Aussieflyer

Silversea has Silver Muse and Silver Whisper for main cruises (mostly to NZ) and of course the expedition ones in the Kimberley. Oceania will be here as well. And some Viking ones.

Thanks for the info - I did buy some new RAT as we are down to our last. The new ones don't need the UV torch mercifully as last time the photo was very purple and difficult to read. And didn't have licence with it. Surely the timestamp on photos would be sufficient as it shows when the photo was taken. Otherwise a bit of a juggle to use hubby's phone to sit next to it. A friend may have difficulty though as she is on her own so no spare phone - might have to look at going to Syd the day before if that is the case.

I was on the lookout for pearls in August but they had nothing that I could see - a few freshwater ones I think but not in Effy (and not particularly good ones I think). Suggest maybe a good jeweller before you go.

Similar to you Uncle Les when I boarded Coral P in August but agree - who knows - might get an email with updated info if lucky.

Apple definitely did an update (3 days ago) but I have found accessing the second of my upcoming cruises is a bit of a pain - before it was just select the date but now can only see it if I go to profile then click on the Personal Info. And when I log out and in again to access it I can't get into my next cruise - not particularly user-friendly.

A bit off topic but just confirming the current RAT requirement for Princess boarding in Australia - is it still attestation (as in they ask and you confirm you have a neg test) or is it like noted on the website (which I thought was US): "For guests who opt to use a self-administered Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), a photograph is required which includes ALL of the following: 1) the RAT result; 2) a government-issued photo ID; and 3) a device showing the time (e.g. watch, mobile phone lock screen, clock)."

Cruise ships are 'more dangerous' in that they have a large number of people in a small area for an extended period of time. People are mixing in this environment and it is quite different from being at a restaurant or even the football. Given the age of many passengers they would be more akin to a nursing home or aged care facility 🙂

Yes we were in Syd on Sunday through to Tues - weather was pretty good though the wind was a bit cool - not really T shirt weather. Thought we would cop it on Tues going back to Central station but missed the rain altogether. Several heavy downpours on bus back to Canberra though. And a bonus - Coral P was at the OPT when we were there - sigh - could easily have slipped aboard.