Mothballs

Or ask the local Sutherland Shire Mayor. He will approve anything for the right price.

I grew up in La Perouse and I'm currently receiving a lot of messages on FB regarding the cruise terminal proposal from friends that still live there. They aren't happy.

Maybe Kurnell should be considered. Quick bus ride to Cronulla (or the Nulla as we refer to it here) Station then a 40 minute train ride to the city.

Regards Elaine.

Yes, very relieved and looking forward to the cruise. Haven't cruised MSC before so it will be interesting to see how things are done.

Regards Elaine.

Just received an email from my TA stating that we can now obtain a visa on the ship for $50US. We have 3 ports in Mozambique so I wanted to get off the ship. I wouldn't have booked the cruise otherwise. Just glad it is sorted.

Regards Elaine.

Was told they don't do visas and haven't had a reply to the email I sent.

Regards Elaine.

The Mozambique government changed the rules last November. You can still obtain visa on arrival at border crossings and airports but no longer at cruise ports.

I'm just annoyed that MSC want to keep the deposit of $700 if I cancel as when I booked you could still get the visa from the cruise ship. Also they state we can go on the cruise without a visa but we wouldn't be able to get off at the ports which is not what I wanted.

Regards Elaine.

Thanks for the replies. I posted it on the roll call and someone who booked direct with the cruise line phoned MSC Australia with the response that we can use Visa Link who will do the visa in Japan as this is our closest embassy for $690 plus $89 for the visa.

Currently trying to cancel but MSC want to keep my deposit even though the Mozambique government changed the rules after I booked.

Regards Elaine.

I know there are some very clever people on here and I'm asking for help.

I am booked on a 5 night cruise with MSC departing in April from Durban. Just received information that the Mozambique government has told cruise ships they can't do the visas anymore and visas have to be arranged before getting on the ship. The problem is that Australia doesn't have a consulate with the closest being Japan or South Africa. We have to provide proof to MSC that we have this visa by the end of the month.

Any help would be appreciated,

Regards Elaine.

hope you enjoy the cruise only found out the day it left 2 of my fav comedians are on board Tahir and

Ashley Fils-Aime , both are awesome as guys and funny as too, i hope you did see their shows and i hope you enjoyed them

I did enjoy the cruise. The comedy was very funny and Dave Hughes was there too.

Really liked the ship too and would consider a longer cruise on the Pacific Explorer.

Regards Elaine.

I was on the Rhapsody of the Seas from Honolulu to Sydney and there was a family, grandparents, two sisters and husbands as well as a few children. One of the sisters was a look at me, look at me type of person. Walked around the ship wearing clothes that belonged at a Miss Universe contest. She liked to flirt with men at the bars to make her husband jealous but one night he had had enough and the cabin was wrecked. I think they were put off at Suva.

Hi David, could you please add

4th August 2017 Pacific Explorer 3 night comedy cruise.

15th April 2018 MSC Sinfonia 5 nights from Durban to Mozambique.

Thanks.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm looking at the 10 night Arabian Gulf and Emirates cruise departing next November. I like the fact that is has overnight stays and the timing is right. Will just have to put off retirement for a bit longer.

Regards Elaine.

I am planning a land holiday to Egypt, Jordan and Israel towards the end of next year and have found a cruise from Dubai that would finish off the holiday perfectly.

My cruises are usually destination driven so I don't really care about the ship but this is with Azamara and I'm wondering if this would be too fancy for us. We generally don't do formal nights as my husband hates getting dressed up and also we try and keep our packing to a minimum as we do a land tour either pre or post cruise. We aren't slobs and I don't mean that we would go to dinner in our shorts and thongs but if it means getting dressed up too much then it might not be for us.

Regards Elaine.

Cappadocia is a beautiful part of Turkey. Are you going up in a hot air balloon?

Regards Elaine.

It is not just Islamic State and the military causing problems in Turkey. There are also the Kurdish people who want their own state separate from Turkey. President Erdogan hates the Kurds so he allowed Islamic State to enter Syria through Turkey in the hopes they would kill the Kurdish people for him.

I was travelling around Turkey last year during the election and many of the young people were worried about the direction the country was heading as President Erdogan wants to go back to the pre Ataturk days before Turkey became a secular country.

Personally I think the world is going to get a lot worse.

Regards Elaine.

A big problem in Turkey is that President Erdogan likes to have a foot in each door. He turns a blind eye to people entering Syria through Turkish borders to join the Islamic state in the hope they will kill the Kurds.

Elaine.

thankyou! on her in October :)

Me too. Hong Kong to Brisbane.

Regards Elaine.

I am cruising the Panama Canal on NCL Jewel next February and looking forward to trying out a different cruise line.

I'm not very good at writing reviews but will give it a go on my return.

Regards Elaine.

Just returned this morning from a 3 night cruise on Pacific Aria. Took the Navy daughter who told me it is quite common for our naval vessels to ride out storms in Jervis Bay. At least she didn't have to work!

It was very calm there and despite the rain everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. The casino was closed as we were too close to land.

We departed for Sydney about 11p.m last night and arrived 2 hours late this morning. We could feel the swell overnight but it wasn't too bad except for someone who fell requiring 6 stitches to their head.

Regards Elaine.

I noticed one of the suggestions was an elephant ride but if you care about animal welfare I would avoid this type of entertainment. If you saw the torture these poor creatures endured to learn to accept people riding on their backs I'm sure people would think twice about doing it.

My interest started last year in Sri Lanka when I saw many elephants chained up in poor condition in Buddhist Temples.

Regards Elaine.

I wish the Rhapsody would come back to Australia. She is my favourite ship.

Regards Elaine.

Last year I had the good fortune to travel around Turkey which included a visit to ANZAC Cove and Lone Pine. Standing on the beach looking up to the ridges was a very moving experience.

It is a shame what is happening over there. Turkey is an interesting country. The people are nice, the food good and the shopping is fabulous.

Regards Elaine.

Hi David, could you please add NCL Jewel, Panama Canal, Miami to LA departing on the 19th of February 2017.

Haven't cruised with NCL before so it will be interesting to see what it is like.

Regards Elaine.

All good suggestions. I hope RCCL listen!

Elaine.

The best CD we have had was the Englishman on the Radiance on 26 December and 7th January cruises. He was very funny and had the ability to turn what could have been a boring "chat" into something hilarious and I just can't remember his name:o. Can anyone help me out here?

 

It might have been Joff Eaton. I really enjoyed his progressive trivia. Very entertaining.

Regards Elaine.