Melbourne - Australia

Hello 'Skippy'!

Crossing the Yarra River

A hive of dockside activity.

A friendly Koala.

Looking for Rod Hull.........

Station Pier where Arcadia was berthed today - spot our funnel on the roof!

G'Day Everyone,

What a great place to be! Melbourne....... the first time for me to visit this great City. The day broke on our Melbourne cruise with a bright sunny outlook. It was certainly a busy scene on the quayside with passengers moving towards their respective tour coaches and the various ship side services also at work. It was good to see an old friend alongside here as well in the shape of Sun Princess which was changing over her passengers.

Graham our Port Lecturer decided to head for the hills and escorted the tour to the Puffing Billy Railway and Healsville Animal Sanctuary - We made our way out of the city glimpsing views of the Central Business District, the high rise buildings piercing the morning sunshine. At the station we soon were deep into nostalgia mode snapping pictures of the locomotive and the train. It was soon time to board the train for our 30 minute journey. I was very fortunate to strike up a conversation with the driver who had emigrated from Derby back in the 60’s and I was then invited to ride on the loco to enjoy a driver’s view of the way ahead. This was a terrific opportunity to take pictures of the fireman at work and watching the driver keeping a watchful eye on the gauges and track ahead. So full of the smells and noises of Puffing Billy we departed to make our way to Healsville Animal Sanctuary where we were joined by one of the local volunteer guides who took delight in showing us around the many animals in the sanctuary. The Koalas are perhaps the stars of the show whilst one of the Emus was looking for a chap called Rod Hull or maybe it was Michael Parkinson!! A short walk brought us to the Kangaroos who were trying to keep cool under the trees. All too soon we had to leave the area and head back to Melbourne crossing the mighty Yarra River as we approached our home - Arcadia. What a marvellous day we enjoyed and no wonder people refer to the city as ‘Marvellous Melbourne’.

Thanks for your report Graham!

For me I had the usual run of business in the morning with the local Officials, Press and Media activity. Commodore Burgoine handed over $8,000 Australian Dollars to the Victoria Red Cross Fire Relief fund from the Passengers and Ship's Company of Arcadia. After all this I made a point of taking the Tram from the Pier into the City Centre.

It is always very exciting when you visit somewhere for the first time and for me these moments don't happen too often! To me Melbourne was like a cross between Sydney and New York. A very busy City with lots of smartly dressed people going about their business. Lots of nice German cars also! We had a shuttle bus service from the ship but I enjoyed the tram for a change of scene. On the journey in we passed some very smart new homes, followed by lots of 'Federation' style bungalows with their wrought iron verandas and the like. The people were friendly and helpful and looked happy! Endless shopping and places to eat. I would love to return to Melbourne soon............

Today we are at sea and looking forward with great excitement to our sail into Sydney Harbour tomorrow. Enjoy the photographs below.

Bye for now,

James.

'The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook'

William James

Commodore Burgoine and the local TV News Crew.

It's all going on - the News from ARCADIA!

Past Passengers who had their honeymoon on the old Arcadia.

Mr and Mrs Peter Persicaner from the Ship Enthusiasts Society in Melbourne with a plaque for the EP's Office - Peter has been reading my blog for the past couple of months. A lot of thought had gone into the design of this Plaque using the P&O Cruises colours for the lettering. Many thanks to Peter and Phoebe, we appreciate your gift to Arcadia.

The Plaque is now mounted in the Executive Purser's Office below the wall clock - always a reminder of our call in Melbourne, Australia.

Lots of shops!
Lovely wide streets with trees galore.

Spectacular Shopping Arcades.

Old meets new - very interesting architecture.

Clock this one!

The variety is endless.

Inside the magnificent GPO building.

Plenty of Tea Rooms.

The GPO Building.

Stephen Radford - Accommodation Manager and his team bring on some last minute baggage.

Sailing out from Melbourne - look at all that beach - lovely!

Local Areas near the dock to promenade in front of luxury apartment buildings - I could live here!!

Doctor and Mrs Rose who were sorry to say Good Bye. They were on a Holland America ship in the Caribbean last winter - they spotted ARCADIA when we were berthed in Costa Rica - and thought - now there is a ship we must cruise on - and they did! Best wishes to you both and hurry back to see us soon!!

The Station house for the local Tram to the City Centre.

Arcadia in Melbourne.

And still the cameras are rolling!

Sailing for Sydney - all tided up after a big Sail away party on deck.

From Left to Right - Bill, Debbie, James. Carol and John - all great people who are full Grand Voyagers - Southampton to Southampton on Arcadia.

The rails are lined as we leave Melbourne on a beautiful evening.

The new Deck 10 'wings' which are so popular with our passengers.

Sailing to Sydney and another day done & what a day to remember - with us all the way!