It was with some trepidation that I accepted an invitation to sail from Darwin to Fremantle aboard Australia’s newest cruise liner, Sun Princess. Being single and under 40, I’m not exactly your typical cruiser.
I said yes for two reasons. The first was the opportunity to experience the biggest and most luxurious liner ever to be based in Australia. Sun Princess was the world’s largest cruise ship when it was launched in 1995. Accommodating 2000 passengers, it’s now been refitted and tailored for the Australian market so the electrics and on-board currency are all Aussie.
The second was the itinerary. Numerous ships visit these shores each year but very few tackle Australia’s north-west coast. Sun Princess would be visiting exotic, far-flung spots I’d only ever read about: Broome, the Kimberley, Exmouth and Geraldton.
I had only one concern: the food. Cruise passengers eat on average 10 to 12 courses every day. I had visions of strolling up the gangplank at Darwin and being rolled back down it in Fremantle. So I set myself a challenge: could I cruise for nine days and not put on any weight?
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Rob McFarland 