Aussieflyer

we stayed at the Ibis at the airport and it was perfectly fine - room was quite a good size and very clean. Didn't eat at the restaurant but menu looked ok. Was a toss up between it and the Pullman next door - toss of the coin really.

Was the RAT required for all passengers going ashore or just those who had been in iso? Interested to know as have a shore excursion in a couple of weeks in Tasmania as well. EDIT - Don't worry as have seen info on another thread.

That was my mistake (didn't engage the brain). Expedition cruises are expensive at all times. Have looked at Kimberley at times but not keen on $26+K for a cabin for the two of us for 8 days or so.

Most (all?) reef tours are full day. If you want to do both the reef and Mossman Gorge you would need to take a reef tour from one port (check carefully which ports you are going to stop at and what is offered) and Mossman from Port Douglas. Depending on the ship's itinerary you could be at either Yorky's Knob, Airlie Beach or Cairns with reef trips from each from memory. I was on the Coral Princess and went to the outer reef from Port Douglas. The one from Cairns did not go to a platform and so there were not glass bottomed boats or underwater viewing areas.The Cairns excursion seemed to be more geared for snorkelling. I know in the past passengers boarded the boat for the reef trip at Yorky's Knob directly from the ship.

Just came off a short Grand Princess cruise - SYD - MEL - not a lot of masks in evidence on board at all but fortunately only 2200 pax (can take 2600) and quite a bit of room around the ship, Two weeks till Majestic one to TAS. And a short land trip to Port Douglas before then (after next week at work).

If the lowest fare was around 6.5K that certainly is cheap for Antarctica - usually more than double that for 10 days. Unfortunately most leave from South America so a long (and $$) flight to get there in the first place. Antarctica and the Arctic are both particularly expensive for expedition cruises but for those who do go, unforgettable. I have been lucky to have done both.

And she's Tier 1 COVID which is great.

We have missed the western Sounds due to rough conditions but also delayed leaving from Dunedin. A friend missed Tauranga on their cruise though we never have.

It appears to be a hamster - note - no tail

Not what we wanted to hear Uncle Les. Take care and we will wait for the next results which might show a clear path of what is ahead. Knowing the treatment options and what to consider will help you decide what options to pursue.

Very good article Julie. Pleasing they have stuck with what you told them and didn't do a beat up and end of the world number (though to be expected from a cruise publication).

Wow - really feel for her then - we seem to have recovered though funny we do seem a bit more tired than in the past - though put it down to aging (which is probably more to the point).

Thinking of you all - hope your symptoms are mild and you do test negative when it's time. We both had COVID in late June and even in mid July when we were in Singapore we were still very tired - no other lingering symptoms just quite fatigued so hope are all fine.

Sorry to hear you had COVID on your cruise - but it seems it's everywhere and a bit of the luck of the draw whether you pick it up (though certainly it seems the quad vaxxed does help in mitigating the symptoms). Have a short 2 day Grand Princess next week with a friend, then a Tasmanian one with my son at the end of the November. Poor MrAF has to wait till the end of January for the QE Culinary cruise (though he is not a fan of cruising to be honest and I drag him along albeit he remains in good humour). Also have a friend and her sister on the Coral at present - they are fine and having a wonderful time. It has been not at all like a proper spring and yes, those potholes are treacherous! Take care.

Hello Pushka - nice to see you here 😃

We will wave as we are getting off in Melb on 4th - just a short 2-dayer from Sydney but a nice little break I hope.

Sorry to hear you seem to have copped a bad dose. It is a strange disease where some people have no symptoms and others are really laid low - no rhyme or reason often. Hope you do recover soon.

Friends said they had good results from the anti-virals but when I had COVID I wasn't in the eligible group (though would be now).

I hope you have a very mild case then. You must have been one of the ever diminishing number who haven't (well in your situation, hadn't} had it. I know of a few but many more who have had one dose (no-one I know has come down more than once). Recover quickly 🥰

There may have been a typo somewhere - I think it is the roast meats and that is similar to every other ship's buffet with the meat carved for you.

Bummer. Sorry to hear, Julie. Hopefully will remain a mild case. Your symptoms sound very similar to what I had in June. For interest have you had COVID before? (don't answer if you would rather not, just interesting in how often people are infected/reinfected). Hope the Duck is delish and you do not get too stir crazy in the cabin over the next 5 days.

There are plenty of cocktails under the $16 point - so if you are cocktail drinkers should have no trouble finding a tipple or two of choice. As noted by Julie, wines are pretty so so though I did manage to drink something ok with meals.

🐅 Not this kind? But mean, really, don't the TV hacks ever give up?

Sounds like the sooner they get on to it the better, Keep pushing if you aren't happy with the treatment.

Uncle Les, shocked to hear of you health problems. Hopefully there will be improvement with you returning to good health again soon. Kidneys can be such b*ggers of things to treat and depends on the cause in a lot of cases. Know of people who have recovered well, others who went onto dialysis and others who have had transplants, Fingers crossed for a good outcome - just get thee to a good specialist (maybe up here).