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 booked the WC as a solo and will pay more than $20,000. I will consider relying on the CC insurance thereby taking the chance that I don't have to cancel but an insurable reason. The CC insurance will cover all the usual factors - health, medical evacuation, hospitalization, theft of possessions etc. The main event I want to insure against when we cruise is medical evacuation, hospitalization in a foreign country, and repatriation.

I haven't found any difference in the coverage by credit card insurance although one alteration is that payment for cancellation is limited to $20,000.

I'm not jealous. I could do it if I wanted to. Although I love cruising, I would find it very repetitious after the first several months. The other aspect is that I enjoy spending time with our family and wouldn't be satisfied with a quick catch-up when the ship came into Brisbane between cruises. Anyway, if they don't start out as the Most Travelled Passenger, they soon will be. 🙂