MMDown Under

Good point re stinger season. When I was in Cairns, in December, I took bus to Palm Cove, a beautiful northern beach. There were signs "no swimming in Stinger Enclosure", however there was swimming at a couple of beaches closer to Cairns. The beach activity van was closed.

I didn't have printing equipment, so Luminosa printed boarding pass and luggage tag for me on the wharf.

I had decided to look for a segment of a world cruise in February and had pencilled it in. Now my girlfriend from NY, plus a couple of friends, plan to travel down under in Feb 24! Should be lots of fun so change of cruise plans for Feb 24.

Is Cessnock on some kind of fault line? I know there has been some earthquake activity in that area in the past.

This type of thing - setting to anchor, rather than cruising on 3 day cruise - seems to be becoming more frequent. Will passengers receive a suitable discount?

That does sound unique design. I don't recall any portholes in my cabins.

Yes I do state no upgrades now.

Massive 7.6 earthquake hits near Tonga, (95 km from Hihifo Tonga). No tsunami 7.2 earthquake hit PNG at 4 am

I didn't apply for an upgrade, but was just offered one in each case. I have a girlfriend who gets so seasick she has to go to the ship doctor for a needle to stop her vomiting. I talked her into giving cruising another try in a cabin low down centre. She did and had her first successful cruise and has cruised since.

Buyer Beware. On my last cruise, I was offered an unsolicited upgrade which was supposedly better than my cabin. It wasn't! On another cruise i was given an upgrade at the front of the ship, which I refused. I chose cabins lower down in the middle of the ship, which lessen the possibility of sea sickness in rough seas.

Opened up this whilst eating a Cornish Paste. No photo, as most gone.

I would want to see both places, rather than longer at one. Port Douglas is smaller so you can walk from the ship to the town then from one side of the peninsular to the other, then walk along the beautiful long beach (which is what I did). Some passengers did a small boat tour independently from wharf here. Cairns is a city. Beautiful walk along the Esplanade, no beach, swim in big lagoon, lots of birds on mud flats, beautiful tropical botanical gardens. you can catch local bus to the Northern Beaches, day tours to Atherton Tablelands etc.

I thought I was as low as you could get. Maybe just different cruise lines.

Port Douglas and Cairns. if there are stingers at Port Douglas or Palm Cove, Cairns, you can swim in the Stinger Enclosure.

My four berth bunk cabins and six berth cabin had their own large bathroom with fresh water.

That is good. Lots to do at Cairns.

I agree with your comments. I have holidayed at all three ports and there are better things to do in the limited time available in port. From Airlie Beach I go to beautiful Gloucester Resort for a seafood lunch at the beach. I stop for a cold drink at Dingo Beach Hotel on the way back. There are water activities at Dingo Beach.

Glad you had an outing to Bunnings. Thanks Ill check out my local Bunnings

I think it is the principle that cruising is an all inclusive food, accommodation and entertainment package. You can take your children on a cruise with the knowledge they can enjoy anything they want.

Roma Street Parklands are nearby As is the beautiful Methodist Church And the City Hall, which is the largest city hall in Australia, has tours of the Hall and the Clock Tower Tours (used to be tallest building in Brisbane). Also Museum of Brisbane.

Agree

Knowing children they will want chips!

Bit sneaky! Could had made a big difference on your decision making if you had pre booked a lot of excursions.

Age is just a number. When I first cruised overseas in my early 20s both cruises, to and fro the UK, were world cruises, so had mainly older passengers. On way over, I shared a 4 bunk cabin with three older ladies and on the way back I shared as 4 bunk cabin with one older lady and two young girls. The cruiselines arranged for passengers to share. I found the older women were a wealth of knowledge and I enjoyed their company.

Happy Mothers' Day to all mothers. May you enjoy your special day. Do any cruise lines hold special Mothers' Day Cruises or have special functions for Mothers' Day on regular cruises?