As well as it being the ships FIRST TIME in Australia; the Discovery Princess (my new favourite ship) also made cruising history in many ways from 'first time Port Visits, and more;' you'll see how as you read on. On Wednesday 25th February 2026, the Paky Express Bus picked us up from our house, and took us to the Melbourne Airport. We arrived at 11:30am with enough time to check in, and have lunch before boarding the plane for our 2pm flight to Sydney. The flight arrived in Sydney early at 3:20pm. Once at the gate, we got off the plane, collected our luggage, and went to my uncles place; where we spent the first two days of our Holiday exploring my original home town. It was great seeing all the updates.
Our ship; the Discovery Princess Cruise Ship departed from the Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal at 7:30pm, and although the Sail Away Party was held inside this time: it was fantastic especially because I was finally able to perform the famous ‘Sail Away Line Dance’ in the Piazza (on deck 6) with the Princess Dancers. I taught myself the routine, and it was my debut performance with the Princess team. Although I need to fix a few things for next time, I still had a great time on the dance floor, and I loved every moment. When the party ended, I went to deck 16, and watched the new 'Superman Movie’ at Movies under the stars before returning to the cabin for the first night on board the ship.
Melbourne what’s the first port of our cruise, and although 'half the passengers disembarked for the day' we stayed on board the ship, and used it as our own private yacht for the day' because Melbourne is my home port. The Discovery Princess docked at Station Pier wharf at 6:45am, and shortly after our arrival the Norwegian spirit cruise ship docked next to us, and although it was a ‘typical wet Melbourne day;’ We used the ship as our own private yacht for the day because Melbourne is at our home port. After breakfast in our cabin, Mum did her own thing, and I spent the day walking around the ship, playing Princess tenpin bowling, participating in the quizzes (where I found out that CAD is actually code for ‘Cruise Addicted Darling'), watching the Moana 2 movie, filming TIKTOK videos (@cruisebloggerkarina), and filming the Norwegian Spirits departure before getting ready for dinner, and the night on board the beautiful Discovery Princess.
The ship was already anchored when we woke up at 8am for our first official shore excursion after being on board the beautiful Discovery Princess for the past four days. Although I always love being on board the cruise ships, it was still nice to be back on dry land. Larry was out tour guide for the day, and he was absolutely hilarious! Our first stop was in Pennington Bay; where a seal was spotted shortly after we got off the bus. After a ten minute break, Larry and the bus driver took us to the ‘Seal Bay Conservation Park;’ where everyone was given free time to explore the area, and enjoy all the cute penguins. They communicate to each other with different sounds, and a baby seal was able to tell where its mother was by simply listening hearing her calling sound… it was magical experience, and it was definitely worth doing if you’re ever at Kangaroo Island.
Welcome to the ‘City of Churches.’ It was still dark when we awoke for the day at 6am to a room service breakfast because we had to be in the Princess theatre to explore Adelaide by 7:30am. The Adelaide Fringe festival was on during our visit, and that night Ed Sheeran was performing at Adelaide Oval. A Specialty lunch was designed just for us at the Mount lofty cafe and function. Centre. I was told that lunch was provided but I wasn’t expecting ‘ a feast of a fish case chips and a salad with a carrot cake for dessert,’ and it was delicious! Once we finished eating it was time to do some sightseeing before returning to the ship bound bus. Is a bit of trivia for you from Skip our amazing tour guide. “The distance from the ship to the top of Mount lofty is 35 meters, and Mount lofty is 700 m above sea level.’”
During the day long shore excursion, Kit (our tour guide) mentioned several must see sightseeing attractions in Adelaide including: 'The Malls balls, and Pigs in the bin;' both of them were located at the Rundle Mall in Adelaide. It was finally time to head back to the wharf, and I returned to the ship feeling as though 'Kit took advantage of us' because it was like she thought, "while I've still got you I have to show you this...!" I was exhausted when I got back on board the ship, and all I wanted to do was 'go for a swim' so I did. I grabbed my swimmers, I went to the pool deck to enjoy the spa; only to find the hit movie ‘the greatest Showman’ playing on the big screen. ‘the greatest Showman’ is one of my favourite movies, and watching it from the spas etc was the perfect way to see it.
It was finally time for the Discovery Princess to depart for Port Lincoln. It's a royal class cruise ship from Princess Cruises, and the famous ‘love boat theme horn’ blasted loudly on departure at 6:30pm. We then went up to the International food court for dinner, and then headed to the Princess Theatre to watch the Princess dances perform in the production of the Spotlight bar. When the production ended mum and I went our separate ways. I checked out the karaoke at the karaoke live Theatre (very impressive) before returning to the cabin for the night
We woke up at 7 am for our day in Port Lincoln and it was still dark when our room serviced breakfast in bed arrived. Mum wasn’t well so I did the easy Port Lincoln short excursion on my own, and reported everything back to her so although she wasn't on the bus that day... in a way 'she didn't miss a thing.' The shore excursion was all about fishing, and mum doesn't like sea food so it actually worked out well. When I got back on board the ship, I used a photo to show mum where we went, and she saw that we weren't that far away.
That night, the ship had a ‘Back to the 80’s Deck Party.’ Everyone got dressed up for the occasion, and it was held inside this time because of the weather. The ships band led it (along with the Cruise Directors), and when it ended, I watched the hit 80’s movie Ferris Bulars day off in the Vista Lounge before attending the after party, and returning to the cabin for the night.
The Discovery Princess was already docked at the Wharf when mum and I woke up for the day. After breakfast, we headed to the ships Princess Theatre to meet up with our group for the second last shore excursion of our South Australian cruise.
Our group number was called, and we disembarked the ship to board the tour bus for our shore excursion. It went for a few hours, and when the bus returned to the Hobart Cruise Terminal mum returned to the ship; while I went out exploring because I wanted to find Constitution Dock; the landing place of the famous 'Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race,' and the exciting news is 'I did.'
The first Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race began on Wednesday 26th December 1945 when nine yachts gathered on Sydney Harbour at 3pm on Boxing Day for what was originally 'a leisurely fun group cruise to Hobart, Australia.' The competitive spirit eventually came upon them, and when (Rani) the smallest competitor yacht sailed into Constitution Dock on New Years Day 1946, their journey became what is now called the famous Sydney Hobart Yacht Race; an icon of Australian summer sport.
During my solo walking tour of Hobart, I touched the Westward Yacht (one of the famous race winners). Westward won or took line honors twice in two consecutive years; 1947 and 1948. The yacht has since been gifted to the Maritime Museum of Tasmania, and has made the win zone area it's new home. The time soon came for me to return to the ship, and when I arrived back on board I found an amazing view of Constitution Dock from deck 18; the open pool deck so I actually didn't have to go very far because it was directly opposite from where the ship was docked for the day. How cool is that?
The Discovery Princess cruise ship departed from the Hobart Cruise Terminal at night. I viewed the departure from the ships open pool deck, and watched the landing place of the famous Sydney to Hobart Yacht race disappear into the night as the ship went out to sea bound for the final stop 'Port Arthur.'
The ship was already anchored and the ships Disembarkment announcements for the day were being read out over the ships PA system when we woke up at 7:40am to a room service breakfast. Mum and I had to be at the Princess Theatre by 11:45am to meet the group for our final shore excursion. We disembarked from the ship via tender boat, and I don't know how everyone else felt who disembarked that day; but I found Port Arthur quite eerie because of it's history; especially because of a certain Australian man who shall remain nameless because of the devastation he caused in 1996.
Port Arthur is known as the Prison State because of all the convicts. During the boat ride, the ships tender boat went past a small Island in the middle of the Harbour called 'the island of the dead.' It's a Historic sight, and the island called that because that's where all the convict bodies are buried. We disembarked on arrival, and boarded the tour bus for our Port Arthur shore excursion after a brief hike through the 'Port Arthur Historic Society building,' and after all that the excursion itself didn’t officially start until almost 1pm. During our free time, a group of us visited the famous Richmond Gaol before boarding the bus for the return trip back to the ship. When we arrived back at the wharf, we separated, and I went for a walk to take photos before returning to the ship on my own. It was time for the Discovery Princess cruise ship to leave Port Arthur. The famous 'love boat theme horn blast' was sounded on the ships departure to Sydney, and a pod of Dolphins (some would say 'Porpoises') were also spotted as the ship sailed out into the Australian sunset.
My Sailing back into Sydney, and flying back to Melbourne:
And now… the end is near. On Thursday 12th March 2026, the Discovery Princess Cruise ship sailed back into Sydney Harbour, and mum and I were still asleep when the ship docked at 6am. We left our cabin for the final time at 8am, I went to the Princess live lounge for our final morning coffee before disembarking from the ship and boarding the bus to the Sydney domestic airport at 9 am for our 2pm return flight home to Melbourne. As well as us passengers; 300 crew members also disembarked the ship for home because they cruise contract had come to an end.
Thank you Cruise Director Jayson, Assistant Cruise Directors Jacqueline, Connie, and everyone at Princess Cruises for a fantastic voyage. I look forward to cruising with the Royal Princess departing from Sydney in October 2027.
Comments
Post a Comment