arxcards

Yes. The answer is yes and yes. Possible they may choose to overnight in Cairns instead of going to Port Douglas, for at least some of her cruises. They can still support tours and day visits to Port Douglas via the wharf in Cairns.

Good point. We just assume the islands are closed to cruise ships, but it may well be that the ship has done a risk assessment, and decided not to call in the current climate due to such things as limited medical or agency support.

Stills from Splendor's wet welcome.

Looks like it is my civil duty to plug that 3 night gap.

A little birdy aboard tells me that Majestic has had a generator issue, and was several hours late into Honolulu. All I know, and sure to be a detailed update on the live thread at some stage.

No news is good news I guess. Last update of the NSW govt cruising site was on Monday, but they stepped away from daily updates a few weeks ago.

No, it has just been changed to a double overnight in Noumea - Lifou has been removed. It seems some of the smaller stops are still reluctant to open to cruise ships.

Some short updates. Carnival Splendor arrived in Sydney this morning, shortly to become the 4th active large ship. Carnival Luminosa has her pilot, and is lining-up to enter the Suez Canal. Celebrity Eclipse is in Kona, her 2nd Hawaiian port. Majestic Princess has made it to Honolulu. Ovation of the Seas has just departed Victoria, BC for Vancouver. She will start her Transpacific tomorrow.

Mare is closed for the foreseeable future due to a damaged wharf. I am not aware of issues with Isle of Pines, unless they are just being covid cautious.

Post cruise is probably too many eggs benedict. The test works too. The first time I had it long ago, there had been a box of matches in my jacket packet the week before - the jacket scored special attention.

Vanuatu opens on 1st December, with P&O having secured 2 x trial visits in November. NZ open Fiji open Not sure of specifics with New Caledonia, but if not already open, it is imminent. Tahiti open Hawaii open PNG, at least partly open. Coral Princess calls at Conflict Islands as the 1st PNG large ship visit on Tuesday. And our western neighbours in WA are just about to open too.

A very wet arrival, with Pacific Adventure riding shotgun to keep the media away. NSW Health hasn't yet uploaded a covid status for Splendor, so I hope all is well. I hope it wasn't too bumpy when the ship took a shortcut through South Head 😉

Welcome Back!!

A bit like Melbourne in Newcastle today, mostly in the sense it couldn't make up its mind. Cold, wind, rain, and sunshine - all in a couple of hours.

I always seem to get the explosives sniffer test. I must fit the profile 🤯

I used to always brave the elements on deck for sunrise sail-ins. Not so much now. Some ports are interesting just because of the manoeuvres to get to the dock, while others are just plain beautiful. There will be others that I didn't get to see, but a shortlist of those fresh in my mind. Victoria BC. Lots of activity during the approach, then a fair bit of fancy work from the bridge to get along side. Hobart - the cruise up the Derwent has some beautiful scenery. Also the lone piper with auld lang syne as you depart the wharf. Juneau - Pre-sunrise blue hues on the land when approaching Newcastle - surely everyone is excited to be leaving Newcastle. Seriously though, it is easy on the eye, and they fire the Fort Scratchley guns to salute the departure One of the Hawaiian ports - can't recall which. Beautiful views of the island. But Sydney still blows my mind, in and out. Top of my want list is Fort Lauderdale. I don't expect it will be too beautiful, but I could spend a week on the inlet watching the ship procession, then jump on for our own departure. PS - add San Francisco. Views of the city, cruise past Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate is almost shrouded in fog. Then when you get close and the fog shifts - magic.

Last minute cabins, yes. Last minute pricing, no.

Booked yet?

I remember the doco, one of the "Great Cruises" shows for anyone looking for it. They do ham up the drama of those sorts of challenges though, and despite the stress of getting to the next port on time, they had ample time in their itinerary to cruise at the reduced speed they had already planned around the warm ocean temperatures. I think the term summer refers more generally to our cruise season though.

I agree. If they require a photo, we will take one.

Well, watiya know. This wasn't there when I logged in at the weekend. Just logged onto the personaliser to see if I could find updated information, to be greeted by this popup.

There are available cabins

Yes, part of her world cruise. I am hoping they have her down for some Sydney to Sydney itineraries in the future, even if just for a lap of NZ.

I stand corrected. Cruising in 9 days, and not yet advised. Perhaps two differences to our upcoming 3 night cruise: The length of the cruise The cruise goes to a foreign port, specifically PNG.

We have had a couple, with one landing on the helipad on Radiance of the Seas. Anyone on the open decks is rounded up, and directed inside, then they block access. They will usually announce at least one side of the ship to stay off their balconies for safety reasons. Not every day a ship heads in towards Rockhampton.