Sparky74

September 12

September 8

DW & I are teetotallers and have cruised P&O multiple times without issue. But if you expect to receive the same standard of food, service, etc as HAL you will be disappointed. I describe P&O as "cheap and cheerful".

September 7

2 hours ago, SunnyinDubai said:

Thanks...I am thinking it might be a good idea to move the excursion to the later one for Airlie beach as it means we are less stressed about "making it to the shore on time" and if we do get there earlier, I am sure we can find something to do...

We have booked the cruise line excursion for GBR as they had an offer recently but was also looking at other options...but the only one I found for Port Douglas was more expensive (if we wanted to get back to the Port earlier than the 4.30pm time)...

Which ship will you be sailing on? That can make a difference to tendering time.

September 7

It’s my understanding that the Carnival Vista has had propulsion issues for a little while. Maybe a couple of cruises. 🤷‍♂️

I’m not sure that gathering all the passengers in the theatre to make an announcement like this is a good idea. I could well imagine a couple of people getting irate and then that feeling spreading through the crowd.

But at the end of the day the cruiseline holds all the aces. They can change the itinerary for whatever reason and don’t have to give the passengers any compensation.

September 5

7 hours ago, ddvgww said:

This topic brings me so much joy! Hubby and I just came home from a cruise on Tuesday, We sail again 21st - 28th November on RCI and after catching up with this topic again it inspired me to book a Princess cruise sailing 3rd December. Yes, only 5 days gap between cruises. We have already booked 4 cruises for next year and will have done 6 this year. Maybe I should stop reading this topic as it keeps reminding me of how much we really love cruising and definitely encourages me to be a cruiseaholic! LOL

DW & I are also sailing on Ovation OTS on 21st November which will be our 15th wedding anniversary. (I think this will be our 29th cruise! 😱)

The Roll Call for this cruise is very quiet, but do pop in for a chat.

September 1

I currently use an electric (rechargeable battery) mower but the robotic ones make me nervous.
Friends had their house burn down due to a faulty robotic vacuum cleaner.
Then there’s videos like this one: https://fb.watch/ukByRi9Juq/

September 1

I’m looking at the Rendezvous for one night precruise in November. It’s a short stroll to the OPT.

The Great Southern Hotel is another consideration for a more affordable, entry level hotel in the CBD.

August 30

That’s enough mowing for today. Time for a rest!

August 30

Here's the best prices I can find for international cruises.

Many are one way itineraries and you may need to add gratuities.

Date	Nights	Ship	From	To	Interior	Daily
1/9/24	7	MSC Seashore	Port Canaveral	Bahamas	$680	$97
15/9/24	7	MSC Seashore	Port Canaveral	Bahamas	$680	$97
29/9/24	7	MSC Seashore	Port Canaveral	Bahamas	$700	$100
10/10/24	8	P&O Azura	Valletta	Santa Cruz de Tenerife (one way)	$699	$87
30/10/24	18	MSC Seaside	Barcelona	Miamai (one way)	$1,753	$97
4/11/24	6	MSC Sinfonia	Brindisi	Venice (one way)	$589	$98
7/11/24	14	Celebrity Constellation	Barcelona	Tampa (one way)	$1,276	$91
9/11/24	14	MSC Virtuosa	Le Havre	Fort-de-France (one way)	$1,361	$97
10/11/24	20	MSC Orchestra	Genoa	Rio de Janeiro (one way)	$1,949	$97
10/11/24	19	MSC Orchestra	Genoa	Santos (Sao Paulo) (one way)	$1,881	$99
10/11/24	16	Caribbean Princess	Rome (Civitavecchia)	Fort Lauderdale (one way)	$1,331	$83
11/11/24	14	MSC Orchestra	Marseille	Salvador (one way)	$1,281	$92
11/11/24	18	MSC Orchestra	Marseille	Santos (Sao Paulo) (one way)	$1,763	$98
11/11/24	19	MSC Orchestra	Marseille	Rio de Janeiro (one way)	$1,881	$99
12/11/24	18	MSC Orchestra	Barcelona	Rio de Janeiro (one way)	$1,763	$98
16/11/24	16	MSC Grandiosa	Genoa	Salvador (one way)	$1,427	$89
16/11/24	19	MSC Grandiosa	Genoa	Rio de Janeiro (one way)	$1,811	$95
16/11/24	21	MSC Grandiosa	Genoa	Santos (Sao Paulo) (one way)	$2,027	$97
16/11/24	13	Celebrity Silhouette	Barcelona	Fort Lauderdale (one way)	$1,023	$79
16/11/24	14	Nieuw Statendam	Rome (Civitavecchia)	Fort Lauderdale (one way)	$1,309	$94
17/11/24	18	MSC Grandiosa	Marseille	Rio de Janeiro (one way)	$1,673	$93
17/11/24	20	MSC Grandiosa	Marseille	Santos (Sao Paulo) (one way)	$1,929	$96
18/11/24	17	MSC Grandiosa	Barcelona	Rio de Janeiro (one way)	$1,565	$92
18/11/24	19	MSC Grandiosa	Barcelona	Santos (Sao Paulo) (one way)	$1,861	$98
18/11/24	14	MSC Grandiosa	Barcelona	Salvador (one way)	$1,201	$86
20/11/24	17	MSC Grandiosa	Malaga	Santos (Sao Paulo) (one way)	$1,665	$98
26/11/24	4	MSC Virtuosa	Bridgetown	Fort-de-France (one way)	$361	$90
28/11/24	17	Sky Princess	Southampton	Fort Lauderdale (one way)	$1,462	$86
4/12/24	18	Island Princess	Rome (Civitavecchia)	Fort Lauderdale (one way)	$1,711	$95
6/12/24	7	P&O Azura	Santa Cruz de Tenerife	Canary Islands	$679	$97
6/12/24	12	Carnival Venezia	New York	Port Canaveral (one way)	$1,148	$96
7/12/24	7	P&O Azura	Santa Cruz de Tenerife	Canary Islands	$679	$97
3/1/25	7	P&O Azura	Santa Cruz de Tenerife	Canary Islands	$679	$97
4/1/25	7	P&O Azura	Santa Cruz de Tenerife	Canary Islands	$679	$97
10/1/25	7	P&O Azura	Santa Cruz de Tenerife	Canary Islands	$679	$97
11/1/25	7	P&O Azura	Santa Cruz de Tenerife	Canary Islands	$679	$97
17/1/25	7	P&O Azura	Santa Cruz de Tenerife	Canary Islands	$678	$97
23/1/25	5	Carnival Firenze	Los Angeles	Mexico	$493	$99
28/1/25	5	Carnival Firenze	Los Angeles	Mexico	$493	$99
24/4/25	16	Carnival Valor	New Orleans	Barcelona (one way)	$1,354	$85
26/4/25	4	Discovery Princess	Los Angeles	Vancouver (one way)	$399	$100
30/4/25	5	Caribbean Princess	Los Angeles	Vancouver (one way)	$449	$90
11/6/25	15	Carnival Valor	Barcelona	New Orleans (one way)	$1,428	$95
9/10/25	9	P&O Azura	Valletta	Santa Cruz de Tenerife (one way)	$837	$93
9/10/25	8	P&O Azura	Valletta	Santa Cruz de Tenerife (one way)	$768	$96
5/12/25	7	P&O Azura	Santa Cruz de Tenerife	Canary Islands	$648	$93
6/12/25	7	P&O Azura	Santa Cruz de Tenerife	Canary Islands	$698	$100
12/12/25	7	P&O Azura	Santa Cruz de Tenerife	Canary Islands	$698	$100
13/12/25	7	P&O Azura	Santa Cruz de Tenerife	Canary Islands	$698	$100
2/1/26	7	P&O Azura	Santa Cruz de Tenerife	Canary Islands	$698	$100
3/1/26	7	P&O Azura	Santa Cruz de Tenerife	Canary Islands	$698	$100
9/1/26	7	P&O Azura	Santa Cruz de Tenerife	Canary Islands	$698	$100
10/1/26	7	P&O Azura	Santa Cruz de Tenerife	Canary Islands	$698	$100
16/1/26	7	P&O Azura	Santa Cruz de Tenerife	Canary Islands	$698	$100
17/1/26	7	P&O Azura	Santa Cruz de Tenerife	Canary Islands	$698	$100
21/3/26	15	Carnival Dream	Barcelona	Galveston (one way)	$1,224	$82
11/4/26	13	Carnival Glory	Barcelona	Port Canaveral (one way)	$1,135	$87

August 30

9 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Then again, it probably won't hurt it to grow a bit more for once. I read somewhere a while back that it is beneficial to allow lawns to grow a bit more in warm weather - I think it was something to do with protecting the roots or retaining moisture…

The trouble is that it’s getting difficult to see the house! 🤣

August 29

2 hours ago, Jean C said:

Oh dear, you poor thing, it's not fun when you get sick, especially while on holiday. Get well soon and give the chores a miss for a while.

The trouble is that the lawn isn’t going to cut itself. And the weather has turned so warm!

I think I'll try to. do just a little bit each day. At least I feel like I’m making progress.

August 29

43 minutes ago, ScottishRobbie said:

On the 24th, Ovation will be docked in Adelaide on a 7-night South Australia & Tasmania cruise,

We will be on that cruise celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary.

August 29

1 hour ago, Gwendy said:

Sorry to hear you have been ill. I have also succumbed to a nasty chest infection, started on Saturday morning when we disembarked/. Lots of coughing in the last few days around the ship. Get well soon.

Thanks. Not having a great day today but maybe I over did it by mowing the frond yard yesterday.

I ended up missing Conflict Island. DW when ashore and said it was lovely but I stayed in bed and coughed and sweated, and sweated, and sweated... I was off my tucker (which is highly unusual) and the following night DW reckoned I was about the same colour as the sheets!

August 29

Here's my latest list of "local" cruises. Apologies for any errors.

Date	Nights	Ship	From	To	Interior	Daily
21/10/24	10	Carnival Splendor	Sydney	Pacific Islands	$1,084	$108
14/11/24	8	Carnival Splendor	Sydney	Pacific Islands	$859	$107
17/12/24	2	Pacific Explorer	Adelaide	Melbourne (one way)	$218	$109
3/2/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
11/2/25	4	Pacific Encounter	Brisbane	North Qld	$426	$107
24/2/25	10	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Pacific Islands	$901	$90
4/3/25	4	Pacific Encounter	Brisbane	North Qld	$426	$107
6/3/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
29/3/25	9	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Pacific Islands	$868	$96
7/4/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
24/4/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
28/4/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
29/4/25	10	Pacific Encounter	Brisbane	PNG	$963	$96
6/5/25	10	Carnival Splendor	Sydney	Pacific Islands	$1,069	$107
17/5/25	9	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	North Qld	$882	$98
19/5/25	8	Carnival Splendor	Sydney	Pacific Islands	$829	$104
26/5/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
27/5/25	10	Carnival Splendor	Sydney	North Qld	$1,059	$106
2/6/25	10	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Pacific Islands	$949	$95
10/6/25	9	Carnival Splendor	Sydney	Pacific Islands	$979	$109
12/6/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
16/6/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
23/6/25	8	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	North Qld	$759	$95
23/6/25	10	Carnival Splendor	Sydney	North Qld	$1,049	$105
24/6/25	4	Pacific Encounter	Brisbane	North Qld	$426	$107
1/7/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
5/7/25	9	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Pacific Islands	$949	$105
14/7/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
21/7/25	10	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	North Qld	$901	$90
3/8/25	10	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Pacific Islands	$901	$90
4/8/25	10	Carnival Splendor	Sydney	North Qld	$1,079	$108
8/8/25	8	Pacific Encounter	Brisbane	Pacific Islands	$854	$107
13/8/25	9	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Pacific Islands	$854	$95
14/8/25	8	Carnival Splendor	Sydney	Pacific Islands	$819	$102
25/8/25	10	Carnival Splendor	Sydney	Pacific Islands	$1,019	$102
25/8/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
20/9/25	10	Pacific Encounter	Brisbane	Pacific Islands	$1,058	$106
22/9/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
26/9/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
4/10/25	7	Pacific Encounter	Brisbane	Pacific Islands	$759	$108
9/10/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
13/10/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
20/10/25	8	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Pacific Islands	$759	$95
28/10/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
10/11/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
17/11/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
24/11/25	8	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tasmania	$806	$101
2/12/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
9/12/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
26/12/25	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
27/1/26	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
3/2/26	13	Pacific Encounter	Brisbane	Singapore (one way)	$1,329	$102
3/2/26	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
5/3/26	9	Carnival Splendor	Sydney	Pacific Islands	$979	$109
9/3/26	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
16/3/26	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
7/4/26	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
20/4/26	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
21/4/26	10	Pacific Encounter	Brisbane	Pacific Islands	$1,091	$109
27/4/26	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
11/5/26	9	Carnival Splendor	Sydney	Pacific Islands	$979	$109
25/5/26	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
1/6/26	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107
9/6/26	10	Pacific Encounter	Brisbane	PNG	$1,091	$109
11/6/26	9	Carnival Splendor	Sydney	Pacific Islands	$979	$109
18/6/26	4	Pacific Adventure	Sydney	Tangalooma	$426	$107

August 28

We watched with interest as a Boarder Force agent spread white paper on the bench and then shook a basket over the paper. The basket ended up in a large plastic garbage bag with many similar baskets.

August 28

I’m slowly recovering from what I expect is influenza which I succumbed to on our recent cruise. In time, I'll try to give some tips for Papua New Guinea. It certainly is a beautiful and fascinating place. Lovely people who exist with very little material wealth. A third world country (is that term still politically correct? 🤷‍♂️) on our doorstep. We are keen to visit there again and hope that it continues to offered as a cruise destination.

When we disembarked in Brisbane we noticed that many passengers submitted their souvenirs for inspection by Boarder Force. Timber carvings seemed allowed into the country without too much issue. Baskets were another matter and we observed several large transparent garbage bags of surrendered baskets.

So our top tip for PNG would be, don’t buy the baskets!

August 28

OK!

According to the Good Times of Wednesday 14th August, 2024, Embarkation Day of my recent cruise on the Pacific Encounter, the Waterfront was indeed open for lunch, 11:30am-1:30pm.

August 27

Have I mentioned how much I hate carrying my phone when I’m on a cruise?

August 27

36 minutes ago, windsor26 said:

Just not really off topic but interested what has happened to any recent postings for El Cheapo Cruise link?

31 minutes ago, arxcards said:

Nothing that I have noticed. I am not aware of any posts being removed, and it has just dropped to page 3 from inactivity as far as I can guess.

I’ve been away! 🤣

Give me a couple of days…

August 26

2 hours ago, Aus Traveller said:

I will answer if you don't mind - the Waterfront has been open on embarkation day on every cruise we have been on on the Pacific Encounter so I am sure it will be for you also. Entry is prior to 1.30pm.

2 hours ago, ceeceeDee said:

THAT'S what I meant to ask you, Sparky? Was the Waterfront open for lunch on 'barking day' on your recent PNG cruise? Please and thank you.🙏

Thanks for chipping in with the answer. DW was keen to go to the Pantry on Barking Day. I do know that the Waterfront was open for breakfast on Disemboweling Day but again, we took the Pantry option.

August 25

We disembarked on Saturday and drove home. Sunday morning I’m in the shower and I think, "You know, I could run ballroom dancing classes in here…" So spacious!

August 25

6 hours ago, ceeceeDee said:

That's disappointing to hear, Sparky. Encounter has obviously gone downhill since we were on her in June/July last year. Although I do remember seeing evidence of a fairly serious leak over the Oasis Bar at the time.

What condition were the cabins in (and may I ask what category you had?). Our mini suite last year was in good condition.

I guess we can only hope that Carnival will let the moths out of the wallet and give the old girl more than a quick once over at some stage. I know there's 'cheap and cheerful' but 'cheap and dilapidated' just won't cut it. Our cruise dollars may well be spent with another Line. Mind you, we will be able to judge for ourselves when we're on Encounter in December. But that's another 4 months of potential deterioration.☹️

We were in an Oceanview Cabin, # 5333, and didn’t notice any maintenance issues in our cabin. Not that we were particularly looking for them!

On the first night the cabin was very noisy, the worst we have ever had in all our years of cruising. It sounded like someone was continually dragging tables across the floor above us. There was some "motion in the ocean" and it turned out to be waves hitting the ship. We were in just the right (or wrong) spot! Fortunately it abated the next day and we didn’t hear the noise again until the last night when it returned but wasn’t as loud and was far less frequent.

The other (minor) issue with this cabin is that it has those retro-fitted bunk beds on the walls. When I went down with what I think was the 'flu we asked to have the bed separated. It gave us so much more room and it was so much easier to get in and out of bed. We wished we had asked for the beds to be separated on the first night.

In spite of getting sick, it was a great cruise. Bring on the next one!

August 24

I still reckon the interior designer was an absolute genius! How on earth they convinced someone to pay them actual money for THAT is beyond me!

I wonder if they still have the giant fried eggs on the ceiling in the MDR. Eventually I twigged that they were supposed to be gold coloured pearls as the restaurant is called, "The Gold Pearl" but they still looked like fried eggs to me. 🤷‍♂️

August 24

We disembarked the Pacific Encounter this morning. She is looking pretty tired.

Every time it rained there were buckets catching the drips. This has been an issue in the Pantry for sometime as evidenced by the rust patches on the ceiling. But I don’t recall seeing the entrance to the Encounter Hotel roped off due to leaks previously.
Many of the seats in the Marquee Theatre are dilapidated. The carpets on the staircases are threadbare in patches and there just seems to be a lack of maintenance all over the ship.

I hope they have time to give her some much needed TLC during the changeover. It seems a shame that she’s not going in for a full makeover.

August 13

Yes, I just listened to Adrian’s YouTube video update.

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