J038, Pacific Jewel

I've been keeping a blog of my cruise, but I haven't been able to post it before now. I'll be adding my entries in over the next few days.

December 18th and 19th
Day 0 and 1
Sydney to... somewhere in the Pacific Ocean
Cruise stats:
Swell: About 1m
Weather: Grey and drizzly, 20C
Cruise demographics: 10% Asian couples, 40% grey nomads, 50% cashed-up bogans

I am particularly impressed with the service here, particularly the cleaning. I got plenty of time to appreciate it last night. No, I neither ate nor drank too much. No, I do not have gastro. No, I don't get seasick. I spent last night curled up on the bathroom floor with a nauseatingly bad migraine. In an environment full of reasons to lose your lunch, I found a novel one. At least this time, it isn't my imagination, the floor really IS moving.

Thankfully, I'm recovering. Choppy seas have made the boat move about a bit, usually just as you take a step or take your hand off the rail, but it isn't too bad. Our cabin has a little bit of luxury in the form of a private balcony, and the fresh air and views have been saving my stomach, not sure I'd be coping without it. M has taken quite a liking to it, although right now its raining so he thinks Fox Sports inside is a better option than reading outside.

Yesterday was a particularly long day. Up at 4am, on the plane at 6, into Sydney at 8:30, lost in Sydney until finding the ship about 10, unable to find a bloody coffee in Darling Harbour until 11, checking in at 11:30, boarding at 12:30 and finally able to collapse in the cabin around 1. Puttered about exploring and unpacking until departure at 4pm. The weather was pleasant, the water was dead calm, and the people on every other boat we went past were drunk. Took plenty of photos of the Harbour.

Migraine aside, I'm very impressed by what I've seen so far. The cabin is bigger than the last hotel room I stayed in, even though aside from the balcony its no bigger than a standard. And the food! We're avoiding the chaos of the buffet in preference for the a la carte dining room, where the food is perfect and the service is better than any restaurant I've ever been to. Given that was the main dining room, I have high hopes for the specialty restaurant we have bookings for tonight.

The dining room has amused me. Its full silver service, with all the cutlery and all the courses. This appears to either intimidate or confuse many of my fellow travellers. I find it refreshingly civilised. My background is working class, but I'm perfectly comfortable with expensive elegance. Watching everyone else try to understand it has been hilarious.