Day 46 - Thursday February 29, 2024, Cooktown, Australia

Arrival 07:00 All Aboard 16:30 Departure 17:00

You are always at the mercy of the ocean when tender operations are necessary to reach a port. This is what happened today in Cooktown.

We arrived on schedule and the anchor was dropped. Insignia was facing directly into a strong wind although a decision had not yet been made as to what will happen today. The platform is down and the ship's extended arms holding the tenders have been moved so that the tenders hover above the water and we are still hoping to go ashore.

Ray the cruise director came over the intercom indicating we are in a holding pattern for the next 30 - 40 minutes to see if the winds will disperse. I do not like the odds of making Cooktown today as it is becoming cloudy, and the waves seem to be increasing. Right now, the ship is listing to the port side (left), and it is noticeable when walking on the outside deck.

As one passenger, indicated Insignia is now scrambling to see what they can do with the kindergarten kids (Oceania Passengers) today.

The port lecturer on board did not provide any information on Cooktown or Thursday Island because she has never been to either place because of weather conditions.

The town of Cooktown with its population of 3,700 was name for the British explorer Captain James Cook. Captain Cook's crew spent 48 days here repairing the damage to their ship, the Endeavour after it had struck a reef. There is a statue of him in town which I wanted to photograph. Presently, Insignia has a reef captain on board who came on in Newcastle and will be with us until we reach Darwin to ensure a safe passage through the coral reefs.

It is now 10:00 and Ray our cruise director is presently informing the passengers of Insignia that the decision has been made to cancel the port of call in Cooktown. It is unsafe to lower the tenders due to 50 knot winds and strong currents. Insignia does not want to tender to shore and then later find out passengers cannot get back to the ship due to weather conditions.

We seem to be on a slow boat to China literally lol. More rain is expected.