FOR local residents, Leah, husband, Anthony, daughter, Ella-Rei and son, Ethan Dunlop it was a chance to experience the joys of a cruise and the tantalising call of Tasmania in one, but they didn’t realise when booking just how amazing their journey would be.
The four boarded the Carnival Legend just two days shy of Australia Day, with their Tasmanian destination to be the port at Hobart.
Leah’s first impression of the ship was that it was a city on water. In fact the glass elevators that you see in the atrium reminded her of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
But it didn’t stop there. Their first day on board, the family spent walking the ship, but as Leah says, it was so big and there was just so much on offer, you just couldn’t get around to it all.
When Australia day hit, the crew had gone all out and in true Aussie style, the Australian patriotic atmosphere could be seen and felt everywhere you went. After leaving their rooms for breakfast in the morning, staff on the ship would get creative and make a new towel animal featuring the Australian flag. This theme was seen right throughout the ship. On the deck by the pool the Australian flag was found proudly attached to hundreds of towel animals. A truly amusing experience for the whole family and indeed everyone else on board.
The best bit though, as Leah explained, was the food. It was 24 hour dining. You could eat what you wanted, when you wanted. Ice cream for breakfast was a sure thing…or if you felt like seafood it was there. Burgers…yup. Stews, sausages, pizza, sushi and à la carte meals such as scrumptious salmon, silky pumpkin soup, perfect meat pie and desserts to die for were all on offer…and that’s only a taste of what you could dig in to.
They arrived in Hobart on the morning of Australia Day and off the ship the family headed to the famous Salamanca Market. Leah said it is definitely a must do when visiting Hobart. From the hand made delights, crafts, to local produce, there is something for everyone.
The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery is also one not to miss. I would say that it was only the children who enjoyed the dinosaur exhibit, but Leah and Anthony got great joy out of it too.
The harbour was a wonderful place to spend some time and the cafés were a delightful place to sit and taste some of the best Hobart has to offer.
Back on the Carnival Legend, they enjoyed the trip home taking some R&R time before they docked back at Melbourne.
Now back in Shepparton, Leah and the family would like to thank Lyn McNaught Travel for helping to plan and organise their trip.
