aussielozzie18

The lead up to my VV cruise is getting very interesting. Apparently door signs are not required on VV, the requests are just made via the rc. Who knew rcs are not only for organising private shore excursions and slot pulls… and just for the record pineapple flavoured Lighthouse cookies are off the menu for me 🤣

Good morning. Beach photos from after dinner last night. On the way home now to re-unite with Max. Expecting hot temps in Sydney today.

Good morning. Beach is closed due to big seas. Did a nice little bush walk to a lookout. Now, sitting on the deck reading a 1984 National Geographic article on Alaska. Photo of Carnival Tropicale in Glacier Bay (shame it’s not a Royal Ship)

We have that here in Australia. 10 days in cinemas then you see it on the streaming platforms… I think cinemas will disappear permanently within 10 years.

Can’t believe it’s February already. January seemed to pass in a blink of an eye. Bon voyage to @Ocean Boy and to those of you who are boarding a ship this month.

Lovely outing with lovely weather. Thanks for sharing the history of the places you visit Sue.

Our week at the holiday house is coming to an end. I like this stretch of road we drove through yesterday. Early evening from the viewing point & sunset views from our deck.

Can understand your funk and all the thoughts you would have had. Glad Thea finally got in touch with you.

I booked my Virgin Cruise after doing the Virgin Open night in Sydney. My girlfriend who came with me, loved the meal we had on board and enjoyed the Scarlet Party but overall felt Virgin wouldn’t suit her and husband. They cruise Royal & Carnival.

@mr walker spending the $600 loot in 4 days - you could always get a tattoo or piercing on board… here are the ideas I have been given so far, in addition to many drinks: behind the scenes tour $200 usd tattoo - $150 usd approx for a tiny flash tattoo like an anchor shore tours - $300usd upwards Purchase a your very own handmade red hammock to take home $200usd Sunglasses, handbags & Virgin merchandise extras to meals like a tomahawk steak Champagne & caviar at the Champagne bar activities on board - although sailors can’t see what’s on offer nor book them until you board. I have no plans to get a tattoo or do the behind the scenes tour or book a shore tour but happy to report back on how I spend my $600 loot in 4 days…

Sun finally came out today. 28C Made DH happy. He complained yesterday that he hadn’t been able to work on his tan so far this holiday… Photos from today’s coastal walk (2.7km each way) Above beach was the midpoint of our walk. Had a very pleasant swim at this beach end of our walk. Looks quiet because the school term started this week.

Ballet sounds lovely. Would love to see the quilt when finished. Hope you headache is gone soon.

Sounds like another couple of nice days in Sydney. We find the sea temperature perfect atm. You won’t have to worry about the sea temps in GBR, you will be wearing a stinger suit to enter the waters up there. It’s like a wetsuit so will give you a layer of warmth, whilst protecting you from the deadly stingers.

We are currently on holiday. First time, we’ve needed house sitters as usually one of the adult kids is home. Being getting daily proof of life photos from the couple that are housesitting & caring for Max for us. Although, they are more “Max being spoilt rotten” photos.

Welcome to Sydney. Glad you had a successful first day. Very nice balcony view.

Agree with this recommendation Lenny. I usually avoid true crime but on a whim decided to watch this one. Binged the entire three episodes as i couldn’t stop watching. No spoilers for this one as it’s best to go in blind not knowing anything about this case. It’s getting rave reviews here and making viewers angry.

I’m following. Enjoying your thoughts on our Australian cruises.

Princess USA have a 20% off sale for excursions atm (for Alaska excursions at least - don’t know if it’s for other ports too). Shame Princess Australia don’t do the same offer here. Make a big difference with the current exchange rate.

@no1racefan1 Apparently Princess in the US are offering 20% off excursions. Be interesting for you to compare what you paid last year with the discount price they are offering now. Your price is probably still cheaper. We don’t get excursion discounts in Australia.

Happy Australia Day to those who celebrate it. Hot & windy in Sydney today - 38-40C expected

Hi everyone. Nice to find this thread. Interested to compare the OPs experience booking over a year in advance with mine, booking our May cruise just in the last couple of weeks. I love to research, so it’s been hours and hours online every night in a short space of time to get up to speed on all the info needed and deciding what to do & book. We originally planned to go to Alaska in 2020. Fly into Anchorage and do a roadtrip before boarding a southbound cruise from Whittier to Vancouver. I still have my notes from that planned trip. As much I would still like to do that, it doesn’t work for us this time but it’s been really interesting reading the OPs and others in the thread who are doing that itinerary. My son did visit Anchorage and Seward last year for 4 days. He hired an e-bike and cycled to Tony Knowles Park and was delighted to see two Moose. He wanted to do a helicopter ride to a glacier in Seward but they wouldn’t take a solo booking. Minimum of two. It poured with rain for the four days so his walks in the area and visit to the wildlife centre weren’t the best experience. I booked my Princess Excursions this week after a lot of research & decision making. Surprised that there was very little difference in price from booking with Princess rather than independently. Had no issue getting the excursions I wanted, although I suspect they are more expensive than if booked in 2023. Weird that Princess don’t send out an email when you cancel excursions but right on 2 weeks, I got my refunds. Car hire in Skagway is very pricey now $329 for the day and then I have to convert to AUD - major ouch. Our itinerary: Fly Sydney to Vancouver Road trip around Vancouver Island for a week or so. Sitka - unfortunately Quantum of the Seas is in port same day - so hoping we can do the bird & bear sanctuary independently. If not, I have some independent walks planned. Junea - Seaplane to Taku Lodge. Promised myself I wouldn’t do a seaplane trip due to past fatal accidents here & in Alaska but I really want to do this tour. Booked last night. Today, a seaplane crashed on Sydney Harbour…., Minor injuries only thankfully. The other 3 in our group will make their way independently (taxi or long bus ride) to Mendhall Glacier and do the walk to the waterfall and then follow up with a longer hike elsewhere. Skagway - after watching a zillion youtube videos and realising we are there too early in the season - Emerald Lake frozen, waterfalls potentially frozen and dog sledding not operating (not referring to Carcross) - I am cancelling the car hire and doing the White Pass Railway followed immediately by a quick up and back mini bus tour to the summit. Wanted to book the train/bus excursion with Chilkoot Tours but they don’t start their season until the week following our week in Alaska. The other 3 in my group will hire e-bikes and do a self guided 3hr tour. Ketchican - Shopping in the morning then Deadliest Catch Tour. Other 3 will do hikes. Now that the Alaska portion of our trip is sorted. I’ve now got to start planning Vancouver Island….

In Australia they are thriving. Some of our Target stores are being turned into Kmarts and some Target stores are now stocking cheap Kmart clothing unfortunately.

Hi. Big fuss made when it was announced that they were filming in Sydney etc but haven’t heard anything about it since. Hopefully it’s popular in other countries for a second season for you. I haven’t watched it myself.

We cruised on the Luminosa in December 2022 for 7 nights to the Great Barrier Reef. It was our first time on her and we loved the ship. Had a nice layout, easy to get around, food & service in MDR was great. I would cruise on her again in a heartbeat. I can’t comment on her suitability for Alaska but being a summer cruise, we certainly spent a lot of time on the outside decks and our two standard balcony cabins were perfect for us.

Bugger! - I missed this post. 3 x 20yo on board for our Alaska cruise. Just checked - yep $38aud pp, per day for our upcoming cruise. Ouch! Weird that the price in the app comes up in AUD but the excursions are in USD.