Westysclan World Cruise 2023

Brisbane to Komodo Island is our longest number of consecutive sea days – 6 in total. Some might think that this could be boring or restful but in fact we have been busy, busy, busy.

We start our day at 7am with a visit to the gym for about 45 minutes and then a few laps of either deck 7, the Promenade deck, or deck 15, the sun deck. This is of course followed by breakfast. We have been going to the breakfast buffet in Horizon Court where you are overwhelmed with choices each day. After breakfast we have been going to an ‘enrichment’ talk. So far we have heard about Famous Shipwrecks on the Australian Coast followed the next day by the history of Mapping the Australian Coast – probably to reassure us of the accuracy of current navigational maps before our cruise takes us past the many islands and reefs in the Coral Sea! We have also done The Battle of the Coral Sea and Rogues of the South Pacific.

Then it is time to grab a coffee (resisting – or not, a pastry or cake to go with it!) before racing off to our Bridge for Beginners lesson. We are not at the stage yet of playing with actual cards. Apparently that will start after Komodo Island. We are still trying to learn all the rules. Hopefully it will all gel in our heads pretty soon, because at the moment it is all pretty confusing and our Bridge Masters are 2 very quirky American gents!

Of course after all this enrichment of our brains it is time for lunch. Decisions, decisions – is it back to Horizon Court for the lunch buffet, International Cafe for a gourmet sandwich, The Grill or the Pizzeria? There is also an icecream parlour and a patisserie if you are still hungry!

At 1pm it is time to work off lunch with a dance lesson. So far we have been taught the Waltz, Samba and Rumba. The dance instructor is very tolerant because most of the ‘students’ are like Mark and I – have 2 left feet and are rhythmically challenged. Our dancing may or may not improve, but atleast it is a fun way to get in some more physical activity.

Now that we are past Brisbane the weather is beautiful and warm so our afternoon is generally spent outside on the Lido deck in the spas and pools where there is music or a movie on the big screen. Evenings are generally dinner and a show.

Since leaving Sydney we have been insight of the Australian coastline. Friday 8th was a great afternoon to just sit and watch our surroundings as we passed many islands and reefs quite close by during the daylight hours.

Unfortunately it was dark when we left sight of Australia at Cape York Peninsula and Thursday Island was only visible as lots of flashing navigation lights. I expect it was probably an exhausting day and evening for the ship’s navigator!