MMDown Under

You can only get a NSW Seniors Opal Card if you have an interstate Seniors Card, eg I have a Queensland Seniors Card which I have to show to apply. However you can ask is there a Seniors discount on lots of things.

Warm weather is waiting for you in Brisbane When do you arrive ? 16-24 Thursday sunny 16-27 Friday cloudy Hope you've got your togs/cosis packed!.

how far from your place Les ?

Did you see Ursulas Weekly Wanders blog on the Walk you went on? Certainly a lovely part of NSW. Wow 8 pars of mothers and calves. How lucky were you!! plus a beautiful walk. Sounds like a perfect day!

Thank you. That doesn't explain why my new Opal Card, bought on arrival in September at Central Station, was later blocked. ( I just guessed it might have been the Commonwealth Health Care Card's expiry but it wasn't.) Old Opal cards used to expire. The last four digits on bottom line after the padlock allow Opal to read activity on your card That should allow them to see activity on your card. Phone OPAL 136725 1,1,1,2. NSW doesn't make it easy for interstate Seniors. Adelaide does!

Excellent. Reminds me that we used to get a similar detailed map of directions for all ports of call from the Pursers Office.

Enjoy your beautiful view with your bottle of champers, after the rainy weather conditions you experienced en route.

9,000 passengers How many children?

Fingers crossed for you. good luck yes opal cards now have a ten year expiry yes you have to go through NSW transport I think my complication is my first new Opal card had been blocked. Not sure why because I only had to show my Qld.Seniors Card which doesn't expire. But my Commonwealth Health Care Card expired in September since I've been in Sydney. I now have a copy of my new card which arrived in the mail.

I phoned OPAL today and the Saga continues. Lady asked did I register card 1 - nobody told me I had to register Card 1. Did I register new card 2? Nobody told me I had to Register Card 2. She registered cards but couldn't link them. Card 1 remains locked, so I have to apply for refund of $30 to my bank account (with card 1). In the meantime, I should put money on Card 2. I will put $5 on until I see if it works. Lesson learnt - don't put large amount on card until you know card works!

You can get a refund to your bank account. I have visited the Transport/OPAL Centres at Central and Circular Quay twice each and the latter gave me a form which says refund can only be transferred to your bank account. I have set Monday aside to phone OPAL, so wish me luck. I would suggest to only put a small amount on your OPAL card not the calculated full amount like I did. I have come across some people who are in the wrong job. Certainly not "Customer Service". BTW I did get a new OPAL Card (Seniors daily rate $2.50). Even the expiry date of 3/11/22 in black felt pen looked angry. It didn't work either by the end of the day. The friendly bus drivers, who just wave me through as I try to explain flashing my two non working OPAL Cards, make my day! In the meantime, I look forward to the free Sundays and more walking!

Great to see beautiful blue skies especially when Sydney is heavy grey clouds.

I stay at Devere Hotel Potts Point, a basic hotel, with a Sydney suburban atmosphere. it has lots of cafes and restaurants and takeaways, some of which are shown on their website. It has local buses via Central Station and to Walsh Bay on the Harbour (Walsh Bay Theatre Precinct ) I get an airport shuttle to and from the airport (not the one inside the airport). I used to walk to the Opera House and the CBD but nw I catch the bus.

My daughter says watching is addictive!

That was an excellent find. Nice to see single passengers getting a voice. After all, we are a growing number of cruisers. Common sense says it is better to have a single person in a cabin, rather than an empty cabin. They are usually in a position to fill late vacancies.

How gorgeous. It is amazing they don't fall off. There was a baby bird on Lord Howe Island which was left on a branch when its mother went to get food. No nest, just a branch. It used to fall off and I used to pick it up and put it back on the branch. Locals didn't worry.

Maths mustn't have been their forte.

Happy anniversary 💐🍷🍸 I'm delighted you were rewarded for your effort (which shouldn't have been necessary once you pointed out the extra special celebration). I hope they make amends on the day! This is an excellent example in not allowing yourself being fobbed off, when you are in the right!!! Kind thoughts to Francois, Head Waiter, who wasn't given permission to correct the situation. I hope they put plans in place to not let this ever happen again to passengers who have a booking for a special occasion.

Hope you have a lovely day in Eden. I saw a mother and baby whale close to the shore in Eden, but may be wrong season..

What a nerve wracking experience! What an unexpected end to your wonderful holiday. So sorry that you can't cruise home with Cunard. I've never been so nerve waiting for the results of a supervised RATS on the wharf in Cairns before I could board the ship for my cruise to Darwin. The positives you'll soon be seeing family and you have a Cunard cruise to look forward to.

I burst out laughing spontaneously!

VIFP = I was wondering the same thing and what does it stand for?

Peregrine Falcons are in a nest on the rooftop at 367 Collins St., Melbourne. They hatch their chicks from August. 367collins.mirvac.com

Sorry I missed that in the fine print! Laem Chabang, the ocean port for Bangkok, is 124,9 km (1 hr 24 mins) from Bangkok. Does Australia have existing ports in that radius which could be used for Sydney?

Great itinerary - Cairns Thursday Island Darwin Benoa, Bali Singapore Laem Chabang Then you could visit Bangkok independently. I hope Viking has similar last minute deals in the future, as I'd love to cruise with them.