MMDown Under

What are your plans for Darwin? 27c 32c partly cloudy showers Sounds typical Darwin, hot and humid. Remember your wide brimmed hat and bottle of water. I like that area on the waterfront with swimming pool and wave lagoon and grass to relax. i ate lunch at Chow, a taste of South East Asia, twice. Just remember there is a large South East Asian population here, so the food is the real deal.

You should report taxi driver.

The 27 day cruise to NZ and SA was a good deal. I didn't see the military but I'm sure it was there. I'm a speed reader.

Thinking of Custom delays. Do you remember the British ship which took all day to clear Customs on West Coast in USA? I recall they ended up staying there an extra day because passengers were irate.

Don 't you have bulk billing doctors? I have been to a doctor in a medical practice and ultrasound specialist since I've been here and it has ask all been bulk billed. Even the chemist is cheaper than my local chemist. Impressed.

Your situation in Puerto Rico was worse than mine. The cruise I went on with MSC Poesia was meant to go from Genoa to NY and they changed it to a fabulous itinerary from Kiel, Germany to NY. Can you imagine how many Aussies were booked on the original cruise with land travel. This was when I decided not to book far in advance with discount flights in future. We shared a table with a delightful couple, a Dutch man and his Italian wife, who translated and told us what to order,. Genoa to NY would be a good cruise. MSC Lirica was from Genoa to Florida. I was surprised boarding in Genoa was absolute bedlam, as Genoa was a regular port. Prices were always very reasonable, which was the original attraction. The ships were spotless and the entertainment first class. Some acts were better than Cirque du Soleil, which we later saw in Toronto.

Hearing about all these cruisers cruising to Moreton Island from down south, I'm thinking I should take the ferry across for a few days. Trouble is water is still too cold for Queenslanders.

Thank you Jean. I won't miss them next time. I was probably too busy looking at the shops. When you are doing car tours of NZ, you take every opportunity to shop when you can.

Hurtigruten Noble-caledonia.co.uk (small ships - if you subscribe to them, they send you special offers of no single supplement, when there are unsold cabins on their ships) coral expeditions.com (occasionally have special offers for customers registered with them). Did Cairns to Darwin with them this year. I only cruise "no single supplement" now, because land travel is better value for singles. I have something on each month from January to May and only a bus tour charges a small amount extra for a single. Why cruiselines think it is OK to charge double for singles is beyond me, if they are not heavily booked.

I haven't noticed they discount solo fares unfortunately.

That would have been painful. My cousin fell asleep on the beach and got sunburnt on back of her knees. She couldn't bend her legs, very painful.

I agree HAL had some great itineraries. I seriously looked at cruising with them but their ships had complaints re need for repair when I looked.

I wish, but it was my first cruise overseas. I got sick of waiting for someone to travel with me, so I went on my own!

yes i my cruise on P&O was long also, from London to Brisbane around South Africa to India and Ceylon because the Suez was closed. There was a lot of pomp and ceremony on the wharf because this was the last P&O ship visiting India for crew, Some passengers were escaping Ceylon to Australia. I have original kippers in the cupboard.

Were they long cruise, Les?

Do they give it to Americans or any other country residents? Why did Carnival cut theirs? I don't recall it was a large amount.

Someone should write to HAL if they don't give it to Aussies.

How did I miss that. What was his claim to fame?

Oops - I forget Azamara - perfect fit. CTMA Vacancier, a French ship, which was an interesting experience, with three themes. We chose food, for obvious reasons.

This in my personal opinion on why the fit is important when you decide to cruise overseas on an overseas cruise line - MSC Lirica - The bad - too many languages, and too many rude people. There was a near mutiny in puerto rico because many passengers didn't realise we had to go through Customs there, in lieu of first port in USA. Despite being comfortable seated in a big theatre, with Customs on the Stage processing people, people kept going up to the stage with their complaints. Staff lost control. The Customs people left the stage. An Aussie (bless her heart) took control and told everyone to please sit down or we'll never get off the ship. I remember thinking I wouldn't want to be on this ship in an emergency. The good - first class entertainment and spotless ship. MSC Poesia - the bad - ship was too big with too many passengers and too many rude people who didn't follow rules. One example of rudeness - Staff had made a small area in the pool area for interested passengers to do fun exercise. Passengers on lilows pulled up their lilows across the edge of exercise space, crowding that small area. The good - fabulous itinerary, and spotless ship. I remember thinking I'll never cruise on a ship this big again. Hurtigruten - Norwegian ships - perfect fit for me. I've been on five cruises with them. Queen Frederica - Greek ship - perfect fit for me. I used to get up at 11 am for Greek dance lessons. Such fun people. P&O Chusan - British ship - perfect fit for me. such well mannered well travelled passengers. All chartered small ships out of Britain - perfect fit for me. The most fun ship - chartered Rhapsody of the Seas cruise ship full of Aussies and one Kiwi couple from Hawaii to Australia. What have been your experiences?

Love that port. Whilst most passengers scurry away to Rotorua, we take local bus to Tauranga for best shopping. Then we walk around the local town or the mountain.

Enjoy your visit. Like you, my younger daughter would love playing with the blood and guts.

White Bay is close to Sydney CBD You could catch a taxi if there is no shuttle. Small cruise ships berth at White Bay Terminal as big ships can't get under the Harbour Bridge. I love Azamara. Which ship and where are you cruising?

maybe they want to surprise us!