Blue Planet Journey

This is as close to the Whitsunday Islands that we will get.  Our stop at this gateway to the Great Barrier Reef was canceled because the proximity of Cyclone Iris (a category 2 storm) caused the harbormaster to close Shute Harbour to all traffic. Cruises are somewhat fickle, in that things can happen that bring into play the fine print that says something like, "We will sail here and there, unless the captain decides otherwise." Milford Sound, New Zealand . This has happened twice in the past month.  First, our visit to the famous Milford Sound in New Zealand was canceled when, 6 hours out of Melbourne, Australia, on our way to the Sound, a guest suffered a medical emergency that resulted in the Celebrity Solstice  turning around and returning to Melbourne to evacuate the guest.  Captain Zsis Taramas, in consultation with the medical staff and after considering the risks associated with a nighttime medical evacuation by helicopter, decided to retur...

Taking a half day trip to Manly was a treat.  We went on a Friday, and since the weather was ideal for being outside, the crowds obliged. Our trip involved a walk to Circular Quay, then a ferry ride to Manly ($7.35 AUD, one way).  As we left on the ferry, we passed the Royal Caribbean ship, Ovation of the Seas . This ship was in the news this month because of a norovirus outbreak that affected 195 passengers.  Caroline once was on a cruise ship with a norovirus  outbreak, and she has a tale of a long line of passengers outside the medical offices, all in bathrobes and carrying barf bags.  Since this gastrointestinal virus doesn’t develop spontaneously on a boat, but is brought in with passengers and crew, the combination of hundreds or thousands of people confined in a small space, with drinking and late night events stressing the body makes cruise boats particularly susceptible to rapid outbreaks.  Good to know just before I embark on a cruise ...