Spirit of Tasmania

A wish to see Bass Strait during the day resulted in a pleasant, if rather long journey, on the Spirit of Tasmania between Melbourne and Devonport.

My last journey on the Spirit was several years ago on a night sailing and I have always wondered if I missed anything. As I discovered on this trip I hadn’t – all there is to see is the water!  I may have seen a few dolphins but that could have been a hopeful mirage.  In fairness it was a rather cold day so I spent all but an hour of the journey inside. If I had rugged up and ventured out onto the deck I may have seen more wildlife.

While chilly, there was hardly any wind, resulting in a very smooth crossing. It seems I was lucky. Experienced Spirit of Tasmania patrons talk of some rough crossings.

As a result of the benign weather conditions I could happily explore all those areas open to day ticket holders. They included the Tasmanian Market Kitchen, Bar 7, The Terrace Lounge Bar, the Top Deck Lounge, the Reading Room, the Game Zone, Gaming Station, Kids Play Area,  Admirals Gaming Lounge and cinema.

Off limits were the cabins and the recliner lounge. I could have paid more for access to these areas but thought on a day sailing they were unnecessary.  My assumption was correct. While the Spirit was busy – there were more than 900 people on board – I had no trouble finding a seat. My wanders around the ship suggested level 7 was the most popular area. The gaming and play areas were also very well supported. I spent my time on level 9 and there were plenty of empty seats around me.

My enjoyable day included listening to music, reading, eating and looking out to sea. Our late arrival was the only minor disappointment. While the ship was due to dock at 6.30pm, we didn’t arrive until 7.30pm.  No explanation was given for the late arrival.

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What: Spirit of Tasmania Day Sailing

Who: JB

When: October 29, 2016

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