Aus Traveller

I got the joke, but I wanted to point out what is actually happening.🙂

I don't know about the cruiselines that haven't re-started in our region, but Princess has stated that they supply complimentary RATS.

Sea Princess also had an icecream parlour in the same place, but it only had soft serve. This was complimentary.

... and you don't have a Gold Card I presume?

The Medallion system was put into operation quite a while before COVID hit. There were teething problems then and now we have the added complication of requirements regarding COVID vaccination and testing. I could say it is 'testing' in more ways than one.😁

Yes. It is after 19 weeks overseas, that the person has to apply again, under the new eligibility rules rather than re-activating their Centrelink account.

To each their own. That was basically my parents-in-law's attitude also, but not ours.🙂

Any time you are out of the country for more than 19 weeks you have to re-apply for any concession card you currently hold. However, 19 weeks is a long time. The world cruise is less than 15 weeks.

We don't know if this couple have any family. If a couple doesn't, it makes sense to spend their money and enjoy it.

I am pretty sure we were notified in writing of the impending changes. I am trying to work out when it was. My guess is probably five years ago, having in mind that the last 27 months or so have been non-cruising months. Under the old rules, we had to apply several times when we were out of the country for more than six weeks. It was a PITA having to assembly all the financial data etc and go for an interview at Centrelink.

Now your assets are used to determine your eligibility. Previously, it was only income so a sizeable balance in superannuation accounts didn't count. The family home doesn't count, but now extra properties are included in the persons assets that are assessed.

I would need more than one suitcase. 🙂 Of course, they can always pick up another suitcase when the ship comes back into Brisbane.

We wouldn't know if they have a concession card or not. Before the changes four or five years ago, eligibility was based solely on income, not assets (including superannuation accounts). Now it is on both.

The main point is that it would not cost be more, I just wouldn't get all the money refunded.

It is now 19 weeks. The rules were changed a few (3 or 4) years ago. We used to have to apply every time we were away for more than six weeks. With the new rules, the downside is that the new rules regarding qualification apply, not the rules when you originally got the card. Anyway, they won't be away from Australia for more than two weeks until it comes to the world cruises where they will be away for 104 days each time. Still within the 19 weeks.

I know Jessica plays trivia. I have seen her there.

With two years' of cruising booked, I think it is more likely they have rented their home. Most rents are around $500+ per week so that would help to offset their cruising cost.

I look at this issue differently. After I pay the cost of my world cruise, that money has gone. If I am forced to cancel for medical reasons and I am only covered for $20,000, it doesn't cost me any more, I just don't get the enjoyment I was hoping to for my outlay on the cruise. The fact that I only get back roughly half of what I planned to spend will not break me financially, actually it will leave me better off financially🙂. I take insurance to cover me for major expenses that would impact on my financial position, i.e. medical evacuation, overseas hospitalization and repatriation.

I depends which credit card insurance you are referring to. The one we use did not suspend coverage of cruises and even a few months ago, they covered COVID related claims.

Not all ex-servicemen get gold Veterans Affairs cards. I know that my brother who was in the RAAF certainly doesn't have one. These are the qualifications: You are a veteran who: is aged 70 years or over and has qualifying service is an ex-prisoner of war served in Japan between 16 August 1945 and 30 January 1946 served as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force between 31 January 1946 and 28 April 1952; or participated in the British Nuclear Test program in Australia Qualifying service: There are different eligibility requirements for other conflicts. Depending on the conflict, to have qualifying service you may need to have served: in operations against the enemy in an operational area during certain time periods; and/or at a time when you incurred danger from hostile forces of the enemy

You forget - the Coral Princess is based in Brisbane. Therefore they come back into Brisbane continually. This couple can easily get a taxi to visit a doctor for new prescriptions and go to the chemist.

The latest info is that you don't back up between cruises if they only went to domestic ports, but that you have to pack up if the ship goes to international ports. HOWEVER, I feel it is likely that things will be as they always were - no packing up at all between cruises is you are remaining in the same cabin.

I have been ploughing through the requirements to register details on the Princess Medallion app. I don't know what to put for Travel Information. So far I have "starting your journey" (one of the two options), "Private Car" then "Own car". Does this page only have to be filled out if we have bought Princess transfers? Otherwise some of the questions are silly. My husband has lost patience with the Medallion app. He grumbled "We have to spend two weeks filling out stuff for a one week cruise".

Below is a spreadsheet showing the results of my research into complimentary credit card insurance. The analysis will give an indication of which credit cards might be worth following up on and reading the product disclosure statement. The information has been extracted from the pds from each of the banks, but anyone reading it should independently verify it by reading the pds. They are all available on the internet. Important information - 1. Only a few banks have no age limit for travel insurance. This is one of the key factors for us as my husband approaches his OBE (over bloody eighty). 2. Because of COVID, Macquarie Bank is not currently accepting applications for new credit card accounts. This will change in time. 3. Most of the banks do not cover COVID-related claims, but this is likely to change. 4. Some banks have a few different levels of credit card. I have given only a very general overview. 5. In some cases, a certain level of income is required to be eligible for a particular credit card. 6. I have not included items that all banks cover (or the limits) such as loss of luggage, lost/stolen property, hijacking, kidnapping. Check the pds for what is important to you. Please click on the spreadsheet to enlarge it. If anyone wants to print it out, they need only save it to their computer, then print. If preferred, I can email it.

P&O have advised us that our 27th August cruise on the Pacific Encounter that was supposed to go to Noumea, Lifou and Port Vila will now be a cruise to North Queensland. It isn't surprising. We would prefer the international itinerary as they are more interesting than ports in our own state, but, it is what it is. We got a good price on a balcony cabin so at the moment, we are planning to go and just relax and enjoy the ship.