frantic36

Thank you for this suggestion. We will be in Tauranga in February and planned to climb Mt Maunganui and then have lunch nearby. Looking at the website Latitude 37 sounds like an excellent choice.

I live in Perth and would not be doing a train trip at midnight after going on a long, tedious bus drive to see the stars. I wouldn't feel safe especially as you would be tired then. Going to Rottnest is lovely and you can hire a bicycle, though I hired an e-bike in advance. That was fun and we had lunch at Pinky's Cafe with great fish and chips. Lots of little coves to swim. There is also a bus you can take around the island. Check out the quokkas the are often to be found near the bakery, don't feed them though. Get a selfie with a Quokka like Roger Federer and many other famous people. The food and wine tour could also be good and the river cruise back could be nice. Our Swan river is very wide and healthy. I live near it and when I walk the dog I often see various birds like our black swans, pelicans, ducks, Ibis etc and also fisherman.

It was United airlines and it was First Class on the domestic leg for SFO to MIA the return was MIA to Houston.

Maybe I am too polite but definitely on our flights in USA in January & March 2023 if we aren't part of the group they called, which we weren't, we hang back until we were called. YMMV

Thanks for this.I have an American friend visiting that are late February and he has bought tickets for Kuranda. It is for after the 22nd so I will keep my fingers crossed it will open on time. I have sent them the link you posted so they can keep up to date.

There isn't always plenty of overhead space in premium classes because some people with status, families etc who have been allowed to board before you on US domestic flights have taken the opportunity to put their bags at the front of the plane. Another reason I don't like flying US domestic. I don't understand why they do it.

10 before I fly out🙂 12 before I cruise😁 I'm starting to get that excited but slightly rushed feeling.

Thanks. Interesting reading. On the little hand lines we had for fishing piranha earlier this year it would have been a challenge to get it on the boat.

Thanks, I assume there is an Explorer lounge next to Compass Rose on Explorer. Sorry, in post Christmas semi-coma state so haven't checked deck plans.

Okay. It won't be until late May/early June.

We will be doing Papua New Guinea & Indonesia next year where I hope to snorkel and I am sure reading about some of the small islands SCUBA & snorkelling should be good. Also doing Kimberley but with crocs and big sharks there I can't see it can be possible.

There are many reasons I wouldn't sail on O from what I have read on the boards. Just choose who you are comfortable with sailing with and be happy.

Maybe in the USA but not where I usually travel, probably due to smaller carry-on and personal luggage allowance. Also the Asian and Middle East airlines I use include checked baggage allowance. Hmmm...not cheating...just how big is this envelope? I don't have an issue if you want to travel carry-on only just stop implying you're smarter then people like me who choose otherwise.

😆😂. Another excuse to keep travelling the world until I get it right.

Has either Venture or Pursuit actually sailed anywhere that SCUBA is warranted as yet? I'm curious as I haven't followed that closely but I would think the usual cold weather regions and the Med wouldn't warrant it. Did they do Caribbean?

If you have an email confirming the reservation I always print it and take it with me. Unfortunately the glitch in the website occurs and the booking doesn't show up when you download your itinerary. Usually when I call Seabourn Australia they can see it in their system and definitely when I take my printed confirmation onboard it is there in their system. Because I have a long voyage coming up I have a few TK booked but only one shows up when I download the itinerary. I have my confirmation email printed ready to take onboard and will sort that out there. Frustrating but it is what it is.

Why do people who travel with carry on only act so smug claiming they are smarter, more well travelled then others who choose to take checked luggage? I travel internationally on long haul flights 2-3 times a year. Because of that I take longer holidays and I like choice so I take luggage. It doesn't effect anyone so why do people insist I should get smarter with my packing? I don't like flying domestically in the USA because even though I book first class often families with children, people with status etc get to board before me so overheads can fill up. I often see many with carry-on bags that are way bigger than what I have plus extras and they aren't gate checked. International flights often have smaller carry-on allowance so my bags comply with that. Many USA carry-ons that I see wouldn't be acceptable on my international flights.

When we visited in February this year we weren't able to get closer then 50 metres to Shackleton's Grave because there was a large group of Elephant seals lying all around it. I still managed to get some good photos though. I hope you can get right up to the grave.

@shark b8 I hope you and your good wife feel better soon. Nasty coughs and feeling short of breath are exhausting I know so take it easy and let the crew take care of you. My Father used to swear a hot toddy with brandy would help clear a nasty cough. Not sure it worked but it tasted good.🙂

Interesting article from Business Insider. Thanks for the link. This gave me a chuckle as I have to wonder why anyone would want to stand for a time in their closet. You just go in to pick what you want to leave and dress elsewhere surely? "Just don't ask me to stand in there for too long — it's a bit claustrophobia-inducing."

I think the surprise for some of us regular Seabourn cruisers is they only started applying the gratuity automatically mid this year. It certainly wasn't the case on our early 2023 Quest cruise. So Seabourn somehow resisted for quite a few years to have it stay voluntary not compulsory. It is what it is and we will just deal with it going forward.

If you mean a tote bag then yes Seabourn supply a zippered tote bag on every cruise to everyone. The only times it hasn't happened on boarding is if delays in supplies to the ship which is rare. I have enough and prefer to be incognito ashore so I give mine back to the stewardess. They are good bags though.

I misread initially and saw cask of wine instead of case of wine. Being Australian I wondered what type of cask wine would you offer to the sommelier to taste. My bad 😂.

I am glad we will do it on a private tour because when I was organising the booking I have requested to get a chance to try their current selling Te Koko which is a favourite wine. I know I will likely pay extra from the rest of the group but that is fine. It is not something you would normally get a chance to do easily elsewhere. Living in Australia we are likely to send some wine home as well. They do have a good choice of various white wine varietals.

And this is one reason I am looking forward to your comments.