arxcards

For a short cruise, yes. The package was partly refunded as well, as the door prizes was disabled - maybe they now have restrictions on domestic cruises. The package was redeemed well past the price, with 2 x specialty meals each + 6 photo prints plus digital dl's of all 12 photos. We only had around 1/2 dozen drinks over the plus cap price, so extra benefit if you like espresso Martinis or XO cognac. A plus package is all we would be interested in for anything over 5 nights.

Random Alcohol Tasting's?

Oh well, it must have been a booze cruise after all. On the train home on Tuesday, I was concerned that I was starting to come down with something, which is a concern since we are off again next Wednesday. Turns out I might have had one cognac too many on the last night, and I just had a teeny hangover. All good, and feeling fit again. I will take a look at what photos I have, and hopefully add some tomorrow.

Carnival Luminosa spent a day and a half in Dubai, and are now bound for Singapore. Nearest the pin is Majestic Princess - 1 week tomorrow morning she will be in Sydney, following her long weekend in New Zealand.

Wow, isn't Mickey going to be busy!!

I don't know if the cruise line protocols in Australia point to the Australian approved list, but the government did specify a list of 50+ brands that were approved for use in Australia. https://www.tga.gov.au/obtaining-approved-covid-19-rapid-antigen-tests By the same token, a test accepted by a cruise ship in Florida is also going to be accepted by a cruise ship in Sydney.

The ones we had you could move around. A bit more space and privacy would be ideal, but they wouldn't have enough space to fit them all in. While there is a gap between tables, at least it allows you to order and eat at your own pace without considering if the adjacent table is ready to order. P&O has that wriggle around to the back of the table version which offers a bit more privacy - but from ugly perspex screens.

On our recent cruise, I just bought some bling for my wife. I had considered cycling it through the casino. $100 OBC will also buy around 4 family blocks of chocolate in the gift shop. OK, I exaggerate a bit.

Is it over yet?

Except for the OP (and others on the 1st November cruise), who miss Vanuatu and get a double stop in Noumea.

Nah, they both get a headline. P&O first to Vanuatu, calling in Port Vila on 9th November, Royal first to Mystery Island on 12th. At least Royal has now come clean on Quantum's 1st November departure - the winner is Noumea!!

A bit of the potato cake bit from back a few pages. Just spotted at our local Coles. A little bit pricey, but I have been looking for a supermarket frozen potato scallop for ages. Will let you know later how my mini plain and s&v scallops go. Apparently, this company has sprung-up as a good news story. https://whymeatcompany.com.au/our-products/ I am not likely to convert to the vegan pretend-meat pies though.

Alaska is awesome. I hope you can find a nice itinerary and price. I get the orientation bit. Princess flow is a bit different to others, and I guess it seems more natural to us based on similar layouts on their other ships. I guess International café was in our loop, as a walk by for coffees.

Rapid antigen tests are in just about everyone's hand luggage these days. They are not a prohibited item.

Thanks for a great read. Being on the same cruise, it was nice to read a different perspective. I wanted to wait till we got home so that I could browse through the pics on a PC screen. Thanks for the beautiful pictures. The weather wasn't particularly nice until Sunday night, but Eden did turn on a spectacular day. For anyone having trouble with the functionality of the app, there are a couple of Princess guru's set up at a display stand opposite Effy's (near International cafe). They sell bling for your medallion, but they also solve any problems you may have. From advice given earlier on the forum, I found the best way is that once aboard to logout of the app, then log back in via your name/DOB/Cabin number (instead of email/password). Barb had some issues with hers on our previous cruise, and one of the guru's solved it in a couple of minutes. I agree that many of the balconies lack protection, but even those that have it lack privacy as well. We were midship on the same deck on the same side, had semi protection from above, but could see into dozens of balconies on the decks below - which also means they could see us too. They would be awesome spaces for sunny summer days, but aren't compatible with wet weather for sure. Given that was 1st time Princess, are you looking towards #2, or returning to your previous brand(s)?

Also free lunchtime pizza in Sabatini's

Not being allowed to dock was never going to be a real possibility, so it was an OTT comment. All I have read is they have reverted to their usual maritime restrictions and responses, thus removing covid specific rules - but covid will still be considered in the same way as any other respiratory illness or norwalk virus response.

I think so. We were trying to decide whether to get one last drink, so she started to do a very slow shuffle - I am walking away very slowly, then would ask again if we had decided yet with every step.

The ports section is much older, but they set this area up as there are often discrepancies between what the cruise lines do here vs the UK and US. That, and were upsetting too many of the natives on those various US centric cruise line pages. Much better for them if they hide us here 😁

Last time we stayed at Four Seasons, from the rear entry on level 1 to Harrington St, there eas an ATM just across the road. I can't recall which bank it was. Check with your bank, as they may have an arrangement with an Aussie bank that gives you lower fees and charges on your transactions. As for your Q1, most hotels now itemise the credit card surcharge and add it to your bill. This is a banking cost incurred by them, which they are legitimately passing on.

There is still a difference between being allowed to dock a yellow flagged ship, and being able to freely disembark from it. No testing prior to arrival means they don't require passenger screening tests, but the ship still needs to report infection numbers for covid, flu, noro etc, and that will determine the response - not too different to what occurred in Papeete.

Cruise ships with elevated levels of covid are treated differently. Screening tests - negative can go ashore, positives will be added to the isolation loop. That also makes the ship nervous, as a full round of test could give them even higher recorded numbers for their arrival in Sydney.

They can't follow the recipe. Creme brule should not be split, should be silky smooth and cling to the spoon. Princess does know how, as I have had dozens of them in the past. I have seen nothing close over the two short Coral cruises. Even the P&O vesion is better than what I have had on Coral, as is the Wicked Sister supermarket offering.

Not so sure. I lost weight on my creme brule diet. Coral Princess has lost their recipe it seems. I don't know if they are using UHT milk or what it is. Egg custard doth not a brule make.

The gorgeous skinny waitress made us laugh last night - wicked sense of humour.