MelbTone

12 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

The Flight Attendant did nothing; I was miffed.  Since then, I have learned why he didn't help.  

Do tell .....

Late to the party but the best pie I ever ate courtesy of Star Inn, Lingfield UK, 2013

I did the Queen Elizabeth tour pre-Covid. I didn't keep notes but from memory it included theatre backstage, medical unit, bow anchor chain space, control room, print shop, stores, refuse disposal, galley and bridge. It cost around $150. Note that no photos are allowed, also they book up quickly.

My last pre-COVID cruise was on Queen Elizabeth: Melbourne - Adelaide - Kangaroo Island - Hobart - Melbourne. Well it would have been, but we had to skip K I because of fires. Good itinerary for a short Australian cruise.

My last cruise was Jan 2020 on Queen Elizabeth. There was at least one programmed solo event (coffee mornings, solos lunch, afternoon tea etc) each day organised by designated crew host Cordelia and she did a brilliant job. From memory about 20-30 people of all ages showed up. Otherwise it was generally the case that people sitting on their own in public areas were happy to approached and chat. And for those who feel diffident about doing this, get the other person to tell you their stories - most people love an audience.

2 hours ago, Docker123 said:

My next door neighbour is getting ready to retire.

 

I told him to buy a calendar to keep track of what day it is.

Not retired, but I had that problem during Covid lockdowns with all the regular things that punctuate the week being cancelled.

Yes, I  booked Fremantle-Sydney QM2 Feb 2024 on Tuesday night just after bookings opened. No problems.

Thanks for the quick responses. Yes, south - torn between six nights on Queen Elizabeth to Melbourne (home) or (at twice the price), ten nights on Queen Mary 2 to Sydney. On the basis that one never knows what's ahead (especially after the last 2+ years), I'll probably go for QM2 - want to have a plan for when bookings open. 

Planning a summer 2024 cruise from Freo to Melbourne or Sydney, balcony cabin. Which side does the jury think best? Or perhaps since one can always go up on deck in the sun or shade as weather dictates it doesn't really matter.

Above reminds me of a holiday 40 years, Southend, England (before I discovered cruising). I stopped to look at an open air art show and bought a small pen and ink drawing of a local church for a few pounds. Shortly afterwards a man approached me and asked whether I was the person who had bought the drawing. I confirmed I was, expecting to be told that it had been a mistake and could he refund me. Instead he said "that's the first picture my wife has ever sold and it's made her day. Thank you so much". So yes, you never know what a simple gesture might do.

By now bookings would be open and I'd have booked my 2024 cruise (ideally Melbourne-Fremantle or vv on QM2) but I've already got my 2021, 2022 and 2023 cruises stacked up for Q1 2023 and am only giving them a 50% chance of going ahead.

On 1/26/2022 at 12:38 PM, hrhdhd said:

And I'll add one, although I am not familiar with Carnival and whether specialty restaurants are an option. If you can, be sure to have a nice specialty meal if that appeals to you--don't worry about being alone at your table. The staff will (should!) take good care of you!

On my last cruise, Queen Elizabeth two years ago, I decided to treat myself to a special meal in the Verandah speciality restaurant. Needless to say, the food and service were faultless. Would I do it again? As as single, no: the pace was very leisurely with big gaps between courses (probably because they were cooked to order). If I'd been half of a couple, I would really have appreciated this but I just felt awkward. What I might be open to doing on a future occasion is looking out for another solo who would appreciate a speciality restaurant meal without solitude.

38 minutes ago, bluemarble said:

7-Oct-23  Quebec

9-Oct-23  Sydney

11-Oct-23  Boston

Wow!  Ah it's https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney,_Nova_Scotia

On 1/6/2022 at 9:10 AM, MMDown Under said:

I think cruise lines should do more cruises with overnight stopovers.  

Certainly when you're docked at a port near the city. I guess it also comes down to port capacity. Two years ago I was on the QE Mel-Adelaide-Kangaroo Island-Hobart-Mel cruise when they announced that because of bushfires KI would be replaced by a sea day. My initial reaction was to ask why they hadn't given us an overnight in Adelaide or Hobart, but on checking another ship was taking our berth in Adl and one was preceding us in Hobart so not possible. When the Spirit of Tasmania moves out from Station Pier there's scope to give Melbourne a dedicated cruise terminal and encourage overnights with consequent benefit to the economy. But whether anyone in power has the vision to do this is another matter.

I put two or three lines of tape down the inside before folding and stapling. Label is then all but impossible to tear

9 minutes ago, SinbadThePorter said:

Growers loss ought to be buyers gain. Glut = low prices, but somehow I don't think it will work out that way in the supermarkets.

A few weeks back my Woolies had lovely strawberries for $1 a box - farmers must have been making all but nothing. Back to $3 yesterday.

Hadn't realised that cruising supports pineapple farmers:

Australian pineapple growers are experiencing a bumper season, but a third of their usual customers aren't buying the tropical fruit due to COVID-19.

"The cruise ships leaving Melbourne and Sydney used to take truckloads of our pineapples," says Queensland pineapple grower Trudy Morgan, who works in the heat and dust, harvesting fruit in the Glasshouse Mountains, an hour's drive north of Brisbane.

"But they're not sailing. The airline industry would take our pineapples and serve them in meals or offer juice, as would restaurants, hotels and bars … but those businesses aren't fully back up and running and we're left with a glut of fruit."

https://www.goodfood.com.au/eat-out/news/the-best-value-australian-produce-for-your-shopping-basket-this-spring-20211007-h1z1y1

(might be paywalled)

11 hours ago, foodsvcmgr said:

Airline gate crew frequently care, those dressing well oft times are rewarded with space available upgrades. 

Happened to me mid 1990s. My brother worked for an airline and as he wasn't married he could nominate a relative in lieu of spouse to get staff travel benefits (10%, standby). So I got a UK-Melbourne ticket for £110. I dressed suitably and on the outward leg he got me upgraded. For the return leg I was warned that the flight was fully booked so decided to try my luck. My Aussie friend looked at me in suit and tie and said "why on earth are you dressed like that". It worked! Business class return for £110. Presumably the extension of this is that if you're cabin crew you pay special attention to the casually dressed since they've probably paid full fare.

1 hour ago, onlyslightlymad said:

What exciting times you are having in Australia.

Yes, so cynical. Here in Victoria we have an earthquake and NSW can't resist having a bigger one!

I got this FCC email this morning. It's probably OK for all those of you who live in the Northern hemisphere but here in Australia there are no cruises this summer (Nov-March), so the only ones that qualify are five at the end of 2022, four round New Zealand and one up to the Barrier Reef. Only problem is that I've already got 2023 bookings on a NZ cruise (Princess) and BR (Celebrity). I guess I need to phone them and try and get them to apply the FCC to the latter, failing which I cancel it and rebook the same for late '22. Soon the number of cruises I haven't been on will outnumber those I have!

I was booked on Eclipse's Barrier Reef cruise next March. Not too surprisingly I got the email a few weeks ago saying it was cancelled and I would receive FCC or a refund at my choice. Today I booked online the similar cruise for 2023 then when I went to My Celebrity it said I was booked on two cruises, the second the one I just booked, the first a 7 night Pacific coastal cruise on Eclipse departing March 26 2022 (as per the original BR cruise), same booking ref. I have never received any emails relating to this booking. Before I contact Celebrity has anyone else experienced this?

Just received from Cunard: that's my 2022 QM2 Melbourne-Fremantle cruise knocked out for the second year running - TBH not totally unexpectedly

Our forecasts are showing that due to the number of affected international ports of call, and when restrictions in each will be lifted, it is highly unlikely that we will be able to deliver a Cunard World Voyage experience. Therefore, we have made the decision to cancel the 2022 World Voyages on both Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. As a result of this decision, we are sorry to advise that your voyage has been cancelled. We understand you would have been excited to sail this itinerary with us and we are sorry for the disappointment this may cause.

Just received from Cunard: that's my 2022 QM2 Melbourne-Fremantle cruise knocked out for the second year running - TBH not totally unexpectedly

Our forecasts are showing that due to the number of affected international ports of call, and when restrictions in each will be lifted, it is highly unlikely that we will be able to deliver a Cunard World Voyage experience. Therefore, we have made the decision to cancel the 2022 World Voyages on both Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. As a result of this decision, we are sorry to advise that your voyage has been cancelled. We understand you would have been excited to sail this itinerary with us and we are sorry for the disappointment this may cause.

Check out twenty-something Emma's Queen Victoria cruise video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABwM_bOkKhQ