MMDown Under

I'd be wary of taxis in Sydney, esp those at the top of the list when you google taxi. Most people recommend Ubers or shuttles with quoted prices. I always use same shuttle Just phone up and, if he is not near airport, he will get another shuttle to pick me up, door to door from airport to Potts Point and visa versa, at agreed price.

isn't there a phone in the cabin? I wouldn't be waiting six hours for lunch - that is unsatisfactory.

and more fun!

That is very helpful info. Thanks for posting it. 🙂 Thanks for that detailed link re transport from lyttelton.

Queensland Public Servants were on a defined benefit scheme, like you. Our Govt convinced us to change, because, if we were made redundant, we would have lost our superannuation. I always resented this. However, reading of your experience on a defined benefit, without Govt, benefits, seems so unfair. I put $30,000 extra in my superannuation when I had children, so I wouldn't be behind in my superannuation benefits. In a downtown, I lost the $30,000. So I waited until my superannuation recovered the $30,000 (so only lost interest on the $30,000), and closed my account and withdraw all my funds from superannuation. Understanding superannuation is only worth the amount on the day you withdraw it, it was a relief to not have to follow the market. All my recent medical were bulkbilled. I hope you will benefit from the increased amount from your defined benefit account and be eligible for Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card, which is like Gold to Seniors. Not like the Gold Card retired armed forces get, but gold nevertheless.

Congratulations on your NZ cruise. What a wonderful bargain! I suspect NZ would be harder to sell than local cruises because many people mightn't have a current passport. I don't!

Yes the higher cost of airfares is affecting many people's travel plans. The days of last minute affordable travel are gone. Airllines are doing OK. Virgin was packed when I flew back from Sydney to Brisbane yesterday morning.

Unfortunately not desperate for people who haven't cruised with them before. I don't understand their logic. I would think they would be interested in increasing their base clientele. Oh well I'm organised for Airlie Beach next time around!

They could visit Rottnest Island and spot the cute quokkas.

Nice time of day for arrival!

Just got through I had an excellent operator. The price at the end was a shock because only people who have cruised with Carnival before are entitled to the discount offer. And I had Airlie Beach all organised already!! I have a Doctors appt soon so I'll read his emails later. PM I'm going to Godspell at the lovely little Hayes Theatre at Elizabeth Bay. Thanks so much for your advice as at least I got to talk to a live person.

Thanks. I'm organising the ports of call whilst I wait on line. Talk about being a positive thinker. I only want - 4/12/22 balcony on port side between passenger deck as low down as possible And I'm busy all day, except for next 45 mins!

Thank you

People just don't think. I remember when Covid directions first appeared auths said to "not touch your face". Impossible!

Yes you need an ETA for both NZ and Australia. You can apply on line via ETA app for an electronic travel authority For Australia - homeaffairs.gov.au

Or stop the public thinking there most be lots of positive passengers, like 1/4 of all passengers and crew.

You were unlucky, Don. I've never heard of a ship taking a shortcut home before. I've always wanted to visit Picton. Sounds like only a short visit not long enough to visit wineries. Hope this cruise is perfect. Bon Voyage

What are they? A chocolate dessert style drink?

I think it is shortsighted for cruise ships not to announce the numbers of people and crew on board, with covid. Human nature - the public will think there are more cases than there actually is.

Thanks! Yes I do all that to ""change the room from 2 to 1", and then empty white page - they don't offer me any cabin numbers from which to choose. Cruise I'm interested is 4/12/22. Plot thickens - I looked at a TA's website and it only offered me inside cabins. Just set off the fire alarm - doing too many things at once!

Booking Enquiry sticks on "Room Number Panel". Looks like they don't want to give me a room number! Do you think Apple Laptop could be blocking booking?

Just read an interesting article - "Cruise Ship Travel During Covid19 CDC.Gov - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention"

Help please - This is my first experience trying to make a booking with Carnival and it is not a happy one. I've tried numerous times to make a booking on line and I also phoned. I was told they would phone back, but I haven't had a return call yet. I get to "offer code KSE", then I just get a blank page! Has anyone actually made a booking and what did you pay for a solo?

A picture is worth a thousand words!

I used to cruise inside and agree you spend more time outside your cabin and are more social, but I wouldn't want to be confined to an inside cabin if I caught covid on a ship.