MMDown Under

When I first travelled overseas by ship I took far too much in one of those big old suitcases which stretched with metal slides. When I came home, I had ten ports!

My friends are currently travelling in Southern Europe for five weeks with hand luggage. They travelled with Scoot in economy from Sydney to Malta for 40 hours!

True. But I spoke to both these groups sitting beside me in those side seats on a bus and Moreton Island was the extent of their cruising. And they were very excited that I knew Moreton Island and could confirm how beautiful it is.

No you age from the stress. I've mentally written letters to Minister for Transport and NSW Premier about the lack of customer service from their Customer Service Officers, who are in the wrong job!

Thanks My daughter used her credit card when she was in Sydney for the weekend. I'll have to check what she paid. Strange. Sounds like you got a deal, while they hold on to my $30 (no cash refund, no transfer, just refund by a form to your bank account), Was that all on one day? Was there a facility to tick seniors card. I've survived by putting $2.50 on, guards let me through when gates don't open. I've learnt to look for open gates.

Now that is a new one on me!

Lucky you were travelling in a group and not on your own. Thanks for sharing that important information. When my daughter had a lengthy stopover in Doha, they wouldn't let her take any water on the flight from London to Doha. Fortunately the air hostess gave her one of those big bottles of water, which they serve water from, as she is a big water drinker. Our family members no longer fly via the Middle East to London. My flight from Australia to London changed planes in Dubai between Australia and London. We were to waituntil they gathered all the London passengers together to "run" to new aircraft, which was waiting for our passengers. I bent down to put my reading matter in my bag and they were gone. What to do? I don't have the local language, and didn't know the gate number. I asked a couple of security looking guys nearby, trying to look invisible, who looked like security, where they went. They pointed to the escalator nearby "down". No wonder I couldn't see them on my floor. So I waited at the bottom of the escalator until one of those electric carts arrived. Another lost couple got on with me and they flew us to our gate, a long way away, where they ticked us off their list. I now order a wheelchair when I fly overseas, so no chance of getting lost again!!

Warning for interstate seniors using a NSW OPAL Seniors Card I have sent hours and hours of my holiday time trying to find out why my NSW OPAL Seniors Card was cancelled. After spreading all the evidence out on the table, I have discovered that my Qld Seniors card expired on 30/9, after I left Qld. on 20/9. Easy to now solve you would think? No, my daughter has checked my mail box and no new Seniors Card to send by overnight mail to Sydney. Now we all know how slow the mail is these days. Not OPAL NSW, who has cancelled my card. Big mistake, I put $30 on card enough to get me through the airport home. OPAL NSW knows I put $30 on card, so why not some leeway for Seniors. (When I couldn't solve the problem at Circular Quay, I walked in the torrential rain from Circular Quay to Sydney Theatre Company and arrived soaking wet for live theatre.) Needless to say, I wasn't a happy vegemite! But the show was fabulous

You can tell the world traveller!

Yesterday I caught a bus to Parramatta Railway Station. There were two groups not known to each other travelling to board Carnival Splendor. For a five day cruise to Moreton Island, 2 adults and 2 children had three big suitcases + hand luggage, the single adult had one large suitcase + hand luggage. As Moreton Island was their only stop, they could have travelled with hand luggage.

Agree. Seems a pity to call them both P&O. I don't cruise with them when I'm in the UK because they make you book through P&O Aust, at higher rates. I cruised on P&O Chusan on my first cruise and enjoyed it. I now book direct on small ships or Fred.Olsen and Hurtigruten.

When I cruised I had to have a PCR ? Test within 72 hours of travel at a recommended Tester who faxed results to cruise line. They billed cruise line which billed me. Then a supervised RAT Test at wharf prior to boarding. A nurse took all our temperatures at breakfast each morning. If you forgot, she found you! There were only 100 passengers and non caught Covid. Crew were not allowed to disembark in Darwin prior to their cruise with no passengers to Broome. Knowing how thorough they were, I was surprised to learn people had covid on a later cruise.

Just got the Lands End! Did you go to The Minack Theatre, an open air theatre, there?

Cornish Pastie looks like it should look., absolutely delicious. ? the Malt Vinegar and Tomato Ketchup though. Do they put vinegar on pies. I knew they put it on chips. I thought they used Tomato Sauce.

If I was the insurance underwriter, I'd charge a premium for just landing on ice. ? broken leg for the inexperienced.

I enjoyed a cruise with Coral Expeditions's newest ship from Cairns to Darwin this year. Broome to Darwin and the Kimberleys are well covered by small ships Has anyone cruised on a small ship recently?

Good to see there are a selection of small ships. I used to enjoy walking past them when they docked at Bangaroo and wonder about their story.

Maybe they could be classified as medium ships, because they are not really small. Perfect size for Australian smaller ports though.

Nice to have something beautiful to look forward to, whilst you wait for the results of your medical appointments.

Thanks for photos, Always a lot of laughs the Crossing the Equator Ceremony. Interesting that the passengers are a diverse lot.

Gratuities must be included in fare in Aust when booked here!

Yum - they look like the real deal. My mouth is watering just thinking about my next UK cream tea.

What small ships are coming to Australia in 2023? I came across Azamara's two small ships, which are passing by on short visits, by accident. I have done one cruise on Azamara and loved it. Any other small ships? Viking?

What is your favourite port to approach by ship and to leave? My favourite to approach is NYC and my favourite to leave is Bora Bora in Tahiti. Why - It takes forever to approach NYC with the high rises in the far distance and the big bridges. Then you get close enough to identify the buildings and bridges. NYC is special because that is where I met a penpal who I got from the Parker Pen Pavilion at the World Trade Fair, NYC. She is about to turn 80 this month and is the one I just sent a birthday card to. Bora Bora is a stunningly beautiful romantic destination, even cruising on your own. Just grab a chair, put your feet up and dream as the ship pulls away in the darkness !

Remember when we used to send lots of postcards when we cruised? The cruise line would give you some postcards of the ship, plus stationery and a pen in a compendium. You used to put written postcards in a box for the ship to send on our behalf. Well today I posted a light 9g card to USA - cost $3.50, if you please. If you sent 10 that would have been $35! I asked the man at the post office for stamps please, but he still gave me a while postage sticker. I said I asked for stamps please. Children want to see letter came from Australia. He didn't blush when he said he didn't have any $3.50 stamps. I replied I would get them in the city. Then he reluctantly pealed off the sticker, gave me my money back and got me to sign a refund docket. When he saw I had put I wanted stamps under reason for refund, he decided to ask someone out the back. He came to the front desk and showed him where the stamps were in the drawer, so he put $3.50 stamp on letter and stamped it and I gave him money again for stamp and he gave me change. Now you know why stamps cost $3.50.