NashDB

David and Arlen (Nashville, Tennessee) joining this roll call.

Traveling with friends Bill and Shawn (Orlando, Florida)

9 hours ago, HulaBoys said:

Ed and Steve from Guerneville, CA.  Guerneville is an LGBTQ resort town under the redwoods about 90 minutes north of San Francisco.  Looking forward to return8ng to the sea and meeting new friends. 

Great to hear from you guys. I was hoping others would show up here! We're planning to go to Mallorca on Nov 2, then to Barcelona on Nov. 4, boarding the ship on Nov. 5. Have you done a TA before? 

Hi!  David and Arlen here from Nashville, Tennessee. Looking forward to joining you on this trip!

23 hours ago, cruiselovers21 said:

Hello 🙂 we are with a big group of boys and girls onboard 🙂 

That's great!  Are you with a particular travel agency or group?

David and Arlen here, traveling with Stephen and Greg. Hope to meet others here and on board.

David and Arlen here (Nashville, TN), traveling with Stephen and Greg (Athens, GA).  This is a celebration cruise for Stephen and David as we share the same birthday (May 12) ten years apart (1960, 1970). So we'll both be starting new decades in 2020!

We only had 6 hours in port. The Casa Dorada resort offers a day pass on a space available basis. We visited on a Sunday in October, the beginning of the season. The cost was 550 MXN per person, but this was applied as a food and beverage credit. Go to the front desk to inquire about the passes. The staff was extremely hospitable. The pools are great, but the beach area had chairs and umbrellas. There are staff there to more umbrellas as needed. We tipped the man $5 to get four chairs together with umbrellas. The area is roped off, so the hawkers on the beach are less of a problem. The beach is steep; 10 feet out and you are at 6'+ depth. It was a lovely day with lovely weather and we were pleased with how it all worked out.

Just booked this cruise. See you on board.

Sory we didn't respond until now. Hope to see you tomorrow. We'll probably go to the CC sailaway and then we think there is the one and only LGBT mixer on Monday night at 8 in the Martini Bar.

Noticing 483 views of the thread but no replies. Hope we may meet some of your viewers on board.

David and Arlen here. Hopeful to find other LGBTQ folks on these board or on board.

We are on this cruise. Hope to meet others.

We just did the bridge Climb on 1/4. Yes, it is expensive but it is definitely a once in a life time experience and to say that the surface walk way or pylon view is just as good is simply not true. Breathtaking and exhilarating are two words that come to mind as you climb the arch. Safety is paramount. Everything you are asked to do, from breathalyzer to the prohibition on cameras, is for your safety or for the safety of traffic on the roadway below. They provide you with everything you need, cord to hold glasses, hankies, hair elastics etc, which clip to the back of your jumpsuit. You also get to practice going up and down a mock up of the metal ladders. Not my favorite part but a very brief part of the climb. We had a 9:35 am climb time but all the prep and instruction put us on the bridge at about 10:45. We were advised to strip down to our undies under the jumpsuit and this was good advice. You will also be given a cap (to keep) which clips to your jumpsuit and they provide sunscreen. It was a gorgeous, clear sunny morning and not too hot at that time. There are several water fountains along the climb route and a few water misters too. BTW, you are clipped to a cable with a slider the whole time :) In addition to the group photo, they also took a 7 second video clip which can be emailed to you. So, here's what you get on the "classic" bridge climb:

Safety orientation, ladder practice and all the gear you need to wear. Lockers are provided for everything you must leave behind. Climb leader provides great info and directions as you climb, via radio headsets.

Water fountains and misters en route (no toilets)

To take home- group photo, bridge climb cap, bridge climb certificate, 7 second video clip (via email).

You can buy additional photos, and they have a gift shop.

Again, not debating the expense, but it is a truly unique and incredible experience. It was worth every penny and I will never forget the exhilaration as I viewed Sydney Harbour from the summit of the arch.

I couldn't agree more. It's truly a case of "you get what you pay for." Everything is done to create safety for all and security for those who might be a bit frightened.

Let me repeat what someone said on the regular Roll Call: the info David put together on the ports was a great help.

{Blush}

David, I looked you up on Facebook but want sure it was you so I didn't connect. The picture is with Santa. Is that cutie you?

Alas, that IS me in a decidedly more innocent time :)

Steel and Larry from the Washington DC area will be on board. We are not in the PP group but look forward to meeting all. Arrive Auckland Dec. 30th and staying in the CBD (Now know that means Central Business District, feel like a native).

Glad to have someone else show up not in the PP group. Not that we don't like the PP folk :) It's just nice to know we won't be the only same-gender couple serving as missionaries to the opposite-gender couples in the main dining room. haha.

We're David (53) and Arlen (40 on 1/18/14) from Nashville, TN. I'm a non-profit music association exec and he's the OR scheduler/general "do whatever it takes" guy at a local hospital.

We'll be arriving in Auckland on Jan 2 evening and departing Sydney on Jan 19.

You can find me on the facespace at facebook.com/davidlb

Looking forward to meeting all.

David

Sorry for the abbreviation. The Central Business District, or CBD, is Auckland's main downtown area and also where the ship docks. As for taxis, yes there are cabs at the airport but it's a long ride downtown and reports are that the cabs are quite expensive - I've heard NZ$80 or more depending on where you are going. There are shared van services that quote about NZ$45 for two, but the ride can be as long as an hour. There's also a post on the other thread about a private shuttle that I've emailed for a quote.

Steve - who did you use for your airport transfer in Auckland? Thanks for the info!

Don't they have taxis at the Auckland Airport?

Don't know what CBD is.

Central Business District

Got our visas for Australia yesterday. So I think everything is in place. Just need to read up a little about New Zealand and starting thinking of what to pack. This trip is getting close.

How did you do the visas? I know there are several online sites...some costing a good bit more.

Hi guys. I realized that it has been a very long time since I visited here. We are Steve and John from Chicago, traveling with the Pied Piper group. We're finishing up our final planning and getting exclusions booked is weekend. I also checked with Bruce about a forum or Yahoo group for this cruise and he said they no longer set those up, but suggested I post to the PP Facebook page. We get in to Auckland late on December 29th. When does everyone else arrive?

We get in on January 2, in the evening.

Check out: http://www.taieri.co.nz/index.htm

Looks like Arlen and I will be holding down the non-Pied Piper contingent, which may just be us! Looking forward to meeting everyone however.

David

I'm with you on the "nothing looks especially appealing". We may see you on board on those bad weather days.....but....may we have none of that!

Noticed another couple posted on the other forum....Bob and Fred I think.

David

Well, maybe only the love of the week or two. We all need some love in our lives.

 

Have you booked any excursions for yet? We need to get started on that.

Yup we're done on the excursions end. I posted this link on the other forum. It's the majority of my research:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n7APkLg-mKqDzJODjOOD-TeyBqsF96oFEIARVVDQBfg/edit?usp=sharing

Our final list:

Bay Of Islands

Waitangi Treaty Grounds

and Fuller’s Dolphin Cruise to the Hole in the Rock

Tauranga

Will rent a car, drive to Kaiate Falls and Karangahake Gorge for short hikes and/or possibly Rotorua. If you think this is for you, you're welcome to join. We're going to take it easy, but those short hikes look nice and we may make it down to Rotorua. Our plan is less agenda and more enjoying the day based on weather, what looks fun, etc.

Wellington

Take Cable Car up and then take shuttle to Zealandia, then back and walk through botanic garden down hill, and back to town and ship. Possibly Te Papa Museum.

Akaroa

Eastern Bays Scenic Mail Run Tour 9:00 am - 1:30 pm

Dunedin

Taiere Gorge Train trip 9:30 am - 1:30 pm

Hobart

Hobart Walking Tour - 2.5-3 hour walking tour. This guide seems like fun. I told her we were a gay couple and loved knowing the "secrets" of the town...that seemed to excite her :)

Melbourne

My City Tours - Electric Bike Tour 10:00 - 1:00

If you want anymore info just ask.

I wonder what would happen if a PP customer met the love of his life during the cruise. Would this person be fitted into the PP table? Or would the two of them have to go find another table if they wanted to eat together?

 

There is always breakfast, lunch and tea where tables are not assigned.

What....people find the love of their life on a cruise? hehe.

I don't know of any forum specifically for the PP group.

 

The PP group had tables reserved for dinner, so I don't know if others could join or not. Maybe you are more fun than the PP group?

I think PP probably keeps their tables pretty "closed", which can understand. Of course we're more fun than the PP group :)