MMDown Under

As well as Israel, which I've always wanted to visit in the past.

Thanks, I have had a land holiday in Hong Kong and loved it. However, I'm not happy with China's attitude at present, so it has joined my list of places I no longer want to visit, with Russia,

Sorry to hear you've had Covid twice on ships. I hope it was mild. I understand the current Covid vaccination in Australia is obsolete for the new version of Covid. A new one was approved by the Govt in October and hope it will be available to the public soon.

I'm so amazed to read this. It shows a lack of empathy and understanding by Regent for the elderly and handicapped. In Brisbane, I requested wheelchair assistance for boarding and disembarking and received both. Passengers wait in a lounge and are taken down one at a time. My daughter picked me up in our car close to the ship in a special zone. I do not use a wheelchair on flat surfaces. It is the slope, compounded by hand luggage, embarking and disembarking ships, which can cause problems.

That bonsai cherry tree is beautiful. I agree with you. The first thing I do on a new ship is check out the art. On one small ship, they had an activity to identify the art. It was a great idea because I visited places on the ship I wouldn't normally visit.

Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences. I wish fellow passengers wouldn't shoot the messenger.

I hope you haven't caught Covid and are having to check out room service. Bon Voyage for the remainder of your cruise. I have had an experience in the past where too many crew were new and inexperienced. Our young server even got seasick and couldn't work. I hope you receive satisfactory feedback from management.

On our last taxi ride to the Brisbane airport, we got a really posh electric car. The drive gave us a running commentary. Reminded me of taxi in Japan where the gloved driver automatically opened all four doors.

Yes I was amazed just how much I booked non refundable on my overseas travels prior to the Pandemic. I used to prebook all my flights, accommodation, etc. My first lesson was when MSC relocated a cruise to the USA from Genoa, Italy departure to Germany!! One way cruises can be a problem, so I booked return flights from Milan to Australia, then a single flight from Florida to Milan. I would book any future flights through the cruise line, so they can then handle the cancellation/new booking. It is a whole new world!

I hope you are both feeling well enough to enjoy the meals in your cabin. You'll have to send some photos. My daughter just sent me a photo from Phuket of a platter of chopped up tropical fruit, Made my mouth water just looking at the photo. Do you have a verandah so you can go outside in the fresh air? This is the reason I will no longer cruise in an inside cabin. In an outside cabin you are still part of the world to enjoy the sea, the birds and ports of call.

I would be suspicious of any hotel that would request payment in full in advance for August 2024. I also wouldn't want to stay at a hotel whilst it was being renovated. I would phone the hotel direct to check. We used to travel to Sydney at short notice frequently and didn't have problems getting accommodation.

Wow $330. It might be worth your while to split your party up. Or get a quote on line from a taxi maxi cab for such a short distance. (I've walked it!)

Yes, the expression was often used. I wonder if it started in world war I when officers would visit homes to deliver the bad news that a family member had died. My grandmother had two such calls, for her young husband and young brother. When I was in London, I visited an Army Display and asked by off chance would they have these two treasured relatives listed. I had no details apart from names. I was surprised when the officer opened the correct page and found both their names. He said this was where most Aussies were posted.

So sorry to hear that you both have Covid. What bad luck that you can't enjoy the Regent ship. I hope you are able to enjoy meals from the various restaurants on board. I can understand your disappointment missing Okinawa and Taipei plus NhaTrang. Take care!

I found the public bus from the city to Palm Cove convenient as the bus stop isn't far from the ship. You use cash to buy the ticket. You can buy a day bus pass. You don't need an expensive ship transfer.

For a 7 day cruise, I'd rather have $794 extra spending money. I used the balcony on Luminosa very day.

Only question and no response .is always suspect

Agree itinerary is important. That is a great itinerary. However, i don't want to visit Hong Kong again. I'd rather disembark in Manila. I think it showed sold out.

My daughter had a Covid injection prior to travelling overseas recently. Seems the Covid injection currently is not the latest version available. Govt approved the latest one in Oct but it is not available to the Public yet. I have been waiting for the latest version.

I mentioned Ron because he was a neighbour and the only man I knew you doffed his hat when he passed a walker.

Many Americans travel in their summer (our winter) to escape the oppressive heat. I vowed I'd never travel to the US in summer again after attending the US Open in NY in August.

I bet they don't lift their finger off the car wheel when passing someone in the bush either!

I find many cruisers are well travelled so ask your fellow cruisers for their recommendations of what to do and see. Then you are ready to make a booking on the wharf. I love the way experienced cruisers often come up with something you hadn't thought of. I miss the regular world cruisers who used to blog about what they did in each place. I recommend always to take some local cash. I had two credit cards stop working in London once. On a South Pacific island the place which accepted credit cards was closed for a long lunch. I became the banker so people could buy a cold drink in the heat.

I have cruised solo in six berth, four berth, and two berth cabins. How do young solos afford to cruise now? I know it is cheaper to fly overseas to UK/Europe/USA now. But you can't compare flights to a cruise, unless you stopover en route, which we have done lots of times

In Queensland, we acknowledge people we walk past. Ron Clarke, the runner and past Mayor of the Gold Coast used to doff his hat, In Sydney, when I walked, the people I passed just ignored me.