December 21, 2025 Sydney & boarding the Noordam

We awoke to a sunny sky and a few wispy clouds. Temperature was already 24°C and predicted to hit 34°C this afternoon. Today Australia is observing a Day of Reflection on the one week anniversary of the Bondi Beach terror attack where 15 people were killed in a shooting rampage by two gunmen.

We walked less than a kilometre to the quaint Elizabeth Bay Café in the Potts Point/King’s Cross neighbourhood for breakfast. We enjoyed flat white coffees with our bacon & egg bun or chia, yogurt & rice bowl with chopped fruit. I forgot to activate my GPS so the 712 meters to the café were not recorded.

This morning we wandered through the neighbourhood finding glimpses of Elizabeth Bay. Right near the café, there was a tiny shaded park with a mini waterfall. Sydney is not flat. We climbed a 45 step staircase from Clanricarde to Macleay Street (A name familiar from yesterday’s walking.) The narrow sidewalk at the staircase top wound between buildings and ended on Cowper Wharf Road. Across the street was a naval base with three ships in port. This was the HMAS Kuttabul Navy base. Along the fence was a memorial stating that from that gate soldiers embarked to fight in the Great War.

There were two flags flying on the ships. The Australian flag and the navy flag, both with a Union Jack at the top left corner. The navy flag has a background of white with seven navy blue stars. The Australian flag has a background of navy blue with seven white stars. The largest star has seven points to represent Australia’s six states plus one for the territories, which was added in 1908. The other stars represent the Southern Cross constellation.

One of the ships was the HMAS Brisbane with 41 painted on its side. On the funnel was a red kangaroo emblem. The district by the Wallamool Wharf is called Woolloomooloo. Near the wharf is the Ovolo hotel which stretches along the whole side of the wharf, at least 200 meters. It is in a prime location and out of curiosity the nightly price in mid January for this luxury boutique hotel is $501 Australian! By 10:30 a.m. the temperature had risen to 29°C so we headed back to the hotel. During our stroll we caught glimpses to the Sydney Eye Tower and the steeple of St. Mary’s Church so we had a good idea of our location. Returning to the hotel we had logged 8,274 steps and just over 4 kilometres walking.

We took a taxi to Circular Quay, rather than walk 35 minutes dragging our luggage. It would be a similar walk to yesterday morning. There were a few larger clouds appearing in the south. The baggage drop-off and checkin went smoothly, except that we had to dump our one litre plastic bottles of water and then had to dispose the bottles in the bin beside then where you emptied the bottles. This has never happened at other ports. Then after security, there was a sign that you take six litres of water onto the ship. You could also take a limited amount of wine and soft drinks.

Officially boarding started at Noon for the suites and top decks, but four or five star passengers could also board and use the express line at anytime. Had we been required to follow passengers on Deck 1, the assigned boarding time was 3 p.m. We had already reported to our Muster Station and unpacked by then. On the safety video we were reminded that the ship’s horn is used to notify of an emergency or lifeboat drill. The signal is six loud short blasts followed by one long blast. We have also heard the fog horn in foggy situations which notifies other ships in the area our ships location, even though the big ships have radar.

We met our cabin stewards, Slam and Nova. They were busy introducing themselves to their new guests and delivering the luggage.

Once the cabin was organized, we walked around the ship to familiarize ourselves with the layout. We have a large inside cabin which besides a king size bed, has a sofa, desk and large wardrobe and has enough room for two people to do yoga exercises without bumping into furniture. We discovered that not only was the library on Deck 3, as on other ships of its design, but the expensive jewelry shop had been replaced by a library café. With our loyalty status, our specialty coffees are half price. Everything gets changed to your onboard account. You settle your bill at the end of the cruise.

We climbed the stairs to Lido on Deck 9 which is the cafeteria, there is also the gym, spa and swimming pools on that deck. As we ascended the staircases, we noticed at some of the elevator lobbies that homemade Christmas decorations standing about 1.5 meters were labelled with a team number and the department where the people worked. On Deck 10 is the Crow’s Nest with a bar a café, Art Studio and the Shore Excursions Desk at the bow. At mid-ship is the Kids Club entrance. Back down to Deck 3, we found our table of eight in the dining room. It is right by the entrance. If we do not like the location or our table mates, we can request a change.

There was a brief mid afternoon shower which cooled the temperature to 28°C.

The captain’s announcement advised passengers that tomorrow will be windy - Gale Force 9 and the sea might be rough. Our cabin is on a lower deck in the centre of the ship so that the ship’s motion is minimized.

Dinner is scheduled for 5 p.m. We found the table and waited 10 minutes for someone else to join the table, which is assigned seating. A man sat himself at the opposite end of the table with a nod and would not engage in conversation the whole meal. We departed to go to the 6:30 p.m. three, four and five star mariner Welcome Reception around the pool. The retractable roof closed just after the reception started. There was a receiving line of a dozen officer and the Cruise Director. The cruise director, Robbie, is from Halifax. He had a pair of multicoloured shoes that we were sure came from a mens shoe shop in Rotterdam, but he said his wife bought them in Portugal for him. We were joined at our reception table by Peter and Judy in their 80s, who live just a 90 minute drive from Sydney.

During the reception the Captain announced that the ship needed to divert to Botany Bay for a passenger’s medical emergency - just two hours after departure from Circular Quay.

The flags around Sydney were lowered to half mast this week to remember the victims of last Sunday’s Bondi Beach terror attack. At exactly 6:47 p.m. this evening, Australia observed a minute of silence for the victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack exactly one week ago.

At 7:30 p.m. the lighting of the three level Christmas tree in the Atrium was scheduled. It included carol signing and several different kinds of Christmas cookies were distributed. People lined the railing of Decks 2 and 3 while more watched the event on Deck 1. It was about a half hour event. In the Deck 1 Atrium, there is a display of Gingerbread houses.

At 9 p.m. in the World Theatre the Welcome Aboard Show featured the ship’s band, singers and dancers.

Steps for today 16,153