Aus Traveller

Thanks for the info, but you appear to have misunderstood my post, or I didn't word it well.🙂 I meant that the fact that these ships have now had to have their hulls cleaned by divers, indicates that anti-fouling paint hadn't been applied recently. Presumably the ships that went into drydock fairly recently would have had their hulls painted then and wouldn't need to have them cleaned now by divers.

That is what I was thinking. If the hulls were cleaned by divers they would not have been painted with anti-fouling treatment. Expensive lesson for the cruise lines involved.

Could it be that the ships that need their hull cleaning, weren't properly maintained during the COVID lockdown.

I was booked on the 2020 world cruise from London onwards. I booked my airfare (Aust to UK) through Princess not direct with QANTAS. When the cruise was cancelled, Princess immediately refunded my airfare. I understand that people who booked with the airline were given a future credit. I also booked a 5-night hotel stay in London (not cheap) through QANTAS Hotels because I earned points. When I tried to cancel with the hotel, they refused, but QANTAS Hotels refunded. I had a win-win, but I have to admit it wasn't because I was thinking of how I would get a refund. It just worked out in my favour, for once.

I agree with your comment that you would have the same reservations about travellers from any country trying to contain an outbreak. So would I. I recall that in 2020 when restrictions were imposed on travellers from China, the government was accused of being racist.

The news websites say that China is allowing its citizens to travel overseas from January 8th, so that indicates there are no flights. We can only hope that the restrictions imposed by several countries are in time to prevent widespread infections but it won't catch everyone who is infected.

I feel it is likely you are correct - that the passenger was disembarked because he was considered too ill to remain on the ship. That can happen from any number of medical conditions. On a recent cruise to the Pacific islands, an Australian friend of ours was disembarked on Noumea because the doctor on board felt he needed hospital treatment. He recovered from COVID and has since flown home.

The timing of the restriction isn't a problem. China is only opening up for overseas travel on 8th January.

Surely, if your wife is checking out the new Victoria Secrets store, there will be an exciting result. 😁

The warning with the tests states that the result is no longer valid after 15 minutes, but several of us on this forum have found that the result stays the same over a long period - hours, days, weeks.

I was at home but unfortunately share the virus with my husband before knew I was infected. I mentioned where I picked up the virus to indicate the obvious - we can get it anywhere. Often in our daily lives we are as close or closer to other people than we are on a cruise ship. I wouldn't like to be quarantined on a ship, but if it happens on the cruises we are going on, then so be it. Our other option is to stay at home for the next however many years. Meanwhile we are getting older. 😁

I caught COVID at Specsavers, not on any of our three cruises this year. I joke that it was on April Fool's Day, but it was actually on 31st March.

Cooktown was dropped from itineraries because many (maybe most) scheduled visits has to be cancelled because of heavy seas or strong winds.

We used Metamucil for years, but find that Movicol is much better. Highly recommended. 🙂

I have often wondered if the French Caledonian authorities insist on a port call into Noumea for ships wanting to visit another port in New Caledonia.

Agreed. For four passengers there are other less expensive ways to get from Newcastle to Sydney OPT.

The shot that the medical centre administers for sea-sickness is usually phenergin. Is someone is concerned they might get sick, maybe it is worth taking some phenergin with them and taking a tablet before going to bed on the first night. It is an anti-histimine and somewhat sedating.

OK. Thanks for that.

Interesting that the price of the internet has gone up. Earlier in the year I was watching the price that people were paying. In August people were reporting that it was $6.50 per day (50% discount from $13). I bought it at that price (for the world cruise) because I suspected the price might go up. PS - Is the $10 per day the price if someone pays for the whole cruise (pre-booked) or is it the casual daily rate?

Good suggestion. The long-term parking at the airport but I suggest a maxi taxi ride to the OPT would be way to go for four people. This would be a cost-effective option.

On our P&O and Princess cruises this year, we had to show the check-in person hard-copy versions of our vaccination certificates. We had already up-loaded them onto P&O's VeriFly and Princess' Medallion.

Here are some links to help you make your decision https://www.weseektravel.com/fitzroy-island-vs-green-island/ https://frugalfrolicker.com/fitzroy-island-or-green-island/ https://www.fitzroyisland.com/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-scuba-diving-at-fitzroy-island/ https://www.elisathebestjobintheworld.com/10-green-or-fitzroy-island https://cairnsdiveadventures.com.au/green-island-scuba-diving/

Breakfast is served in the dining room every day. Just turn up - no booking.

I am sorry to hear your sad news Julie. All the best.

The only shower over the bath we have encountered on Princess was in a mini suite on the Coral. Other cabins (balcony and otherwise) we have had on Princess ships have had a small shower with a curtain. The other ship where we had a shower over the bath was a Verandah Suite on the Ryndam (later a P&O ship).