Saltie and the Gorge: Port Douglas, Australia, Wednesday 28th February 2024

Port Douglas is actually further north than Cairns, our next port of call, which seems a bit odd at first, as we will have to double back on ourselves. Initially, the ship was going to call in at Airlie Beach but this call was cancelled due to those mysterious 'operational reasons'. Presumably, a second night …

Brizzie Fringe: Brisbane, Australia, Sunday 25th February 2024

The captain informed us the previous day that to get alongside at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal at eight in the morning we would be picking up the pilot at 3:15! It is, apparently, a 50 mile run-in with the pilot through narrow channels through the islands which protect Brisbane. We were just approaching the …