Sailing on Holland America ms Oosterdam: Part 4

March 6: Last Day at Sea

Last day at sea between Melbourne and Sydney, and what better way to pass the time than--you guessed it--another costume party. It's the "Bondi Beach Tea Dance!"

Bondi (the Aussies pronounce it Bahn-dai) Beach is the famous beach of Sydney, so to get ready for arrival in that great city, our cruise director thought we should have a practice beach event. I don't think these guys need any practice!

Bathing beauties all!

We passed through the crowded deck to snap some sample photos on our way to dinner, then retired for the night to get ready for Sydney in the morning.

March 7: Sailing Into Sydney Harbor at Dawn

Melbourne is a lovely city, but Sydney is without a doubt one of the most magnificent cities on the planet. It is the most populous city in Australia and in all of Oceania. It's difficult to imagine that all this grew out of a remote penal colony where the British Empire dumped its criminals.

We sailed into Sydney Harbor on a somewhat hazy morning, but it was a magical experience by any measure.

Our captain told us the night before that he expected to arrive in Sydney about 7:15 AM the following morning. Thank goodness Tim peeked out of our stateroom at 6:30 AM. "We're here!" he yelled, and we tore up to the top deck with the camera. And there was the beautiful city beginning to shine through the dawn haze.

Two of the most instantly recognizable landmarks in the world are in Sydney. Here I caught the Sydney Harbor Bridge at dawn with the setting moon above it.

And as we sailed past, we caught a thrilling view of the Sydney Opera House in early dawn sunlight. I have a longstanding affinity for music, opera, and architecture. This was truly a magical moment for me.

The Oosterdam is passing under the bridge. Bridge climbers were already atop the structure waving at us as we sailed under.

Tim wasn't sure that the radar tower would clear the bridge, but I guess the captain has done this a few times. We glided smoothly under the huge steel structure.

I caught this shot of the opera house as we passed beyond the bridge.

And that was it! We had arrived in Sydney at the end of a 12-day cruise. Time for breakfast, last minute packing, and disembarkation. Coming up the Sydney Gay Mardi Gras Parade and five days to see what Sydney has to offer!