MMDown Under

We saw the interesting vehicle drive past when we were having lunch at the Surf Life Savers Club. Looked fun!

wet day - visit Auckland War Memorial Museum fine day - take ferry to waiheke island (35 mins) devonport with car or ferry parnell rose garden winter garden auckland domain Check what time you need to check in for your flight (domestic flight here was 90 mins today).

I Much appreciate the opportunity to cruise out of Brisbane.

I ate at three seafood restaurants on that visit pre cruise keeping covid clear and it was the best. I sat outside.

I have already received a special deal for Luminosa for 7 days GBR in January, like I just did from 4/12.

Re your photo of the boardwalk en route to the ship, there is an excellent seafood restaurant to have lunch - Dundees on the Waterfront (1 MARLIN PARADE CAIRNS CITY 4870) Love your photos which captured what makes Cairns City attractive,

They hold free aqua aerobics daily in this lagoon, with loud music. There are spotless BBQ facilities which are popular with families in the early evening. There is a beautiful foreshore esplanade walk. Lots of different birds on the mudflats, if they haven't returned 20,000 km to the Northern hemisphere.

When I took an American ex serviceman to our Brisbane Anzac Day Parade, I was surprised how moved he was by the Parade. Said we have nothing like this at home. We honour our ex servicemen in our own way. My family attended the Dawn Service every year, followed by Gunfire Breakfast at RSL. We even went to the Dawn Services in London, in the pitch dark cold weather

Ports in Florida, etc have special deals available for locals all the time. The main thing is to have enough passengers on their cruise ships to keep them viable.

It used to be held until disembarkation, unless there was an exception.

In the past, I have bought alcohol as souvenirs, such as rum from Tahiti and the Caribbean, which I put vanilla beans in and wine from NZ etc. Is this still allowed as long as it is not consumed on the ship? There was no wine for sale on my 7 night cruise to GBR on 4/12.

I loved Rhapsody of the Seas when it did a charter from Honolulu to Sydney in 2017. I thought it was a beautiful ship then, I didn't receive any special offers for future cruises on the ship. However, I regularly received offers from ships I hadn't cruised on,

Imagine how her mother is feeling!

Happy to provide recommendations for your consideration. I have just done 4/12 cruise to GBF but used to holiday in the North annually.

The hottest water on the ship came from the urns in the buffet., which I used to visit first and last thing. Yes I agree but hotter than in main dining room. Once my "boiling water" for tea came in a glass, other times in a small teapot or cup. Waiter then wanted to take "cold water" glass. No way, I wanted to have at least one drink! One has to wonder how long the hot water for tea had been sitting around getting cold. I think Carnaval should put jugs in staterooms in Aust like they do in the UK. In the USA, those coffee makers never produce really hot water. However, in the US, I always took an electric "thing" which you put in a cup to boil water. Maybe Carnival should have guest speakers from Dilmah on how to make a good cup of tea. I bring my own Earl Grey tea which you brew for 3-5 mins. It is the best tea available in Australia, from Sri Lanka. Not the scrapings from the floor!

On 14/12, I received an email from the Passport Office to say my passport was on its way. Should arrive within a week. I did a happy dance! I'll advise when I receive my new passport. (Submitted my passport renewal on 30/11.)

Good to see you well enough to continue your valuable input in to Cruise Critic thread, Les. Are you still receiving treatment? Take care!

I don't understand this line of thinking. I give my donations to charity, not to cruise lines which don't have my best interest in mind. Most of my cruises weren't sold in Australia.

On learning of the rough seas, I bought a bottle of Bundaberg Ginger cordial to take with me to stop me being sea sick. I have taken this cordial on every cruise overseas, as well as ginger lollies. One of my bags was late arriving. Didn't dawn on me that my bottle of Bundaberg Ginger cordial caused the delay, until I saw a note that my bottle of "juice" had been confiscated. Fortunately seas were smooth, so it wasn't needed. Thanks for assistance from Reception, I received it back in time for Willis Island which I thought could be rougher seas. Bottle Returned home unopened! Moral of story, get permission from "Special Assistance" in advance.

I'm pleased you got to do that "once in a lifetime" cruise. I have learnt to not believe cruise companies which say a cruise is fully booked. I had to talk a girlfriend into holding on to her wait listed booking for a cruise around Australia. Agent tried to get her to change to a less favourable time of year, despite the wait listed one being for her husband's birthday. It is no surprise that they got a final booking for the desired cruise.

I agree with that and have paid extra. However on ships, there is not just one specialty restaurant. They have devalued the product.

I didn't think this sad story could get any sadder. However, it is reported the 23 year old, who went overboard, was cruising with her mother. 7 News

That is my favourite type of holiday, a land holiday in a unit with a kitchen, followed by a cruise, then a land holiday. Enjoy catching up with your Kiwi relatives. Will be interesting to compare Westerdam with Coral Princess. Is it similar size?

Thank you. Are you on another holiday? What a beautiful sight. We stay at Parnell in Auckland and I love watching ships arrive and leave.

If someone prepurchased a celebratory meal at a restaurant for you, how would you feel if that restaurant then asked you for an extra $80 per couple? That is how I feel about the extra charges being charged at some restaurants on cruise ships. This is no longer a token amount. We can eat well at a restaurant for $80!!