Mareblu

Typos and double posting.  I need to breathe😂

7 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

It is one of them, I wonder if you can get it. 

Encanto may help

Someobe will guess with that tip🙏🏻

3 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

It is one of them, I wonder if you can get it. 

Encanto may help

Someobe will guess with that tip🙏🏻

Sorry, Kristelle🙏🏻

just opened a Matildas thread, Mic.

 Chilean  fjords?  (7-0!!!😂)

Should I open a Matildas thread so we don’t drive everyone on here batty?  Please excuse us, shipmates and cruising friends🙏🏻

Hat trick to Michelle

2 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

This 2nd game seems a little different, MH continues her scoring.

Brilliant. Sold out stadium for the 6th time.

👏

27 minutes ago, Kristelle said:

Antartica?

He’s occupied now😂

Always listen to your Captain.  He is indeed correct, in this instance.

Marulan, NSW?

Gosh, first Cunard and now Virgin.  Someone needs to tell the Brits they're not rats, and we're not sinking.

58 minutes ago, possum52 said:

Crazy, how cards won't work. Yesterday I ordered a digital copy of a death registration from the UK General Register Office for my family history research. I have ordered registrations/certificates in the past using the same card, which I use for all online purchases, but yesterday the website wouldn't accept it - for a whole $4.83. I then tried my husband's card and bingo! It worked, a card attached to the same account. 

How frustrating, Leigh.  It seems to be a common occurrence.

I meant to add that although we enjoy sailing with Oceania, and have for many cruises, I won't hesitate to call out negligent or careless behaviour at any time.  I think Oceania's attitude, more than anything,  in this instance needs to be severely criticised.

7 hours ago, shepherd really said:

AirTags are the solution.  If you can inform the luggage handlers where your bag is and show them a picture of the actual bag(taken before you check it in), they'll find it.  

I completely agree.  We won't travel anywhere now without our AirTags.  It's a wonderful feeling settling into your seat on a long-haul flight knowing your bags are flying with you.

We've never been told that we have to have the actual card you book with.  If you're not paying until you arrive, any card should suffice.  Maybe it's a way to ensure international guests will actually arrive.  Seems a tad strange.  Europe has always required your passport, which they make a copy of, so maybe we're moving to that now.  I don't know why a photo ID is necessary.  We've never had to show photo ID in Australia.  As Mario just said, "all they want is your credit card"😉.  I've just sent you an email, Lyle.

One thing I forgot to mention is that when we paid in advance for a transfer (through Booking.com) from Southampton to Heathrow recently, our bank sent a number code to use to verify it was definitely being made on our behalf.  This was before we notified the bank the other day that we’d be overseas in coming months.  Transfers require payment on booking, but they can still be cancelled, with a full Booking.com refund, close to the transfer date.  Had I not confirmed with the code, I’m sure our bank would have disallowed the payment.

51 minutes ago, mr walker said:

This reminded me of when our kids were young we went on what we called a "dice tour" that we made up loosely based on a TV show we had seen. We spent a week travelling around by car based on directions decided by rolling a dice that decided in which direction we were to go. From home it was no point in heading E (not far to ocean from Penrith 🙂 ), so first roll was 1 or 2 was N, 3 or 4 was W etc & we would use the same process each morning, leaving out of the options the direction we had travelled from the day before. We made up rules like we couldn't stay the night in the same place we had lunch. We travelled down the NSW Sth Coast & across to Canberra and then back home, following the dice directions. Tracey & I really enjoyed it - the boys not so much. At one point they insisted a rule mod to 1,2,3,4,5 or 6 would send us home 🙂 We still talk of this today.

 

BOT, yes, I share the frustrations of the options available to search for cruises.

What a fantastic idea!

FWIW, the “espresso” and “cappuccino” options on the Executive Lounge machine dispense a watery version of the real thing.  Certainly okay for a wakeup hot drink if you’re near the Lounge and can nip out early in the morning, but it’s definitely Baristas for the genuine article.

The website, under itinerary and pricing, has a drop-down under each suite/stateroom showing privileges for that particular accommodation.  No reservation needed for GDR, just arrive and register with the desk at the restaurant door, although our butler has sometimes (in the past) made GDR reservations for us.  A way to skip the queue, but it did make us feel too uncomfortable so we afterwards declined offers for that privilege.  The poster above is correct on all counts.

There are several cruise lines we love to sail with.  None are at the more economical end of the pricing scale, but we cruise far less frequently than most on the Aust/NZ threads, maybe once a year, or even once every two years.  This year is very different as we are doing two cruises only three weeks apart, using substantial cruise credits for one.  

My usual strategy is to search each individual line’s site, and compare, always destination driven.  We are flexible for dates and seasons.   so destination first, but also, certain ships are important.  If Oceania, we prefer the larger Marina, Riviera and now Vista.  These are still very much “smaller sips” by any standard.

Then, after we’ve mulled it over together, I ring our Canberra TA we’ve dealt with for many, many years, and after discussing with her, ask her to book it.  She has amazing pulling power with and good contacts within the lines, and airlines.  She’s scored us so many amazing deals, even getting half fares if sales on our choices pop up  months after we’ve booked at full rates, and twice had us upgraded to the top suites on specific lines.  We have her private number for any after-hours problem while we’re out of the country.  

I wouldn’t dream of not using our TA for our trips;  she’s become a valued advisor, and a friend in every sense.

31 minutes ago, bazzaw said:

This booking is through Booking.com - they have several means of payment but I think it depends on the requirements of the hotel. This one involved the hotel claiming payment before the date of accommodation. There seems to be no way I can get back into this booking to change it to pay either now or on the day. I did also have another hotel booked to be paid on the day - I could go back into that booking and pay it now. I don't want hickups when away !! 

If you click your a/c under your id at top of page, then go to “my trips” (or similar, without looking) you should be able to edit or cancel every single item.  I did this just the other day.  Sometimes, when you make the original reservation, Booking.com advises that a particular hotel may draw down the funds closer to the booking date.  Maybe that’s what happened here, but you should always be able to get a refund from Booking.com, which is the original purchaser.

7 hours ago, ilikeanswers said:

Bratislava, Slovakia? 

Not Bratislava, either.

8 hours ago, Kristelle said:

Prague? 

Not Prague.  Rosie has it correctly.