Cooktown, QLD, Australia

Monday, March 10, 2025

The Norwegian Sun cruise ship arrived in Cooktown, Queensland, Australia today. I realized this morning that I never looked to see what time the ship was set to arrive, or the logistics of disembarking the ship. As it would happen, the small town of Cooktown doesn’t have a cruise terminal, so the ship anchored off-shore and shuttled passengers back and forth by tender boats. We should have picked up a reservation ticket for a tender group last night, but didn’t, so today we had to wait until everyone with a reservation unloaded the ship before we could get off.

No big deal. Andi, Tory, Aden, and I got up and went to breakfast at the Garden Cafe buffet. After 10 days on the ship, we’re growing tired of eating here everyday, but at the same time, we really can’t complain; there’s a variety of food options, the staff is friendly, and there’s plenty of indoor and outdoor seating available. 

We decided to be ready to leave the ship as soon as the doors opened for all passengers without a reservation, so the four of us waited patiently for our turn. The line of people waiting to board tender boats moved slowly.

Finally around 11:00am, open boarding was called. Andi, Aden, Tory, and I lined up at the exit for the next available tender boat. Other passengers waiting in line were being so rude to the Norwegian Sun cruise staff, commenting how disorganized the process was and how frustrated they were waiting. I felt terrible for the employees of the ship; they were doing the best they could to get everyone to shore. 

It really upsets me to see people of good fortune treat others with disrespect. So badly did I want to turn around and tell the complainers waiting in line to remember how lucky they were to be standing here with an opportunity to visit Cooktown on a Monday morning. Later, Tory and I nicknamed the main complainer as Ken because he looked similar to a Ken (Barbie) doll. 

Finally, our family boarded a tender boat with the other waiting passengers. It took 20 minutes to get from the ship to Cooktown’s city dock because of the distance the ship was anchored and the choppy sea. No wonder the tender boat process took so long! I’m not sure what was worse; waiting in line with all those complainers, or riding inside a stuffy, hot tender boat with no air ventilation. 

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much reprieve when we arrived in Cooktown. Today’s weather was 89 degrees with 72% humidity; feels like temperature was 102 degrees. The heat was sweltering and there was very little shade in the town. 

Cooktown, Queensland is a small town of 2,500 people located on the Cape York peninsula. It is famously the first place Captain James Cook discovered when he arrived to Australia on his ship, Endeavor, in 1770. Many of the historical buildings in Cooktown are still standing making this town a great place to learn about its history.

When a cruise ship with 1,500 arrives in a town of 2,500, it’s noticeable! Basically, the only people moving about town were tourists from the Norwegian Sun. And like our own small hometown in Wisconsin, many of the area businesses were closed on a Monday. Many visitors seemed annoyed as they wandered the Main Street without much to see or do.

I suggested we visit the Cooktown Museum (which I think is what most everyone did in Cooktown). Andi, Tory, Aden, and I trudged up the street about a mile in the scorching heat to reach the museum. Outside, two cruise ship tour buses waited outside for people that’d booked a museum tour. 

It took our family about 15 minutes to walk through the museum. There was information about Captain Cook and the actual anchor from his Endeavor ship on display, but otherwise it was pretty dull. 

Next, we walked to the IGA grocery store for cold beverages. Tory whined the whole way about how hot outside it was. And, it really was. We were all dripping in sweat, baking under the intense Australian sun.

How many IGAs have we visited in Australia? Oh, the memories. “This might be the last IGA we visit on this trip,” Andi said to the kids as we walked the aisles. Hey, at least grocery stores are air-conditioned in Australia; about the only place that is.

So many classic “Aussie” things we noticed around town — a “grab a coldie” cooler, croc-skin wallet, and interesting all-terrain trucks. I felt a little nostalgic about our travels the past seven weeks, and sad that our time in Australia is soon coming to an end.

We purchased a few cold beverages and some candy bars to take back on the ship with us. Then, Andi, Tory, Aden, and I continued our loop through town. 

By the time we reached the pier, Tory was nearly in tears. She was overheated to the point of almost being sick. I felt so sorry for all the elderly people waiting in line for tender boats to return to the ship. It was too hot for people to be standing for an hour in the sun. 

We joined the line and waited for a tender boat. Tory whimpered as she stood there, then said she was going to be sick. I dug out my trusty gallon-size Ziploc bag out of the backpack and held it close in case she needed to use it, but luckily she didn’t. A tender boat came to pick us up just in time.

We snagged four seats by the door this time so Tory could catch the breeze as we motored back to the Norwegian Sun. Nothing felt better than stepping back into the cool air-conditioning of the ship. Ahhhh. 

All four of us immediately went to our staterooms to shower & change clothes. Our clothes were so soaked in sweat that it was comical. Like, Andi and I literally laughed at our appearances. “I’ve never sweat so much in my life,” Andi said. I’m glad I brought a small baggie of laundry detergent so I could wash our dirty clothes in the bathroom sink.

We all needed a minute after we returned to the ship. The sun completely zapped our energy. Plus, Andi still wasn’t feeling 100% today.

Around 3:00pm, I decided to go to the gym to workout. Andi skipped the gym today, but we walked together afterwards.

Aden went to Splash Academy as soon as it opened at 6:00pm while Andi and I treated Tory to the Mexican specialty restaurant. Our waiter was so nice, and encouraged us to try several appetizers and main entrees from the menu. The specialty restaurants are a flat price ($40/pp) which includes anything on the menu.

We tried the quest fundido dip, ceviche, and guacamole made table-side. Andi picked a steak dish for his entree, I had chicken fajitas, and Tory ordered chicken tacos. Our bellies were stuffed by the time we left, and our hearts full. It’s been such a treat having so much quality time with Tory on the ship.

We “cooked” in Cooktown; that’s how this day will forever be remembered by our family. Tomorrow is another day at sea as the ship travels from Cooktown to Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory.