Over from NZ

No - you can eat in the buffet. Or perhaps in your room. If what others are wearing to dinner is causing you a problem.. that problem is with you alone. On our last cruise.. I wore a suit to the first 5 formal nights and then shorts and a polo shirt to the 6th to see what it felt like (as so many others were doing so). Guess what - my food didn't taste any different!

I've seen it ignored just as many times.. It's Alaska. They'll no doubt have a pair of jeans or something in their luggage they could chuck on if they were unlucky enough to strike a dress-code zealot.

Given that you're going to Alaska.. I would assume he'll have at least 1 pair of jeans or pants? As long as he's got one pair of jeans or pants he'll be fine. In most cases he'll be fine in shorts and a T-shirt (even on formal night), but if you happen to strike a Maitre-D out of step with the rest of the lin.. then the jeans or pants will get you by. Of course.. if you want to dress up more than that.. do what you like 🙂

$60 to the CBD? That price hasn't changed for ages. That's a fair deal.

Get a taxi to La Sagrada. Pre-book your entry tickets for opening time (from memory it was 9am). Be there about quarter to. Be the first people in La Sagrada - and you'll have the run of the place.. you'll take photos without people everywhere etc. It's great before it fills up. Probably be out of there by 11am.

An independence day?

You might want to shout yourself a new keyboard.. 🤣😅

Exactly!!!

Happy Australia Day! I have to admit as a Kiwi - you celebrate your National day much better than us. Party on!! 🙂

We've had one of those offers from Carnival once. If the cruise-line has oversold the number of cabins. They can be attractive (for those that live nearby and can be flexible on travel)!! 🙂

Hopefully a thing of the past. I like the idea of the bidding system (although haven't won one yet lol).

Exactly. No way I would ever tip an Uber driver! They're a foreign company, set-up to under-cut the local taxis.. and then they want to put their hand out for extra to compensate for them charging less to beat the competition? Nah, screw them lol.

I think Ola are in India, UK, NZ & Australia. Pretty much just another version of Uber?

No, totally disagree. You've only got to look at the number of brain-dead already asking the questions repeatedly on the facebook forums. "I don't drink, but should I get the package" they ask. For the US market.. it's not far off already where the non-drinkers are not far wrong in getting the Plus package. They start adding in that the gratuities are included, the net.. things like room service that used to be gratis.. a few long-blacks and those that think bottled water isn't a con. It's not far off price neutral already for the US. A few more tweaks and it's a no-brainer for them - and then they're all going to take it. That's how it's heading.

No, you're missing the point. The push is on.. to change that split. As they push it towards a no-brainer for most to go package.. they'll end up with just the holdouts on basic. When there's only a small portion left on basic.. at that point they can easily amalgamate things without any business suicide.

I don't necessarily agree. They'll just tighten the screws till there's nobody left on the old standard. Then once they get to critical mass.. plus will become standard. I.e. Plus will be the entry level fare. The internet - yes, understood. I'd prefer it was still as it were - with my free 200 minutes. However.. I think the angle right now with the fairly substantial price jump is just to tighten the screws and push even people towards the Plus package. It makes "currently" the plus look more attractive. Once all are on Plus.. they can start pushing the plus price up.. or then split out another version of plus and standard.

Oh dear. Expensive uber. When are you in port.. I'll send the wife over the hill to collect you haha.

Uber is well entrenched in NZ.. but haven't heard much of any others apart from Ola.

Yep. They're mongrels. They'll keep pushing till they get critical mass.. and then standard fare will be extinguished. Plus fare will be the base-line fare. Then.. they'll start upping the cost.. and then start watering it down and adding other supposed gimmicks, I mean perks.. to whatever will be the "new plus", and start the whole process off again. Their primary job is to milk you for all they can.

Agree with most of that.. although it wouldn't be worthwhile for those that don't drink alcohol unless they're already planning on having gallons of softdrinks and bottled water. There's no way I would get through $55 worth (or even $45). The wife does drink.. but she's a light-weight drinker and would be too borderline to bother with getting the package 🙂

It doesn't pay to "plus" for many people.. but the bastids are trying to push people that way. Once they get to critical mass.. Plus will just become the default (basically getting what used to be standard, but now paying extra for it).. and then they'll try and entice you into some new upsell (price mark 2).. and so it begins all again..

Just get breakfast delivered to the room that day.. jeepers 🙂 .

Fly to Malta for a few days after the cruise. It's easy to get to from a number of Mediterranean ports. Bingo. 🙂

Agree with much of that. Add to it - The zoos. Last time there, we did all 3 in one day (they're located beside each other). The night safari zoo was brilliant - being towed around the zoo in the dark seeing the animals at night and looking like you're right there with them. Singapore River cruise by night is excellent. Raffles Hotel. You can go there to their cafe if you're not a drinker (most go there for the "Singapore Sling". Clark Quay (and the other 2 Quay's) for dinner, nightlife etc. The Botanic Gardens are very good (Fort Canning is nice too). Wander through Chinatown, check out little India, Haji Lane etc. Gardens by the Bay to see the (free) light show was fabulous! Just off the top of my head.

Really?? Gets stranger and stranger lol.