MMDown Under

Thank you That is interesting design Is it popular? What kind of music does the piano player play? I have been on cruises where some passengers attend the Piano Bar every night.

That is good to hear. When you travel solo, you hope you will be looked after if something happens to you overseas.

Now I feel envious. I always organised land travel pre and after cruises.

Me too. But I know next time I visit Auckland I'll visit Waiheke again.

Oops I thought the rough seas were of the Ditch,

Carnival Luminosa is heading to NZ for 11 nights also -

When I was checking the requirements for Carnival, I recall it quoted NSW rules for a ship departing Brisbane. Must be hard for cruiselines to keep up to date, with cruises departing from different states.

You might like to consider catching a taxi to Bretts Wharf ferry terminal at Hamilton, then catch the city cat ferry into the City for a scenic trip on the Brisbane River. TransLink.com.au for timetables and cost of fares.

What was the Piano Bar on Luminosa like?

Are all passengers on board for your Kiwi cruise? Bon Voyage. Wishing you smooth seas.

Ange45 above said there was a $10 surcharge for port.

I had to walk to the other side of the platform at Central from Parramatta for the circle train via Circular Quay, when I went to the Airport. That is so easy compared to changing platforms. Station staff are there with ramps to help you with luggage

Good that everything went smoothly for you disembarking from Majestic this morning. As beatleman said, just ask Circular Quay train staff which circle train goes direct to the airport then, when you get on at the correct platform at Circular Quay, you don't have to change trains at Central. Interesting to know there is a $10 surcharge on taxis from the port. Did you enjoy your cruise on Majestic?

I would just wait unless there is some urgency.

My friend's son pays extra for business class when he travels for work.

? School busses doing dual service. Big coaches have toilets and roomy seats. Good question to ask. We just went to moonlight ballet at HOTA where the seats were too squashed together. I never dreamt to ask. My daughter shifted to sitting on grass, which we will pay for next time .

That was my worst nightmare that I would test positive at testing on the day of departure in Cairns. And I was just a solo.

I was on Celebrity so it could be different on HAL. It wouldn't matter unless you were a big Christmas fan, I took Christmas bon bons to Antarctica with me so we could put Christmas party hats on on the flight home on Christmas day. My daughter was absolutely horrified when she saw what I'd done. Needless to say we went hat less! However, I had a win with 5 hour lounge access in Santiago on Christmas Day. Seems we were entitled to it on the way over, but not on the way back. due to code sharing. The girl on the desk changed her mind and relented to let us in because it was Christmas day,

Once you know name of coastline contact them and ask.

We used to drive to Tweed Heads and northern NSW for the day when I was young and Noosa on the Sunshine Coast. Distance wasn't a problem unless the stop start traffic made the car boil! It is beautiful weather on the Gold Coast at present sunny with a cool sea breeze. It would be standing room only in Queensland if we didn't have high humidity in mid summer.

Pity it wasn't for a cruise. Maybe next time after your surgeries are over!

The hotel books a return shuttle to the airport. When the shuttle didn't turn up, the hotel paid for a uber. From the footpath, we saw it drive past and keep driving. Hotel booked another uber and I made airport on time. I don't have faith in Ubers. I usually book my own shuttles and have never had a problem.

Sad to hear your brother has had a couple of strokes and is now in rest home care. I hope he remembers you. You must be happy you did so many cruises to NZ to catch up with family members. I know what you mean about the wet weather in Sydney. I visited Parramatta for five weeks and was surprised how much it rained. Wore winter pjs, winter dressing gown and slippers!! I'll be interested in your comments on Westerdam. It should be special spending Christmas/New Year on board. I raced up to stand outside David Jones's Christmas windows when we disembarked from our NZ cruise on Christmas Eve. It just didn't feel like an Aussie Christmas to us, more American (and we've spent lots of Christmases in the US).

Great location for train travel. You can catch train to Circular Quay with one change.

And she did this in front of other people wanting to catch a lift elsewhere like 15? No wonder you shut lift asap.