OzKiwiJJ

The "floating fountain" just appeared from behind the ship and has headed off back to it's base.

After showers during the day it fined up nicely for sailaway. The person in the kayak decided it would be good idea to cross in front of the ship. The pilot boat kindly escorted thrm to make them more visible.

That photo was taken from our balcony.

Yes, we were.

I don't often get a chance to see the Opera House just as dawn is breaking but I did this morning.

In my opinion most of the whitebait fritters sold in NZ should be called whitebait omelets. They are heavy on the egg and light on whitebait. All you taste is slightly fishy egg. The way I make them is to make up the fritter mix then add just enough of it to the whitebait to hold them together. That way you taste the whitebait.

We always fly into Auckland a day or more before our cruise boards, just in case. If Virgin Australia don't start flying to NZ in time for our Xmas cruise we'll probably add an extra day if we have to fly on Qantas. I know of too many people who have have their travel plans stuffed up by Qantas in the last few months.

No, just a slice of potato as usual. They are called fritters in NZ and technically it is the correct term for something like that.

Fritter: "A small cake of batter, sometimes containing corn, fruit, clams, or some other ingredient, fried in deep fat or sautéed." Scallop: Apart from the mollusc the only other food-related definition is: "a thin slice of meat, usually further flattened by pounding with a mallet or other implement." Cake: The food-related definitions are: "1. a sweet, baked, breadlike food, made with or without shortening, and usually containing flour, sugar, baking powder or soda, eggs, and liquid flavoring. 2. a flat, thin mass of bread, especially unleavened bread. 3. pancake; griddlecake. 4. a shaped or molded mass of other food:a fish cake." But the definition of fritter refers to it as a cake. So: Fritter is the most accurate Cake is probably acceptable Scallop might be used if the potato slice was fried without batter but mostly it's just confusing! 😊😊😊

Or potato fritters?

We preferred Sabatinis, there are some very interesting dishes on their menu. The Bayou is essentially a steakhouse now. It does have excellent lobster though. But I think we were unlucky with where our table was in the Bayou - we were to the right of the entrance with a very noisy group seated near us. There was zero ambience and we couldn't get out of there quick enough!

But pizza only, not the full menu.

We switched to medium-large suitcases with overnight bags that fit on top after trying to lug large suitcases on and off trains in Europe many years ago. The two bag combos are much easier to manage.

At the OPT ours was taken off up for testing onboard the ship. First time that has happened. So far it hadn't been returned to us much to my annoyance. Take some US adaptors just in case.

Sounds and looks like a wonderful place for a holiday.

Due to adverse weather and sea conditions up the northern NSW coast the Captain chose to stay in port overnight. We leave at 4pm and will miss the Brisbane port stop.

Yes, you can board separately.

No, it's very easy but usually causes some amusement. 🤣

I guess they have a cut-off point where it becomes a "reduced rate" rather than just a cheaper fare

If you read the fine print on the Shareholders Benefit website it does say anyone travelling on a reduced rate is excluded from getting the OBC.

I made some secret pockets years ago out of calico fabric. I made two sizes, one credit card size and one passport size. The credit card size ones are good as I can secure it on my bra strap and tuck it into my bra band under my arm. Very secret! The bigger ones go onto belt loops then get tucked into pants.

Yes, I was so excited! I really didn't expect it to as there are only 24 Club Class minis on this ship.

Looking at it I imagine they could install one fairly quickly on request.

We were originally in a regular mini-suite aft but my PVP waitlisted us for a Club Class mini-suite or a suite. We got the email "Waitlistmatch..." late Tuesday afternoon. Oddly enough we'd picked one of the forward looking bump out balconies on the original 22nd August cruise that was cancelled. I think if you want a mini-suite the ones on Dolphin deck would be better, the balconies are twice the depth of this one. Same depth as the suite balconies but half the width. This one is very squeezy.

This is the current Princess bubbly. We haven't opened it yet.