A 1950s Poster from Graham Howell. We had a get together today in The Piano Bar at 10am inviting passengers who had travelled from the UK to Australia on the original Arcadia - 15 people showed up and were interviewed by Anthony Fisk. Many people referred to these passage tickets as the £10 Pommies!Good Day Everyone,
Another beautiful day here - very hot, but not humid. Yesterday afternoon I walked out to Promenade Deck to take some air and my glasses steamed up - yes I wear glasses by day and contact lenses in the evening. So you can imagine the humidity yesterday. A busy day here finalising all the immigration requirements and seeing to my passengers, planning meetings etc.
No time for the gym at the moment, two Portunus Parties this evening and a Formal Dinner in the Upper Meridian - and you never guess who was sitting at the table next to me but JAY - from the blog - lovely lady - we will meet up soon. No - the blog has not taken over my life but it is very much part of it at this time!
Planing for the Functions on our cruise to Australia. Anthony on the right!
We are all very sad to hear news of the terrible fires in Australia. Today the Commodore made an announcement to say that we would be doing a collection for the Red Cross in the Victoria area in Southern Australia. Many of those people who lost their lives were volunteer firefighters. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those involved.
Commodore Burgoine has a 'Question and Answer Session' with the Australian Journalists, escorted by Anthony Fisk - Head of PR at P&O Cruises in Australia.
Meet Shirley - all the way from Brisbane in Queensland. One day when Shirley was a teenager she was sitting on the beach in Sydney as the ss ORCADES was sailing in. Mum she said - one day I Will sail to England on one of those great white P&O Cruises Ships! Shirley's Mum said - don't be silly dear you are too young! This made Shirley's mind up and she saved up for her first passage fare from Sydney to Melbourne. This was it - she was hooked as they say and since then Shirley was been a P&O Cruises Fan for 40 years and has sailed on all of our ships and has completed countless Round World Cruises and grand Voyages. Shirley also goes to the Hong Kong Cup every year as like HM The Queen - she is a great horse racing fan. I have known Shirley for over 20 years. Imagine my delight when she pulled an original Arcadia Clothes brush out of her handbag - bound in red leather and in perfect condition and better still in a boomerang shape - this will always remind me of Shirley and my love for Australia. We had a cup of coffee and a good catch up as we know so many poeple in the cruising world.
Di and Brian Tear from Melbourne dropped in today to say how much they have been enjoying the blog. Ever since we departed Southampton Di has been telling all her family and friends to tune in to http://www.jamescusick.co.uk/ - she could not wait to get to tell her Travel Agent in Albury NSW about the blog and ARCADIA - so we need to say HELLO to our fans at HUME TRAVEL - and especially to Joi and Peter!!! Greetings from us ARCADIANS!! Di tells me that those good folks at HUME TRAVEL print out my blog and post it in the Travel Shop window for all to read - thanks for that!
Meet John and Patricia who joined us at Singapore and have been following us all the way since Arcadia left Southampton. This is their 7th Grand Voyage/World Cruise - they prefer the long ones! Patricia tells me that she must be a record as they have spent no less than 226 nights on board ARTEMIS in cabin P355 - their second home! They have also travelled on board AURORA and ADONIA ( now Sea Princess). Patricia is also the reigning 'strictly come dancing' Queen on Arcadia as she won this title on the Christmas and New Year Cruise just a few weeks ago. We will see a lot more of John and Patricia between now and our return home. I said to Patricia - ' do you never get tired of cruising?' - NEVER Patricia replied.
One more sea day to go and we will be in Fremantle.
Thanks to Mary K for the photos of the snow in Scotland - just reminds me how lucky we are to be here in the heat! Also hello to Sandra W in London - Eileen R tells me you are up to date on the blog. My thanks to everyone who has sent messages recently - it is good to hear from you.
Thanks also to everyone in the pictures who agreed to appear in this blog - I would never add anyone without their permission - however it is so good when our passengers and Ship's Company get excited about the blog - makes the extra time all worth while.
Best wishes,
James.
'Be young now - you can always start growing old later.'
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10 comments:
Hi James,some wonderfull stories and pictures,makes me wish i was with you all,but not to worry we were on Arcadia last feb and back next nov,on Ventura in 2 weeks so not all bad,i loved the story of Shirley and the one about the medical team(they sorted me out last feb in barbados when my crucial ligaments went),please keep thepicccys comeing and Arcadia looks great after the refit,happy cruiseing...Mick BELL
Hi James
My glasses are doing that too. Except mine is doing it when I come into the centrally heated house from the cold outside!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's lovely to read the stories from your fellow passengers. I'm loving Shirley's boomerang clothes brush!
The bush fires in Australia are catastrophic. It's awful watching the TV reports. You must see the news reports via the cabin TV's? Hope you raised a good amount for the Red Cross in Victoria.
Elaine (aurorabore)
Your the benefit of those reading your blog it would be interesting to read your take on the typical world cruiser and how different they may be from pax on the usual Southampton week cruises.
Is it a distinct fraternity?
Is the average age 80?
Has anyone expired yet?
What strange Questions the above asks!
Am sure every one has a great time regardless of their age,you are as young as you want to be,who cares about the size of the number,
and god forbid,hopefully no one has expired yet and are not likely to!
Glad to see the Strictly Come Dancing Queen onboard Arcadia again. We saw her win the competition when we were onboard also on our wedding cruise.
Heather & Malcolm Dove J824
An anonymous comment above on the ship's community. The average age of passengers on such a voyage would be up around sixty, I'm guessing. Few other people have the time and resources to put aside for such a long cruise.
There was one shipnut who came aboard Aurora on a short segment last year, and reported in his blog that the ship was full of the most charming British people. When I boarded the ship in Hong Kong, I discovered that it was true, and I had a wonderful time in their company. Quite a few Aussies as well, and even some children, who were loved by all, whether they needed it or not.
A high percentage of repeat passengers. One of the first people we met when exploring the ship was John from Guernsey (where we were heading after Southampton), treadwalking in the gym. Wiping off the sweat, he told us that this was his seventh annual World Cruise!
When I grow up, I'd like to be like John!
Of course, the crew is part of the community aboard, and they would mostly be in their twenties and early thirties, I'd say. Younger than the passengers, but yet with years of experience. And always so immaculately dressed, with a smile and a friendly word.
Hello Everyone,
My wife and I will be joining the Arcadia in Fremantle.
We are obsessive cruisers [this will be number 17, I believe] so we're eagerly looking forward.
I have enjoyed checking the blog periodically, and it has really whett my appetite.
See you all tomorrow.
Steven and Suzy
Lovely, interesting stories and pictures. I am enjoying your voyage every step - or should that be nautical mile - of the way.
It doesn't matter to me the average age of the passengers. We have always found something we have in common with most people. And everyone is sharing the same fantastic experience.
Gill
Lovely stories and photos James, it makes the blog all that more personal, I really feel like I am cruising along with you (I wish) ha ha....
A world cruise is definitely very different and I can only agree with previous posts about it being a community, I met people on board Aurora's Maiden Worldie and we have become lifelong friends.
Cheers
Mary K.
Thank you to all the staff and crew and passengers, for making this last week the best of my 17 cruises yet.
....hmm...should have stayed on board..
Steve
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