05-06 January 2019 - At Sea and Melbourne, Australia

05 January 2019

Saturday

At Sea - Enroute to Melbourne Australia

Today I woke up with a blooming cold -- but at least I have a sea day to rest.

After breakfast -- I check at Guest Relations to verify the amount of our remaining shipboard credits -- these credits do not rollover so must be used by midnight tonight.    We received a letter in our cabin reporting the amount of credits which is $45 more than showed in our account  accessed electronically on our cabin TV.   My records agree with the TV.  The woman at the desk is puzzled and can not figure out the discrepancy.   After checking with her supervisor, she tells me the lower number is correct.   

At 4pm we attend a briefing with other "back to back" passengers who are not disembarking in Melbourne -- about 40 of us.  We ask questions and are given instruction on getting new key cards and how to easily get on and off the ship amidst all the departing passengers and newcomers boarding.

Then I attend Mass at 5:00 pm with Fr. Aigner who is leaving us tomorrow.  He says he is closing the Parish of St. Azamara until Easter.   He gives us each a card with a prayer for travelers.

Dinner is in "Prime C" -- the steak house -- not so good.  The food is mediocre and takes forever -- Phil lets everyone know it is unacceptable.

Tomorrow is another day-- we dock in Port Melbourne -- and if I'm feeling up to it -- we'll go exploring.

 

06 January 2019

Sunday

Melbourne, Australia

We dock at Station Pier Cruise Terminal in Port Melbourne.  When we inquired about transportation into the city at the briefing yesterday, we were told to take a taxi that there was no public transportation close by. 

Since I am still feeling lousy -- Phil and I decide to wander around Port Melbourne.   On the way out, we stop at Guest Relations so I can get a hard copy of our billing for the last cruise.  This is when I discover that the $45 discrepancy was real --- I had been given incorrect information leaving $45 of shipboard credits unused.  I won't go into the details other than to say I did not recoup the money.   This is another example of bad communication on the part of Azamara.

As we walk through the terminal, I ask a volunteer, directing the disembarking passengers, if there is an information center.  She points to a man sitting at a high desk and says,  "He'll tell you everything you need to know" and he does.  He is full of good information beginning with the "myki" card (similar to the "Opal" card from Sydney).    And -- he directs us to a tram stop a short distance from this terminal.     Why didn't anyone at Azamara know about this? Or if they did, why did they keep it to themselves?

The Fish and Meat Hall at the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne

So off we go -- couldn't be easier.   We love Melbourne and feel very comfortable right off the bat.    Our first stop is the Queen Victoria Market developed in stages from 1867 to 1936.    Covering 17 acres, it is billed as the largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere. Actually not all of this market is open-air, there is a large building,  "The Fish and Meat Hall" with meats, cheeses and other foodstuffs, several "sheds" with produce and retail items too many to list, and individual storefronts.  I love these markets -- this is where real people shop.   And -- needless to say the restrooms are spotless.

Produce Section in a one of the "Sheds" at Queen Victoria Market

My favorite venue is the "American Donut Kitchen" with delicious aromas wafting around the very long line -- why does fried dough smell so good?   No -- we did not partake -- the smell is enough.

American Doughnut Kitchen at Queen Victoria Market -- Line is on the other side.

Back on the tram -- we get close to the Victoria State Library -- mentioned by our guy at the terminal.   This massive building is under a major renovation but still open for business.   The reading room is beautiful and I convince Phil to come with me to browse through the "Books of the World Exhibit" -- this quote gives the gist of the exhibit:

"Books are mirrors of many worlds:  worlds here and distant, past and present, real and imagined.  Through text and image, they act as keepers of ideas, of knowledge and of stories."

Phil inside the Fish and Meat Hall of the Queen Victoria Market.

Leaving the Library --- we walk through the shopping streets to our tram location.   There are more trams in this city then I have every seen -- every other street has a tramline on it.   You can get anywhere on public transportation in Melbourne.

Pat just above the Victoria State Library Reading Room in Melbourne

The tram back to Port Melbourne is packed -- people going to take ferries to various locations since this is summer in Australia.   Once in Port Melbourne -- we wander the waterfront stopping in one of the numerous restaurants for a bite to eat.

Phil by one of many afghan-covered trees in Melbourne.

 

Back on board and after the safety drill -- we head up to The Living Room to watch the Quest leaving Melbourne --- then dinner at the Windows Cafe -- and to bed early for me -- still fighting this cold.

Thanks for Reading.

Pat