December 24, 2025 Burnie, Tasmania - Christmas Eve

     We arrived in Burnie, on Tasmania island, after crossing the Bass Strait overnight and were docked by 9 a.m. The ship was cleared by Customs shortly after and passengers could leave and take the port shuttle for the ten minute drive into the town centre.

    We had breakfast in the dining room at a shared table where Donna and Barry were already seated. We had no tour today. After an 11 a.m. Line Dance lesson we ventured into Burnie via the complimentary shuttle. Being a working port, no private vehicles or pedestrians are allowed to wander in or out of the port property.

   Burnie has mild summers with summer temperatures averaging between 12°C and 21°C. Before breakfast the temperature was 12°C, windy, 38 to 63 kph, mostly cloudy with 40% chance of rain. The highest temperature today was 15°C.

   One of Tasmania’s industries is logging. Beside the dock was a 70 meter tall pile of wood chips and nearby there were stacks of logs. Logs are floated down rivers to Burnie’s natural deepwater port.

    We started our walk a short distance from the Wilmot Street drop-off point toward the Esplanade Boardwalk, which follows the West Beach of Emu Bay. Burnie was established in 1827 and called Emu Bay. The strong wind was blowing fine sand across the broad walk which passed the Burnie Penguin Observation Centre. Here at dusk you can watch the return of Little Penguins (also known as Fairy Penguins) from the sea. The ship was departing before sunset. We also passed the University of Tasmania’s Cradle Coast campus. After about one kilometre, we felt some raindrops and turned back to the town, passing Burnie Park.  There were many flowering plants along the boardwalk and on the residential streets, including the crimson Pohutukawa trees and purple hydrangeas. There were some Art Deco buildings and quaint Victoria houses.

   While we waited for the next shuttle back to the ship, we browsed the Makers Market  located on the ground floor of a parking garage. There were about a dozen kiosks of locally made crafts.

    We had a light lunch before taking a nap. At dinner it was just us and Barry and Donna at our table of eight. Donna told us that they would be leaving at Adelaide because Barry was not sleeping well and his dementia spells were getting worse, plus he wants to see his children longer than the few hours that the ship stops in Adelaide. Barry has terminal stomach cancer.

   Dinner was a special Christmas Eve menu including food from around the world. On the desserts, small white chocolate disks with Merry Christmas written on them were presented with the Kiwi and Strawberry Pavlova and the chocolate Christmas Log. We gave Christmas cards to our cabin stewards and waiters.

   After dinner we had coffees at the Library Café before going to the Rolling Stone Lounge to dance to the band playing Christmas music.

    There was only one show this evening at 8 p.m. featuring pianist, Joel Bowerman. He gave an entertaining performance on the World Stage, playing a piece in the style of Liberace, and tributes to Billy Joel, Elton John and Abba.

    The ship departed Burnie on time at 9 p.m. for Adelaide to arrive on Boxing Day.

    There was another towel creation, Santa, accompanied with two Lindor chocolates and a note to set our clocks back 30 minutes to Adelaide time.

     In the World Stage at 10:30 Daria on Piano and Inna, playing violin, (the Vivace Duo) played carols. Followed at 11 p.m by crew members from different departments singing Christmas carols.            Total steps 13,683


the West Beach of Emu Bay
the crimson Pohutukawa tree
summerflowers

purple hydrangeas
roses in full bloom
quaint Victoria houses
the chocolate Christmas Log
the Kiwi and Strawberry Pavlova
another towel creation, Santa
the Vivace Duo
the Filipino choir
the Indonesian choir
the International choir

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