Aus Traveller

That changes things. I thought you previous mention of these amounts referred to the amount of cover you would have while on a cruise. US$50,00 would be plenty, but $1,000 could be risky. If one of you became ill on the ship, your bill would very quickly reach $1,000.

I have been on a few cruises that called into New Caledonia in the last two years. Each time at check in I was asked if I had insurance. I pulled out the hard copy of my insurance details and an email from the bank to show that we were covered. They didn't really look at it. I feel that you should have a policy that covers cruising, but (as I said earlier) I would take the least expensive option you can find.

I have the impression that you might be from USA because the details you mention re travel insurance are not anything I have seen here. Our travel insurances either include cruises automatically, or with a couple, we have to specify cruising and pay a very small surcharge. With the type of insurance you mention, I would take the lowest coverage because presumably that will cost you the least. I feel that US$50,000 would more than cover any possible expense. (These are just my opinions.) We use a complimentary travel insurance that is attached to our ANZ Platinum Visa credit card. It includes cruising.

A problem I found with excursions on the world cruise is that only the segment (I would call it sector) you are currently on, are available to see either on your account or at the ShoreEx office.

The reasons that the Coral went close to land are - 1. Moreton Bay is relatively shallow with a clearly marked shipping lane. It goes fairly close to Moreton Island near the Tangaloma Resort. 2. After leaving the Bay, ships keep close to the coast as far as Mooloolaba because that is where the marine pilot leaves the ship.

Great feed-back. Thanks.

On Saturday night a $72 transaction on my husband's ANZ card with an overseas entity was declined by the bank and his card cancelled. He was very happy as he had authorised $2 and (according to the bank) the company kept trying to get their $72. We don't know if they would have gone back for a larger amount if their initial $72 worked. I am sure Barry will work it out today. The suggestions of booking through a third party were good.

As Scarlett O'Hara said "Tomorrow is another day". We have noticed that banks are more inclined to decline payments if they consider that they might be fraudulent, than they used to and some banks are more inclined to take this course of action than others. I suppose we should be glad of that. I am sure you will sort it out tomorrow.🙂

Agreed. You did say it. I was just making a joke. 😁

Your 'humid' probably isn't what Queenslanders call 'humid'. 😁

According to the internet, Cyclone Gabrielle was no longer at cyclone strength when it hit NZ. It had been down-graded to a deep sub-tropical low. However there was a lot of damage from the exceptionally heavy rain.

Cancel For Any REASON?

A couple of times we have got a taxi to go sightseeing. Lombok is also a great place to buy pearls, if that is of interest.

Your trip will be too far south for cyclones to be an issue. Melbourne can be hot at that time of year, but it will be a dry heat. NZ will be cool, even cold in the south, to comfortably warm in Auckland. Sydney can be hot (low 30s Celsius) but it wouldn't be terribly humid.

It was obviously the TA's mistake so I would expect them to fix the problem. You did peruse the documents, but I don't feel it is your responsibility. All the best. You can do without issues like this. 🙂

On the WC last year I printed out details of my tour bookings as soon as I booked them. Later the prices went up, in one case by 100%. I was charged the price at which I booked. I agree with you Julie. It is likely that Sparrow has nothing to worry about.

Does your personal list of booked tours show an increased price, or is it on the tours page for new bookings? If your prices have increased, I would challenge the increase.

The most economical way to get to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary would be by the ship's shuttle bus to the CBD (if the return time is flexible), then a public bus. Taking the bus would only take 15 minutes longer than a taxi but, because the bus only goes every 30 minutes, it would probably involve extra time while waiting for the next bus. I wouldn't be took keen on booking an Uber to pick me up from the cruise terminal. My experience is that if the pick-up location is a bit out of the way (as the cruise terminal is), sometimes the Uber simply doesn't turn up. I and also my daughter, have had that happen a few times when booking an Uber to pick us up from either my home, or hers.

The last few cruises I have been on (one at the end of January) there were several taxis waiting at the cruise terminal for customers. On one cruise, there were 20 or more waiting. On our cruise at the end of January we had to wait probably 15 minutes because we needed a maxi taxi for our group of six people and luggage. I think my daughter had the kitchen sink somewhere in her luggage. It seemed like it!

On Thursday night we received 200 mm of rain then another 45 mm during the day on Friday.

The trip on the Mirimar is OK, but it takes a lot of time when a visitor doesn't have much spare time. Other alternatives are to go from the CBD to Lone Pine by taxi ($35-$45), or by public bus. The bus is #445 that departs from Stop #12 at the City Hall in Ann Street (in the middle of the CBD). The journey takes 36 minutes and it runs every hour. Departures are at 8.30, 9.30 etc and the cost is only a few dollars per person. You can pay with your credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express). You need to 'tap' the card onto the reader on the bus when you board and also when you leave the bus. You should get off the bus at stop No. 42. It is a 3 minute walk to the Sanctuary.

When you visit Dravuni, make sure you pop into the school where you will be welcomed. It is for the younger children only. The older children spend the school week on a nearby island where the school can accommodate more grades. We usually take some school supplies and children's books for the school.

Dravuni is lovely. There is a village with around 100 residents. Enjoy the beach. Usually the locals put on a traditional song/dance show and you can try some kava if you like. If you feel energetic you can walk to the top of the high hill for some lovely views. There is also a track to the windward side of the island.

No visas are required for Australian-passport holders when on a cruise. Your post indicates that you are on a cruise that is visiting ports in Vanuatu for a few days, not that you are flying into Port Vila and staying for a few days. Have I interpreted your post correctly?

The loungers were replaced in June last year during the world cruise when the ship called into Singapore.