MMDown Under

Non refundable flash sales are always a red flag. Well done listening to your gut.

Oops I needed a map. I think I’ve seen it from Cardwell or seenHinchinbrook Island on maps. We used to drive north every year and stopover at Cardwell.

I know it is a National Park near Cardwell and has a long hike (3-5 days) but thought it could be part of the Whitsundays.

We shared a table with a Dutch chef and his Italian wife on MSC. She told us what to order or not to order and he returned any meals which weren’t satisfactory. We ate like kings. There is no reason why vegetarian meals shouldn’t be as good as non vegetarian meals, as you said.

wow what fabulous 270 degree views of Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. Looks like somewhere to just stay put and soak up the view. (176 Cumberland st the Rocks) Definitely too far to walk the cases down to the OPT.

I haven't been to Rottnest Island nor Albrolhos Island, but both are on my wish list.

I only realise how much Asian food Queenslanders eat now when overseas visitors comment. When I was young, takeaway used to be fish and chips or Greek/Italian. Now it is Thai, Malaysian, Indian, Japanese, etc.

Thank you very much for your detailed revue. Not a ship for foodies obviously. I hope you put a complaint in about the poor vegetarian meal choices. I’m not a vegetarian but my daughter took me to a popular vegetarian cafe in London where customers queued out the door. I am a cook, so know the meals weren’t expensive. Cubed beetroot for a veg meal!! No plain Icecream for a child?! I actually just had potato and leak soup with Turkish bread for lunch. Delicious and filling but wouldn’t break the bank.

Nice to see you are up with the Aussie news re top ten islands, Terry in Ohio. Any major star islands missing? Queensland - Moreton Island Stradbroke Island Heron Island on southern Great Barrier Reef Lady Elliot Island Whitsunday islands Western Australia - Abrolhos Islands

We always stay at Devere Hotel Potts Point. We like the neighbourhood. Lots of restaurants, Walk to harbour. Two local busses. Best price book direct.

I agree with your comments.

If passengers main focus is the GBR, there are better ways to see the reef than from a big cruise ship because they’re days in port are too short to consider other options. When I cruised on a small expedition ship from Cairns to Darwin with Coral Expeditions, the ship used tenders to take you to two ribbon reefs to snorkel. www.coral expeditions.com

Good Luck! Sorry I can’t help you. I’m trying to organise my overseas travel before 80!! USA has already been ruled out even though I have two girlfriends there. One is coming to visit me next February. My next trip could be Norway and UK.

Wow you are so lucky to have a bower in your yard, as they are such fascinating birds. Binna Burra used to have a bower near the accommodation. I hope he was successful finding a partner as I’ve never seen such an interesting variety of blue things.

What a lovely surprise! Was Lynn’s mother happy with her tea ?

Is Mother's Day celebrated in Canada on the same day as the US and Australia, last Sunday? We enjoyed a High Tea at O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park, such a beautiful place. They feed the wild birds outside plus in a protected area outside the dining room. We were lucky to see a Satin Bowerbird here. They have a shuttle bus to take guests to Binna Burra on Saturdays, where guests can walk then back to O'Reilly's. I did that beautiful day walk years ago. Be warned the road up to O'Reilly's is still really bad. My daughter was stressed and resigned from any future drives up the mountain. Fortunately there is a taxi which takes guests up the mountain as I'd like to stay for a few days there once again. Do they have high tea on ships for Mother's Day?

I think the cruiselines should say Willis Island is a sail bye so passengers aren't confused. When I went past Dingo Beach, I noticed people doing water activities there.

Ps T-towel is Irish linen, not Chinese Cotton. A bit Threadbare, but I still have it!

Cruise ships may have been old and basic, but cruiselines were much more generous in those early days. From memory. No extra charges for anything. Midnight suppers - champagne fountains, chocolate fountains, carved fruit demonstrations I won an English t-towel for being first on the dance floor. lots of ports long time in ports Greek dance lessons every morning bingo - minimum entry fee reimbursed to winners No wonder I get cranky with cruiselines now charging for some food!!

What a lovely story! Such a brave young thing travelling to the other side of the world on your own. A lot of young Queenslanders went to NZ for working holidays and ended up marrying locals. I had a girlfriend who did just that! They decided to return to Australia when their daughter knew the names of all the long boats, etc. However, I wanted to go further afield overseas and visited NZ several times later.

I noticed which side mattered cruising from Europe to the USA depending when you wanted sun in your cabin.

So Jean you weren’t a ten pound Pom! That was luxury living with a spare bunk! I don’t know what I was thinking when I stayed in a 6 berth cabin from Sydney to Perth! (I didn’t cruise for another 30 years!)”

We stay at the Devere Hotel in Potts Point. We like the neighbourhood with lots of restaurants, walk to harbour and CBD through the Botanical Gardens.

Nice looking ship.

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