lyndarra

So pirates are still a thing!🏴‍☠️

I wondered if there was a cruise ship in port. 😁

I went to the Rock and Roll show last night. It starred Jade Hurley, Lucky Starr, Digger Revell, Little Pattie and Dinah Lee🥰. It was an excellent show although all were, physically, showing their age, 80+ except for little Pattie who is 74. And they can still sing. I didn't realise that the Civic Theatre had an undercover parking area so I took a photo - below.

Worse. They will only serve weird flaky pastry things for lunch. No desserts.

In my experience it has always been 2 bottles per cabin but wife and I have got through with two bottles each. They must be in your carry on, and not in checked luggage.

Are you registered with any online TAs? I get heaps and almost all of my international travel has included flights, tours and/or cruises. I have done two Sydney/Singapore HAL cruises that included return flights. Quite a number to US and Canada. TA's can often get good deals with airlines. Have you noticed Qantas is now partnered with a well known travel company that can get a good deal on trips?

And there was a repilica of an old plane there too but I can't find the photo. Come to think of it, I may have used that one before.

That was a given.

Same city but where?

I could be tempted to go again and spend a bit more time.

Motherhood. Amalia Rodriges Park in Lisbon. IWas there in Sept last year. I liked Lisbon, and what little I saw of the rest of Portugal.

I use online cruise specialist TAs. The only time I have booked with a cruiseline was once while on a cruise where I booked a future cruise with a post cruise tour. I later transferred the booking to a TA (you can do this) to add a pre cruise tour. I look for deals where I like the itinerary then look at which cruise line it is and compare prices. I get regular emails from TAs with deals.

You're not alone. But, I'm not attracted to cruising because I may be given a cheap trinket or a perceived perk. Boarding priority? Meh, So long as I they let me on. Laundry, never needed it, I can wash a few things if need be. And those star pins? They usually end up as swag in a geocache along with fabulous trivia prizes.

I would be inclined towards the MSC itinerary. MSC is becoming more popular with Americans ditching regular marques e.g. RCI, Carnivcal and in particular Celebrity, where they would normally book suites. They are going for MSC Yacht Club which is very much up market and like being on a ship within a ship with access barred to non Yacht Club cruisers. Top service and inclusions. MSC is certainly not formal in the Cunard and UK P&O sense. I have cruised on MSC and, although, it was not the best as far as food goes (MDR), I look back and see that if I knew what it was like before going my expectations may not have been as high. MDR food was particularly disappointing however I thought the buffet was great. The MSC ships are wonderful, very classy. Service, at times, was a bit hit and miss in the MDR. Very inexperienced staff with a big work load (late 2019) but that may not be representative of all their ships. I suggest you give it a go, particularly the Yacht Club. I'm looking at what's available on MSC in the Caribbean but I have to factor in single supplement to the cost unless I can find a cruising companion.

It's hard to imagine, when looking at all the ice, that Antarctica is the driest continent on earth. Also, it is massive. Antarctica is 5.5 million square miles. USA (lower 48) 3.1 million square miles. As a comparison Australia is the second driest (and smallest) continent - 2.9 million M2.

You are correct.

So where is my ute St Mic?

Not Arizona but close. I am in a National Park.

Next pic.

I have booked. I now have a date with Dinah.🥰

Spending for the most part is cashless. Tap/wave using cards, debit or credit and also payment using smart phones are the go. Sometimes a PIN may be required (usually for large amounts say over $100 or $200 but signing is very, very rare. There are a few threads on this forum re tipping.

Porto,?

Something fishy going on here.

The question of insurance for Australian travellers, particularly for the more senior among us, keeps coming up regularly. Perhaps this topic should be pinned?

Have you seen what's on at Civic Theatre this Sunday? Legends.