arxcards

Not sure if the protocols every required it, but when P&O and Princess restarted here, it was in their covid FAQs that they would test B2B passengers on the last sea day. It doesn't appear to have translated onto the ships.

Even when the shareholders were being well looked after, Carnival Corp was never one to use more fuel to get from A to B than necessary. She is still booked into Adelaide Ports, but it looks unusual to be close to 150 miles south of a direct route. The current angle has her pointed to clear Cape Otway. I had checked the weather before posting, and there is nothing nasty down in the bight.

Panama Canal is no longer a restriction, but size certainly matters in some of the smaller US ports. Vision class at 25 yrs+ is even old by Aussie standards. Even 2/3 rds of P&O's ships are newer. I thought Rhapsody was a nice ship - 14 years ago.

Someone tipped me off with that per cruise info. In reading the fine print at the Princess link, I think it translates to two per day for plus, while premier is unlimited.

The deal is the only thing skinny about those desserts

It might be too soon to confirm, but QE's heading is currently toward Bass Strait, which would see her missing Adelaide & Kangaroo Island. I don't know if that is the case, but they are well off course if their next stop is Adelaide. Most ships just lay a line from Albany or Esperance across to Adelaide.

Mr Hanky

They don't, unless they are evacuating the ship. They do have the driver aboard before lowering. From reports, he is OK.

I would agree that age has a bit to do with it, particularly on Carnival and P&O. If you work on a reluctance to accept you might have a mild dose and get tested if you are under 50, that would be enough to lower the numbers below a threshold that calls for mandatory testing by the ports on their itinerary. It doesn't fit Holland America though, so maybe they do something better - less people drinking at bars or using the gym perhaps, or lower passenger density. I think the media side plays a significant role in how people think too. If you get mild symptoms in Carnival, you could self-reason it might be something else. Mild symptoms on Princess could be nothing other than covid, because the media has made it clear they have lots of covid on their ships and it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

As far as I can tell, the Airwrap is not "dual voltage", so will not work with US adaptor pins in a US outlet. However, the cabin also has a Euro socket which is a suitable voltage/cycle to operate a 240V appliance. You will need a Euro to AU pin adaptor.

There are links by road already, so that is not what is preventing passengers going to the city to spend their money. If Brisbane Council wanted to support an $8 shuttle bus fare, that would be better than the ship operated $40 shuttle that the passengers are currently objecting to and choosing to stay on the ship instead. In our own situation on Majestic in October, the two of us weren't about to pay for two of those fares just to browse some shops or hang about at Southbank. At Gavin's magic $8 fare, we would have taken a trip in on a bus. A hybrid option - the ship secures/hires a cat, then sells the trip as a shore tour the same way they do for buses. The cat could then leave from the ships tender dock, and Royal Caribbean could charge an $8 fare for it. 100% not going to happen, as the pitch is about putting the onus onto the city to wear the cost for visiting passengers coming to potentially spend money.

- Length of cruise - Passenger mix. No so much about age, but the number of passengers transiting from interstate and overseas, with more chance of collecting something in transit. Overseas passengers that wont test, as it is just another cold/flu to them now, giving it to Aussie passengers who still have heightened health messaging about covid and will get tested. - If it was an age thing, this would be a bigger issue on Holland America Actually, there is only one thing that stands out as being totally different. It must be that the Medallion transmits covid.

Ask Big Gav, as that is where the story comes from. It is not that a wharf is being built, but the cruise lines see the need for the river link to be created. The way it reads, it is more about getting day visitors to leave the ship and head into the city than to provide a convenient link for embarkation/disembark. To provide an $8 casual service seems a bit of a fantasy though. https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/for-8-a-fastcat-straight-to-cruise-ship-royal-caribbean-boss-is-onboard-20221202-p5c36i.html

Been a while for me with Royal as well. Generally, if there are no queues they aren't strict. If there are queues, they are. If the previous cruise had elevated covid aboard, there will be delays which in turn leads to queues. When you board, try and get your dining assignment changed. Otherwise, you can arrive at 7pm and take your chances for a walk-up table.

Pacific Encounter, and the delay likely to the safety of boarding their pilot this morning.

Currently around 40km off the Tweed Coast, reporting 3.6 metre waves and 11.7m/s strong breeze. I have watched a couple of clips from a friend aboard, and it looks like it is only uncomfortable for the meek. Waves off the coast are slowly abating. I don't think Splendor was able to tender to Tangalooma today, as they are already heading out.

One way or another you are paying. Inclusive on Princess, or per item on P&O.

Many of the cocktails have liqueur in them, and are indeed included when ordered separately. One exception is the dining room "shot of the day" which is charged. They will only do them in the souvenir shot glass, which isn't included in the package.

Day visit at Moreton Island includes access to Tangalooma resort. Carnival/P&O have a separate arrangement for access there which doesn't require booking a casual visitor pass. Otherwise, there is a lot more to Moreton Island than Tangalooma, including nice spots to swim. Not much in the way of amenities though.

It makes a whole lot of sense, especially when you have a fair idea that something is going around. To date, they have only tested when they have been required to, even to the point of Grand skipping Newcastle last week to avoid a round of tests. They haven't wanted to test, as it could show elevated covid numbers, but the longer cruises have had enough passengers presenting with symptoms later in the cruise that they end up with enforced tests that show headline numbers. So yes, much better to get on the front foot with less than 100 cases than it is to end up with 800 ten days later. There is a cost attached to having passengers going into iso who wouldn't have otherwise been tested, but surely much better for business than passengers cancelling or shying away from booking with a lack of confidence in the level of protection the ship offers them.

I thought it tasted like a caramel version of crème Brule without the Brule. Still, I thought Majestic Brule was much better than Coral, and it might have been the same for their caramel pot. Yes, one can't discount souffles.

I think that will change on their next update with NSW, unless NZ has a lower threshold for testing.

When they reach an elevated number of cases, testing is required by the ports that are being visited. I expect Majestic will be listed as tier 2 when she next communicates with NSW ports, and that is what triggers the tests here and in NZ. So one-off, no but horses for courses.

Spotted on anti-social a little while ago. Posted yesterday, so I presume this is from getting ready to tender at Mystery Island. At least they did tender to Mystery Island The davit isn't extended, so shouldn't be ready for lowering. And I should add. if a crew member was aboard, I hope he is OK.