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The Sophie to whom I refer joined Encounter around May last year. I'm pretty sure the cruise we were on was her first gig in the role.

So they keep saying!😂

The 'creepy granny' with the menacing garden shears and diabolical laugh is someone you are familiar with on this forum (honestly, I scrub up a helluva lot better in real life!!🙄). Beware, coming to a cruise near you soon! Bwaa haa haa!🤣 CeeCee

The latest ad for Sun Safe - Qld Health https://campaignbrief.com/the-sun-gets-its-own-horror-movie-in-queensland-healths-latest-sun-safety-campaign-via-chep-network-brisbane/

If it's the Sophie I am thinking of (we last saw her on Pacific Encounter) she's a gem. A Yorkshire lass, I think. Very outgoing and lots of fun. I think she could do with not piling on the make up so heavily, but that's her choice.🙂

I'm pretty sure Daz mentioned on the P&O forum that they are on Explorer

Haven't been on Coral personally, but a close friend loves her to bits.

Exactly. It is a very brief tender ride, which is just as well to avoid a tender hide (those seats are not comfortable)😂

Comedy of errors! Or were they trying to give you a taste of what it would be like to abandon ship?😯

Last time at Airlie we only had to wait about 10-15 minutes for a tender back to the ship which wasn't too bad in my opinion.

Also with Airlie there are market stalls where your wife might find something for the grandies. We were there mid-week and they had a scaled down market set up (I think they do this whenever a cruise ship is in) and the main markets are on weekends. The town is very quaint and there are plenty of places for you to enjoy a cold one whilst your wife hits the markets. We thoroughly enjoyed the morning we spent just wandering around Airlie. As for the length of the ride from the ship to shore (and back, of course) it depends whether you are loaded onto a ship's tender or one of the cats. We ended up doing both. Cat ship to shore and tender shore to ship. We honestly didn't find the ride either way to be a burden. Obviously the Cat was quicker.

Oh, Marion. How awful for you. We usually carry 2 cards (1 credit, 1 debit) and a bit of cash. I think last time we were in the States, we took about $US800 in cash and used that for most purchases and tips. Everything else we paid in advance (hotel accommodation, transfers, excursions, etc) before leaving Australia. From memory, the only things we paid via credit card were restaurant bills at the hotels before and after our cruise. We didn't experience any problems with the credit card, thankfully. We were travelling with friends and I suppose if the worst happened we would all have had access to at least 3 credit cards. Glad we didn't have to find out.

Hope it works out for you

Absolutely. Our friend is a chef and his slow cooked lamb is to die for! Bless him, when he cooks it for me, he leaves out the rosemary as it has an adverse effect.🤗

Unfortunately, most times, yes. We're mainly constrained by Darren's work commitments and available time off. Also, we do a land based holiday as well each year, usually to our favourite B&B. Having said that I'm currently looking very closely at 2026!!!!!!!!🤣

Back in another life, I dealt with lawyers a lot. Rule of thumb 'if it ain't in writing, it don't exist'

I come back and start planning the next one!!

I asked a Paper Back Writer about it and he just replied Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da! Quite puzzling. I suspect he had been with Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

There's a current thread on the Australia New Zealand forum that may be of assistance to you regarding credit card insurance. ttps://boards.cruisecritic.com.au/topic/2951594-cruising-westpac-and-anz-complimentary-travel-insurance/page/2/#comments

Yep, Darren learnt that very quickly🤣

Oh, pity the poor cabin steward trying to clean the ceiling!!! Most stewards I've come across are fairly slight in stature. I'm 5'1" (155cm), so I can really relate!!!😂

I suggest you contact your credit card company and enquire. From what I've read, some credit card insurance does cover both comprehensive medical (including evac) and covid related. But, of course, each bank is different. Well worth asking AMEX the question.

Haven't come across that one, sorry. I usually go for a $500 excess to keep the premium down and gamble I won't have to claim. Been lucky so far. (Mind you, I budget for the $500 just in case 🙂).

You haven't met Hillary🤣 However, I also didn't meet your corgi, so let's just agree that the hair drop is/was excessive.🙂

My understanding is that international insurance is required for cruises, even 'domestic' ones. That was the case when we recently cruised up the Queensland coast and back.