lyndarra

Why can't they build small ships with big water slides? I love water slides. Actually, I love anything to do with water.

I did did Sydney/Singapore last January on Westerdam. Again, there was confusion about what HAL would or wouldn't do re visa. My cruise arrived at Komodo Iland first, then Lombok and then Bali. Lombok was not an "entry" port but it didn't really matter. I successfully applied online for a visa following information in my roll call. Here is a link. Hope it helps. HAL eventually did the Visas but, as usual, cost was more than doing it online.

I'll add my vote for Ocean bar. Excellent bar service (NA), soft music and quiet conversation. On a previous HAL cruise happy hour in the Crow's Nest ended just before our MDR dinner seating, but no music there.

Don't forget your gumshoes. Forget the pork pie, this may require a deer stalker.😉

Take an Alaskan cruise and find a real one.😱

First blow fly just buzzed in through the back door. 🪰 Seems like we missed spring and gone straight into summer.

Would it be too disturbing if someone, or even a bunch of people, wore a life jacket to the party?😁

The last week has gone quick Lyle - as usual. And the planning begins again.

Something different. Roofers finished my new roof today. Goodbye terra cotta, hello Colorbond.

Your stoppages were most likely having to give way to freight trains - they have priority - then Vial Rail has to make up time where they can, e.g. cutting short on stops.There's nothing Via Rail can do about it. I have done the shorter Via Rail overnighter Jasper/Vancouver and enjoyed it. We travelled to Jasper by coach from Calgary. Very scenic and good stops along the way. Better than going by rail.

I like LLB, Ginger Beer (not ale) and Pepsi Max etc.. Anything sugar free - if I can get it. I go with tap water as an alternative. I like a wine with dinner. I always opt for PAYG.

Maybe because they don't get tips, there's no point in being nice. (Refering to LAX staff not Oz Boerder Force).

Noumea was our first overseas family holiday in 1980. Our two boys were aged 2 and 4. We spent a week there and had a great time. We had also done three years of French in highschool which helped a little. The kids, one with blonde hair, the other auburn were a hit with the local native population and Japanese tourists - they loved the attention. Have been back about three times since and always found something new, interesting and different.

Yes, it's not cheap.

Have always for staff in LAX to be very surly except on one occasion. There was a gentleman employee directing pax to various queues. We exchanged a few pleasant words and we walked away thinking what a change to the usual. One telling factor to his happy demeanour was his English accent.😉

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restaurant_Review-g294130-d1092416-Reviews-Les_3_Brasseurs-Noumea_Grand_Terre.html

You could email them and ask. secretariat@cuenet.nc https://cuenet.nc/contact/

SQF, is about a half hour from the city. I imagined there would be a spot near Leith where RY Brittania is but that area seems to have gone all residential and commercial.

As mentioned above, no reservations required. I always make a point of getting to the venue about 15-20 minutes before a show starts to ensure a good seat, order a drink, do a Sudoku - whatever. Timing of this can be affected by MDR times. I have missed more than one show due to interesting discussions over the dinner table.

It should be in here. https://www.nab.com.au/content/dam/nab/documents/policy/insurance/nab-card-insurance-policy-information-booklet-November-2023.pdf I just browsed. Pages 14/15 (definitions) I believe

So far, I don't have any reportable, pre-existing, conditions.

I like Guinness but only draught not the, very different, canned stuff with the "widget". However I would give it a go on a cruise if I knew they have it - I've never seen it on a drinks menu. At the least it would be better than any of the American stuff or Dutch Grolsch.

eVisa 651 (which is free) you can; visit family or friends cruise or have a holiday undertake business visitor activities study or train for up to 3 months, in some circumstances"

My annual insurance is my $150 annual NAB Velocity CC fee.

I always book using my NAB Velocity card (everything I pay for goes on the CC which adds to my Velocity points). I've never had to claim except once when I took out additonal, high risk, travel insurance because I was doing, or should I say intended to do, a motorcycle tour of NZ and had an accident on the first day.🙁 You are correct, only have to pay minimum of $500. I also pay an annual card fee of $150. The only reason I got the NAB card, about 25 years ago was because it was the only CC at the time which awarded Flybuys on purchases. I did not have any accounts with the NAB and have managed to get the limit up to $15,000 so that I could pay for travel in full if need be. I also pay it off in full each month.