bl262000
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Posts posted by bl262000
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ML,
You didn't smuggle the players back onto the ship with you??? we in Sydney have not seen the swans players since last year and have so far needed to sub in spectators each game.....(At least that would explain why they ain't won a game yet!).
cya
bl262000
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Hers a vid I took in 2015.
cya
bl262000
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Its quite interesting when doing a long shot (ie one leg off the ground) and the table starts rising and don't stop....puts you right off. Same when taking a shot off the end of the table and you end up crouching down to take the shot.
Its a shame there not on other ships :(
cya
bl262000
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Or Koala Bears, but no mention of drop bears.
Regardless of the fact the story is a furbee, We cannot spare a single dropbear, they are a species endemic to Australia and also protected. Unfortunately due to the increasing number of visitors to Oz in the last 30yrs, the fatality rate of the bears have risin due to the fact that over excited visitors have taken it apon themselves to eradicate the poor animal that has mearly welcomed them to the land down under (to put it lightly), So I can't understand why we would send them to NZ. You guys have an abundance of sheep but dropbears really need to be cared for and not sent overseas as a tourist attraction! ;)
cya
bl262000
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It seems from what I saw last night, the show is a cross of Gogglebox and Getaway, The bogans from Gogglebox touring as reporters on Getaway!
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G'day all,
On Voyager at the end of the year and have been checking over the last couple of weeks for the OBC, Low and behold last night it was shown promenantly at the top with a pop-up window at after login to planner.
The current rate is 70c USD / $1AUD (1.30AUD / $1USD).
cya
bl262000
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Just that if you spend more than $60 in a M-S week on the card, or $15 in a day, any further trips that day/week are free.
And a maximum spend of $2.50 on a sunday, no mater how many trips or modes (bus, train, ferry) you make that sunday.
cya
bl262000
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Hi ML,
$40 is a good start for Opal and can be topped up in so many places (not including stations) and if you do run out....just top it up. The card costs nothing and will have all the credit applied avaliable.
Bathurst is the limit of the network Opal is usable for, same as Goulburn to the south. Electric "interurban" trains run to Lithgow a a couple of times a day, Mount Victoria even more (both past Katoomba). Bathurst has one service a day (under Opal).
Just as a note the "end of the line" without Opal technically is Perth from Syd.....but the limit in NSW is Broken Hil......Don't think you meant that :D
You will probably end up gettng free trips by the end of your stay so all good. Some links:
https://www.opal.com.au/en/opal-fares/
And the free "travel caps":
https://www.opal.com.au/en/about-opal/benefits-of-travelling-with-opal-card/
cya
bl262000
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That's our starting plan. It will be around 7--7:30 (0700--0730 in your lingo??), so maybe it won't be too bad (early enough?).
We just need a small space to stand quietly with our bags :D
Thanks
ML
To be fair, there is no early enough in Syd, Peak hour starts on the road arterials about 530am, trains about 6am.
Ultimately go towards the front or end of the train, If its full in the platform level of carriage, (doubt it) wait for the next one, it seems your not in a hurry and are willing to sacrifice 10-15 mins..... It will benefit you.
The key thing is, Enjoy the experiance, you never know when you can see or experiance it again.
Oh and enjoy the cruise and site seeing.....Thats why your coming!
cya
bl262000
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Babsjo
Just wondering--even though it will be prime travel time, won't we be entering at the first stop for the train (at the International terminal)? So it shouldn't be too crowded? Am I missing something?
Thank you for your help, much appreciated
ML
G'day ML,
The train service actually starts just over an hour earlier at a place called Macarthur near Cambeltown. You will be joining it in the last 15 minutes of the service so there will be people on it. The airport stations are just "stops" on a longer journey.
cya
bl262000
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Heres one of Pacific Peal late 2015,
There is a better vid floating around showing the full evac from the helicopter but I cant find it ATM.
As to be observed, this area is usualy full of deck chairs, lounges, people etc....but has all been cleared away and looks bare. In the other vid I mentioned you can see all the people on the upper decks forward of the funnel watching the events happen.
cya
bl262000
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G'day NoWhiners,
"IF" you were to get the train, heres the layout to expect:
http://www.sydneytrains.info/about/fleet/a_sets
Most likely,
or:
http://www.sydneytrains.info/about/fleet/m_sets
The area at the end of the carriages is where everyone is talking about (at platform level with the horizontal (according to pic) seating).
As I said earlier, go towards the rear of the train at the airport station if selecting the option, less crowded.
cya
bl262000
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My goodness, what a dope. Even children know you have a passport to travel to another country, as it is in films and on TV.
I do not understand this phenomenon of people who cannot take the blame for their mistakes and subsequently think that everything that goes wrong is someone else's fault.:(
G'day MicCanberra,
Its because our judicial system (and everywhere elses) no longer recognises personal responsibility!!! Of course you need a passport to go overseas, always has and now more than ever will be the case. I think the emphasis here is.....Can I make some money (or recoup my losses) from/for my own mistake?????
cya
bl262000
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"Its not leaving till 1700hrs according to here"
On its way....bye Pearl
cya
bl262000
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I agree with Aus Traveller based on the new information, get a taxi (maxi if possible) and go from there.
Purchase the opal card at your conveniance getting around the city twice.
cya
bl262000
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Hi ML,
If you do take the train, I would suggest when you get on the platform at "Domestic" or "international", you move towards the end of the platform. They should all be 8 car (full platform length) trains and will make it easier to get clear of the crowding that generally happens towards the middle of the train allowing you more room in the end (platform level) vestables of the train for your luggage and "stretch out" space.
I recommend heading for the rear of the train towards the guard and that way it makes it easier if you have a drama getting your large luggage onto the train (at least it shouldn't leave without half your baggage if he has clear sight!!!).
If your getting off at Circular Quay, then waiting a minute or 2 for the crowds to disperse after disembarking, you shouldn't have any trouble getting the lift down to ground level from the platform with your baggage.
As another little side note, travelling later...9.30 - 10 may also be a better time out of peak hour.
cya
bl262000
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Its not leaving till 1700hrs according to here:
https://ships.portauthoritynsw.com.au/marineoperations/DailyVesselMovements.aspx
cya
bl262000
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[this is also posted to the main RCI board]
Didn't take any ship ones excepted the much lauded All Access Tour - which was unfortunately disappointing for $150 and lasting 2.5h. It was my understanding that our group would meet/chat with the captain and get a photo op [Captain Tyrm FYI] - that didn't happen. We also didn't visit the theatre at all. So all you get out of it is the lanyard with AAT on it. Can't recommend this at all!
Haoie
Thankls Haoie,
Interesting you stated the above re the AAT. We sailed Radiance in Feb 2015 and like you enjoyed every bit of the 16 night top end cruise.
When we did the AAT at $160 AU it was about 3hrs with meeting and getting pics with the captain on the bridge. We ended up having 2 security checks as we first went to the control room and while there the ship went condition yellow (heavy fog) and so couldn't go straight up to the bridge. After visiting other places we then got searched again and headed to the bridge where the captain met us later.
We also visited the theater but due to rehearsals for the premiering show that night could only enter the main viewing area, However a couple of days later we recieved an invite to view the back end of the theater as an extension of the tour.
Am now interested if it was a one off or has your experiance become the norm in the last year if other recent cruisers could post.
cya
bl262000
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G'day all,
Have done both trips when we did NZ by Pacific Pearl. The Taieri Gorge train could easily be done without the ships help. The place where the cruise train stopped and returned was Pukerangi. Lunch was included which was a pre packed lunch of sandwiches, cheese and biscuits with a muffin. Alcohol and soft drinks where provided free.
The Trainz Alpine train involved a bus trip via a mornning tea at a homestead. The bus then continues up the hill into the alps and into Arthurs pass national park. Along the way photostops are performed.
The train is waiting at Arthurs pass station and is a special service for the ship. Usually (apparently from what we were told) is that it is usually a railmotor but in our case it was a short 3 car train with viewing platform. Again lunch was provided similar to the Taieri Gorge train only bigger. The packs were handmade in the station refreshment room at Springfiled. Champane/drinks were also complementry.
There is a stop made at Springfield where the food trolleys are unloaded.
Then the next station, Rolleston we were back on the bus for the 1hour? trip back to the ship.
In our case we had to stop and wait halfway back to Akaroa after another passenger missed the bus back from Christchurch and so needed to get a cab at his expense 30ks away to our bus (luckily our tour was an hour late for him!) and we were literally the last passengers back on the ship.
There really is no way to do the TrainzAlpine alone, and is a longish day.
Some pics of the trains here:
cya
bl262000
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....For us infrequent overseas visitors ( 3 or 4 times a year ), how long will any funds on the card stay active between top-ups ?
IE: If I don't use the card for 6 months will I lose the stored amount ?
Thanks.
It will last for 9yrs.
https://www.opal.com.au/en/faqs/
Third question down.
Just as a note for users reading this forum topic, the opal benifits have changed frrom the 5 september 2016, There are no free trips after exceeding 8 trips a week, but instead half price fares after the 8 trips.
cya
bl262000
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G'day all,
The news report said the Police and dogs came on board and found the 95kg of cocaine in a cabin (one or more cabins). I have never seen police & dogs come on board when the ship docks, ..... Most likely this would have been from intelligence from law enforcement in another country, or (much less likely) because the cabin steward saw something suspicious.Earlier this year, we were on Pacific Pearl and it was suspected that some young guys were smoking/doing drugs on board and it seems they were just accross the hall from our cabins.
When we arrived in Wellington NZ we didn't go on any of the tours as we had other plans, then about 2hrs later there were knocks at the door requesting our cabins be inspected the NZ drug dog, Fine. About 8-10 cabins were inspected. It was later obvious that the young blokes opposite never made it out of Wellington on the Pearl!
It does happen and the inspectors have every right to inspect on board...and really the ships can't stop them or they are refused entry into the port.
cya
BL262000
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I don't really get why bingo is not being offered. Don't they play bingo anywhere in WA? How strange......
G'day,
I think its because the bingo books on P&O need to be purchased via the casino cashier and therefore falls into the casinos accounting, so if the cashier isn't open then they cant sell the bingo tickets.
You will also probably find that the onboard "horse race" will not happen for the same reason, the casino staff are the ones that sell you the betting slip in the set location, no casino $$ then no race.
cya
bl262000
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Hi,
Zip line, Segways, Walk the plank, Bull riding (one day only) Rock/funnel climbing, Bungy tramp (didn't see it used), Racing simulator (broken), Crows nest lookout.
There was prob some others but didn't see anyone using them (Nov 15)
cya
BL262000
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Hi bl262000, do you realise your links give access to all your photos?
Hi Peal,
Yes its my public Flickr site, Anything up there anyone can see, I don't use it for private pics so all good, Thanks for the concern.
cya
bl262000
How are the Swans doing?
in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
Posted
I just noticed ML and must provide a slight correction to your post, You watched and now follow the Sydney Swans which play "AFL", "Aussie (or Australian) rules" or even "aerial ping pong". :D
ARL is the Australian Rugby league supported generally in NSW, ACT and QLD (also known as NRL (National rugby league)).
Something minor but could lead to boisterous arguments!
cya
bl262000