MMDown Under

Agree it would be nice to visit other ports in Queensland, such as Townsville (Magnetic Island) and Gladstone (Heron Island). Airlie/Shute Harbour is just the hub to the Whitsunday Islands. However, you might like to visit Cape Gloucester, Hideaway Bay and Dingo Beach in the Whitsundays on your next visit to Airlie Beach. Have fresh seafood lunch at Cape Gloucester resort, with sand between your toes, and beautiful water views of Cape Gloucester island. This is our favourite place in the Whitsundays. We used to holiday at Airlie Beach and from there visited Bowen and Proserpine.

What I loved about Luminosa was you could find what you wanted to eat. After a few early breakfasts at the buffet having melon, I found I could have banana and grapefruit at breakfast in the cafe. I also loved that they had Indian at breakfast as well as dinner every day. When I commented it was disappointing they didn't have any Asian, I discovered I could have Asian from the opposite side of the ship. I thought the food on Luminosa was excellent.

I haven't had Covid and didn't get Covid on Luminosa. As a vulnerable senior, I'm careful and prefer to spend time outside in the fresh air rather than inside. I wear a mask when I cruise and when I attend the theatre because you are close to people. It is impossible to keep the recommended distance.

Could be to nibble on when she wakes up in the wee hours before breakfast. I take a few oranges to my cabin and hand squeeze them for the same reason,

Thinking of birthdays on board ship, my birthday wasn't acknowledged on my recent cruise. This is the second time on a cruise. I'm wondering whether you are meant to tell someone it is your birthday. The Carnival on line girl picked up that it would be my birthday on the cruise, without being told! However, I was surrounded by birthday celebrations on both cruises.

I decided to spend my 7 day cruise to GBR on my balcony or outside on the ship. I didn't attend any inside functions, except for dining. There were five of us on our big round table. We all wore masks away from dining, but not at the dining table when eating and drinking. The others attended night entertainment. One woman on our table tested positive when she disembarked from the ship. The rest of us didn't.

i have a good quality small thermos with lid which keeps water hot and no spills. i also have a large glass ? with a lid which i fill with ice and water, so no spills This helps keep the fridge cold!

When I booked I was allocated early session, which suited me fine. But somewhere along the line, it got changed to any time early, where you had to book in, then wait for a vacancy. I hated it, different people every night. So I got it changed back at reception and ended up on the same table every evening, which was perfect. I just used the water out of the machine in the buffet. Hot water in a small thermos for my tea (took my own earl grey) and cold water with ice in a plastic mug which kept the water cold. This helped keep the fridge cold as well as the fridge wasn't very cold.

Sounds a great cruise with a number of different ports of call. Good season also.

Thank you for the photos of the comfy chairs. Looks so inviting!

Years ago I did catch the local bus in to town and it was a slow Cook's tour. However, it wasn't crowded with locals nor cruise passengers at that time. I had time to walk around Port Chalmers on my return. Looking at the Hawaiian experience with free commercial shuttles, I'm wondering whether there is a similar opportunity for shops to provide a free/discount shuttle. Passengers will always think twice about a $70 per couple shuttle.

You get a great view of the Albatross sitting on their nests from the ship, when they are sitting. What time of the year do they nest?

I got in my pool but it was freezing!

Sounds like a perfect Boxing Day relaxing after family Christmas Celebrations!

Thanks for sharing photo of real love. Covid causes a hidden sadness with many family members keeping away from their elderly seniors for fear of giving them Covid. Does your mother live separately?

That would be excellent as you could have a land holiday on each end. Good time of year for NZ.

Beautiful beach. My pet hate is when the pronunciation is wrong. ABC has staff throughout Aust. Surely it is easier enough to check or have it on file.

i dont like stollen maybe it is the marzipan.

We drove through a plague of locusts in rural NSW en route to Broken Hill. A local stopped us and told us to go to Bunnings? to buy netting to protect our engine parts. We had never seen anything like it!

i'm sorry to hear that Julie I knew you planned to visit a brother on your cruises.

No snow in August, Yvonne - summer.

We have seen a lot of the West Coast also. Vancouver Island (car and train and ferry), Sunshine Coast, Prince Rupert to Jasper (train). Vancouver to the Alps (car) I like the West Coast.

Yes lovely place to walk around, even if everything is shut.

Enjoy Christmas in Auckland. It is a beautiful city, with its harbour and gardens.

Yes I have travelled a lot in Canada. I have travelled across by Greyhound bus and train, as well as car. It feels very much like home with its part British heritage. My girls worked in Canada until they were 31 when they had to leave or I think they'd still be there. They worked on a ski resort in the East where they enjoyed the French influence and escaped all the Aussies who work on the ski fields in the West. Then they worked in Calgary and did the Calgary Stampede. I enjoyed a French cruise on the St Lawrence River to Magdalen Islands, as well as a cruise via Labrador and Newfoundland. Canadians are very friendly also. Are you cruising to Hobart, Melbourne and Sydney in April? I'm going to the Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart in February. As you drive around Australia, you'll see signs "Best Pies in Australia" everywhere. Most of our bakeries have Cornish pies, mixed pies, pasties and sausage rolls. A hot pie, with mushy pies added, is a speciality.