MMDown Under

5 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

I'm sure we missed a few places but we did see the Italian restaurant. Unfortunately we couldn't get a booking there but did score one at the Test Kitchen instead.

 

We went to Gunbae, the Korean restaurant, last night and had an excellent meal. We were at a share table seating six. One of the staff does all the cooking on the table barbecue. We started with a selection of nibbles - kimchi and other pickled veges. Our cook convinced us to all have the everything option, which started with a number of small dishes - glass noodles, pancake, spicy chicken, seafood corn dog, then lots of different stuff cooked on the barbecue - mushrooms of various types, seafood, beef and pork belly. We finished with refreshing matcha and mango ice cream.

I enjoyed the food at Gunbae, the Korean restaurant.  They played a drinking game, but you didn't have to drink alcohol.  

On 1/31/2024 at 4:29 AM, rafinmd said:

Looks good to me.  One thing I would like to see happen is options for an overland journey from Durban to Cape Town.

 

Roy

When I cruised around South Africa on Chusan, when the Suez was closed, there was a popular overland tour from Cape Town to Durban on offer. 

I think that is a good itinerary change to South Pacific islands in lieu of NZ.  Is that just a single voyage or are there going to be more?

On 1/12/2024 at 2:36 PM, Ozwoody said:

Hi Neil

 

In my former life as a working man, I was an engineer, on my bum at a computer, designing fire and plumbing systems. how ever I always wanted to work with my hands, so when we needed to do some renovations, I did the engineers thing, rule book in left hand and hammer in right and proceeded to figure out how to do as I went, I learnt enough to know when it came to the major reno, of raising the house and extending that it was not that difficult to do, you get a builder into do it.😁

 

But I do do quite a bit of wood work these days, and love getting into my shed and make things.

 

But don't ask me to free hand draw something or paint, I'm completely inept at them.

And in the interest every ones ears, for goodness sake don't ask me to do anything musical.🤣

I leave that to my wife who excels at both.

 

We all have our talents, some are good at one thing others at another.

My main talent seems to be in getting into trouble.😱

 

However with wood I seem to have small gift, see some below.

 

 

Oh I love your beautiful woodwork.  I bought a parquetry kitchen stool at Yandina Markets, which I use as a table beside my squatter's chair.  My house is full of wooden bowls, stirrers, etc.,made from beautiful wood, which I can't resist buying.  

1 hour ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

It's a fun ship. It took us a day or so to find our way around it but we're enjoying it. However if you're booked on short cruise make sure you book your dining choices as early as you can. We've ended up having to dine a lot earlier than we normally do.

It was a fun ship.  I was still finding my way around after ten days.  Looking at the shops, I discovered a hidden Italian restaurant,  I was able to make a booking for the last night.  It was well into my cruise, that I discovered the delicious ice cream in cones, and the pizza place, where I was able to enjoy a Hawaiian pizza, with capers and olives.  

18 minutes ago, NSWP said:

Hi all, might I wish all my lady friends on here a very happy Valentines Day.  Hope you had a good day and the lucky ones got choccies, flowers and a nice meal somewhere. I am going out to Raymonds Chinese at Malua Bay with my daughter and her partner. My shout I suppose, but what is new? Flat out emptying my place for the move on 29 Feb, plenty of stress.

🍽️🍹

Happy Valentine's Day to you, Les.  Enjoy your Chinese with your daughter and her partner,  Best wishes for your move on 29th February.

On 2/7/2024 at 3:00 PM, challis said:

celebrity solstice REPO cruise sydney to hawaii for $1454.16 nights.9 april 2024

 

i am just off EDEN,would luv to go on solstice.But im putting on weight !!!

 

cruising is addictive...ha ha.MMdown Under.good advice.thanks.luved you street park pool

 

in brisbane, people trying to tell me brisbane is better than sydney !!!

 

how can you compare brisbane river,morton bay to sydney harbour  ????

Sydney Harbour is unique, one of a kind.  Brisbane has better quality of life for families than Sydney does. The islands off Brisbane are beautiful - Moreton Island and Stradbroke Island.  So once you leave the Brisbane River, the cruise past the sand hills of Moreton Island and up the Caloundra Passage is beautiful.  

On 2/8/2024 at 2:30 AM, watson61 said:

Thanks so much for your review. And I really appreciate your paragraph about solos. I can't wait to do a Virgin cruise and I'll most likely be traveling solo. It sounds like it will be pretty easy to meet other solos on these ships.

Yes easy to meet other solos.  On my cruise, they had a meeting of all solos outside on deck.  A short session of what kind of person you were, eg dog or cat, was followed by drinks for a couple of hours.  The first night, all solos were invited to sit at the one big table.  There were a couple of solo gatherings over the eleven day cruise.  

Normally passport inspection is first Australian port of call.  

A tropical low forming in NT could become a cyclone in the Gulf of Carpentaria on the weekend. 

49 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

It is, I had some mussels from an earlier dinner, there was salmon in the fridge and some prawns in the freezer. I also had some cooking liquid from the mussels. So I added some veggies,  some bacon and a carton of chicken stock. I  add cream at the table and a sprinkling of fresh dill.

Sounds absolutely delicious.  That is great use of leftovers.

On 2/9/2024 at 11:34 AM, Blackduck59 said:

So I made a bit of a soup

 

Is that a seafood chowder?Yum!

5 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

We're on Resilient Lady at the moment and so far the food is amazing!  Especially in the Test Kitchen.

I'm pleased you are finding the food amazing.  I enjoyed all the food at all the restaurants.  I agree the Test Kitchen and Wake (brunch) were extra special.  

17 hours ago, Sea-Wheeler said:

I’m on this cruise 2-30 April 2024 Sydney to Vancouver. I live at Cotton Tree (near Maroochydore)  on the Sunshine Coast. This is my retirement cruise (yes, 67 years) and look forward to meeting other cruisers. I stand out with mid-length blue hair and use a wheelchair. Might meet some passengers on the walking track - I do between 10km to 12km every morning followed by a 1 hour svwim. 

Bon Voyage.  Sounds like you will have a wonderful cruise, with your exercise routine. 

On 11/29/2023 at 4:31 PM, springaussie said:

Chilli I doubt Brisbane will disappear as a Royal Home Port.

I seen an interesting article on the blog today about is Lelepa really going to happen.

It’s  hard to see how Lelepa will survive with only 2 ships in Oz over the Summer

What happens to NZ and Oz cruises?

To me it’s looking more likely Carnival Companies and Sir Richard will use it also

If it  takes off. 

I cant see the attraction, with free access to Australia's beautiful public beaches. 

On 2/9/2024 at 11:08 AM, Chiliburn said:

That would be hard trip punching into the prevailing weather .

 

Any idea if it’s coming back next season or whatever?

I had a hold on the cruise from Singapore to Fremantle which I let go, pending the current uncertainty.

Could be because Broome is not the easiest port to get in to. 

On 2/11/2024 at 10:56 PM, tashaaa said:

Thank you all for the responses. 
I still need to think about all the options. We decided that for the first time visiting Australia and New Zealand, we do it on cruise. I know we will see just a little of both, but I think we can make a nice vacation.. 

Maybe there will be some more cruises listed if we do it at the end of 2025. 
I heard that maybe Azamara cruise can be a good one. Only worry that the ships are smaller and the Tasman Sea can be bumpy. 
 

 

I just did an enjoyable 11 day one way cruise from Auckland to Melbourne on Virgin's Resilient Lady.  This allowed me to spend time in both Auckland and Melbourne, which have a lot to offer visitors.

Cruises are constantly changing in Australia, so end of 2025 may have different choices than now.  

On 12/31/2023 at 4:55 PM, boeckli said:

 

I second a visit to Davenport. Also take a look at Waiheke, another ferry ride and vineyards at the destination. 

Ki Maha restaurant recommended to us at Waiheke was a highlight of our Auckland visit. The entrees were so good, We shared seven!  Ferry from Auckland to Waiheke, then bus stops at the restaurant door. After lunch, We caught bus for good shopping at neighbouring town, plus a walk along the beach, then 7 pm twilight ferry back to Auckland.  

I bought wine in port in NZ to take home.  It was delivered to my cabin the day before we disembarked.  

On 1/14/2024 at 12:27 PM, dreams_of_travel said:

100% accurate!  When I was in Dunedin last January I bought two triangular short shawl/poncho pullover, and a couple pair of socks, all made from the wool/possum blend.  Best purchases EVER! says the person sitting in their iced covered snowed in house wearing one of the shawl/ponchos.  I can't wait to be back this November to buy ALL. THE. THINGS.  LOL!

 

@cookiersmom I would suggest some NZ greenstone jewelry with traditional designs.  They are unique and a pretty reminder.  I have yet to get myself some Australian opals, so that is on my list for my trip this year.  And the possum/wool things.

There is a wonderful home made craft shop in Picton.  I bought beautiful handcrafted alpaca fingerless gloves and hand crafted woollen neck gaitor, as well as a big red heart pendant for Scarlet Night on Resilient Lady.   I bought beautifull colourful polished shells at the Gift Shop. The supermarket had a good selection of NZ wines.  

On 2/8/2024 at 3:54 PM, LindaD22 said:

Can you change your plans to arrive at least 2 days prior? We are on a NZ cruise, flew DTW-LAX-SYD and arrived exhausted. We did nothing the first day, just enough the next day, then a Blue Mountain tour on the 3rd day. If you fly in the night before, you will likely start your cruise very tired and cranky. 

Good advice.  I don't think people realise just how exhausting long haul travel is.  Elaine 5 - When does your cruise depart after your arrival?  

Breakfast is my favourite meal.  There was a huge selection of breakfast choices, from traditional English style breakfast, a selection of omelettes, pancakes, cereals, bowl of cut fruit, Thai curry, ramen, tacos, toast with toppings.

I wake very early so used to have toast with marmalade and vegemite, with a cup of Dilmah tea.  Later I would have a brunch of a deliciousThai curry.  There is something for everyone on both sides of the  ship. 

I am a senior and think Virgin appeals to all ages.  The staff, who spoke English, were all friendly and helpful.

i thought the big games room, full of puzzles and games, was wonderful.  Library almost

non existent, so take your own books and magazines.

pluses were amount of time spent in port.  Two ports had two nights, a real bonus.

Looking at world events the itinerary changes were inevitable!