Precious Memories: Boarding the Radiance of the Seas in Sydney

Day 1, Sailing Away on the Radiance of the Seas, Sydney OPT, March 19, 2014

After a simple breakfast of fresh meat pies and sausage rolls from Pie Face, we were ready to get to the Overseas Passenger Terminal for our cruise to New Zealand. The walk between the hotel and Circular Quay should be pretty easy but with all the luggage that we were carrying it was a little trying.

Mini Sausage Rolls from Pie Face $2.50 each

The luggage drop-off area was still very calm at 10:00am.

A beautiful morning!

The check-in line was pretty short. I believe the line on the left was for past passengers with status.

Check-ins are actually upstairs on the second floor. We were given Health Information forms to fill out here as we joined the line.

It wasn't busy at all this time in the morning.

At least we were in the shade.

Check-in was easy and very organized. Then we were on the gangway, ready for our adventure.

Onto the ship on deck 5.

Cabins were not ready, so we went to the Windjammer for some lunch with a view of the Opera House.

It was as empty as can be when we got there.

But soon the place would be filled up with hungry passengers.

Some food from the buffet and they did serve their famous honey-stung chicken on the first day only.

Entrance to the Windjammer as we were exiting.

Atrium

After lunch, the cabins were still not ready so we had to wait at the library which was on our deck.

Looking at this beautiful centrum.

bright and airy

Finally, at 1:30 they opened the doors to the hallways and we were able to get to our stateroom.

We decided on an inside cabin this time. The cabin was actually quite comfortable and didn't feel cramp at all with the three of us there.

Enough storage space for all our things.

After settling in, we went around the ship to familiarize ourselves.

The luggage drop-off tents and the OPT.

Park Café at the Solarium

Helipad -- the best place to be for sail-away and sailing the sounds. Walk to the front of the ship on Deck 5 promenade, if the gate is open, just walk up the stairs to get there.

Sydney is one of the most interesting ports for sail-away. In order not to miss the sail-away, we decided not to eat in the main dining room on this day. Early dinner was at 6pm and we would have missed the amazing sights out of Sydney harbor.