NSWP

HAL's Noordam and Westerdam are arriving here loaded with pax from USA/Canada. Not all empty like Coral Princess etc. I worry what those loaded ships will bring with them, disease wise.

Big mistake that, they are still dying like flies over there. I think some of these Americans coming over here on the cruise ships will have a shock when they have to don masks etc.

Yep, I have 3 grand dogs now, one in Moruya, one in Townsvegas and one in Riverview (Lane Cove, Steak and Kidney.) Not forgetting two grand cats.

I think even most Americans would hesitate at ticking the 25% box, I ticked nothing and just quietly gave the server a $5 note, for a $50 bill, 10% fair enough. They seemed happy with that, well they seemed to be they did not call Hawaii Five 0, lol. I heard a lot of Americans complaining of the 'Resort Fees' at their Honolulu Hotels, now that is a rip off. Ours were included in our post Noordam cruise package, so we got ripped off too. Wakikki/Honolulu is one big tourist trap, nice but you need to be wary of various fees.

Dodging the...

Exciting times lie ahead for the Cruiselings, lol. It is a 3 night comedy cruise is it not? So they can just hug the coast @ 10 knots then the seas might only be 6M lol.

Nothing like a good swell at sea to get your sea legs, but no 40 foot seas and Force 11 - 12 gales thanks, been there done that.

Some years ago Lord Nelson Hotel in the Rocks had a dark beer, a porter called 'Nelsons Blood.' By all accounts it was a good brew. Some good pubs in that end of ye olde Sydney Town. Nothing wrong with Rydges chain of hotels, stayed in a few of them. Join their Loyalty club, get a couple of free drinks, members rates and good discounts on meals.

This thread has been lost for a couple of months, so here goes, where was I ?

Good attitude, be positive, in my 26 cruises on several lines, nothing has ever been perfect, not even on the unique and mighty Queen Mary 2. Must be time for a coffee, 0 degrees here at 7am this morning. lubbly jubbly, not.!!

Are you the Wiggles family, looks like it in the pic, with all due respect, lol.

Dependent on sailaway time, Westerdam does not depart until 6pm on 23 Nov so 3pm will be fine. If it was a 4pm departure 2pm checkin would do me. I hate crowds.

As I said, tipping is in their blood, born to tip. Last time I was in USA - Hawaii - mid 2018, stayed in Waikikki, at the restaurants the bill had 3 boxes to tick for the tips, they were 15%, 20%, 25% I kid you not. I recollect on Coral Princess Alaska Cruise a few years ago, were were in the lounge listening to piano music pre dinner, the pianist was asking for requests, so he got plenty of requests and many of the pax - Americans (because 95% of the pax were North Americans) got up and shoved a $10 bill in the pianist's pocket. Must have been a wealthy man that pianist, he was good but no Billy Joel, lol.

At the end of the day you get what you pay for, but saying that P&O is no bargain these days. But let's face it, P&O Straya is a budget cruise line.

My eldest Grandaughter the NQ Mobile Vet in Townsville puts down a couple of domestic animals a day, mostly cats and dogs. She says many of the owners are traumatised and need counselling. I have had cats, dogs and birds, no more.

Was he driving the big rigs on Sesame Street or a Boy Racer, lol.

Oh yeah, we cannot insult those from the 'Land of Tipping' lol. Watch this one dissapear.

I would have given him zilch too and reported him to the Maitre'D or his Head Waiter. They know all the tricks those jokers. Problem is the Americans tip big and therefore the waiters, stewards etc expect people like Aussies, Kiwis, Brits to do the same.

Too much of a rush. I like to board after the crowds have thinned, like 3pm.

Has Chilli jumped overboard from Pacific Explorer or died from P&O food poisoning, lol.

You need a toy boy, 😝

The main reason they included gratuities in the overall cruise fare is because many pax were cancelling the auto gratuity by joining the conga line at the purser desk. I think p and o uk have gone the same way.

And on Princess/P and O.

Used to call in to ye olde Robertson pie shop in the 70’s, when working at Wollongong, used to patrol the Illawarra Hwy, Albion Park to Robertson, top of the escarpment on my motorcycle, a hot pie was well received in the winter months.

For many years the coffee on tap in the Horizon Court buffet on Princess ships has been regarded as almost undrinkable, like the terra firma equivalent, omg some people still drink this…