MMDown Under

4 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

It sounds wonderful, Marion.

 

We're doing a four night cruise on her next month.

I’m so glad. You will love it.  I don’t understand aps which has made life difficult, but staff are everywhere offering to help. I have just learnt the tablet which has news entertainment sports in it. It controls tv.! It also opens curtains sets mood lighting etc plus you can request services such as cleaning new towels etc. it is clever. I love the innovative Design best. 
breakfast is my favourite

The Galley on 15 has every choice imaginable 

My. Favourite is Noodle Around

Thai Curry Ramen

Chinese girls next to me enjoy Tonkotsu Ramen

it is nice when Galley is empty early.

I want to thank you for the restaurant recommendation - we ordered all the entrees.  Food and atmosphere were excellent. Caught 8pm ferry back from island.

It is hard for me to believe I have been on this ship for only three days as it feels much longer.  The ship is currently cruising to Picton Tuesday 11am to 8 pm.

wednesday Wellington 8-5pm

i am still finding my way around this big ship, but I love so much about it.

Briefly -

it is a happy ship

its people are its greatest asset

Food is superb, so much variety and choice

For me today -

3.15 am. Two slices toasted multigrain bread with marmalade and vegemite Dillmah tea and lemon from Diner and Dash

breakfast Thai curry noodles

late lunch after tour

sushi in bento box

fresh made salad

Hot chips as it was cold

all of above from the Galley 

 Dinner Mexican Restaurant Pink Agave

with three course Mexican meal

you get the gist. Whatever you feel like !

Aussie won!  Good night!

Hi everyone I am currently cruising on Resilient Lady towards Picton.  Please remind me details of recommended half day cruise tour in.Picton.

i am awake because I’m watching the Australian Open.

I’m writing to let everyone know my credit card has failed me yet again, as it did last time I was in UK on my own.

i have spent the $400 NZ cash, still have Aust cash I can convert.  My daughter has lent me her second credit card, so I’m financially OK.

Knowing how and why it happened doesnt

help me and doesn’t stop me feeling very annoyed.  The amount of time family and I have spent trying to fix my card being refused had the potential to spoil my holiday but we won’t let it.  Needless to say I will be getting a new credit card on my return to Australia

i just want to share don’t rely on credit cards totally, esp if you travel alone overseas, as I do.  you can take up to $10,000 Aust cash out of the country legally. 

7 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

????, what is the issue for being over $100? , 

YOU HAVE TO INPUT A PIN  I NEVER NEEDED A PIN OVERSEAS  

Now THAT I SPEND OVER $100 locally i put a pin on account and cant remember it

1 hour ago, ceeceeDee said:

Yes, the coins are really problematic. I gave up trying to figure out which is which. We were in one of the shops at Universal theme park and I just tipped all the coins on the counter (after asking if that was ok) and the assistant sorted it out. She was really happy about the small change as it saved her a trek to the park office to get change for her til.

Yes I fined coins are always popular.  I didn't want to go over 4100 at Aldi, as I can't remember the number.  The lady on the till looked in my change purse, and found $6 which she put towards my bill bringing me under $100.  I also became expert over the holidays at getting them to split the bill, eg $150 = $75 x 2.

3 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Tipping is getting insane in the US. We just don't want to go there any more andvthat's one of the reasons. We can't avoid it on the world cruise though.

It is mainly the west coast and North which tip, the South invented cafeterias where you select your own delicious food and you don't tip.  The lady who comes around with an endless pot of coffee gets tipped.  If you don't drink their coffee, you are ahead.  The" bus boys ?" who clean your table don't get tipped which I think is very unfair.  I always talk to them, tell them what a great job they do etc and leave them beaming.  Any change left on table belongs to coffee lady. Some share.

8 hours ago, Jean C said:

PS, I'll be in Honolulu later this year, maybe I'll brave Ala Moana [sudden involuntary shudder] 🥴. Like a bloke, I'd just never know where to start, hehe 😂

Just ask for petite large.  They shops full of clothes to fit the body shape.  After all we can't wear large with the crotch at our knees!

9 minutes ago, Jean C said:

I feel for you. I must have a few male genes in me, I hate shopping and wear my clothes until they almost disintigrate. People don't understand, fit, comfort and an old friend are everything 😂

Me too, I hate shopping for clothes, in particular.  Unless I have a friend with me, I'm out of the shop in ten minutes.  If I have a friend with me who is "finding clothes which fit", I last max 15 mins if they keep throwing clothes they've found over the door.  A rare occurrence, I just bought two dresses.  I took 5 clothes in to try on, none fitted.  A dress was already in the changing room - it fitted!  On way out, I spotted a dress on a model.  Got it taken off the model, tried it on, it fitted so bought it.  This shop is an American brand.  I don't have this problem in the USA, as they have whole shops full of petite clothes.  I'm a perfect petite large!!  Imagine the joy, I can look for clothes I actually like, not just clothes which fit.  

On 1/6/2024 at 1:07 PM, Ozwoody said:

Hi Jean, I'm with you I would not like a bath over the shower either, be difficult getting up there at my age. 😂

Should be an age restriction for passengers on baths over tubs on ships.  An accident just waiting to happen..  

57 minutes ago, arxcards said:

Actually, they have. You can't get a poached egg for breakfast in the regular eateries, unless you pay extra for it as eggs benny.

My girlfriend told me Sisters in aged care aren't allowed poached eggs.  The chef cooks them in the oven so they look poached.

2 hours ago, Jean C said:

Because so many countries update their notes and coins these days, I try not to hold onto any if possible.  I used to have a good supply of AUD and GBP but ditched the pounds when they changed their notes to polymer and I had no plans to travel. 

I always plan to travel there again.  I don't know how I will handle 2024 being last year of overseas travel.

Just now, MMDown Under said:

i love that story!  Who would do that nowadays/  How clever to even think to do it.  My grandmother used to call neighbours to finish a big pot of tea.  then give a couple of scones to go with it

She used to change the elastic in neighbours' underpants,  mend socks and do clothing repairs. She lived in the city yet remained 

a country woman who always could make do.  Only once a week trips to town!

44 minutes ago, Ozwoody said:

I feel for you, I had a jumper I just loved to death, it had a chequered beginning, my mom knitted me two jumpers a blue one and a grey one, the grey one arms were too small and the blue one's body didn't fit me at all, so she took the sleeves of the blue and put them on the grey one, and hey presto, a perfect jumper, well in my eyes anyway. True Story....

I wore it from my late teens until my early 60's, it as you can imagine, it had started to get a little shaggy.

Then one day it disappeared, Hil denied responsibility for its loss, but there was a suspicious smirk hovering under that sympathetic look!😒

 

i love that story!  Who would do that nowadays/  How clever to even think to do it.  My grandmother used to call neighbours to finish a big pot of tea.  then give a couple of scones to go with it

She used to change the elastic in neighbours' underpants,  mend socks and do clothing repairs. She lived in the city yet remained 

2 hours ago, Jean C said:

I too miss all those bits and pieces. I do believe however that the pen/pencil and pad in the cabin were very useful for communicating with the steward for minor things. I've never not had a face washer (recent cruise was in a mini suite, if that makes a difference) - have they gone by the board? 

mini suite may be the difference

On 1/3/2024 at 9:20 AM, JohnGc said:

Thanks Les, That was terrible for your sister & brother. It was bad enough for us let alone having visitors. Only bought a few essentials as we need confidence that the power is going to stay on. The wife said the supermarket shelves were fairly bare. The disaster fund pay out for the  the food that was perished will be a big help, it does not cover for what we lost but I am grateful for what we got. You having no power for 2 weeks during the bushfire was a long time we found 6 days was bad enough. We feel lucky though after seeing the houses on Mount Tamborine that got smashed and I am not sure if they have power yet as it is going to take a long time to renew all the power equip wment. They were talking about getting them on generators. 

Cheers John.

My heart goes out to the peopIe of Mt Tamborine.  I didn't realise just how much the loss of power and internet effected me. As you say, we lost confidence that we may loose power again.  We lost power for the least amount of time and didn't loose any food, because we put two bags of ice in the old style ice box fridge which lasted longer than a week.  However, I have no BBQ, no non electric cooking choices, no cups of tea. When the TV went off unexpectedly, I automatically jumped up and started cooking so I would have something to eat.  I started planning ahead, eg plum pudding must be cooked 40 mins, then you can reheat it.  I ate a whole plum pudding over the period.  I kept boiled water in a 24 hr flask so I could have a cup of tea.  I kept bottles of cold boiled water.  I remembered things i'd learnt at Water Resources during the Brisbane's big flood.  Like fill the bathtub before water gets contaminated. Fill a basin, so you can wash your dirty feet.  Use disinfectant.  Someone should write a book. 

PS Lots of workmen still in our area.  Major problems apart from electricity is damage from roots of big trees lifting.  Lots have lifted huge blocks of concrete in our area.  A man couldnt lift it to fix so dangerous to walk around, eg no fences 

Just now, MMDown Under said:

Interesting  I've only seen baked potatoes here standing up, with the top third cut off, with everything put back in. Every pickle in US gets picked of plate in US by my girls.  Is pickles a European thing?

W

We only had home made mustard pickles (made with cauliflower) with corned silverside. 

53 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

Yes the potato is baked, then cut horizontally and the flesh removed from the jacket. Then you mix in some butter, sour cream, chives (green onions are often used), bacon bits if you like and these ones had cheddar cheese too. Put everything back in the jacket and bake again. The beetroot is cooked (probably too much) to be quite soft. They started out deep red with paler rings. There is a huge variety of beets available depending on the time of year. The cauliflower comes in a jar of sweet mixed pickles.

Interesting  I've only seen baked potatoes here standing up, with the top third cut off, with everything put back in. Every pickle in US gets picked of plate in US by my girls.  Is pickles a European thing?

W

16 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said:

My daughter was delighted when she was about to go to the UK at the start of last year and her grandfather gave her a bunch of notes that he had found whilst doing a big clean out, Probably about 400 pounds worth.  Unfortunately, she soon discovered they were out of circulation and couldn’t be used.

As Jean C said, you can exchange old currency in the UK.  Be careful with old currency in Cambodia though.  I'd given my younger daughter Thai bah not dreaming she would try to use it to cover entry fees in Cambodia.  She had flown, because word was out that Cambodia immigration were giving young visitors a hard time at the crossing.  Well, flying didn't save her.  They took her away to a room and accused her of using counterfeit money.  It was a weekend, so no banks open.  Seems it was old money, but still legal tender. Eventually let  her into the country with demand she returned next day. 

Banks open next day, so all OK.  I recently gave other older daughter Thai bah and she had no trouble using it in Phuket.  

6 hours ago, colourbird said:

 

I didn't bother with cash tips in the USA.

 

I couldn't work out the amount the Americans were giving guides, drivers etc... as every note looked the same so I just walked past and said "seeya". I didn't want to give too much or too little. Anyway if 50 people were on our tour these guys were making a fortune.

Most Americans carry a heap of $1 notes and give a pile of notes, so it is difficult to see how much.  

10 hours ago, Jean C said:

With respect, UK bank notes can always be exchanged, no matter how old they are. Notes from the previous issue can be deposited into accounts at Post Offices and banks, if she opens an account or knows someone with an account. Any older notes, no matter how far back they go, can be exchanged at the Bank of England in London, for face value. They do advise though that very very old notes may have a collector's value in excess of their current face value which is all you'd get from the Bank of England.  For clarification see:

 

https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/faq/banknote

Yes, I've done that a branch office in London and I wasn't a customer.

21 minutes ago, possum52 said:

Ham and bacon together? I would just have all bacon.

Sunday, We went to Eaton's Hotel for a birthday celebration,  It was packed with happy eaters.  This hotel is just outside the NW ? of Brisbane.  I was amazed that they were able to charge such high prices "in the sticks" as it used be called.  It reminded me of the old Breakfast Creek Hotel in its prime and ours.  It is all about the cut and high quality of the steak. 

Just to tempt you, we had -

oysters

raw tuna

2 small round steaks

1 marbled oblong steak

1 curry (last butter chicken)

3 deserts (plum pudding for me)

wine

cocktails

coffee 

bottled sparkling water 

I only paid for the two birthday girls who share the same birthday, so hate to think what the total bill was.  A good time was had by all 

On 1/6/2024 at 11:11 AM, Blackduck59 said:

We had snags for supper. The plate fillers are beetroot, a jacket potato and some pickled cauliflower. 

I'll come to your house any time for diner.  Is that a potato cut horizontally? Did you cook beetroot?  How do you pickle cauliflower?   I love fresh cooked beetroot.  My last beetroot from market was a pale colour and was delicious.  I'll probably never see it again.  "What do you mean a pale purple beetroot?"

3 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

I miss pen and paper in cabins more than the bags, which were an advertisement for the cruise line (for thieves to easily identify the tourists).

I miss the little bottles of name brand shampoo, conditioner and body lotion 

I miss the cakes of soap, bigger for shower, smaller for sink. 

I now bring all of the above. 

 

I bring my own face washer.  Clips to hang on wall to have all paperwork in one place.  My daughter has assured me she will teach me what 

 

I never did get the little parcel in the mail with my travel details, but it would be waiting in the cabin. 

 

 

What makes my computer stick, then jump ahead?

teach me "what an ap is and download the ap for my cruise prior to departure on Friday, 12/1/24.

By now, you would know we are JIT people!

This 11 day cruise, I'm bringing cushions for the uncomfortable looking chairs on the balcony.  I will put a cushion on each chair and sit on one, with feet on other,  I think that will work.  I hope I can get in hammock, as I love being on the balcony.

( I used to love sitting on those old wooden lie lows, on the Promenade Deck, which are now just a memory.  I saw the whole of East Coast of Australia, from that position, with a white gloved waiter delivering scones with jam and cream to each person.)  

2 hours ago, Ozwoody said:

You wouldn't think that it would be a significant savings on those minor things, but I suppose if you add them all up, possibly they do???

I miss pen and paper in cabins more than the bags, which were an advertisement for the cruise line (for thieves to easily identify the tourists).

I miss the little bottles of name brand shampoo, conditioner and body lotion 

I miss the cakes of soap, bigger for shower, smaller for sink. 

I now bring all of the above. 

I bring my own face washer.  Clips to hang on wall to have all paperwork in one place.  My daughter has assured me she will teach me what 

I never did get the little parcel in the mail with my travel details, but it would be waiting in the cabin. 

On 1/7/2024 at 8:57 AM, Aus Traveller said:

My blue Princess bags crumbled and they hadn't been exposed to sun. We got a shock when the firsts one broke. My husband put some plastic bottles of soft drink in the bag and they went straight through the bottom. Since then a couple of the bags have just crumbled, even though they were inside the house. We haven't got these bags on our last few Princess cruises.

Thank goodness mine just passed away in the house.