This is my first real post, so I am still trying to find my way. Please be kind.
The Mother Superior and I have not been big holiday makers. We have always regarded going away on holiday as an expensive way of avoiding doing work around the house. As a result, we have made our beachside home as pleasant as possible, so we feel that we do not need to go away to have a relaxing holiday. I am also quite capable of avoiding work without feeling too guilty about it.
We have made visits to Sydney to see our relatives, including my parents, but these could not really be regarded as holidays, because, with one enjoyable exception, we have always stayed with family. My family in Sydney have always been very welcoming and accommodating, but I have always felt that I am inconveniencing them, particularly because I refuse to drive in Sydney. This has made these visits very stressful for both the Mother Superior and me.
Anyway, Mother Superior was starting to get restless. She wanted a proper holiday, and threatened to take a “Granny Tour” down south on her own. I told her to organise something for us, but she was reluctant to, for fear I would not enjoy it, and then ”I would carry on like a pork chop”.
Ever since I was very young, and had seen relatives off from Durban on the Union Castle ships, I have always longed to go to sea. So, I thought we would try a cruise. I heard that P&O had replaced the aging Pacific Sky with the Pacific Dawn (formerly the Regal Princess), and were offering good deals on the inaugural cruises. I booked a cruise on the Internet, opting for the cheapest outside cabin, which was on the Fiesta deck.
In anticipation of the cruise, I looked up all the web-sites on the Pacific Dawn, and saw that the cabin we had booked was on a deck below all the passenger decks, and had bunk beds and a porthole. I got a bit worried, and suggested to Mother Superior that we try to upgrade. Mother Superior does not like to get “negative” suggestions, so she got a bit shitty, and told me not to bother.
As the cruise drew near, I developed a raging tooth-ache, which frequent visits to my dentist and expensive treatment from an endodontist did not relieve. On the day before the cruise, I saw another dentist in Sydney, who gave me a prescription for an antibiotic.
The day of the cruise arrived. I awoke that morning praying that it would be cancelled. I was worried about my tooth-ache and the cheapness of our cabin. Thankfully, my prayers were not answered.
We took the Manly and Darling Harbour ferries to get to the Pacific Dawn. The massive ship was an impressive and intimidating sight from the ferry. People were taking photos of it, and I started to feel somewhat smug, thinking we were soon going to board her, even though we were in steerage.
We were pleasantly surprised when we were upgraded to an outside cabin on Dolphin deck. As soon as we boarded, we stepped into a magical world. Lunch was being served on the Lido deck – and what a spread it was.
After a somewhat half-hearted life-boat drill, the ship set sail. As the gap between the wharf and the ship widened, I could not believe it was actually happening. I was fulfilling my lifelong dream of going to sea, and I got quite emotional. The ship gave the three blasts of the horn and one of the bands, Flare, started playing. It was a really happy moment, and I forgot my tooth-ache. Best of all, I got the impression that Mother Superior was pleased.
Well, the cruise exceeded all expectations. It was a wonderful, relaxing holiday. The ship’s crew, including the cabin stewards, waiters and entertainment staff were extremely professional. I could not fault any of them.
We never got to see the captain. Every now and again this little Italian voice would come out of the tannoy to make announcements about the course and the weather, but that was all. The cruise director and the maitre’d were the people who appeared to hold the reins where the passengers were concerned.
Every meal we had in the dining room, we were seated with different people, and we had some interesting conversations. We discovered that many of our fellow passengers had done multiple cruises, and were somewhat surprised and sympathetic when they heard that we were on our first. One (rather large) person was on his thirtieth cruise, and was booked on the very next cruise out of Sydney.
It dawned on me that you either love or hate cruising. If you are prone to motion sickness, you will hate it. Those that love it become addicted – and why not? Cruising is a form of escapism. You leave the real world with all its problems, stress and nastiness, and join this phantasy world, where everyone is friendly, and you can just relax and enjoy what is on offer. This can be seen in the attitude of passengers towords one another. We were quite happy to share a dining room table with total strangers, when we would not dream of doing so normally.
The problem is that it all comes to an end, and you are left standing on the shore having to, once again, face reality. That is why many people immediately book another cruise. There are many online forums where people can compare ships and make suggestions about cruising. All those who take part in these forums display an impressive list of cruises they have been on, and those that are booked. They often have roll calls to see who will be going on the same cruises.
As for me. I am well and truly hooked, and I am already researching a possible cruise next year. I just hope that the Mother Superior is equally as interested, and will be pleased with the next cruise we go on.
Until next time.
