Going cruising but without the Harley!

This story is about going cruising but not on the highways and byways on a motorcycle or Harley.

It seems a lot of the people I know go on cruises. As I work in the Travel industry, they tell me it is to experience the product and rave on about the on board facilities and life.
So when someone said to me let's go on a cruise.  The only answer I could give was, 'Why not?'

I travelled by train to the cruising departure point of Sydney, Circular Quay.

From the railway station I scoured the scenery to find my cruise ship but I cannot find it

The view from Circular Quay, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Maybe I need to look closer. No, only Sydney Ferries and the Harbour Bridge to the left.

The ferries wharves, International Cruise Terminal and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

  Only the Sydney Ferries and Opera House to the right.

The ferries wharves, International Cruise Terminal and the Sydney Opera House.

I venture down to the wharves to see if anyone can help.
This bloke (gentleman) seems to know the answers as everyone is asking him questions.

I wait patiently to ask this 'source of all answers'  and wonder if, 'the clothes maketh the man'.
There is something about him which I find familiar.

That's it, he's James Cook, the famous navigator who is credited with discovering and charting the East Coast of Australia.

"Excuse me James, do you happen to know where my cruise ship is?"

With Captain James Cook of Captain Cook Cruises.

"Dear Traveller, just look down the wharf" is his reply.
And as I look I find my friends waiting to go on our cruise.

My fellow passengers.

The cruise begins but I am not going out to sea, this is an industry business lunch and its only on the harbour. Well, the Best Harbour in the World!

Sydney really does look different from the harbour and everyone should try this.

The Sydney Opera House with reflections

Garden Island to the left and Mrs Macquarie's Chair to the right.

Somethings whilst we are in Darling Harbour.
The wine takes on a life of its own. Are we experiencing a Harbour Quake?

Safely back underway and returning to Circular Quay.

Barangaroo, major redevelopment on the Harbour Foreshore. The original observatory can just be seen about mid shot. 

After our cruse we have to restore our land legs.

The oldest Hotel in Sydney.

So at the end of my great day cruising I still have not had the experience my friends keep telling of.

Maybe I will one day live the life promised by John Masefield in his poetic words;

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;

And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking,

 

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

Though I think it will be on a modern Cruise ship with more luxuries than at home.

Equipment:

Samsung Galaxy S4

A train ticket to get there and back.

A Captain Cook

A Captain Cook Small Cruise Ship. (It had life boats so it was a ship by the definition I have heard.)

Comfortable shoes for my land legs or harbour legs.