We started the day trying to repair the damage done by the Chocolate Hazelnut pudding the night before by heading to the gym. We slightly diminished the damage after a good hour of stretching, biking, rowing, abs, and weights.
This morning, we are off to take the wheels that Adam gave us back to him, grab a coffee, and then head back to the hotel to pick up our bags and grab a taxi to Orion.
Cairns caters to holiday travellers; many bars, cafes, backpacker lodges, and event booking places exist. But not so subtle advertising.
Now that’s my kind of advertising!
Once again, time gets away from us, and after we’ve dropped off the wheels and picked up some essential supplies, it’s back to the hotel, checked out and headed off to the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal.
The new Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal
As we arrived early, about two hours before most quests, no one was at customs or departures, so we got through the bag inspection quickly. Once through, we are met by Andrew, who shows us the room we need to shoot the 360 Panoramas. Today, before we sail, before the quests board, we have to have 3 rooms photographed! It was a bit of a rush, but we managed to get a number of the rooms shot. There is still more to go, and we will get to it at the next ship turnaround in Rabaul in 10 days.
By about 3 p.m., all the passengers were onboard, and we left the Terminal and headed out of Cairns for the Coral Sea and our first port of call in Papua New Guinea, Alotau.
Leaving the Terminal
Looking back at Cairns past lifeboats
Tony shooting as we leave
One of the Orion deck crew
Hills around Cairns
Once we were on our way, drinks and snacks were served on the sun deck.
Kelly on deck
During welcome drinks I got to meet Nick Rains and Peter Eastway for the first time and introduce myself.
Nick Rains (left), Peter Eastway (right) and Justin Friend (back to us)
Shortly after that, we had our lifeboat drill, our mandatory briefing on all things ship-related, an introduction to the Expedition Team, and our first meeting with the infamous Mick Fogg, the Expedition Leader.
Kelly in lifejacket
Tony in lifejacket
After that it was the first of the many Serge Dansereau dinners we would experience onboard. Unfortunately about halfway through the meal Kelly wasn’t feeling too good, there was quite a bit of a swell as we made our way through the Coral Sea, so she took off to the cabin while I finished up in the dining room.
Poor old Kelly had a bit of a rough night of it as we ploughed on through the Coral Sea. Hopefully it will be calmer up around New Guinea.
