austromyrtus

thanks. this is of interest to me as well having just turned 75 & booked a 13night south pacific cruise in december. hadn't got around to looking at insurance yet so this reminded me. just tried the qantas travel insurance website & got a quote for $299 ( no medical conditions).

hi ken, i am particularly interested in matsue. we went to sakaiminato on the dp in 2019 but there were no excursions which included matsue & i was unable to find a way to reach there by public transport within the time frame. so interested in any matsue-related info on your trip as we may include it in a future cruise. on another topic, has there been any mention of covid so far on your voyage? thanks for your updates.

les37b, out of interest, which ship are you sailing on?

excellent news - thanks very much for ppsting this les37b.

have been thinking about booking a 7 day princess cruise in japan for june 2023. however the princess health fine print is of concern as it idicates if you are covid positive at the end of your cruise and wish to disembark, you (+partner?) would be required to enter a government nominated isolation quarantine hotel. i called princess and ascertained this is so and also it would be at the passengers expense. https://www.princess.com/plan/cruise-with-confidence/cruise-health/frequently-asked-questions/japan-cruises/ i am hoping this requiement will be relaxed after may 2023 when the japanese government is scheduled to relax covid restrictions, however i have not been able to confirm any changes will apply to cruise ships. any feedback welcome. ---------------------- If guests’ cruise ends before their isolation is complete, they may select one of the following two options to complete their mandatory isolation: OPTION 1: Continue your isolation aboard the ship and disembark at the port that aligns with the end of your isolation period, on day 8. Princess will assist you in coordinating your forward travel back to Tokyo. OPTION 2: Disembark and complete their isolation ashore in a designated isolation hotel, appointed by the Japanese Government until their mandatory isolation is complete. Once their supervised isolation period has ended, on day 8, they will be allowed to travel on public transportation and resume their travel plan. ------------------------

i see the us dept of state has also issued 'do not travel' warning for myanmar... i don't know how insurance works in the us but if it is like australia, would make it very difficult to get insurance which will cover any travel in burma. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/burma-travel-advisory.html yes waiting to see what oceania does sounds like a very good idea. there is a tripadvisor forum for burma you may want to look at. a few intrepid young backpackers are travelling there at the moment but they probably don't worry about insurance (think they can call on eembassies for help!) and don't have a deadline of getting back to a ship hanging over them. hope it all works out for you though as bagan is a very special place. hopefully efforts by locals/united nations/other countries will help to lower the travel warning before your trip.

enjoy your day in kochi. i am sure the locals will be extremely welcoming and excited to have cruise ship passengers back in town after three years. i have fond memories of our day in port in 2019 - really enjoyed eating the seared bonito tuna for lunch in the hirome market near kochi castle - was worth the wait in the queue with the locals. near the castle is a shinto shrine where you may be lucky, as we were, to see a wedding party in traditional japanese dress.

australia has a travel advice site called 'smart traveller' where i found this entry which not only warns against travel to myanmar but specifically warns against the lotte hotel (has links to the military junta). will you have valid travel insurance if you stay in yangon? personally if i was to go (i did enjoy my travel in myanmar for 4 weeks in 2007 and would like to revisit but not under theee current regime), i would be going on ship excursions & returning to the ship at night. https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/myanmar Latest update Still current at: 09 March 2023 Updated:10 February 2023 Latest update:We continue to advise do not travel to Myanmar due to ongoing civil unrest and armed conflict. Violence, including explosions and attacks, can occur anywhere and anytime, including in Yangon. Attacks may be planned against locations that are frequented by foreigners, which could include the Shangri-La and Lotte hotel and serviced apartments in Yangon, and restaurants and hotels in Nay Pyi Taw. Attacks are unpredictable in their location and intensity. The main targets have been infrastructure, police and military vehicles, and security and administrative personnel. Targets may also include other civilian infrastructure, including hotels, serviced apartments, restaurants, bars, shopping malls, schools, petrol stations and supermarkets. Heightened security arrangements are in place for Australian officials. Remain aware of the security environment at all times. Exercise caution including in townships under martial law. Minimise movement, especially on anniversaries and days of national significance and monitor media closely. Avoid all public gatherings, protests and areas of known and possible unrest. A curfew remains in place. There have been widespread detentions, including of foreigners. Australians may be at risk of arbitrary detention. We continue to advise: Do not travel to Myanmar due to ongoing civil unrest and armed conflict.

suggest you have a look at entries on the tripadvisor travel forum... https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTopic-g325573-i9821-k14159564-Sihanoukville_current-Sihanoukville_Sihanoukville_Province.html

i have been very impressed by the renewal process for my australian passport. i wanted my local post office to take my passport photos, so expected to have to make an appointment. i was surprised to find photos & application could be done straight away. on 21 december 2022 i paid the post office $301 for regular processing & $27 for taking the photos. on 5 january 2023 i was notified my passport was ready & being despatched via australia post. today i received my new passport! the whole process of non-urgent renewal for my passport took 18 days including xmas/new year public holidays! quite impressive!

yes but presumably you were at home & didn't have to isolate with someone else in a very small room for 5+ days.... we were on a 13 night cruise just before xmas. were careful & took all recommened precations but my partner still got covid on the last day aboard, for me it was when i got home. luckily we narrowly avoided the long isolation which would have been challenging to say the least. it's the potential isolation in a small cabin which puts me off booking another cruise & looking for other ways to holiday.

just a thought... wonder if anyone has looked at whether those princess passengers on drink packages have been more prone to testing positive to getting covid than those who have the occasional drink & spend less time in the bars??

we board the majestic princess on its next voyage on 8th december to pacific. it is all rather depressing & we are wishing we hadn't booked. we were on the coral princess in september & weather was the problem not covid and booked this in october before the current rise in covid cases on the majestic. insurance company says no cover if we choose to cancel so seems we will just have to make the most of it or lose the money. however if we ever book a cruise again, it will be a last minute booking.

thanks to all for your reviews. we join the majestic on 8th december for a 13 night pacific cruise, so feedback & tips are welcome, even if negative. at least we will be prepared! on a positive note, pleasing to hear none of you got covid as i see the ship is still showing as tier 1 for nsw. we will be on deck 8, so disappointed to hear about wait times/crowded lifts as it will be many steps up to the buffet from deck 8! pleased to hear though that housekeeping provided a kettle in the cabin after pleading! hopefully the conservatory will be available as we will have at least 7 days at sea.

You can get a formal ANZ card insurance policy by following this link... https://insurance.agaassistance.com.au/anzau/page/check

i just looked at the nsw covid website & saw majestic princess is now tier 3. it is due to disembark in sydney tomorrow so i imagine this will get some press coverage as all other ships listed have no covid or are tier 1. we aree going on this ship december 8 so keeping an eye on it...

hope you are all well soon. out of interest, which throat lozenges does princess give you? we are going on the majestic princess in december & figure it will be a good idea to take our own supplies.

i agree - really enjoyed 'weird scared little guys' - they were refreshingly original and worked really well together - put them top of entertainment i enjoyed in my feedback to princess for the september cruise we did on coral princess.

thanks arxcards, looking forward to your reports as my medallion app tells me we will also be on board in 50 days...

for those on the majestic princess at the moment, just wondering if any enrichment lectures have been provided on sea days?

have been considering booking a december 2022 pacific cuise from sydney but the pacific port changes/uncertainty is worrying... might opt for a nz cruise instead.

quite a few very disappointed coral princess cruisers on board who will be missing out on pre-arranged family reunions in adelaide. seems rather hard to fathom why princess chose to keep kangaroo island, the only tender on the itinerary, rather than adelaide or port lincoln.

well i will be on the coral princess the day of the funeral & really hope they have a venue where interested folks can watch it in comfort rather than in their cabins. major event which i really want to watch in real time if i can but both then sides of my family are english & i enjoy the pomp, ceremony & history.