Guest Sharon Johnson and her husband were on Volendam for the trans-Pacific voyage to Sydney and the circumnavigation of Australia for 55 days. Enjoy these photos from their port call at Albany, Australia.

On Sunday, November 11th, we visited Albany. The shore excursion to “Albany World and the Coastal Scenes” was sold out so we made arrangements to take a shuttle out to Whale World for almost three hour tour. It took a half hour to reach Whale World and a half hour to return to Albany. Al and I rode the shuttle from the port and were dropped off at the Albany Town Hall. We walked past the entrance to the Albany Library which was closed for Remembrance Day to a park were we waited for the shuttle out to Whale World.

Captain Vancouver explored the Albany area and thought the Sound which he named after King George made an excellent harbor. In 1826, the town of Albany was founded when soldiers and cattle arrived to establish Frederick’s town after the Duke of York and Albany. Albany holds the distinction of being the oldest town in Western Australia as Perth wasn’t founded until 3 years later. Albany is a major port in South Australia and whaling was an important industry until the late 1970’s. – Sharon and Al

Australian coastline as we sailed into Albany.

Albany shoreline as we sailed into the port at Albany.

The entertainment center on the waterfront as seen from the Volendam.

Me at the Albany Public Library. Notice the poppy I am wearing for Remembrance Day.

Albany Volunteers who helped us and other Volendam passengers who assisted us local advice.

When we reached “Whale World”, we had a 40 minute tour of the whaling station. We toured the Whale-chasing boat that harpooned the whales, saw the place where the whales were cut up and their blubber cooked and turned into oil for lamps. Parts of the whale were used in many of our commonly used products.

Albany Town Hall.

Al and the Whale-chaser Cheynes IV at Whale World.

Al and the cookers.

Sperm Whale Skeleton.

The Cheynes Beach Whaling Station had to close due to the cost of repairing the whale chasing boats. The station was later turned into a premier tourist attraction. Whaling World also has a fabulous 3-D film on Whales and Dolphins. There is a fantastic display of the skeletons of the Sperm Whale, Humpback Whale, Dolphins, Orcas, False Killer Whales and the largest mammal on earth—the Blue Whale.

On the deck of the Cheynes IV Whale Chaser with the beautiful King George Sound in the background.

The Blue Whale Skeleton.

After taking the tour of Whale World and seeing the 3-D film, we climbed aboard the Cheynes IV. Al took a turn at piloting the whale chaser. And I took some photos from the deck of the beautiful coastline around Whale World.

Al, myself, Mary Stoutenger and Don Stoutenger (Best Friends and Fellow Cruisers) in front of the Cheynes IV.

Al steering the Whale-chaser.

Whale World.