MMDown Under

Thank you. Did you have an enjoyable cruise? Do you know whether there is an urn somewhere when you can get boiling water (to make a cup of tea)? Did it take long to disembark in Airlie Beach and Port Douglas? What are your recommendations on board the ship? It seems to me to be a good medium size for cruising here. .

No, I don't believe so. I follow a world cruiser (14 years) who cruised the Caribbean this year instead. She caught covid and was transferred with her husband to a hotel in Fort Lauderdale. This kept the covid on board numbers low and allowed the ship to continue visiting Caribbean islands. She and her husband returned to the ship after she was negative. I had concerns for people visiting that hotel not knowing covid patients were living there In a nutshell, i believe there is a lack of honesty. I have lost trust in our State and Federal Governments keeping the public fully informed re covid. The Wesley Hospital, a private hospital in Brisbane, is the first hospital to launch a Long Covid Clinic.It has now expanded to the General Public. My girlfriend and her son in NY were the first people I'd heard of who caught Long Covid early in the pandemic.. This is not new. They live in a community where a local Orthodox Jewish community doesn't follow any rules (my girlfriend is Jewish).

I enquired at the Gold Coast City Council why my shack is zoned 1 in a 100 year flood risk, when it has never flooded. She replied the whole of the Gold Coast is a flood plain. With so much developement, when torrential rain meets king tides there is no-where for the water to go. I suspect a lot of Coastal Qld./NSW is in the same situation.

I think you have made a wise decision, under your immunocompromised state and age. For people like you, it has been a worrying time because no-one likes to cancel a cruise. There are so many wonderful places in Australia where you can travel, with less risk at this time. I was just reading about Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets the ocean, such a beautiful place. Take care of yourself.

My 7 day Queensland Coastal cost $91 with Qantas Australian Comprehensive Travel Insurance 70+ years.

Forecast weather for departure day, Sunday, 4/12, is 17-24c rain. The day before Saturday is 16-24c rain. (Today Thursday is wet and cold in the morning, so bring some warm clothes, if you feel the cold.) Good news - beautiful hot weather once the ship reaches the North Airlie Beach- 23-29c plenty of sun, Cairns 24-32c sun/cloudy, Port Douglas 24-32c sunny/cloudy. (Note you can get sunburnt in cloudy conditions)

Thank you. Why I ask, the small ship I last cruised on had such a facility so I could make myself a cup of tea whenever I wanted. As had previous ships. I love to watch the break of day at sea, with a cup of tea.

Thinking of you this morning, Les, and hoping all goes well. If the number of well-wishers counts for anything, you should sail through your procedure.

Do you know whether there is a place with an urn with 24 hour boiling water? Pizza at 2 am sounds tempting.

Wouldn't you use NZ dollars?

My girlfriend in NY is Jewish, who lives in an ultra jewish neighbourhood. She has no time for these people who pay no taxes to the community, yet put the local community at risk because they follow no rules. The latest, they were trying to force the neighbouring community to supply water to them. Heaven forbid if everyone was so selfish! My girlfriend and all her family were the first to catch Covid.

Was yours for a renewal? I would expect a renewal to be quicker than a new passport. Details were all done on line prior to lodgement. Fortunately, I'm not in a hurry unless a trip from left field comes up!

I was thinking your op was Dec., then remembered it is December!! Hope all goes well so you can get better and start planning cruises or country road trips again. Put the ferry trip in Tahiti on your wish list!

I submitted my Passport Renewal Application today. The lady asked whether i was in a hurry. I replied "no". She said it would be 6-8 weeks!

And our dollar stores are nothing like the US Bargain shops!

Followed by Cyber Monday and this morning they were pushing Travel Tuesday on US Breakfast TV. No doubt someone is working on "w" at this moment!

Agree. Some passengers don't seem to understand the mask is to protect them as much as others.

If ships wanted to stop the spread of Covid, they could make a better attempt. On my small ship cruise this year, a nurse took our temperature on the way in to breakfast each day. We had a RAT on day of boarding and PCT within a specified time of boarding. I know there is a different scale in numbers, but not all ships appear serious in trying to control the spread of Covid.

Small Credit card surcharges are not common but becoming more common. I get a small amount of cash for all countries I visit. Depends on what you plan to do during your one day in Sydney. You can usually use your credit card for most purchases.

If you have luggage tell the station staff and they will put a ramp up to your carriage for you to board train and have a ramp ready for you to depart at Circular Quay. Makes train travel so easy for people with luggage, prams, wheelchairs, etc.

Thank you for the detailed information. I'm from farmer's stock, so I wake and eat early, so I have to stock up for late breakfasts.

Yes, you would think that. However, cruise lines want you drinking on their ships not on land. (I decided not to cruise on any ship which doesn't stay late at "night cities" which have entertainment late.)

I always use a shuttle but not the one with a desk in the airport. All shuttles take you to all hotels. I stay in Potts Point and get a shuttle both ways. You can't beat door to door service.

Thank you. I'll give high tea a miss so close to early sitting, plus a charge. My favourite afternoon tea was on Ocean Princess. A man in a suit and gloves would bring around a tray mobile with tea and coffee with scones, jam and cream to everyone sitting on loungers on the deck. We never missed! I've got coffee sachets as I know the coffee on ships is undrinkable unless you buy it. I've also got Earl Grey Tea, so I'll be right as long as I can get boiling water. Wish they had jugs in cabins like they do in UK.

Luminosa - I have found brunch is on sea days. What times? Breakfast in MDR? What times? Is tea and coffee available before breakfast? Is lunch in MDR or only buffet? What times? Do they have afternoon tea? Getting close now, so thinking of meal times. Is this information available on website?