Nicko Cruises’ world cruise travellers visit Darwin

Travellers on a six-month, around-the-world cruise disembarked for a morning in Darwin. Here’s what they had to say about their trip.

Darwin city was abuzz on a rainy Thursday morning with the arrival of hundreds of cruise ship passengers docked for the morning.

The mainly European travellers were upon a Nicko Cruises’ Vasco Da Gama voyage, which takes them around the world on a six-month journey.

The group left Lisbon in October and are due to spend 10 days travelling around Australia, with their first port of call Darwin.

Hund Renate Sophia and Hund Michael enjoy their layover from the cruise at the Darwin Waterfront. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

One German couple aboard the ocean liner will be celebrating their 58th wedding anniversary on Sunday while in Australia.

Renata Hund and her husband Michael said they loved Darwin because of the nice people, and have enjoyed the big smiles and greetings hello.

The couple have travelled to Australia before, visiting Sydney, Cairns and Brisbane and are glad to be back in “nice Australia”.

Stephanie Meyer and Gerlinde Meyer enjoys their layover from the cruise at the Smith Street Arcade. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Karen Deichgraeber has travelled to Australia before, spending six weeks exploring Down Under which included NT hotspots Katherine Gorge and Kakadu National Park.

“We had lots of fun in Australia, one of the goannas tried to steal our steak … I like it here”, she said.

“The first thing I remember was that I couldn’t go into the sea, into the ocean, because of the jellyfish”.

The next Australian places on the itinerary are Cooktown, Cairns and Townsville.

The Vasco Da Gama can fit up to 1000 passengers and will wrap up this journey back at Lisbon in April.

Monika Ropplet and Karen Deichgraeber. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Lurz Marina enjoys her layover from the cruise at the Smith Street Arcade with Irene Singh from Sophies Botique and Gifts. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mani Schmidt and Karin Wedel. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Walter Becker and Petra Becker from Aachen Germany. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Iris Henss enjoys their layover from the cruise at the Smith Street Arcade. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Ralf Koenig and Jan Sluis enjoys their layover from the cruise at the Smith Street Arcade. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Dominic Kerr and Bonnie Kerr from Melbourne enjoys their afternoon at the Smith Street Arcade. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Majid Ghouali, Guenter Strasser, Juergen Berndt and Robert Doeller enjoys their layover from the cruise at the Darwin Waterfront. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Nicko Cruise Ship arrives the Darwin Cruise Terminal at the Darwin Waterfront. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Braun Helmut arrives the Darwin Cruise Terminal at the Darwin Waterfront. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin