arxcards

Explorer & Voyager have been here. Sure, send a similar ship of a different name, but where is the WOW in that?

Yes & no. This is a cruise forum. Except for a grey nomad lap, and I may be generalising a bit, most from the east coast would choose to fly to Perth instead of spending days on the road. That would be especially true for those in a cruise forum heading to Fremantle to meet up with a cruise ship - either by flying or aboard the Indian Pacific.

Lets count the days until another Virgin ship adorns one of our ports.

Yep, The NCL ship, QE & Resilient Lady have flown the coup from Sydney. Luminosa departed Brisbane on Monday, and the remainder are on their final week or two. I think for the large ships, Diamond is the only addition next year. We drop Virgin, a Royal ship & a Princess ship next summer. Bye Bye to Brilliance of the Seas and Majestic Princess next week for the foreseeable future.

Is this one no good? Fresh from the Central Coast of NSW.

Quarantine dogs usually wear a red biosecurity cape. Border Force dogs wear a dark harness labelled with Australian Border Force.

Check the uniform. Border Force dogs aren't looking for bananas.

There is no way the one in the pic is 620 metres either. That would be the Perfect Day in Lelepa slide.

Pacific Sun had one of those for a day in April approx 15 years ago, except that was just for express disembarkation.

I know they are supposed to exist, but I haven't seen a sniffer dog in an Australian domestic airport in over a decade, and there is very little info around disposal bins or interstate restrictions when flying between eastern states. Not much of a deterrent hey, but things look to be more efficient in Perth. After looking at the link, it would appear that fruit isn't a restricted item in domestic quantities between any of the eastern states, and that could have much to do with our lower levels of AQIS interaction. I don't travel with fruit anyway, a habit formed when those protocols were more active over here. Thanks for the link. Apparently I leave near the edge of a bio-zone saying that I can't move citrus plants out of my area due to Citrus Red Mite. Until now, I had heard nothing about it, even though it was tabled nearly 7 years ago.

True, I was getting muddled-up a bit about the medications topic, which is a custom restriction and not a quarantine thing. Norfolk Island not needing a passport seemed a bit weird with the restrictions, but it makes sense. Once upon a time we were not allowed to carry fruit across state borders, and it was most fun watching inspectors walking the train and getting off looking like Santa Claus.

There are anomalies here too. It depends on the award here. Lots of stores, including supermarkets, close here for the day for a statutory holiday. Some that are open will pay the same rates as for a Sunday, some will pay x2.5. Personally, I would only be paid Sunday (x2) rates for today too. That is because our award traditionally catered for a 6 day working week where Easter Sunday was never considered, and Easter Sunday is not a public holiday for us. Those who I work with that are forced to work today on a 7 day x 12hr roster will receive Sunday rates. However, I worked yesterday by choice, and was paid x2.5 for Easter Saturday. This was traditionally a public holiday in our award, and continues on in our enterprise.

Happy Easter everyone. I hope you get some downtime to enjoy a few days of rest & peace. I used to be a Darrel Lea Rocky Road person, but this newer Old Gold variety is now my choice although I am still happy to chew the ears of a bunny.

Conrats Leigh. Happy Golden Anniversary to you both.

Trade your blue suede ship for the Elvis Express XPT and head to Parkes for the Elvis Festival next January. https://www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au/plan-your-visit/getting-here/#breadcrumbs

Good Friday is a designated public holiday in Australia, and most people that are required to work are paid penalty rates of 2X or 2.5X their normal hourly rate. While indirect, the surcharge is paying for the increased wages to staff. A lot of shops and restaurants that would otherwise be open will be closed for the religious holiday. The same will apply for today for Easter Sunday and tomorrow for Easter Monday. Accommodation will already be set by whatever your room rate is, but it would be an expensive weekend to be dining out in Australia. Enjoy your cruise. Great there are no public holiday surcharges on Majestic Princess.

I would think the library isn't a great space if you have any numbers. The One 5 Lounge up till 4pm would be OK, but closed for the daily loyalty function and becomes the night club. Check in with your fellow passengers on the roll call for the cruise. It will be the best spot to organise something -

If it is your preferred agent, check what they are offering for your $90. Otherwise, I don't see any point in paying for a subscription that will encourage me to be loyal with a single agency. Be sure that apples are apples with any cheaper fares. The more expensive price can be a more flexible booking with a refundable deposit vs a special club price being offered for a guarantee cabin and/or non-refundable deposit. Not saying that is the case, but you need to do your homework, and it is difficult if you need to pay for a subscription before you can compare T&C's. If all is equal and you are going to save more than $90 on your booking, go for it. Presently I am looked after really well by an agent that we have chosen to use for the last 9 years. I don't need to pay for a subscription to get VIP treatment. PS: I consider this as a T/A club, not a cruising club.

Baked Beans - a concealed weapon? 😉 For Norfolk Island as an Aussie, is this more of a quarantine thing vs a customs requirement?

lol. Beat me to it. Thanks Bob. Sounds like fun, even for those at sub 60's.

Yes, I agree with the purpose of the space, and we did a few things there on Majestic. A bit sterile perhaps, but a practical use of space. Any yes, Explorer Lounge has often been too small for trivia. OK for those organised and reserving seats for their team 1/2hr early, but we have walked away from morning trivia many times when it just felt packed and uninviting.

They just needed to use the Vista Lounge for trivia, which they did do for some sessions on Majestic whenever bingo wasn't pulling rank.

Princess Live on Royal, Majestic & Regal are much the same - very "rigid" spaces. The later Royal class ships still have a Princess Live area, but they are much more of a flexible and relaxed space. Much more like an Explorer Lounge by a different name, but they also have the ability to take away seating to create a large dance floor.

Not if they are basing her in Brisbane.

"Princess Live" was meant to replicate a TV studio, where their activities could be filmed and broadcast on one of the TV channels. Certainly not as relaxed as a bar lounge and it is indeed quirky, but it makes more sense if you don't see it as a lecture theatre. I would hate to be doing lectures/training on a cruise. Diamond for me too, but that would need to fit the date/itinerary of the OP to consider if Diamond fits. Diamond does have two NZ cruises next January, and I agree it is worth spending a few extra bucks to fly to Brisbane.