28 June
ANZAC Cove today. We arrived at 6.00 am and there was a service in the Vista Lounge as we arrived. The main ANZAC service was held on deck at 11.00am and was really well attended. One notable absentee was the Captain. The Staff Captain and quite a number of other officers attended and the ship's passenger choir sang. Veterans were given their own roped off space on Deck 14 where they could get a good view of proceedings. I was really pleased to be able to see where the ANZACS landed from the same view they would have had as they set out but could only think how scared they must have been when they saw the cliffs and the high terrain they were supposed to overcome. For those who don't know, my grandfather was wounded on the first day of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli. Can't help but ponder on the contrast as, here we are, comfortable on a cruise ship, looking out at where they landed. The fact that ANZAC Cove was on the itinerary was part of the reason I decided on this cruise. The ship did a great job with the service; Australian and New Zealand flags were in evidence, but I couldn't see why we were singing "God Save the Queen". The memorials, Turkish and ours were visible although we weren't close enough to see them clearly. Earlier, there were commentaries broadcast on deck by an Australian and a Turkish historian. Was quite interesting to hear both histories. We sailed away at midday.
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