arxcards

What is important when cruising with Royal Caribbean. As an Aussie, by default they will want to charge your account in $AU. That means they will be doing the conversion on your behalf, and it is done at a pretty poor rate. At check-in, make sure they know you are electing to be charged in $US. That way, you will get the better Wyse conversion rate, otherwise getting the card will be futile.

Good score Chez. Encounter already had drydock scheduled as just a P&O ship, but I figure they need to add some extra days for rejigging and rebranding to a full Carnival spec.

Don't worry, I have a wife that tried to bail out of the little chairlift at Magic Mountain when it was on the Gold Coast. She has improved with practice, and Kuranda is well within accepted limits for her. We are on the same cruise, and may well do the Skyrail again.

Just a disclaimer, for those that do have genuine phobias and aren't sure of what the excursion is about. If you have been in other skyrail/gondola lifts, it is much like those.

I can have a PC format view or an emulated view of the phone screen. It mirrors the phone, do the photo taken on the phone also shows on the PC. All moot for me anyway, I will never need an Aussie ETA.

There are alternatives. It must be done on the app. However, I can see my phone and all of its apps on my PC using Phone Link (I am using a Samsung S phone and Android/Google Play with a windoze PC). I don't know if you are using anything compatible and if Apple has a similar option, but for me, I am able to use my apps with a large screen & keyboard on my PC that way.

Most offers are base level. You will need to crank up many more points to be offered anything better. It makes sense that P&O Players Club will roll into Carnival, but that is one of the dozens of things that are yet to be confirmed when Carnival takes their P&O Aspro. Even if merged, it is still unknown how existing P&O points/qualifications will be transferred. They have intimated that many of P&O's amenities will be business as usual for another 18 months, so don't expect a definitive answer for some time. If Players club can't/won't give you an answer, it will be because they haven't decided or are not ready to announce it yet.

They take the side of the complainant, as that is where the angle of the story lies. But hey, how good of ACA to get everybody $50 OBC 🤣

I believe they still operate a cloak room for their guests, but that is different to luggage storage where you can drop your bags and explore Sydney. Worth confirming if you just killing time at MCA. They also handle bookings via Bounce, but you need to make sure you are back before they close at 5pm or they will have your bags till the next morning. Bounce at City Extra is 24/7 in line with the café, and would be a safer bet for anyone wanting to store luggage into the evening hours.

From the signature, I believe it is Adventure of the Seas.

It looks like you are underway. I hope the weather is a plus from here on.

I have seen a couple of seriously good talented young guitar solos on Princess over the years. You kind of think wow, what are you doing here. Then there is a sad realisation that they are unlikely to progress to anything better on their chosen path. There are also lots of "glib" piano solos that suit that US lounge style, that are no doubt good, but not for us.

Rock the Boat is calling at Cairns

Don't know. Maybe they are still free to those that ask, or they have cottoned on that the cloak room can turn a dollar. Most of these pop-up storage places are just using their voids to support their main business.

They tried a combined Rock the Boat/Cruisin Country on Ovation in 2022. It probably would have worked, but for the shake-up of covid. Yes, to keep it running, they had to drop back to a more suitably sized ship and sell each genre separately. To be bold, a bigger ship would also allow for bigger artists to be booked. Airlie Beach has no issues with an airport, easily serviced by Proserpine or Hamilton Island. It is a better option than Brisbane but was possibly already booked by another ship for the date needed for the retro cruise. Yes, we don't do them for the itinerary either, as long as the ship goes somewhere. We have done a Cruise n Groove and a Rock the Boat on Radiance, and they are both among our most memorable cruises.

Another option without options, as noted for the upcoming music charter cruises on Luminosa. Three ports in New Caledonia are no longer possible, and they can't substitute with other island ports. Reason - many of the headline music acts (including Human Nature and Marcia Hines) are only on for half the cruise, normally flying to or from Noumea to link up with their bookings on the ship. Needing an airport, the cruise now includes Brisbane. Syd - Bris - Willis Island - Sydney. At least the entertainment will be good. The entrepreneurs behind these charters were on to a great niche that was getting bigger & better each year but have taken a pounding since covid showed up. They have switched from Royal to Carnival to keep the venture afloat, but some (as per ACA last night) booked this cruise for the itinerary. Fair call about not wanting to fly from Brisbane to Sydney only to cruise to Brisbane, but these cruises are all about the entertainment. No refunds are available because of the change of itinerary.

Those delayed enough to miss their flight today (for Melbourne in particular) will be lucky to get a replacement tonight or tomorrow - even with ezair.

Yes, that one is connected to City Extra, and a worthwhile stop for coffee at the same time. According to their blurb, Bounce now has 78 locations in Sydney that use their booking system. Some use more than one booking app. There are 4 Bounce outlets around Circular Quay, some also using competing brands. Shop around.

MCA: Luggage storage Museum of Contemporary Art Australia - 24/7 - Online Booking (eelway.com)

Princess changed their 2025 WC on Crown a few months ago, to avoid the Red Sea. 2026 is still a long way off, but the Cunard changes for Queen Anne would suggest it is only a matter of time before Princess follow suit. I don't know what the specific itinerary will be, except for Princess at least, you will get a fair idea by looking at their revised 2024 & 2025 itineraries.

Bounce isn't dear, but make sure you don't incur international transaction fees, as your payment is processed overseas. The MCA now uses bounce, as well as via other providers.

Stress from rushing and ruining the benefits of a relaxing holiday is one part. On the financial side, it is the lack of flexibility in airline tickets and the hassle of chasing-up most of your unexpected expense through travel insurance.

She is just about to depart LA and head across the Pacific. As she will be based here, they will be adding an AU outlet during the crossing. This is likely to be at the expense of one of the Euro outlets, although if anything like Coral, it could be an additional desk mounted outlet with extra USB-A's. Whichever way, there will be a change before she arrives in Sydney.