Janet&Carl

Our airport shops and port chops are much more expensive than if you shop in town. Lots of discount stores sell souvenirs. (same stuff just cheaper)

Hello haywoodgw - there are several meet and greets offered on "the offical Carnival Luminosa Transpacific" facebook page; There is a meet and greet specifically for solo travelers to meet others for the purpose of setting up meal buddies etc... Its the first sea day at 3pm in the red frog pub. There are approximately 35 or so solo cruisers already signed up for this meet. You likely to find someone to chat with, game with or just make up table mates for dinner.

Thay always blame Australia for their problems lol. That statement is in fact incorrect. But because we are way out to see the satellite service sucks. Last transpacific in September they didnt have reliable internet and refunded everyones package and made people buy day by day. They are doing the same this cruise. This came out by email on Friday ""INTERNET CONNECTIVITY We have been actively working with our satellite internet providers to ensure adequate bandwidth is available during the voyage. However, because global satellite providers limit coverage to ocean regions, there may be instances when connectivity is slow or interrupted. Please keep this in mind as you make plans to communicate with friends and family. As a result, we will automatically refund all pre-purchased Wi-Fi packages to the original form of payment. The social, value, and premium plans will still be available for purchase on board at the discounted pre-cruise price, but only on a day-to-day basis.""

You have to have an Electronic Australian visa ETA for entry to Australia it can be done on an app - or website. Just make sure you use the official page and not a visa third party it should cost you $20 AUD (around $14 USD) https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Pages/Visas-and-citizenship.aspx

Hello fellow cruisers. I know this is a long shot but I am looking for the person sailing in cabin 5326. My question being would you be willing to swap cabins so I can be next to my elderly mother. My mum is 92, blind and nearly deaf. She is not so mobile these days and needs assistance. She is in cabin 5324 and I am in cabin 5328 - it would be so much easier to help her if we were next door to each other. Let me know if this is you. Kind Regards Janet

YES you cannot enter Australia without a visa. They are easy, electronic and take only a few minutes. The cost is $20 AUD (about 14 USD). Make sure you use the correct visa site with " .gov.au" in the address line. Visas and citizenship (homeaffairs.gov.au)

i did a similar cruise last September with my 92 year old mother we flew to Seattle and sailed back to Sydney. Like you I was very nervous but it was a breeze. So good infact we are doing it again.

Quite a few people have mentioned that they are travelling solo. A travel mate is setting up a meet and greet for solo people to meet up and maybe find people to quiz with or have dinner with. We did this last year on the Transatlantic from Seattle to Sydney. We always managed a table for 8 - 10 at dinner. It was really pleasant. So if you want some people to chat with and care to join us we are getting together at the Red Frog Pub at 3 pm on Friday (first sea day). See you there !

There are ways and means that they don't bother about. wear everything - stuff the pockets - weigh your bags then repack 😉 If there are two of you get the other to hold your gear go get weighed then swap 😉

Depends on the airline. Jetstar will weigh your carry on - it has to be less than 7 kilos which includes the small case in the overhead and any small bag that you put under the seat (handbag). You are only allowed two items and if you have more one of them will need to be checked. They will charge you approx $60 AUD to check your bag if you are overweight or have more than two items (even if they all are under 7 kilo combined). Virgin and Qantas are much more flexible. The check in system is automated and so is the bag drop for your checked luggage. You cannot be late or the system will reject you. Check with the airline that you book with how long you have before the flight to bag drop close. They all differ and range from 1 hour to 1/2 before the flight. I must mention that on Jetstar you can purchase extra cabin allowance to 14 kilos but it must still be two items.

Jetstar are really strict on baggage and will weigh your carry on. Never been weighed with Qantas or Virgin.

We found that staying in town was better than near the airport. The airport is a long way out and not a very pleasant area. There are private shuttles but no port shuttle so you have to book your own. Ours was nearly 2 hours late and when we got to the cruise terminal the queues were enormous.

My elderly mother and I just booked this cruise - flights and insurance are going to cost a bomb !

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We paid $135 USD each in November 2019 which I thought was great. No additional costs. Picked up at the port, entrance fee to Petra with guide, lunch and return to port all inclusive.

Just FYI the person in front of me had prescription meds - he ticked yes on the form. He was asked by the person checking the form if they were from a Dr. by prescription he said yes to that question. He was sent to be searched - in a long queue. I ticked no on my form - wasnt asked anything and departed straight through the exit. I am fully aware of the implications to answering questions wrong. But I dont see my items as prohibited. They are on prescription so we get the PBS benefit - not because they are "prohibited". Most drugs (except narcotics) are on prescription but no prohibited. If they can be bought over the counter at full price ( for example insulin, blood pressure meds etc...) they are not prohibited items albiet that they are prescribed by a Dr. \ I hope this makes sense lol

Hegra is 7 hours away from Jeddah, how are you getting there?

Just returned from Azamara Pursuit - we tried it with a view to booking a World Cruise on Azamara. I'm glad we tried it - we won't book a WC and are still looking for a suitable ship for us. The ship is lovely, the staff fantastic, the food is delicious. The entertainment is a let down. The ship is old and creeks when at sea - all night every night, and I'm a light sleeper. The major drawback for me was the three nights we had (2 of) 5 meter and an 8 meter swell. We sailed the Med and I have done the med and crossings before and not had a problem on bigger ships with stabilizers but I was not well on this older, smaller ship.

You will probably know my next door neighbour who was heavily involved in organising the Wooden Boat Festival for many years. 🙂 Do you stay in Franklin ?

I agree whenever i have visitors I take them to the Channel area after the obligatory stop up the mountain. The roads are not too busy and the scenery fabulous. I do a loop - down the Channel hwy as far as Woodbridge then up over the hill with a stop on the way out to look out at the Channel/ Bruny Island. then over to Cygnet and up through Huonville back to town.

If you have a drink package (prepaid or included) there are no further charges on your account. Credit card links are easy - you do it from any of the terminals around the ship.

This is a link to the form you fill out ... it only asks if you are bringing "prohibited" drugs in - I always answer no because my drugs are by prescription and are not prohibited by this definition. https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-leaving-australia/files/ipc-sample-english.pdf

I just recently returned from overseas twice. Once through a cruise port in Sydney and once through the Airport in Melbourne. At the airport the guy in front of me was asked if he had medication and was sent to be checked - I had heaps of medications and was sent straight through. I did not declare anything, i wasnt asked . I dont recall the form you fill out asking for it because I would have answered honestly !

Speedy response by Costa to my phone call and email requesting clarification of charges. Mistakes happen everywhere and this one was easily fixed.

We did a fantastic and reasonably priced tour with Wonders travel and Tourism in 2019. It included a lovely lunch and was not too strenuous. Although I did feel sorry for the horses clattering up the cobbles at speed with too many tourists in the cart and suggest you walk and enjoy the experience rather than take the horses. I have cut and pasted their details. They collected us in a small van at the port - they were ready and waiting for us. Then transferred us to Petra. After the walk through Petra we went to "mamas" for lunch and then a leisurely ride back to the ship.