December 11, 2014 (2)

On the Saturday morning, after a good breakfast, we wandered down to Southern Cross Station.  Marilyn parked me at a cafe while she browsed through the DFO and we headed for Collins Street to get the tram to Port Melbourne where we were expecting to join the ship at about 1o'clock.  We love the public transport in Melbourne.  Cheap as chips and so reliable.

Except this morning.  Apparently Santa is arriving and trams have been diverted to Spencer Street.  While we're waiting, we get chatting to a couple, Jim and Julia, who are on the same cruise.  They only have a little back-pack each, while we have our stuffed suitcases.  We think we're doing well to limit ourselves to a medium suitcase each but this pair are carrying everything on their backs. 

'Where is your formal gear?' asks Marilyn, getting to the nub of the situation.  'Oh, it's all in there,' says Julia. Jumping ahead, we saw them a few times during the cruise and they seemed to be wearing the same clothes all the time.  The other odd thing is that they charge nothing to their on-board account - no drinks, coffee, excursions, etc.  On one cruise, the Purser's office rang to see if they were still alive and to ask whether they intended to use the account.  The answer was No, so they're quite unpopular with Princess who are losing money each time they sail.

On board, we found our cabin.  Great big bed and plenty of cupboard space.  Perfect for 13 days on the ocean.

The cruise was one of the best we've done.  The weather wasn't kind and we missed out on Wellington and Milford Sound but the entertainment staff were terrific and we enjoyed every day.  We formed a quiz team with two couples from the Mornington Peninsula and had some success.  Quizzing was fierce on board and the room was usually full of determined professionals itching to win.

On the mornings in port, numbers were less and Marilyn and I formed a team on our own.  We won three times which I think is pretty good.  One morning, we were just starting when a fellow wandered into the room.  'Is this where the quiz is being held?' he bellowed and sat down right at the front.  After the first couple of question, he shouted, 'Do you have to write the answers down?'

Taking pity, Marilyn invited him to join us.  Keith was his name and he struggled with most of the questions.  However, we won, and he was delighted and hurried off to tell his wife.  'Hang on,' said Marilyn, 'Don't forget your prize.'  He couldn't believe it but we never saw him again.