Nov 24 (Part 2) - Sailing Into The Sunset

  Miss Micheif got me and Mr Smart to the pier in plenty of time.  Ridiculously early as it happens but that was our choice.  It's not like planes after all, there isn't another one leaving in half an hour.  We got there about twenty minutes before check in and sat and waited around.  We checked in but boarding wasn't for another hour so we sat and waited around, this time watching the cricket being played at the Adelaide Oval.
  Eventually it was boarding time and we were ushered into the boat by a number of staff, both helpful and unhelpful (I'm thinking of you bag-check guy).  They have escalators and a lift inside the boat!  That was pretty cool as the thought of lugging my suitcase up two decks was a little daunting.
  We were in Deluxe Cabin 7003 which was on Deck 7, right at the very front of the boat!  You could not get further forward.  Our cabin had two windows so we got to watch as we left dock and turned around to face open water.  It was about twice the size of a regular cabin and the bed was very comfy.  I remembered to take my Kwells while we were waiting to board, in fact we both took them, and I have to say they seemed to work very well; I didn't get sick at all.
  After dropping our bags in the cabin and excitedly watching some of the vehicles driving on board we went to explore what was avialable on all the passenger decks, 7, 8, 9 and 10.  Deck 7 has most of what's available.  There is a gift shop, a cinema, a tourism information shop, a gaming room, a cafe, a bar, a bistro-style eatery and a restaurant.  Deck 8 was really just cabins and deck chair seating, and Deck 9 was similar.  Deck 10 was all made up of the aptly named Deck 10 Bar which had a distinctly 'closed' feeling.
  We went outside on each deck to assess and admire the various views available and on Deck 10 we had a serendipidous meeting.  The Bridge is on Deck 10 surrounded by 'No Admittance' areas but we happened up there at the same time as one of the Bridge Officers was have a cigarette break.  I asked if he'd mind taking our photo and he said of course, and in order to get the Spirit of Tasmania sign above our heads he let us into one of the No Admittance areas!

Jess and Mr Smart

  It was fun to see Melbourne from a new angle as we popped from port to starboard.  It just wasn't what either of us was used to seeing from our sides of town.  It was overcast when we boarded and with the sun beginning to set it was fairly dreary.  My camera captured mostly grey, but Mr Smart's phone managed to preserve some of the warmth.

Melbourne from the Starboard Side

  While we wandered, we paid particular attention to the eating options but came up against a bit of a value for money hurdle.  The Leatherwood Restaurant was $56 per person for two courses and while the menu looked lovely, that meant $112 we would not be able to spend later.  The next option below was The Captain's Table, this was cheaper at $25 per head for a single dinner plate of serve-yourself from bain maries, but I was a bit put off by the smell of cheap gravy and overcooked meat.  This also didn't seem like great value, especially as Mr Smart pointed out, the Captain was no where to be seen.  So in the end we plumped for the cheapest option.  Pasties and sausage rolls from The Spirit Bar.  Not the most nutritional, but we weren't disappointed with quality for price.
  On return to our room, Mr Smart was very happy to discover that our televison had Fox Sports available for the entirity of our journey which meant he didn't have to miss the Victory vs. Wanderers game.  And Victory won so he was very glad at having been able to watch.  I stuck around for most of the game but I did wander off at one point and visited the gift shop, I got a Tassie Devil Christmas tree ornament with my name on it, a little teensy box of fudge, some salted cashews, a souvenir fridge magnet and plastic penguin.
 
  The remainder of my food for the day was:

• Dinner was a vegetable pastie and a sausage roll with tomato sauce.
• Dessert was about 25g of salted cashews (I shared them with Mr Smart) and 40g of chocolate fudge (which I did not share).

  Once we passed through the heads, there was nothing more to see looking out into the inky blackness.  Mr Smart pondered, 'What must it have been like for early seafarers?'  No light, no hum of engines, and no travel if the air was still.  I imagine it must have been terribly isolating.  We were on board a well lit boat full of emergency procedures and the hum of engines, but when I looked out into the darkness, my eyes still searched the shadows for land that wasn't there.
  With nothing more to see, we returned to our cabin, took a repeat dose of Kwells and learned how to sleep on a ship rocking and rolling in open waters.  It was difficult at first because your centre of gravity would shift on the waves.  I could feel my head being pressed into the pillows, followed shortly by me feet gently denting the mattress.  But soon enough I dropped off and slept well.
  Jess