So long, farewell, adieu

Our cruise around the Coral Sea has begun. We boarded the Brilliance of the Seas shortly before noon today. Our premium Key pass let us skip the check-in crowd. As a result, it took us less than 15 minutes to get on board. Although, in all honesty, there was hardly anyone there at noon. I must admit it was an odd sensation going through immigration at the terminal. I’ve never left Australia “by land” so to speak.

Once on board we kicked off our cruise with a light lunch in the main dining room. Our window table offered a stunning view of the Sydney Opera House. We then explored the ship until our cabin became available shortly after 1:00pm. 

We’ve booked ourselves into a spacious Junior Suite with a balcony. The room included a walk-in robe, a tiled bathroom, and a separate lounge space we can screen off with a curtain if someone wants to read late on the sofa (i.e Garry).

We also chose a cabin on the starboard side of the boat. As a result, we enjoyed a breathtaking view of Circular Quay and the Opera House while sailing out of Sydney Harbour shortly after 5:00pm. The weather was perfect as we boarded but by the time we sailed through the Sydney Heads, it had become a little overcast.

As the Australian coastline recedes into the distance, it’s hard to believe that we’re finally off to Vanuatu. Our ship is equipped with a Starlink internet service so we’re still connected to the 21st Century. Stay tuned for more adventures in the days ahead. 

Finally, here's a nifty data sheet about the ship that was left for us in our cabin.

Note:

This post is the blog’s 1300th post. It’s been an extraordinary experience documenting life’s ups and downs since 2005. In the months ahead you’ll find Garry and I spending time in London and Germany on business, plus another side trip to New Zealand for me.