MrsWaldo

33 minutes ago, Stumblefoot said:

This is exciting to learn MrsWaldo!  I do hope we’ll have the chance to meet while on board.  You might enjoy seeing some of the posts for our sailing over in the Roll Call section if you’re interested.
 

I know exactly what you mean.  In our house, we always like to receive the silver box.  It brings a welcome bit of excitement that our voyage is almost here.

Dang Nope, wrong cruise.

Someone on here is on our Syd-Syd cruise but I cant work out who it is.

I do wish I was doing Antarctica again!

11 hours ago, Stumblefoot said:

 

Whether you receive one is dependent on whether your booking agent remembers to forward it to you.  For example, our next voyage departs in 4-weeks and we haven’t received the silver box.  

I believe we are on the same cruise and I've had mine since October.  

I agree it isn't really a big deal.  I just like it as a reminder the cruise is happening.  The week mine arrived had been a challenging one so it was nice to arrive home to a "brighten my day"

It was different in the "Olden Days" when it came in a much bigger box and with a few other bits n bobs"

Just got back from my shopping trip..

Thanks Chiliburn, you can go explore now 😉

The Light rail exits on the platforms at central are clearly marked with a red circle.  The train comes into platform 21 (not 23)

The queue for the lift today was horrendous so I'd strongly suggest going to the front of the train, turn left facing the lines.

The lifts at CQ are far from adequate, Radiance was doing luggage drop around 10.30 and the next train was in before the queue from the last one had cleared.  

20 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

I’m thinking about someone traveling from the airport to circular quay to get on a cruise ship or spend a night or two before a cruise.

Like this is the scenic route 

Yeah,

I reckon they would get a special bonus of a visit to RPA or Vinnies

RPA has some amazing views of USYD,

Vinnies has some great restaurants nearby 

if it was Easter they don't need to go to the show... they get dodgems enroute

1 minute ago, Chiliburn said:

Do you think that would be a alternative for someone who is adventurous?

Nah,.....  cos the tracks there only go back to the airport or into city circle.

Do you want to see how it goes?

Don't try tomorrow though cos I'm planning on coming in to shop and last thing i need is a city rail meltdown 😉

1 minute ago, Chiliburn said:

That was quick 

Stupid iPad just posted without my control

😉

Moved to the laptop to clarify

3 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

The exit isn't where the lines start.  You use the lifts marked in blue at the end...  the white is the tunnel that allows eastern Subs access too Broadway exits.

That's a good point about light rail.  I completing forgot about it.  Last weekend Miss W was heading home from a conference at Manly and the lack of trains at CQ caused huge issues.

If we are talking next weekend to use it ... it's free so certainly not a good choice.

There is a stop just outside in Chalmers St which would be the one to use.  Assuming you use the lift then you'd come around and turn right.   There is an accessible ramp gate there too. 

If you plan to use a train on a weekend check here for your dates

https://transportnsw.info/alerts#/metro-train

Last weekend there were no trains to CQ due to track work.  It was a bus change at central which doesn't work well if you have luggage.

Sometimes on weekends the trains will only run in one direction around city circle through CQ and it will require a change at Central.

If it's business as usual a good tip for getting on with luggage is head to either end of the train.. just past where the wall comes in, Usually plenty of room in those carriages for bags.

My son and DIL came back from China early in the year.  First time they had travelled together to Asia.

My DIL was astounded as she was able to go straight through for the first time ever.

Went to Malaysia in April, no check again.  She was very confused.

 No prize for guessing her cultural heritage.

3 hours ago, Goldconnection said:

It was consistent. It appeared they waved everyone through on our flight from what we could see that was ahead of us. Again so much for all the hype over customs in Australia.

You've arrived once.... I've done it literally hundreds of times.

The inconsistency is between days and sometimes even hours.

1 hour ago, Goldconnection said:

 

1 hour ago, Goldconnection said:

. Expected to spend some time getting through customs after reading all the post. Just the opposite. It took less than five minutes ........ So much for all the hype about customs in Australia. 

This is the thing......

It's very inconsistent.    I've had chocolates from Geneva taken even though they are allowed in. I think the officer liked them as they were tiny garbage bins.  I've brought in an Orchid from the Shangri-La in Singapore, normally plants are not allowed.  They've randomly inspected 1 bag out of four.  I had a good laugh because it was the dirty washing suitcase.  They didn't delve deeply!

I saw another post on the FB page and went yassss   Real vegetarian options.  I can't find it to link

Uber is far more popular here.

I'd check surge pricing as depending on how many ships are in at once you may find Uber (or any of the ride share) to be more expensive than a booked Limo..

Ola is another operator that is popular with some.   My experience was dire.

3 hours ago, Catlover54 said:

M It seems pill testing of vitamins in ziplocks stamped with what they are in the hand luggage of benign appearing luxury cruisers is a bit extreme.  I am not clear how having smaller containers ( vitamins are sold in big and even bigger containers in U.S. to help make them cheap) should reassure customs, as criminals could just put whatever they are smuggling into containers labeled Multivitamins, unless every pill is tested no matter what the label says.  I suspect a lot of this is security theatre, as with much of what the TSA in America does beyond just having pax walk through the metal detector and nudiscope.

 

 

 I had no trouble with my ziplocks last time to Australia a few years ago when I was ignorant on the rules, even when the dogs disinterestedly went by my carryon with all misc. medications and supplements in it, but no one stopped me, so I was apparently just lucky.

 

 

Our Border force has what they call target periods where they focus on a particular thing and "crackdown" 😉

We'd literally been through hundreds of times with ziplock packaging.  

The ABF gal said to us....  it should be in original packaging, regardless of what it is.  That way if it is contaminated in any way you have some defence and we are less likely to pull you aside...

Just a heads up what is a controlled drug in the USA may not be here and vice versa.   BP pills and Codeine require a prescription  here and as such should be in original packaging.

Therefore

1. Obtain a prescription to confirm that the medicines you are carrying have been prescribed to you, or provide a letter from your doctor that states you are under their treatment and that the medication(s) you are carrying have been prescribed for your personal use. Your doctor's letter must specify the name of the medicine and dosage.
2. Ensure the medication remains in its original packaging with the dispensing label intact. This will assist with identifying each substance at the border.

I agree 999 times in 1000 you are fine.  It just depends on the day...  All bags get an X-ray now...  that's usually what rings the bell

and don't get me started about chocolate!

1 hour ago, Catlover54 said:

 

 

I think the letter will likely be all they want to see and will waive me through once they see who I am personally, and that all is declared, but will allow extra time on arrival just in case. I will also print out the relevant online section,

 

 

If you can get some smaller packaging options and bring in that NOT ziplock bags,  

Ziplocks with pills are a red flag as we learned the hard way with some Vitamin Tabs...  we had to wait for pill testing which took nearly 1.5 hours as we arrived at peak time..  The even were stamped on the pill what they were!

Turramurra has had an emergency warming

Spot fires near me have been squashed quickly

Not a dust stom 

just air pollution   caused by fire particles

https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/aqms/aqi.htm

White Tux is fine

You may find no too many in a white tux...  IMHO  a white tux is like a kilt 🙂

The airport is in an area not well serviced by public transport other than the terminals.  It's not far from the beaches.

Early am sees large bunches of cyclists using the roads near the airport as part of regular rides.  This reduces multi lane traffic by 1.

Curfew is another added factor as many flights arrive simultaneously .

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the-sydney-roads-where-weekend-traffic-is-worse-than-weekdays-20180629-p4zoie.html

Terminal is a key factor as is time of day..

6am arrival on a Saturday bad news for taxi fares

Most mornings in our school holidays,,, bad news again

Domestic is always cheaper than international.  If you plug it into taxi fare

https://www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=Sydney-Australia&from=International+Airport+Station%2C+Terminal+1%2C+Sydney%2C+New+South+Wales%2C+2020%2C+Australia&to=Overseas+Passenger+Terminal%2C+10+Circular+Quay+W%2C+Sydney%2C+New+South+Wales%2C+2000%2C+Australia&fromCoord=-33.93512,151.166097&toCoord=-33.858288,151.20989200000002

Do NOT book a shuttle, especially through viator, KST etc... bad news

Express Pickup is where you will get your Uber.  

Marked in yellow on this map

https://www.sydneyairport.com.au/info-sheet/where-to-pick-up-international

You will not have wifi.  It's through the multi story carpark..  probably close to 200m from the terminal.

It's a standard pick up.  Once you have the driver's details it may not be too hard to find them unless you are arriving in the morning rush.

I beg to differ on December before Christmas being peak...  its actually Feb/March due to Mardi Gras, multiple cruise ships and other events..  Of course the week after Christmas including NY is eye watering rates.

I stay in the city quite a bit especially around CQ.  You usually look at around $250-$300AUD  for accommodation at the lower end of pricing in that location.  It's a Sunday night so often lower end of pricing as you aren't competing with Staycation or business travellers who most frequently come in Monday morning,

My picks based on the current rate are Intercontinental and Stamford.   ($280 per night)  In terms of Budget, Travelodge Wynyard is well located at $167pn (right near rail station)  The Russell is around $180pn but some rooms don't have ensures and there are no lifts, 

The twins at Darling Harbour (iBis and Novotel) are $209 and $250pn

7 hours ago, Celeste1201 said:

See you on  my January Silversea Voyage.....or other SS Voyages...Thanks!

Are you on Muse?

 night two is welcome  formal 

first and last always casual for 7 

We have Lautoka and Dravuni on our cruise stops.

I've booked Savala from Lautoka but Dravuni offers nothing soooo

2 adults, how much FJD would you suggest?

A friend has just returned so I plan to take her excess of her hands

I'm not a big souvenir shopper....