aussielozzie18

@ReneeFLL You asked about P-platers. After learner drivers have logged 120 hours of supervised driving (including 20hrs of night driving) and been driving for at least 10months, they do their driving test in their car and if they pass, they are then P-Plate drivers (Provisional drivers). They can drive unsupervised but max speed is 100km/hr (even on freeway) and they cannot have more than 1 passenger in the car (except immediate family) between 11pm and 4am and there is a zero alcohol limit. Initially they have white & green p-plates they must display on front and back of car when driving then they progress to red P plates (white square with red P). It’s usually the red & white p-plates drivers that are reckless and known for speeding.

Your dining this week has been impressive and every dish of this meal looks superb.

What is the dish in the first photo, Graham? Looks like a lovely evening in memory of Pauline’s mam.

When we we were driving through the National Park on Sunday morning, the road from the park entrance is a long winding one with bushwalks running off it, left and right all the way along to the scenic West Head lookout at the very end. Lots of cyclists, one beautiful yellow Lamborghini out on a Sunday drive and groups of motorcycle groups including “the Distinguished Gentlemens Club”. We also saw two P-platers speeding which is concerning given the bends and the cyclists. On the way back, we rounded a bend and there was a policeman hidden in the bush with his speed gun….hope he got the p platers and anyone else speeding.

Whilst we were walking in the National Park on Sunday, my friend and her DH were doing the Mona Vale to Narrabeen coastal walk. She loves wildflowers as much as I do but takes much better photos with her phone. The white flower is a flannel flower.

Who needs a gym when you get that sort of workout. You must have felt very satisfied at the end of the day. Shame about the “golf” bill but at least he was prompt and efficient.

Sounds like you won’t be extending that olive beach again anytime soon. I am going through so many tests atm. Post cruise & allergies and daughter getting back to back colds with everyone sick at her workplace.

So sorry you have been so sick. I am glad your boss is paying for tests before everyone returns. Don’t want it going around the office again.

Omg Graham. It’s 11.10am here. I am back on eating healthy and I see your photos….

Glad our IT dept has spent 2hrs trying to fix my work computer. Meant I can catch up on the fab reviews like yours. Glad your accident does not prevent from you from enjoying the finer things in life on board. Be warned having a solo cabin is addictive.

Fabulous review from a wonderful trip.. Been dipping in and out but need to read again in it’s entirety. Beautiful resort & Hawaii photos. Love your cabinet display of ship models and the latest model with the North Star.

From the bushwalk, it’s a short drive to West Head lookout. view of Lion Island View of Pittwater View of Barrenjoey Headland & Lighthouse that we walked up to again recently. The strip of land between Barrenjoey Headland and Palm Beach contains Palm Beach Golf Course.

Beautiful morning in Sydney for a bushwalk in Ku-ring-Gai Chase National Park

@ReneeFLL Enjoying your TR and look forward to following along. I would have reached out to you before now if I was able to meet up with you on the 29th. And I see from your TR you are in Sydney after NZ, we are away interstate on those dates. I do hope you have a great time in Sydney & New Zealand.

@Luckynana So sorry about Jim’s health issues on board and your stressful experience disembarking due to lack of communication. Pleased to hear Jim was well taken care of in Canada and now is resting comfortably at home.

You certainly get an interesting cross section of people if you do a bit of travel by Greyhound bus in the US.

The guest speaker on my friend’s Coral Explorer Cruise from Broome to Darwin earlier this year was the only one who tested positive to Covid on board. He wasn’t thrilled to be confined to his cabin. Wouldn’t surprise me if staff are encouraged to chat with solos.

No I didn’t. I’ll give it a week, then follow up with Princess if it’s still there.

Shared a table in the Buffet a couple of times at my request due to lack of tables - no issue. I would always seek a smaller table so as not to hog space for others. If anyone had asked to join me at the table in the buffet area I would have happily said yes. Each to their own but I didn’t feel like a Neville no friends or a dork dining solo in MDR.

True

I think I know the answer to this but going to ask anyway. Just checked my bank account. Onboard final bill has gone through. Also a separate Princess charge for $100. I am assuming this is the holding fee that will eventually be reversed or drop off? Previous holding fees from hotels have been listed as pending so that’s why I am asking. Thanks,

Sorry, I am at work & missed your post. Re the MDR food, just remember that I was only on board for 3 nights. It’s just my experience from a short cruise. I did comment in the survey though. I usually do a massive amount of research before our family land holidays and I remember doing so much research prior to our first 3 family cruises with Royal on different ships, then my solos with Carnival & Holland America. For this one, being a short cruise, I just made sure I had the right docs, MDR bookings and at least a partial port tour and didn’t stress about the rest. Studying the ship layout would have been really helpful though. My booking was a last minute booking, I paid in full upfront. Glad you were able to pay the deposit you were comfortable with.

Definitely nice to chat to those next to you if you want to. Like you had a lovely couple that I ended up chatting to, so much so we almost ran late for the theatre performance. I just commented because if you were new to Princess-and wanted conversational privacy for whatever reason, you would be disappointed initially. Although I am sure the waiters would be more than happy to move you to a more private location, if the restaurant is not close to capacity and other tables are available.

Sounds like you really need to do your research before booking if you want a standard balcony cabin with cover on the Coral Princess

Princess were happy to put me on a share table and kept offering one at the restaurant entrance. So even though I booked a private table it wasn’t a problem to join a share table at the last minute if I wanted to (for dining early at 5.20pm at least).