Aussieflyer

Getting in early eh? Hope 2023 is a wonderful year for everyone. Especially thinking of those in our little group who have health and other issues to contend with at the moment. Looking for the sun after the clouds. Happy New Year.

Just saw that and also a Aida ship added to Tier 1.

Bit of COVID on most ships. I see Seven Seas Explorer, Carnival Splendour and Pacific Adventure are all listed as Level 1 by NSW Health - none at L2 or L3 at present but Cunard isn't due back to a NSW port for a bit, so will be interested to see what it is listed as.

You want the International vaccination certificate - this asks for passport details. The certificate is the one required for o’s travel. It’s available at Proof of vaccination page - request an international certificate.

From Medicare Express app you can download your vaccination certificate and email to yourself or safe as PDF. I have found Princess wanted to see a hard copy ( as did Qantas when flying internationally). Also had to upload the certificate to the Princess Medallion. Not sure what Cunard does about this (but will find out soon).

We fly hand luggage only as much as possible so extra clothes become problematic. back on topic - as QE is not due back in NSW waters for a few days, she is not listed with a Covid level there at the moment. Will be interesting to see whether she is listed in a week or so.

But it just means he has to pack less if not a proper suit and separates.

Cunard seem to have downgraded the formal dress requirement - website says: A formal suit, shirt, and tie of any colour will also do just fine for Gala Evening. I would think a jacket the same colour (or close enough) as trousers and a tie would be fine. DH has black trousers with a black jacket and bow tie - perfectly adequate. It seems a pity to miss the MDR on a special night especially as you say this may be your last Cunard cruise. We will be boarding as you disembark.

Apologies if this has been posted upthread.- a tv show I think I might pass on.🤣 Wreck

What's the weather been like? We weren't able to get into the sounds a few years ago on Silver Muse as it was considered too windy = lots of to and fro between captain and someone, and in the end we had to miss it (though as is always the case the wind dropped but we were already on the way to Burnie). it may have been a weather related thing?

Belated Christmas Greetings. Hope everyone had a great day yesterday and were able to be with friends or family. Hoping 2023 is a year of happiness and for those with health and other issues, a year when things go right.

Agree - tours were still operating; it was the ones who were going to 'do their own thing' that got a shock. It is generally a wise move to book something if docking somewhere on a major holiday.

And it is the touristy stuff that I meant would be open. Businesses that rely on tourists will usually be open. And yes, cruise ships are only one source of income but also an important source for many local businesses.

I wouldn't be too concerned with a port on Christmas Day - too much income at stake. Better than one cruise we had where we were in Tunis on the end of Ramadan - most of the places we were booked to visit on a ship excursion were cancelled/not open. There was a very small part of the Medina and also Sidi Bou Said (Blue and White).

Can't remember other cabins I have had on Princess but yes, the Coral does have shower over bath in mini suite. Though so do Sapphire and Diamond as well at least. I do look for hotel rooms as well without the shower over the bath but sometimes have to accept it. It's the clambering in and out that I hate.

Not so much the bathroom size but the cabins on Ponant are tiny.

It's a bit of a line ball for me - hate the shower curtain and such a small shower cubicle, but then equally can't stand the shower curtains and shower over the bath on Princess. It's been a long time since I was on Azamara and really can't remember the shower, though we had a suite so maybe it was larger?

There is a ticket machine at the tram stop but some people reported that only weekly tickets were available - not sure as we already have Myki cards. It sounds a bit odd though - would have expected a day pass one available.

And the number of posts on other boards about how it is important to give a big tip to bar staff at the beginning of a cruise to ensure good service.

It sometimes seems you are on a rollercoaster and can't get off with treatment. It seems to take on a life of its own and really the best any one can do it go with the flow. Hope you have a 'good as can be expected*' Christmas and can look forward to better days in 2023. 🎄 All the best J * actually better than expected is the wish

As it turned out we couldn't tender in. to Port Arthur as it was too rough but the cancellation I wrote about was the Princess Shore ex ones (there were about 4) and after I got the email about the cancellation of the one we had booked, I checked the Princess site and all the excursions to the site itself were missing. We ended up up booking something different but missed it anyway (and strangely received a cheque in the mail this week as refund).

Considering Princess as a cruise line had had a number of covid cases on board in the lead up, maybe you are right though it was well over a month before the cruise that the cancellation was announced.

My hairdresser charges like a wounded bull so no tip for her. However, hubby generally adds a bit for his barber to make up for the lack of hair.😉 To return to the topic we don't tip tour guides or drivers though I have seen the tour guide often stand at the bus door to say goodbye (and pop any cash into their pocket).

Along the same lines, Princess cancelled ships tours of Port Arthur for a recent cruise I was on - again citing operational reasons. Wondered if it was lack of guides or some decision by Port Arthur itself not to provide ship tours.

Your comments about the donations being welcome at the school are wonderful to hear - it is so good to feel that what is small bickies to us is important. Also the importance of cruise ships for the local handicrafts. Thanks for the information. It's sad but my only knowledge of the Trobriand Island is from Anthropology 202 at Uni in the early 70s.