4 Day Australia Coastal Cruise
We boarded the spectacular Dawn Princess and had the wonderful Captain Ivan Jerman in command for our 4 day cruise, an 814 nautical mile journey. In the company of 2120 passengers we would be taken good care of by 863 crew members.
Once onboard and in the comfortable elegance of the central Atrium we made our way to our stateroom. Our Ocean View stateroom was on level 5, Plaza deck. We were met by our very attentive stateroom steward, Vincente who welcomed us to our home for the next four days. Vicente enquired if there was anything we required to assist make our stay more comfortable. This is where we had the opportunity to ask for a foam mattress overlay for the bed, a bathrobe, additional toiletries, fruit basket or iced water for our fridge, if required.
After quickly unpacking we made our way back to the Atrium to re-familiarise ourselves with the ships’ layout. Also on Deck 5 is the Florentine Dining Room, Passenger Services Desk, Shore Excursions Desk and the Patisserie, quite handy for a latte or specialty coffee. We take the atrium stairs up to level 7 which is the promenade deck where take a walk outside, gazing over Fremantle and watching passengers board while we decide where to have lunch.
The decision we reached was to dine outside in the Balcony Grill and after finishing moved into Horizon Court for some dessert. At 4.30pm there was a Passenger Muster Drill, compulsory for all passengers prior to sailing so it was back to our room to get our life jackets and back up to Deck 7 and congregate in the Wheelhouse Bar and Princess Theatre.
The aim of this cruise was to relax so instead of heading to the sailaway party after the Muster, we headed back to our stateroom to unwind and watch a movie. This would leave us plenty of time as our dinner was allocated to late seating at 7.45pm. We met our friends for a cocktail before our dinner and made our way to the Venetian Dining Room.
It was pleasing to see our previous wait steward, Maria as we entered the dining room. Even more pleasing that Maria remembered us. We later met Oscar, he and Maria served us each night on our 12 day New Zealand cruise this time last year.
Tonight’s menu for the Sailaway Dinner had a good variety to choose from as well as the “Always Available”. I ordered a bottle of Brown Brother’s Moscato, Prawn Cocktail with Lemon Myrtle Dressing, Iced Pina Colada Cream Soup spashed with Rum, Baked Seafood Parcel, Lobster cream, Prawns, Scallops, Calamari and Whitefish in crisp puff pastry with Sauteed Vegetables and Banana and Crunchy Nut Parfait with Caramel Sauce. Steve ordered Lobster and Seafood Terrine with Sweet Pea shoots and Garlic Aioli, Beef Fillet Tournedos with Bernaise Sauce and Viennese Apple Studel with Vanilla Anglaise. As we have the same table and wait staff for the duration of the cruise my leftover wine was labelled and put aside for consumption tomorrow night. This is a great way to keep the costs down and yes, I did have leftover wine to save for the next night!
After dinner we headed to the Princess Theatre for the late show, The Fabulous Beatle Boys. After the show it is Music and Martinis with Piano music in the Atrium Lounge until we are ready to make our way to our room for the night. Vincente has turned down our bed and left us chocolates on our pillow and the breakfast menu to leave on the door if we opt for room service. We also have our favourite bedtime reading when onboard, The Princess Patter. This is a daily guide to life at sea and includes The Officer’s Daily Log, Whimsical Quote of the Day, Did You Know?, a complete itinerary of events for the next day/evening, Drink of the Day, times for the following days’ port arrival & all aboard time, and lots of other details. We always plan what activities, etc we want to attend and decide if we are to order breakfast in our room. Regardless we usually order a pot of coffee to arrive at 6.30 or 7.00 just as a ‘wake up’ knock on the door.
Today is our only sea day so instead, when we wake in the morning we head up to Lido deck 14 to Horizon Court for breakfast. I am pleasantly greeted with my favourite chocolate croissants and have a made to order ham and mushroom omelette. We find a table and a bubbly lady named Alecs from Serbia who takes our coffee and juice order. We take this opportunity to purchase a coffee card where we can get speciality coffee for a discounted price.
The days’ activities include a Digital photography seminar, martini demonstration, viewing of Paddington on the big screen, BBQ buffet lunch served out on deck, The Theory of Everything movie in the theatre, Champagne art auction, Maitre d’ Wine Club, Happy Hour and much more. We take in a relaxing movie, The Theory of Everything and later enjoy the Champagne art auction.
We ate with our friends in the Main Dining Room and together saw the show after dinner each night. The next two days were in port so we opted for breakfasts delivered to our room. There is nothing better than waking up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and fresh croissants and pastries.
Our first day at shore is in the port of Princess Royal Harbour, Albany. Albany offers a lot and today is cloudy with a few showers. Our next day was in Busselton, the gateway to Margaret River, one of Western Australia’s best wine regions. We have to use the tender boats in Geographe Bay but the weather is fine and sunny.
This was a very relaxed cruise, being only a few days there was no galley tour, formal night, champagne tower, Captain’s Circle cocktail invite or the usuall balloon drop, but we weren’t let down. We did have the finale Bombe Alaska in the dining room on the last night. When all the bags go out on the last night the atmosphere gets a little flat so it is always cheery in the dining room when everyone claps and cheers as the waiters all move around the tables bringing through their ‘flaming’ bombe alaska to serve us. Of course there are desserts you can choose from the menu if bombe alaska isn’t your thing.
We were one day short of moving to the next Captain’s Circle Loyalty Rewards level so this cruise was booked so we could advance prior to a longer cruise being booked. To explain the levels, when you join the ship for the first time you are issued a Blue card, your next sailing is upgraded to Gold. After 5 cruises or 30 days your next level is Ruby. At 15 cruises or 50 days you become Platinum and after 15 cruises or 150 cruise days you are finally Elite which entitles you to the full Preferred Services Package. Each different card gives additional benefits, preferred services, discounts and amenities. The Elite entitlement is professional cleaning and laundry service, shoe polishing, priority ship to shore tender disembarkation, complimentary mini bar setup and many other benefits.
Overall this was a very short but relaxing cruise. As always Princess lived up to their reputation and allowed us to ‘escape completely’. We paid our future cruise deposit whilst onboard, we just have to decide where to next…
Have you done a short cruise or would you plan one as a quick getaway?
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We’re done two short cruises and enjoyed them both. I’d like to do a longer cruise, as long as it’s filled with port stops. No matter how much there is to do on board, I get bored on at-sea days. I have to get out and explore.
Connie Reed recently posted…Golden Spike Tower: Visiting the World’s Largest Rail Yard
Connie I love the port days too, best one was Grand Mediterranean 10 ports in 12 days from Barcelona to Venice. I am not a huge fan of many consecutive sea days but do enjoy one here and there.
Oh gosh your cruise sounds amazing! I have always wanted to do a cruise around Xmas time 🙂
Maybe one day – would love the morning Coffee wake up call, and the desserts….I so would want to eat dessert before the main meal.
What I would love is the kids club, and the sunbathing on the deck with Hubby 🙂
Lisa Wood recently posted…Childhood Dreams
There is really nothing about a cruise not to like, the staff ensure you are very well looked after. A Christmas cruise would be amazing, we almost did one last year.
I have never been on a cruise like this before but your post has sparked my interest – it is a great way to get away from it all and the food looks amazing.
Constance – Foreign Sanctuary recently posted…Discover Taiwan: My Top 5 Outdoor Travel & Adventure Guide
Constance the food on a cruise will never let you down, you can order two entrees, special dietary requirements and have another meal if you order something new that you decide you don’t like. They are very accommodating.
I have been wondering whether a coastal cruise is the best way to cover Australia. I didn’t get that sense from this post though, just plenty of fun and food!
I would suggest not the best way to cover Australia as we also have so much to see inland. A coastal cruise can have quite rough seas too, but plenty of fun and food 🙂
We have been talking more and more about going on a cruise lately. Some awesome inspiration here – thanks for sharing!
The Adventure Ahead recently posted…Feasting at the Farmer’s Market in Puerto Viejo
Thanks for stopping by and being inspired, my job here is done 🙂
I’ve only been on one cruise ship but it was a mighty ship and I loved EVERY minute of it. Can’t wait to go back again, hopefully on my honeymoon! 🙂
Lo @ Travel the Unbeaten Path recently posted…5 kid-friendly Things to do in South Florida
Our first cruise was our honeymoon, we have done 5 now and our next will be a Rhine River cruise which should be quite intimate compared to the larger ships. Thanks for stopping by and commenting Lo.
I’ve never done a cruise (other than a couple of nights on a junk on Halong Bay) but I’m intrigued to try it out. And I think a short cruise would be the best way to ‘test the waters’ (so to speak!).
Fairlie recently posted…Shopping in Ho Chi Minh City
Fairlie a junk in Halong Bay sounds intriguing to me. A short cruise is a perfect tester for some. Our first cruise was 12 dayer, six day until we saw land.
We also like cruising, but will probably never obtain any level as we seem to always change cruise lines. We have never been on one so short as four days, but your logic was really sound, and if I were close to moving up before a bigger cruise, I might do the same.
Rhonda Albom recently posted…Photos of Lake Tekapo New Zealand – Weekend Travel Inspiration
Rhonda I probably would never have booked such a short cruise, particularly to an area we have been many times, but for the opportunity to climb the loyalty ladder. I would however recommend for first time cruisers as a glimpse of travel on the seas.
Haven’t actually been on a cruise yet, but I will someday. Stories like yours just renew my desire to do it sooner than later! Thanks for the details and photos!
Tami recently posted…Finessing Florence
Cruising is very popular and a lot of people share your desire to experience this mode of travel, but once they do many are hooked.
You make cruises sound so appealing! I definitely want to do one once we get to Australia next year, preferably to some of the islands.
samiya selim recently posted…Show your World – Photoessay of a Travelling Child
Samiya, the islands do sound like a great cruise experience. We hope to also visit the islands one day.
One of these days, maybe we’ll break down and take a cruise. There are times when it appeals to us. You sure look like you enjoyed it. But, right now we just can’t see this as part of our personas. We have been talking about cruising the canals of France, maybe that would be a stepping stone for me?
Arnie recently posted…Top Cities to Visit in Europe: 2015
Many have the same thoughts as you Arnie and we can appreciate that. Our next cruise is something we are really looking forward to, a Rhine River cruise which I have heard is something quite different.