Sparky74

1 hour ago, Blackduck59 said:

 

You do know I'm Canadian right?

Is that any guarantee of anything? 🤣🤣🤣

20 hours ago, Blackduck59 said:

…We planned a road trip in Australia making the route so we could meet some of the friends we have made on CC. As it turns out we will need to rework the road trip, we have made more friends, that's why we will probably wait until we don't have to think about getting back for work.

If you’re planning a road trip in Australia there’s a few things to be aware of. We drive on the left. We measure distance in kilometres. It’s a big country and the majority of the population lives along the coastal fringe. 
 

Although our population is relatively small, Australia has a large land mass. Driving between Sydney and Brisbane (for example) CAN be done in one day but I wouldn’t recommend it. Cairns is a long way from Sydney, so is Perth. I wouldn’t think of driving either of those routes unless I had plenty of time and wanted to see things (or visit people) along the way. 
 

JMHO

YMMV

🙂

28 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

Did you get a cabin?

Yes!

Obstructed Oceanview. $105 out of pocket after our credit is applied. 4 nights to Airlie Beach ex Brisbane. 
😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

I need to pack a bag. We leave in 12 days! 😁

1 hour ago, Galesa said:

…we basically ignore each other for the whole trip.

For the whole trip or just for the flight? 🤣🤣🤣

I wonder if a cabin has become available since last time I checked (about an hour ago!)…

Nope! 🤷‍♂️

Rinse. Repeat. 
🤣

Cruising is the only way to fly!
🤣🤣🤣

38 minutes ago, Aussieflyer said:

That cruise is in the middle of the school holidays so you might want a back up cruise just in case. I am on a Carnival cruise during the previous week and expecting it to be full. 

Also cruises last year, especially when just restarting, never were at full capacity and did have  a few late cancellations. Not sure that is the case now.

It’s not in Queensland school holidays. 

So, here’s the story…

Last year as part of our "Are We Mad" trip we had B2B cruises booked on P&O, 3 night Comedy Cruise and 10 nights to PNG. During the first cruise we had to retest for COVID and I returned a positive result. We were moved to an isolation cabin (24 hours) and upon return to Brisbane and sent to a motel for a further 4 days isolation as per Qld Government rules at the time. P&O gave us complimentary softdrink and wifi while in the isolation cabin and paid for the motel (including meals and laundry) as well as taxi to the motel. They gave us a credit for a third of the price we paid for the 3 night cruise (we spent 1 night of the 3 in isolation) and after much follow up they eventually gave us a full credit for the 10 night cruise. 
 

Earlier this year DW found a great deal on 10 nights to PNG which we booked, paid a deposit, and then used some of our credits for the balance. We still have $900 in credit with P&O but it has a sail by date of October 2023. We can drive to Brisbane so would prefer to sail from there and we'd prefer not to be away over a weekend. 
 

I’ve identified I332 - 4 nights to Airlie Beach ex Brisbane on Tuesday 11th July as a good candidate. It’s currently showing as sold out but our TA has us wait-listed. What are the chances of a cabin becoming available on this cruise?
 

Our recent 10 night cruise was sold out but then cabins became available during the week before embarkation. The crew on the Pacific Encounter told us that we were sailing with below full capacity.

Business Class

I’ve never been able to afford business class myself although I have a sister and an aunt who refuse to fly in economy for overseas trips. I have, however, had the extreme good fortune to be upgraded twice in my life. 😁

In 2006 when returning from my first trip to the UK. I was travelling alone and Royal Brunei stuffed me around (long story) and to placate me they upgraded me from Brunei to Sydney. I decided then that I could get used to Business Class!

The other time was when DW & I flew from Newcastle to Norfolk Island in 2008. We were seated on the small aircraft when the flight attendant asked us if we would mind moving forward two rows because of the weight distribution on the plane. We were more than happy to move into the more spacious seats!

I remember someone saying years ago (perhaps it was in this forum) that instead of flying business class, they would break their journey and stay a night in a five star hotel. It was more cost effective and they felt it gave them a better travel experience. When DW & I went to the UK in 2015 we broke our return journey with a week in Hong Kong but we stayed in affordable AirBnB, not a 5 star hotel. After many weeks of busy sightseeing it was great to relax and recover from jet lag before heading home and back to work. 
 

Friends of mine, an adventurous family, plan layovers of 10 hours or more and leave the airport to explore the city, treating it like a port of call on a cruise. 
 

We all have different needs and priorities: comfort, budget, time… As others have said do your research, listen to all the advice and opinions, but at the end of the day, you do you.

Happy travels!

1 hour ago, sewgood said:

 

I only saw apple and orange juice on the breakfast drink trays.

Maybe you could get it for free if you asked. Maybe...

There were certainly more choices up at the buffet but we only went there on the last day so I didn't take any notice as we were in a rush on the last day.

Last week on the Pacific Encounter apple juice and orange juice were offered at breakfast in the Waterfront restaurant. One morning a lady at my table ordered pineapple juice. She explained to the table that it was available for no additional charge, but you had to ask for it. 
In the Pantry, juice was only available at breakfast. Some mornings there was apple juice and orange juice; some mornings there was grapefruit juice and cranberry juice. 
One night I had trouble sleeping so I got dressed and stole up to the Pantry at 3:30am for some hot water to make a drink. (I bring my own hot chocolate powder). I was surprised to see that the juice was already in the dispensers with plenty of ice. 

@Aussieflyer raises many valid points. 
 

Remember that as a land mass, Australia is the sixth largest country in the world (after Russia, Canada, China, the USA, and Brazil).

15 minutes ago, Cbtours said:

Personally I prefer to book my own with the carrier. Research using google? Booking.com? One of those sites. Then go deeper with actual carrier. I check the dates where I can be flexible and save many $$$ doing this. Either side of the date you want to go can save a $1000 many times. That’s enough to get a hotel room with change left over.

then I always want to pick my seat. So hegira I fly, I want to know which flight has least passengers so far. So go to

www.expertflyer.com and create a free account.

then put in your date, flight number etc and it will give you live seating for that flight! If it’s already pretty full, check another time etc.

next tip, airlines have seats blocked that you can’t pre select. (Shown with a cross on the map). At exactly 80 hours before the flight, these seats open! So go in fast and Re select your seat. 
it sounds a bit complicated but it’s not once you go in and check it out.

 

Look at you being an expert on flights, Irene! 😱🤣🤣🤣

26 minutes ago, Ondine said:

I did read somewhere that it was an electrical fault behind the TV.  Maybe maybe not.....

I heard that on a cruise VLOG. 

How much are washing machine and clothes dryer tokens? 
We disembarked the Pacific Encounter on Saturday. My onboard account arrived by email today and I can’t see where they’ve charged me for them. 🤷‍♂️

7 minutes ago, sevencruises said:

Sparky, that must be the Explorer not Encounter as I'm on Encounter on that date, from Brisbane to the South Pacific. 

Yes, sorry!

It is Explorer not Encounter. 

X-329

The Pacific Encounter is sailing from Cairns to Auckland next Saturday (24/6/23), a 6 night cruise, one way. 
Inside cabins are listed  by P&O as $449/person but I’ve found it at $200/person elsewhere.

That’s less than $35/day!

1 hour ago, NSWP said:

Do you have a big van ? 

No. Just good spatial awareness and a knack for packing. I was very fortunate in my youth that my parents were able to support me and I could go to university. All those hours of playing Tetris on my 286 have paid off! 😁

3 hours ago, MMDown Under said:

You are not the only one.  Just give us feedback at the end of your cruise.  You'll be busy being room service waiter to your wife! 

I’m going to be fit by the end of the cruise from pushing DW in the wheelchair!

We’re on board, have our suitcases, and are seated in the Waterfront Restaurant waiting for lunch. 

1 hour ago, aussielozzie18 said:

Enjoy your cruise.  Will you do a mini review after your cruise?

I don’t have a great track record when it comes to completing reviews that I start so I’m not making any commitments. 

I managed to get the wheelchair, knee scooter, crutches, and suitcases into the car. AND there was still room for DW. 😅

The Airport Motel in Brisbane has so far proved adequate. Nothing flash and a little tired in places but it’s clean and comfortable. DW is yet to try the shower. 
We should be on the ship in another 5 or 6 hours. 😁

5 hours ago, Jean C said:

Hi, I was going to suggest that! Go and have your brekkie and while out and about, collect something for Cathryn 🍲 (two birds, one stone 😄). The difficulty could be carrying multiple dishes to the cabin and maybe a hot drink. They might be able to loan you a tray if you ask.  Do P&O supply wheelchairs at all, or is it something you could hire for the trip 🤔

DW doesn’t drink tea or coffee so that simplifies things slightly. Apparently P&O do NOT supply wheelchairs. 

4 hours ago, MMDown Under said:

I

 

i take two small 24 hour thermos, so I can carry boiling water for tea during the night and cold water to drink.  I put ice cubes in my cold water.  I have a bag I put them in to keep my hands free.  I don’t need to take any food but would take Tupperware containers for food if I did.

We often take a small plastic container or ziplock bag and collect biscuits at lunchtime so we can have afternoon tea or supper. 

3 hours ago, cruiser3775 said:

You can hire a lightweight wheel chair in Brisbane for $25 a week.  Might be worthwhile?

https://www.qldrehab.com.au/wheeled-mobility-equipment-hire

I wonder if they'd deliver it to the terminal. 🤷‍♂️ That would be easier than bringing one from home along with the knee scooter, and the walking frame, and suitcases. At this rate there might be room for DW in the car! 😱

2 hours ago, arxcards said:

@Sparky74 On that thought, make sure you contact P&O to register for wheelchair assistance at embark/disembark. Apart from expediting your boarding, these are nice folk (especially Ian).

Our TA has apparently organised this for us. 

21 minutes ago, arxcards said:

@Sparky74 Wow, I found some content on the P&O Australia forum from last August.

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com.au/topic/2871446-breakfast-lunch-menus-pictures/

 

 

 

 

Hmmm…

Usually on a cruise I have my breakfast early in the dining room while DW gets up later and goes to the buffet. 
One of the reasons for taking this cruise is for me to have a rest, including from waiting on DW following her ankle surgery but at those prices I might be popping up to the Pantry to collect breakfast for her after I’ve had mine. 

1 hour ago, Aus Traveller said:

I am pretty sure P&O charge per item for room service including breakfast.

Thanks, Evon. 
With DW's current mobility issues we may be utilising a bit of room service this cruise. I really need a break from all the fetch and carry I’ve done lately on top of everything else. Just as well the cruise fare was cheap! 
We sail on Wednesday. 😁