Excitement soared on board Radiance of the Seas at dawn on Sunday morning with early risers getting even more than they bargained for with a cruise ship coming into a new port for the first time.
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As Port Kembla became Royal Caribbean’s 501st port of call passengers from around Australia and the globe were treated to something extra.
They were greeted by a guard of honour of the animal kingdom kind. Screams of excitement were heard on the upper deck at 6am as a pod of Humpback whales put on a display a few nautical miles off Flagstaff Hill.
Wollongong was barely in view when the unexpected welcoming committee arrived.
As the pilot came on board Captain Goran Peterson made an announcement about the whales. Deck 12 quickly filled and cheers and chants were heard about “Wollongong, Wollongong, Wollongong” and “We Love The Gong”.
Cruise director Steve Davis handed out Aussie flags for hundreds of passengers to wave at thousands of people waving at them as the mega-liner sailed through the breakwater.
Illawarra passenger Glenda Papac said it was a great day to be “proud of Wollongong”.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
