MELso

For anyone in Italy on 26 May, you should note that a general strike has been called and this will affect train services (other than guaranteed services).

If you're travelling soon, you might want to check whether the transport options have been affected by the recent flooding. It was pretty severe in Ravenna and some attractions are closed as a result.

It depends on the relevant airline rebooking policy, but time-critical matters (like vacations) are one basis for getting priority when facing rebooking, whether with rerouting or on OAL (another airline). Naturally, airlines will give priority to rebooking on their own metal (hence why, if time permits, they'd re-route via SFO rather than rebook on another airline), but if this is problematic, then rebooking on another airline is possible, particularly if there are seats in an equivalent fare class (bucket of seats, rather than booking class like economy). https://thepointsguy.com/news/aa-clarifies-how-pax-will-be-rebooked/ is a good article that explains how it works for American Airlines...

And Air NZ, Hawaiian and others going one stop. It's quite true they're not contractually obliged to do so, and they certainly won't bump other passengers, but in practice, they will do a lot to accommodate you, particularly if you can research and provide alternative options (it may mean, for example, that the airline rebooks the OP on a flight to SYD via SFO, or puts you on an interline partner). Will it be the same same? No. Will it stick to the original routing? Also no. Will it be likely to get you where you want to be in a reasonably timely manner. If circumstances permit, yes...

Mascot airport is really close to Sydney (as in 25 minute door to door train trip close), and if you hadn't have booked the transfer (or can cancel it), I would've suggested buying an Opal card, catching the train in to Circular Quay station which drops you right near the Overseas Passenger Terminal (I presume that's where it's going from - if you're going from White Bay, it's a bit more of a faff to get to), finding a left luggage service and spending the day exploring Sydney. As for flying in the day of the cruise, in the event of IRROPS, the airlines will sort you out with a flight on a different airline if need be, and there are plenty of airlines flying LAX-SYD that would get you there that day.

There's a blank tab in the first field. (It probably should be deleted...)

FWIW, attached is the bar menu from a recent cruise I went on on Le Lyrial showing what you get on the premium pass. I got value from the premium pass well in excess of the price not just through the cocktails and whisky but also the red wine which was a cut above what was served in the dining room so I often took a couple of glasses down to dinner (despite my cruise being an oenological cruise - well at least theoretically as the red wine they served for the fancy gala dinner with the Michelin starred chef was a plonky $20 Argentinian Malbec, not the Gevrey Chambertin advertised which was really disappointed and the other wines were also ordinary although the champagne was Charles Heidsieck so that was something). PONANT BAR MENU.pdf

It seems that Greece has (at long last) dropped the requirement for a RAT or PCR before embarking... (EDIT - change took effect on 24 September it seems, and is reflected in the Ponant COVID booklet)