yarramar

I didn't know this, thanks. My last cruise on RCCL I brought a mobile router which worked while in our cabin. I was able to connect 2 phones, an iPad, watch, my Surface PC and camera. I also took my firestick but forgot the remote and couldn't work out how to use it without. Had to stream using the PC.

Agree with the Phillip Island idea. There are many full day or half day tours. As your ship docks overnight it is ideal for this as the penguins come back to their nests at dusk and the tours arrive back in Melbourne late at night. Sunset in Melbourne late February is 8.30pm, late March is 730 pm. If you don't go with the "hire a car from Geelong" idea, you could do a Mornington Peninsula tour with or without wineries from Melbourne on the other overnight visit. Private tours found on the internet can be googled for reviews. They will also be a LOT cheaper than doing the ships tours. Also remember that there is NO tipping in Australia or New Zealand, don't be pressured to do it. If you can't resist pay only a token amount.

Oh, I see that you are only in Geelong for 1 day. My suggestion there is to hire a car and spend the day exploring the Bellarine Peninsula. There are some nice little seaside towns, lovely wines and wineries plus the historic township of Queenscliff. https://www.visitgeelongbellarine.com.au/ From Queenscliff, if you arrange your time well, you could also take a ferry, by foot (or car) to Sorrento which is also beautiful and historic being the first attempted settlement by the British in 1802. The fort at the end of Pt Nepean was where the first shots were fired by the British Empire in both WWI & WWII. The ferry runs every hour from both Q & S and takes 40 minutes(they run 2 ferries). https://www.searoad.com.au/ https://www.visitmorningtonpeninsula.org/Places-To-See/Towns-Villages/Sorrento

My suggestion would be to take a look at What's in Port, https://www.whatsinport.com/New-Zealand.html Then, if you have any questions, ask on the Trip Advisor New Zealand forums for individual places of interest. Lastly, Melbourne. similarly ask on Melbourne, Australia forum for ideas. Dates in Melbourne are more important than weekend as there may be a major event which will impact on some things. What are you doing from Geelong? Have you looked at hiring a car and driving the Great Ocean Road for 2 or 3 nights?

Queensland is a VERY big state of Australia, roughly 2.5 times Texas. https://mapfight.xyz/map/queensland/ It goes from tropical to sub tropical to temperate in climate. Down south it may just be very hot while up north there may be cyclones as well as hot in Feb/March. Our Bureau of Meteorology is a good place to see historical readings. http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/observations/index.shtml As to NZ, it is a long country which although not tropical will be warm. South Island may be fairly cool, especially at night and you may wish to do an excursion on a glacier

When in a crowded situation, I never leave a backpack on my back. I always wear it in front, like a baby sling and hold on to it.

Getting your own recommendations and advice is also what ChatGPT will advise. I asked if Cruise Critic was a good resource. Cruise Critic is a popular online resource for cruise travel, and it can be a helpful tool for those planning a cruise vacation. It provides a variety of information and resources related to cruise lines, itineraries, ships, ports of call, and other related topics. Cruise Critic features reviews and ratings from past passengers, as well as news, articles, and forums where travelers can exchange tips and advice. The website also offers a booking service, where travelers can book cruises directly through the site. While Cruise Critic can be a useful resource, it's important to remember that reviews and opinions can be subjective and may not always reflect the experience you will have on a particular cruise. It's also a good idea to cross-check information from Cruise Critic with other sources, such as travel guides and official tourism websites. Overall, Cruise Critic can be a helpful resource for those planning a cruise vacation, but it's always a good idea to do your own research and make informed decisions based on your own preferences and needs.

If only in NZ for 4 days and if you get an Optus phone and or sim here, you could also buy this. https://www.optus.com.au/mobile/plans/international-roaming/prepaid

This one is so cheap, you could get another one in NZ. https://www.kmart.com.au/product/optus-x-start-3-smartphone-43184095/ You may need to pay to unlock it so you can reuse it in the US

I also have an aversion to chlorinated water. We have a filtered tap at home with which I fill my bottle for the day with chilled water and refill if needed with similar or bottled. At the airport I take an empty bottle through security and fill at the water stations before boarding. My last cruise on RCCL I used the soda machine which doesn't require a chipped cup for plain water. (I guess I will have to take a funnel with me next time) I have also found the Philips Zero range on Amazon, one of which is insulated. May get that one instead.

Thanks, guys, I didn't think about the chlorine and have decided to get this for travel (one each) https://www.traveluniverse.com.au/Fill2pure-Stainless-Extreme-Filter-Bottle-725ML/DC2400.htm

Why would they? Ship produced water is as pure or better than what you can buy in bottles.

I take a double walled S/S water bottle and fill it at an available outlet. If you can't put the neck on the water dispenser for hygiene reasons, also bring a small funnel which cannot be objected to. If there are no handy dispensers around try the spa or gym.

The best port to see the reef is from Cairns since you are not stopping at Port Douglas. Have a look at this tour provider. https://seastarcruises.com.au/

I was really looking forward to Virgin Voyages making Melbourne their home port for a season in Australia from December this year. Unfortunately their itineraries are pretty much the same as all the others and while the ship Resilient Lady may be wonderful with great dining, an uninspiring itinerary is a waste of a good ship

When I was at school & uni, I worked at KFC. We quite often got large catering orders of up to several hundred pieces of fried chicken for weddings. Occasionally the order included chips! Even as a teenager, I thought this was gross.

Wow, you must have lost a lot on previous cruises. 😂

Agree with the above. It is only worthwhile if you have an extreme fear of flying and travel for 11 hours overnight in a sleeper. But that is way more expensive than one of the over 80 flights per day.

I am always saddened by the number of signs along the Great Ocean Road telling people to keep left not only in English but also in other languages. Saddened because the number of signs increase over the years after more accidents and fatalities occur.

This will be a good option. https://www.amazon.com.au/Three-Destinations-Including-European-Countries/dp/B01FI1JW72/ref=sr_1_3?crid=IANDBPEC4E6K&keywords=three+sim+card&qid=1680859919&sprefix=three+sim+card%2Caps%2C351&sr=8-3

If you are prepared to sign up for a free trial, you may get it through here. https://www.zoominfo.com/p/Marguerite-Fitzgerald/836179284

Very good suggestion. Bondi is sooo overrated and you will have way more fun on a ferry and swimming at Manly than you ever will at Bondi. BTW, I spent every holiday as a child at Bondi as my Grandparents lived there and even then it was pretty ordinary.

Also be aware of the vastly different baggage allowances between Qantas & Jetstar. For a start checked and carry on baggage is included with a Qantas fare. With Jetstar you will have to pay for checked baggage and the limits are lower than Qantas. The carry on with Qantas from LAX is 10kg, Jetstar is 7kg, they may ask you to remove items or check it at an exorbitant cost. I would choose another airline to fly to Cairns. Don't be fooled by price. You get what you pay for.

The suitcase was returned to her at the conclusion of the cruise. I didn't see the part where she claimed that it was on board the whole time, perhaps it was left at the dock at embarkation. RCCL are quite generous and provide $300 in compensation which is NZ$480. Plenty to buy everything needed to see out the cruise. Insurance would only come into it if the cruise line didn't provide adequate compensation and they could prove that the actual cost needed was much greater. But then, according to the story she just washed and wore the same outfit every day and (boohoo) had to stay in her cabin on Fjord day. I still don't get why she had to wear her husbands jocks if she had her clothes washed each night and returned in the morning.

I would not be comfortable having to be at the airport at 9.30-10.00am for an international flight after disembarking from a cruise. A 5.00pm flight means being at the airport at 2.00pm. It will not be "all day". You will have enough time for a pleasant lunch before leaving for the airport