Sydney - Australia

Sydney Opera House in full view at 0600 hours in the morning - between lights.


G’Day Everyone,

Greetings from one of the loveliest Cities on the earth. It is always very exciting sailing into Sydney and that rewarding feeling that you have sailed such a long way by sea and now you have arrived in Australia. The sense of arrival is more pronounced here than any other port in the world. From the approach to the ‘Heads’ at Port Jackson to the treasure chest of a harbour that lies behind. This is something like 300 miles of coastline in the harbour.

Arcadia edges round to her berth at Circular Quay.

Great exciting all around the open decks as the ship's rails were lined with passengers and crew.

Can you believe we are here?

Arcadia comes alongside her berth at Circular Quay.

Meet Jan Trickett who travelled from Southampton to Sydney. Jan will be meeting up with her daughter Susannah today. Jan told me this had been a wonderful holiday for her. Best wishes to you and your family Jan and we hope to see you back one day soon. I know that Jan loves the cruising as Jan was with us last year on our Grand Voyage.

Preparing to connect the overhead gangways.

With clearance formalities complete it was good to catch up with Paul Mifsud and Chris Pointing our Agents in Sydney.

The Museum of Contemporary Art 132 George Street, The Rocks.

The sun catches the modern city skyscrapers.

Australia we are connected! The gangways are in.

Old and new in the Rocks area.

What a great view to have from your balcony.

Always on the look out!

P&O Cruises at home the world over.

Arcadia at Circular Quay - the best berth in the City.

True!

The City Centre area off Pitt Street.

Lots of modern art work.

The Queen Victoria Building.

and the modern one next door.....

Meyer's Department Store - something for everyone.

St James Station - Est 1926.

City Centre bustle.

I love the architecture.

All in the detail.

It is good to take a stroll around the Sydney Opera House.

By late afternoon it had clouded over......still very hot.

Sydney Harbour Bridge is affectionately known as the coat hanger! It was completed in 1932. There is a pedestrian walkway across the bridge, or for a bird’s eye view of the harbour, climb up inside the south – east pillion or take a guided climb to the top of the bridge with Bridge climb.

Sydney Opera House is not only one of the most unusual buildings in the world but it is the busiest performing arts centre in the world. While you would think that the building is floating in the harbour it is anchored atop of 80 concrete piers which are suck up to 25 meters below sea level. The Concert Hall houses the largest mechanical tracker organ in the world with 10,500 pipes.

Government House - an imposing Sandstone Mansion.

The Rocks located at Circular Quay is a colourful area where it all began with convicts hacking their way through Sydney’s creamy sandstone rocks. This area has seen a revival in recent years, putting its seedy past behind

Hello to Geoff Witts in Perth WA - the answer to your question is yes - the Orient is still alive and well.

A pleasure cruiser going out on a harbour cruise.

Circular Quay by Night.

The u shaped Circular Quay wedged between the Opera House and the Rocks is the hub of Sydney’s water traffic and ferry services.

Martin Green - Cocktail Pianist - with his digital music.

Meet Beyrl and Dorothy - World Cruisers.! Hello to all your friends and family back home!

Ally, Anayna and Lauren finish off the check in of passengers.

For all you retired Pursers - I thought you would like to see that we still use passport boxes!

Meet Ira Lubell and Louis Bonsignore who travelled from San Francisco to Sydney with us. They spotted me outside the Sydney Passenger Terminal and wanted to tell me that their Cabin Stewardess Rhoda, Dining Room Waiters and the Gym Instructors have made their cruise! Best wishes to you all and please come back soon.

James was here!

I am sure many of you have been here - the escalator to and from the Terminal Building.

The P&O Cruises house flag, at home the world over.........

I loved my walk in the City all the way up Pitt Street. On my way back I walked all around the Opera House and then toured the Rocks.

Hope all is going well with you and we ran nine organised excursion during our call including one to the Blile Mountains.

Best wishes for now,

James.

Real people, real places. real memories.