Airle Beach, Australia – Feb 22
Due to our limited time in port, we booked the Princess Great Barrier Reef Snorkel. Woke to wind and rain and the water was choppy. Luckily, we have snorkeled the GBR 4 other times with pretty good conditions. We have had better pontoons and boats to get to it. They ran 2 smaller ones and went to two smaller pontoons instead of the nice large ones with the easy entry platforms.
The ride out was 2 hours and would have been beautiful going through the Whitsundays Islands, but with the rain; looking out the window was like riding through a carwash. Waves were high when we got out of the islands and before getting to the reef. Maybe 45 minutes of rough waters. Many onboard were using the barf bags on every table. The staff were there collecting them and getting people wet towels and ice.
We hoped 2 hours out from shore the water would be better, but not to be. We did struggle into our stinger suits and went down to the platform. I could tell sitting on the bench to get in that with my sore arm I wouldn’t be able to get back onto the platform with those waves, so I bailed. Greg went in and stayed in quite a while. He got some GoPro footage, and once you were under the water it was beautiful. I checked out the underwater observatory which again if it had been good weather, it would have been great viewing. There was a semi-submersible submarine that we didn’t go in. We have done them before and usually not great viewing and very hot and stuffy. Those that did it said it wasn’t worth it. A few did the guided snorkels and the beginner SCUBA. GoPro video will be added after we get home.
The crew couldn’t have been nicer or more helpful. Rough day for them as well.
Lunch was nothing like it had been on previous trips. Only 1 hot dish (meatballs in red sauce) and everything else cold meat and rolls and some salads. They did come around before the waters got rough while still over the reef and tell us there was tea and cream puffs and fruit downstairs if anyone wanted them. Tasty.
We left the reef around 1:00 and the ride back was smoother, but still some got sick. The rain would only quit for a short time before pouring again. There was very limited seating outdoors (where it was warm and covered) so we were inside in the freezing A/C. I shivered the whole way back. A hot shower never felt so good! On the ride back many were complaining that Princess said there was a souvenir shop on board for t-shirts etc., but there was none. You could buy soda and chips. Ah well……
We did a quick load of wash of our
skins and suits before going to dinner. One couple didn’t bother getting off
the boat and the other had a bus tour that took them to see a lot of repetitive
scenery. Due to the weather, they skipped one viewpoint and stopped at another.
(not good for viewing or photos) The highlight of their day was gelato. (sounds
good to me)
The new waiter and assistant are very good and learning our “things”. Tea for Roy and Rondi after dinner and me with my diet cokes, ice and a straw and Greg either nothing, diet coke or wine. We have been able to make the shows which is nice.
Tonight, was a new show by the high energy “rock and roll” performer Nathan Foley. He really is fun and entertaining.
Tomorrow is a later start as we don’t
get in until 10:00. Probably will rain tomorrow too. We are doing a
wildlife/birding tour.
For larger photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/BK89wt53DoGvtDcZ6
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