Blackduck59

Thanks Mic, I thought that may be the case.

I think maybe Leigh misunderstood my point. I like the idea of education, helping people understand what ANZAC Day is all about. Happy Anzac Day is an oxymoron. Just as Happy Remembrance day wouldn't fly here. I find the tradition of your dawn service a moving thing. We will be at sea on the final leg of our voyage home on ANZAC Day next year, Hopefully we can get something organized for a dawn remembrance. I know there are folks from Australia and New Zealand on the cruise. If they want to do it I would be honoured to attend.

This is indeed sad. I know it is a long journey, but Australians should be encouraged to go to Gallipoli. To be there is to understand. For Canada our Battle was Vimy Ridge, April 9th, 1917. We don't have "Vimy Day". Much of our youth know nothing about it. I have seen first hand how young people have an instant understanding when they actually see the "crosses row on row, that mark the place". Of course they aren't crosses now that the battles are over, but standard headstones. Go to the battlefields, you will never forget.

Cairns Koalas and Creatures?

I shall raise a glass of the good stuff to the fallen. We haven't been anywhere but home for Remembrance Day but have been to the Vimy Memorial and attended the nightly last post at Mennen Gate. To the fallen, lest we forget.

@VMax1700 Thank you for this thread. I have to admit I didn't really pay that much attention to this thread, until the Thread about HAL closing the Crow's Nest for many evenings in a row because of an "Art" group. As it turns out there is a "Roads Scholar" group on our cruise next year, hopefully this will be a plus.

Maybe HAL should be a leader in that change.

Just because cruise lines don't give paying guests a heads up doesn't mean that they shouldn't. There seem to be a few who think it's okay that paying customers are blind sided by a large group who in their entitlement directly affect others. Just because the cruise line can screw the guests doesn't mean it's okay.

If this is indeed a special "art" ( I use the term lightly) cruise. It should have been billed as such so that full fare guests can make an informed decision to book it or not.

Aren't all the Lincoln center stage spaces basically unused for now?

Another thought is Argentina

Were you in Spain?

I thought for a moment it was somewhere in Saskatchewan with all those Deeres lined up, then I saw the Utes (our pick ups aren't like that). I did a google search and got a name that I think I recall from a show I watched. I will let the game play out to see if it was correct. Maybe I'll be able to guess the next one.

We normally pack 2 checked bags and 2 carry ons. But on our last cruise we discovered the outstanding laundry service on HAL. We found with that we had way more stuff than "needed". I think for the "great Australian meet and greet tour" we will try to pack less. We have booked places with laundry facilities in the suite for the 4 weeks of land travel, and we will get the unlimited laundry package for the 43 day cruise home. I suspect we will be bringing more stuff home than we left with.

Is that the "Yacht Club" where In Rod we Trust keeps his tinny?

I think if the Cruise line is charging me full fare for a cruise, I have an expectation that I will be able to use the amenities that come with the booking. If the cruise line decides that some group who may or may not have paid full fare should have exclusive use of amenities they just rented to me (in my full fare) I'm going to be looking for compensation. I really don't care that the contract says "we (the cruise line) can do whatever we want; all contracts are based on a "meeting of the minds" as it were and if at the time of my booking you said that amenities such as the Crows Nest or anytime dining are included in my fare. Then Bob's Book club shows up with 600 passengers (most likely with discounted fares) and I (full fare booked well in advance) is now excluded from these things, well they have broken that contract.

Well I'm hoping to get back to work tomorrow. I can move without too much pain, although coughs and sneezes are a reminder of my clumsiness. I just spent a bit of time sorting pictures and uploading images from SD cards and portable hard drives. So next time I get a turn on "where was I", I have a folder of images to make a quick choice from.

I find the great "Steak & Lobster" debate interesting. It seems everybody likes lobster when it is "included in the fare" (it was NEVER "free") but find they really don't think it is that great if they have to pay extra for it. Those who do like it pay the tariff. I like lobster well enough but not enough to pay extra. I literally laugh when those pushing Oceania or Regent or... mention the "free" lobster. News flash it's not "free" but included in your inflated fare, paid by all guests whether they eat lobster or not. I think that with the advent of the gas grill the majority of people can prepare a very good steak at home. Assuming they know how to select a steak from the butcher shop or grocery store (this is the most important part). So if you like lobster pay the tariff for it on HAL, I suspect that even if you paid for it every day you probably wouldn't come close to the fare for one of those "included in the fare" brands.

Kurort Rathen is the place. We spent several days with friends who lived outside of Dresden and they showed us many things we never would have seen as typical tourists in the former East Germany.

Big clue, it is on the Elbe

Sorry Mic, not there. I wish I could give a direction but am having trouble finding Mainz on the map

I'm sorry but I must go to bed. I will be back in the AM PDT

The area was once behind a curtain.

East of there

I was in Germany but it's a big country could we get a little closer?