possum52

Freemantle is the correct way to pronounce it but there is no emphasis on the free. It is not said as Free Mantle.

Unfortunately the videos are not available in Australia, but they may be of interest to others not here.

The only cruise ship listed on the port schedule in Sydney on NYE 2025 is Azamara Pursuit to be docked at White Bay. Cruise ships are not docked at the OPT at Circular Quay on NYE.

We always take a plastic poncho in our back packs when on holiday, whether it is on a cruise or travelling on land. It is amazing how many times we have needed them, even for just a brief time.

Thank you Les! 🥰 I hope the packing is going well and it is not tiring you too much.

As you can't do anything about the weather, just be prepared and bring whatever travel sickness medication you use. I find that a green apple helps - there is usually a supply in the buffet.

Yes it is.

You can wear whatever colour and outfit you want to in Australia. It may not be really warm in Tasmania and Melbourne in late March as it is autumn here then. In saying that it there may be some hot days into the 30s. But as long as you have layers and perhaps a couple of pairs of long pants whatever colour you want, you will be fine. Always pack a light raincoat /jacket as well. Capris are fine until it starts to cool down. And of course you can wear white shoes all year round if you want to.

Isn't that why tipping is so much part of US life, because service/wait staff are not paid a living wage by their employer and need tips to earn enough to live on. In Australia, for an adult (21 and over) the National Minimum wage paid per hour is $23.23 with penalty rates on weekends and public holidays. Casual rates are higher - for example a waiter in a cafe will earn around $28 per hour. According to Forbes, the average Australian wage, as of 2023, was AU $90,800 (US $59,309.31) and for the USA it was US $59,428 (AU $90,979.84).

What does that have to so with tipping?

Yes, most pubs, restaurants and cafes will be open, although perhaps not all opening on Good Friday. I would assume the restaurants/bars at your hotel will be open the whole weekend. On Good Friday, the major shops including supermarkets and shopping centres will be closed but some will be open on Easter Sunday. All will open Saturday and Monday. Public transport will operate on Sunday timetables. Taronga Zoo will be open as will movie theatres. Closer to the time google what is open in Sydney over and what is happening over Easter. One big event which will be on over the four day holiday weekend is the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Sydney Royal Easter Show

Any of the above is fine, but if the steward is only working in Australian/NZ waters, they may prefer Aus or NZ currency as it is easier to spend here. If they are banking it, it really doesn't matter. But please remember, tipping extra is not expected.

Diamond was the first time we had a Caribe cabin. As it was a nineteen day re-location cruise, we used the balcony a lot.

This a great product unless you use it on the reef as it contains chemicals which are bad for the reef - I compared the list of 'bad' chemicals for the reef from the article that Lyndarra linked - Reef Safe Sunscreen Guide to the list of ingredients in the Surf Life Saving Sport SPF50+ sunscreen. The OP asked about reef safe sunscreen.

Fair enough. Enjoy the remainder of your cruise.

It would be the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay. White Bay does not have access to any shops nearby.

First of all, how long are you planning to spend in Australia/NZ? Just the cruise or time in each country prior and after the cruise? What are your interests/what do you want to see? When are you thinking of coming?

I think it depends on the tour guide and who employs them. Our last cruise to NZ, we saw a tour guide refuse a tip from fellow passenger, then explaining that it is not required as he is paid a good wage. But of course I can understand some guides will accept tips. Have you mentioned to your fellow travellers it is not necessary to tip down under?

But only because your fellow travellers have either 1. not researched whether tipping is required or 2. are not following advice. As a citizen of a non-tipping nation, I certainly do my research prior to travelling overseas to what is required tipping wise. If I travelled to the US, I would tip as required. It is only polite to learn the culture of the countries you are visiting.

I agree with what others have written re SPF 50+ - it is very important to ensure you use it and keep re-applying. I hope you are able to find reef safe sunscreen easily. The links Lyndarra has provided will help.

Yes you are correct, but the link shows other options than just ordering online. You would use the option that is appropriate to you.

Yes unfortunately Lyle it will be. We don’t normally come that way but we were detoured as there was an event along Beaconsfield Parade, the route we tend to use through Port Melbourne and around to St Kilda.

Lyle, we drove around part of the Melbourne GP circuit this afternoon while driving home from a few days in Warrnambool.

I think so too Jean, but maybe we are more discerning as we age. I actually think the chocolate is nasty. I'm with Lyndon, I'd prefer an iced VoVo or even a jam fancy.

During Covid, the Dunedin Trains shut down and all its rolling stock was sent elsewhere, After everything reopened, they have come back in a smaller way. we went up the gorge in 2018 and really enjoyed the trip. At that time, you could do the train privately as we did. I think the comments about the scenery on Trip Advisor were a little unfair. I'm not sure what they thought they were going to see. We loved the train trip. Google always helps, there are plenty of choices there.