cruiser3775

You have the right river valley, but it is a very long river, more than 240 kms. More detail needed.

Not NSW or Queensland

Not the ACT

Knew I'd seen it before. Try this one:

How about Quobba blowholes, near Carnavon?

Blowhole at Bicheno, Tasmania east coast

Carole, nobody here is talking about a "cruise line membership". This is about a particular Australian cruise specialist travel agent, who offers a "cruise club" membership when you price a cruise with them. It costs $90 per year. You get some perks - entry into a raffle of a free cruise, a large cruising magazine posted out to you, "discounts" on an overpriced travel insurance quote, invitations to some events which seem to be thinly disguised hard sells. You may also get offers for cruises that are better than those offered to the general public. I had the membership for a year when I booked my first cruise and did not receive any offers that could not be matched elsewhere.

Some of us have to add airfares plus a night's accommodation for cruises out of Sydney. Leaving from Brisbane costs about the same, when you allow for cheaper accommodation. I'm not fussed about a couple of cooler days at the start - plenty to do indoors.

The Australian news outlets have now got onto the story, because two of the passengers were Australian. I was bracing myself for a round of cruise ship bashing, but there is actually one balanced report: www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/travel-stories/why-cruise-line-norwegian-dawn-did-the-right-thing-by-ditching-passengers/news-story/150781d3b07887043947a2766243019b The group were mostly with special needs. I can't see any way it would have been safe to transfer them from the coast guard boat onto the ship.

Yes, it is very easy to blame the ship, and the interviewing has leapt onto a group of confused and disappointed passengers, so it is quite one sided reporting. The captain has to be aware of the rights of the thousands of passengers who returned to the ship on time, or never got off, and who are entitled to expect that the ship will keep to its itinerary as much as is possible.

One of them was said to be a paraplegic. That may explain why they took a private tour, which presumably catered for his/her needs.

Maybe Silverton, NSW?

I enjoyed my 12 day cruise on Splendor last winter. Yes, there were a lot of children, but it was easily possible to find places to get away from them. I thought the food choices were good and I enjoyed much of the entertainment. Once I got over the shock, I actually liked seeking out more of the weird decor. Maybe a three day cruise attracts a different crowd?

I'm tossing up between the ruins at Farina or one of the railway stations on the old Ghan route.

I get additional OBC without having to pay the club fee. I also dislike that they add both the $90 club fee plus their travel insurance to your quote, and you have to ask to have them removed.

Correct. Taken from the end of the station track at Mt Ive Station, which has camping and other accommodation. Your turn.

Thanks, Krystelle. Try this one.

I asked this question when I first went on a cruise. The consensus was that, when it comes to en route scenery, work out what side of the ship most of the land going past will be. Even then, you may well be too far out to see any land. If there is some spectacular scenic point, the captain will often do a 360 degree turn so both sides of the ship get a view. When it comes to ports, there is no way to tell if port of starboard is best, because you don't know which way the ship will be facing when it docks. It might back into the dock, for example.

If you take the ferry to Devonport, you have to go through quarantine check before you can drive away. They can be fairly strict. I've had a camper trailer thoroughly searched for half an hour or so.

Hue

Hanoi?

Eurovision has been an international competition for more than forty years. The name refers to the broadcasting transmission network, not to Europe in general. There's nothing ludicrous about countries from Asia, Africa and the South Pacific entering in the contest.

I'm not sure why, but it looks like Vietnam to me. Ho Chi Minh City?

Too hard. How about some clues?

Same experience as above. It's a good cruise agency with excellent service, but I can't see any advantage in paying the 90 dollars. I just decline it, plus I also get a better deal than they offer on travel insurance by shopping around.