NSWP

Hope your husband gets over it soon.

Sorry to hear you are unwell Julie, I hope your PCR test is negative.

Were there any Lurgy cases Graham? After all you are the OPT Guru.

Airlie is a tender port. Majestic Princess was in there yesterday with probably 3500 pax. I do not know how the tender operation went. As for Cairns, Barry, google Cairns Port and check capacity. Last time I was at Airlie was on QM2 , Syd to HK in March 2017. Not that many embarked the tenders, it was way too hot and humid for the many poms on board, lol. Yes it was not nice walking around Airlie that day, 2 hrs did us.

Sympathise with you, I had a couple of similar issues on Coral Princess 13 Sept to 22 Sept. I pre notified them that I was Coeliac. and booked in my dining times in MDRs' They put me in Bordeaux and Provence MDR's on different nights. First night I just picked out dishes from the menu, this was my 21st Princess cruise so I know the drill. I told waiter I was coeliac, he calls the HW over and he gives me menus for next night as usual to pick my meals. Next night, I go to MDR, no gf meal appears, I tell waiters I ordered it they go down to the special area of galley where diets are prepared, cannot locate meals. They tell me so, I am not happy but pick out some dishes from menu. I again pick menu for following night. Next night meal does not appear again, so I walk out of MDR and tell the HW at door what happened, he is not real interested but tells me to come and see him the next night and he will sort it out. I never did. I had enough of it all by then so for the next 6 nights I ate at HC buffet or got a burger on gf bun from the burger bar up top. The food at HC was fine, I got what I wanted, always a carvery on and plenty of veg and salads did me. We always did traditional dining and I never had a problem getting my gf meals. The last night I went to MDR and just ordered a steak and salad and a couple of creme broulees, lol. As you say with Dining my way, different waiters, different tables each night and the mdr service was nowhere as good as previously experienced. I agree it could be the fact the waiters know there is almost zero chance of getting cash tip from pax they might only serve once. PS As a solo traveller now I paid $300 a night to be on the ship, no way was I going to spend more on specialty restaurants, done all those in previous years. Sorry for the long winded post.

Must be quite a few crew ill then.

That is alarming and there would be other unreported cases still walking around the ship. Take care. Walking the passenger decks and counting tables at cabin doors, now that could take over from Trivia as the top activity on board, lol.😷

Well it was berthed at Geelong this morning, amongst much fanfare, Ch7 reporters the whole business. The Deputy Mayor of Geelong was portside, saying the Spirit of Tasmania was the best ship in Australia, something like that. I thought that banner was currently for Coral Princess, LOL.

You like your bacon nuked and cremated the American way. I reckon Princess deep fry it. I don't mind it but English style is ok too.

Crikey, the MDR's will be flat out Geoff.

I have been to De Bortoli winery out near Griffith a couple of times. Last time was mid year. Did a tour, I can tell you what goes in their very drinkable De Bortoli Premium Casks goes into their Sacred Hill Range, $5 a bottle at Dans and also into their Willowglen range, which is their commercial wine produced exclusively for the club, pub industry AND now Princess cruise ships @ $54 a bottle. It is $15 a bottle at my golf club restaurant/bistro, but to be truthful it is no more than a $6 or $7 quaffer.

Hi all, just watching the news, the Spirit of Tasmania is relocating from Station Pier, Melbourne to Geelong. She was berthed at Geelong this morning, no doubt both ships have/will move there on the Tasman run to and from Devonport. Could free up the pier for another cruise ship berth?

Thanks, will see how I go, hope to meet up with you again and a few other CC’ers around the traps.😀

Yes Barry, cash is 🤴🏻 Your question was factual.

Thanks, but not at the moment, might be moving down to Moruya at my daughter’s she is 200 metres from the hospital where I can get get some treatment, like dialysis if required and where the visiting specialists work from. I get giddy and tired. Getting hammered by the storms at the moment, rain, thunder.

Great reporting Geoff, I am enjoying your reports and pics as I take it easy watching the T20, Aust v NZ. Is it on MUTS? Sail on !!

Just have a Visa Debit card, well loaded Barry. I dont have a credit card but always a well loaded debit card, lol. Sometimes you have to take the risk.

Thanks my friends for all your comments and sincere wishes. I have a battle to overcome this one. Thanks.. Les.

Hello my friends, I truly thank you all for your comments and warm wishes on here. I have a few hurdles to jump again and will lay low for a while, specialists etc. Going to be a battle to get over this one. In the meantime, take a cruise for me. Thank you, Les

Something different all right, today I was diagnosed with severe renal failure after blood tests and ultrasounds the past few days. My kidney function has taken a big nose dive. Do not know where I go from here, specialist? Dialaysis? Suffice to say I am not well and could be a shot duck. Not dwelling on it, bye for now.

Lyle with all due respect, some advice from Uncle Les, whilst it is a tragedy, please do not let it stress you out, wont do you any good. In my 36 years in 👮‍♂️ I lost several mates at various incidents. Bless you my son and the RCMP. 😢

Are you on board yet Geoff? Someone said it was a nightmare today down at ye olde OPT.

RCMP usually are, from what I saw when I was in Canada on two occasions.

But not great if you got Covid early in the cruise and were confined to the inside cabin for a few weeks. No way Jose.

Oh no. I can only imagine the big crowds at the OPT, inside and outside,would be chaos, with everyone piling up. Probably 3500 pax there by now, well 3000 anyway. Good luck Geoff and others embarking today.