26 May
Last night was State of Origin. At the last minute, Princess organised for it to be screened on the big screen on deck. Reportedly it cost them $15000. Probably made it up in beer sales at the Riveria bar. They certainly saved on food in the dining room. They had no maroon baloons but had red on one side of the Riveria deck and blue on the other side. Apparently they ran out of blue ones so the Queenslanders were ahead in the decoration department – and, of course, in the game as well. The restaurant was practically deserted for late sitting. Barry at our table made a valiant effort as the token man but made a lame excuse and left pretty soon after main course. Allan is now a celebrity because he was interviewed for the cruise video. John and Allan sat with the pilot who lives in North Arm on the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Said it's the first time he's witnessed such a thing on a ship. Darwin today – Princess as usual, charged $7 each way for their shuttle bus. We walked and it took about 15 minutes. For next year's cruisers, when you follow the walkway around the harbour, you end up looking at a huge block of units. There is a lift there, on the outside of the building, that the public can use. Go up in the lift and it brings you out at almost street level in the town. There is a set of about ten stairs, or another lift that we didn't see and you're in town. We went to Casuarina shopping centre, along with almost half the ship I think. If you have a seniors card (government issued) buses are free. For everyone else it is $2 and I think, if you return within four hours the $2 covers it. When our bus driver coming back into town realised we were visitors, he pointed out some interesting bits and pieces. There was something which I thought was an iron sculpture but it's actually a lot of twisted telephone poles from Cyclone Tracy. We spent the rest of the day in town just wandering and having lunch. We brought two bottles of wine on board each and were basically told 'naughty passengers' but were allowed to keep them. Others brought three each and no one commented. It's our wedding anniversary today. I recorded it on cruise personaliser in the hope that we may score some free wine at dinner. Got a photocopied note of congratulations from the Captain and three baloons outside our cabin. Maybe there's still hope for the booze tonight. John is kindly taking me to dinner tonight to celebrate. He said he won't go to the disco afterwards unless he gets some good offers. Such a thoughtful man!
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Happiest of Anniversary's!
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