the beautiful side buffet with all sorts of desserts. If I wasn’t married to Mr. Dining Room I think I could enjoy dining there most nights.
I’m taking the time to prepare this post before we go back up to the Lido Deck for an island night party with line dancing and band Soul Vacation. We move clocks ahead an hour overnight; it’s just possible we might sleep until 7am tomorrow.
A sunny, warm day. Smooth seas tonight. Great entertainment. A party on the open deck. Now THIS is cruising!
Life is good. :-)
