vegemeter

It was supposed to be silent apart from Big Ben. Traditional, respectful. Then a Scotsman in the crowd in Edinburgh made an astute observation about Prince Andrew live on BBC News, which was loud enough to be broadcast all over the world. So here we are, a big band for HM covering up dissenting views about the Royals.

Those of us with family in the UK know that the Duchy has expanded greatly over the years, as such, William and Kate will enjoy strangely exotic fruits now and not just the potatoes of Cornwall and Devon 😆

Hands are too sweaty, he can't do it

I'd have Dan Andrews kneel before the Governor General while swearing that oath

She's picked up her crew then!

@aussiecruiser66 We also stayed at the Premier Inn. It is European (so things are clean and work) and reasonably priced. Roughly a 20 minute walk or taxi ride from the port, great food places around the back of the Cinema (try Bill’s) and of course shopping in West Quay if needed. You could easily spend the entire day walking around that area with the old walls close by. If you wanted to venture out further you could go to Victoria country park (where Florence Nightingale was stationed during wars).

Airports have had a sweetheart deal of it all.

What was the best cruise you took from Australia which lasted no more than 7 days in the last 10 years? Why was it brilliant? Price? People? Places? Rules: Cruise must have taken place in the last 10 years on a ship which is still sailing / line which is still operating Links to the cruise (or similar itinerary) are encouraged Photos are encouraged Suggestions for excursions encouraged Reward? Bragging rights. Also, I'll probably take your cruise.

Thanks. I believe we're sailing on the same Cunard repo cruise as you. Do you know which other ports on that itinerary have that measure at present? No offense taken and agreed. The issue is that 'close contacts' is not a defined term - I can't seem to find any port authority literature on it. If you've shared a spa with someone, or dined next to them, are you at risk (according to that port). Perhaps there is also an element of preparation for the CDC lifting their mandates on the 8th August which may result in American pax refusing to act decently. Personally, I would prefer not to share a ship with unvaccinated pax nor non-mask wearing pax who have forgotten that ships, planes, busses and trains spread communicable diseases.

@MarebluGenuine question - how have Oceania subverted port or maritime law then? 😆 Celebrity: Pro-rated cruise fare refund for anyone who has their cruise cut short due to testing positive for COVID-19 or being suspected of having COVID-19 during the cruise. If the Celebrity cruise you book will sail from the European Union or the United Kingdom between May 1, 2022, and November 30, 2022, you’ll also have the following reassurance at no extra charge: If you test positive for COVID-19 during the cruise, Celebrity will cover the cost of COVID-19 related medical treatment onboard; you and your Traveling Party may stay onboard the ship for free to complete any required quarantine and Celebrity will help coordinate homebound travel arrangements for you and your Traveling Party, but without covering the cost. Cunard: Our dedicated medical teams will also be on hand to take care of you, either for the duration of your required isolation period, until the next port of call, or until your scheduled port of disembarkation Any instances of positive cases on board will be managed by our on board medical teams in conjunction with the local port authority to determine the best course of action. The framework of protocols for cruise ships can differ slightly to those on land and to other forms of travel. Some ports may require guests and their close contacts who test positive on board to disembark in port and continue their period of isolation ashore. If you’re required to disembark the ship for this reason, we’ll work with the local authorities to secure the most appropriate accommodation for your period of isolation ashore. In most instances, this will be a pre-determined hotel, which has been identified as able to accommodate positive cases of Covid-19. Our dedicated support team will help you to contact your travel insurance provider. However, if your insurance doesn’t cover your required disembarkation arrangements, we will organise and pay for your isolation stay and journey home*. So - which ports are those identified in Cunard's policy? I do not like the idea that innocent bystanders who were 'close contacts' might be shuffled off in a country with poor healthcare services to fill their local hotels with insurance money.

It may apply to the iso period onboard, but what I have noticed in Cunards policy is different. There are a few policies floating about at the moment that suggest port authorities must abide by their jurisdictions requirements and have the power to disembark passengers with Covid. I.e pax aboard who have Covid are disembarked to complete Quarantine in a hotel whilst the cruise continues onwards to another destination. Imagine that if you’ve paid for the Queens grill…

Airlines have gotten away with too much in the past three years, no testing, exporting nasty variants all over the world. Did you note Cunard's policy about debarking passengers if the port authority requires it? I wondered if other lines have implemented this in their policies particularly in relation to Asia and Australia. Does anyone know if QLD debark passengers looking to fill their very expensive taxpayer funded quarantine hotel or Singapore or Perth for that matter?

Sorry to play devils advocate but I simply do not accept the narrative that importing millions of pax via Australia's airports is somehow "safer" or "bringing in less cases" than debarking thousands of passengers at cruise ports into Australia. Common sense prevails.

I think European lines have done a good job of demonstrating that masking up really does prevent transmission and infection.

Case numbers coming down in NSW and VIC on a 7 day rolling average (yes there is a much publicised spike today). ICU cases down on a 7 day rolling average. Death numbers now include self-certified death certificates including 'Covid 19' as a reason. Covid 19 bereavement payments available to families of those who had booster 3 months before death so death numbers associated with 19 slightly higher than average over the past few months as a result at present. Go figure? I apologise if this upsets anyone but the data is from NSW and VIC health. Are things are improving?