Day 32: Airlie Beach

I think we’re being compensated for our lousy weather in New Zealand last cruise; our weather continued to be truly perfect today, sunny and warm but not too warm. During breakfast with Paul and Marlene in the DaVinci Dining Room, we put together a plan for the day. Airlie Beach, as well as our next two ports of Yorkey’s Knob and Port Douglas are tender ports, and long tender ports to boot. Many of the ship’s boat excursions- and here there were several of them offered, to beaches on various Whitsunday Islands and to the Great Barrier Reef- actually pick up passengers right at the ship, saving well over 30 minutes tendering in each direction. 

We went to the Michelangelo Dining Room to claim our Elite tender tickets and never even entered the dining room. Captains Circle host Angela sent us right down to the tender platform to board a waiting tender. The views and the water color were spectacular. The water was dotted with islands of varying sizes, the Whitsunday Islands, so named because they were “discovered” by Captain James Cook on Whitsunday (Pentecost) Sunday...but it was actually Whitmonday because the International Dateline had not yet been established. 

The beautiful blue water of the Whitsunday Islands area

We tendered into a different marina than we had two years ago. Our visit then came only months after a major cyclone had damaged the area, and I suspect the marina we used today was still being rebuilt. Though there was a shuttle offering unlimited rides the short distance into the town center for AUD $5pp, we opted to walk instead as it wasn’t very far, and the route took us through the marina at the Port of Airlie with its beautiful yachts.  There was a nice sized local market taking place just behind the marina; we looked but didn’t buy. I was most tempted by the huge bunches of organic cilantro, though I have no idea what I would have done with it.

Once past the market, we were at the eastern end of the Airlie Beach lagoon, a man made free form pool with a beach entrance all around filled with filtered sea water. This is an attractive and important feature that is located right on the waterfront. While Airlie Beach does, in fact have a beach, it is really not safe to swim there, because of all the stinging beasts that can get you. The lagoon is much nicer and safer.

The Airlie Beach lagoon is safe for swimming and nicely sloped

I wasted no time in getting into the water. Because it was Saturday, the picnic tables and grassy surrounds were filling with people settling in for the day. We found a table under a canopy and enjoyed the water for a couple of hours. 

The children’s area is largely shaded 

The lagoon with the sea in the background 

We walked through the touristy area of town, one block back from the water, and discussed having lunch and a beer somewhere, but restaurants were crowded and we were wearing down. Instead, we walked along the beach back to the marina and reboarded a tender for the long ride back to the ship. 

Beach warnings and a bottle of vinegar to treat stings

Airlie Beach

Our Destination Expert Hutch claims that every time he returns to Australia, 

they’ve discovered something else that will hurt you. 😆

The exterior walls of the public bathrooms were covered with plants

Once on the ship, we changed and went to the Horizon Court Buffet for lunch. The salad bar has been nicely upgraded with more variety and a plant based protein (tofu) today.  I had a large salad and an embarrassment of watermelon slices. We don’t often buy watermelon at home (they’re pretty large for just two people), but I shamelessly make up for it when we cruise. There was time for a quick rest before we needed to get ready for the evening. 

The ship’s webcam

That water color...amazing 

We skipped the Elite Lounge in favor of an extra few minutes of downtime, and went to dinner exactly at 5pm.  Two courses later, we were on the Promenade Deck for sunset and in the Princess Theater for the 6:30pm performance of production show Once Upon a Dream. It’s still a good production show, but not a great one. 

Day 4 dinner menu, page 1

Day 4 dinner menu, page 2

Day 4 dessert menu

Still awesome

This app, BTW, is called Meteor

There is a tropical deck party on the pool deck at 9:30pm, but we aren’t going to make it. I’m sore tonight; I have been all day, and writing a blog post and finishing Elton John’s Me with an elevated and iced foot beats anything else going on around the ship this evening. 

For the first time, I’m including the Princess Port Guide for today’s port in my blog post. I have saved all of them to date, and, if you’re interested, I can add them to the appropriate blog posts on our next sea day. 

Airlie Beach Port Guide, page 1

Airlie Beach Port Guide, page 2

Airlie Beach Port Guide, page 3

Airlie Beach Port Guide, page 4

Day 4 Princess Patter, page 1 

Day 4 Princess Patter, page 2

Day 4 Princess Patter, page 3

Day 4 Princess Patter, page 4

Day 9: Airlie Beach, Australia

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. :-)