yarramar

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to have helped, here or on TA

Absolutely no sympathy from me. What with Harry & Megan and now this, don't people realise there are more important news stories out there to entertain the plebs? If the couple don't read their cruise contract and/or have appropriate travel insurance, especially since they claim to be seasoned cruisers, they deserve to be put out if things go wrong. Why you would go running to ACA is beyond me.

For where? In Australia we use 240V so any appliances from the US need to be dual voltage to be able to be used. You will also need a plug adapter so that your straight pins will go in our slanted sockets. On board most ships sailing in Australian waters you will find US sockets with 120V. Most of your electronic gadgets will be able to use 110-250V so that also is not a worry. Majority of people have no need for a power converter when travelling unless they have a particular appliance that is needed but then most "necessary" appliances are made dual voltage these days such as a CPAP.

That makes sense as Herbert Adams is owned by Patties who are the biggest pie maker in Australia. Another point to consider. https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/food/shoppers-bizarre-find-in-her-aldi-meat-pie-c-1207711

Possum52 was extolling the virtues of the vanilla slice in Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula. Unfortunately these have gone downhill especially since they changed the name of the bakery to "The Vanilla Slice Cafe". However it is still worth a trip to the MP but to Red Hill where the best pies in Australia are still made. They are called Johnny Ripe. Now while the name is not the best, they actually started making apple pies from the apples on their orchard. They diversified into all kinds of meat pies and they are now exported all over Melbourne

Correct. The nation shuts down at 3.00pm EST on the 1st Tuesday in November and then only for an hour or so. Melbourne, however, shuts down from the Friday prior when many take a 5 day long weekend.

My first ever cruise was with NCL in the Mediterranean. The ports were great but the cruise line left a bad taste in my mouth ( the food also was pretty ordinary) The whole thing felt like a grab for money and had a Las Vegas/ PT Barnum vibe about it. I was sure that the culture on the ship began at the top and I swore never to cruise with them or any of their affiliate cruise lines. I have since been on many cruises since and they have all been great. I cruised Oceania before they were bought by NCL, I wouldn't cruise on them now. That linked article does not surprise me at all and it and many other things I have read vindicates my initial feelings.

This website also has good information which is regularly updated. https://www.traveltomtom.net/travel-tips

Article 98 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (LOSC) mandates that every state require its ships “to render assistance to any person found at sea in danger of being lost”

Hate being a party pooper, but it wasn't exactly named as "The Greatest Place to Live" Time announces EVERY year a list of notable places and it seems that every year, Australia is given 2 spots, one city and one region. Last year was Fremantle, the year before was Sydney. Brisbane earned their place this year because of the Olympic announcement last year. Not really the same as being named "Worlds most liveable City" for 7 years in a row.

According to the HAL contract for Australians: Certain laws such as the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and any applicable state based consumer legislation (from here known as 'Consumer Laws'), are in place for Your protection. They are designed to ensure Our services are provided with due care and skill and are reasonably fit for a cruise holiday. These terms and conditions do not alter any protection given to You by Consumer Laws. If you read the act, all costs must be included in the advertised price. Under the act this includes an additional charge per day if not purchasing something new.

Whether gratuities are added to your on board account or not, if you purchase the cruise through an Australian agent or Australian website, the gratuities are paid for in the fare. If you pay the account, you are paying twice, if you dispute it they will apologise and take it off. Do you really think they care? Until they are challenged in an Australian court they will gouge all their passengers at any opportunity. If they were such good corporate citizens they would pay a decent wage to their crew as Virgin Voyages does.

When you book and pay through an Australian agent or on the cruiselines .com.au website, the gratuities are added to the cost of the cruise. This is to satisfy our consumer laws that "what you see advertised is what you get"

I was reading an American website on the art of making lattes. This is part of it. The problem with steaming milk that hot is this: milk goes through a lot of chemical changes once it gets past 65C. Above that temperature, fats start to boil, some liquid components convert to gas (phase change in sciencey parlance), and milk starts to “seperate”. You know that scalded milk smell? It happens once you reach 70C when part of the milk separates and boils off or burns. This should be avoided at all cost. A proper latte retains super sweet lactose in its microfoam, and is a complete (ie not separating) liquid below the microfoam that sits at 60-65C max temperature. When this happens the balance of the milk to espresso remains pleasing and complimentary.

About February last year, a poster from Philadelphia was planning a 3 week trip to Australia & New Zealand on Trip Advisor. She had many questions and revised the itinerary many times over hundreds of posts on the various forums. Recently she has started to book her accommodations and tours. The trip is around August this year and the 3 weeks has become 5 as there was no way to fit in a worthwhile trip in the original time line. At the very least, maybe, organise 2 weeks just for Australia with your friends and add a week extra for NZ for yourself.

Kathy, you will need to explain to your friend that coffee in Melbourne is never served hotter than 70 degrees Celsius. It will be closer to 60 degrees if barista made. The coffee shop currently trending in the popularity stakes is Patricia's https://www.patriciacoffee.com.au/

Good ideas above. The ship may have a penguin parade excursion but there are plenty of local ones which would be suitable. I would suggest googling for a 1/2 day excursion if interested. Have a read through this for things on, https://whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au/search/from-2023-11-14+to-2023-11-14+melbourne+things-to-do And for attractions in and around Melbourne, https://www.visitmelbourne.com/ If you are still stuck for ideas, the Melbourne forum on Trip Advisor has many knowledgeable volunteers who could come up with a suitable 2 day itinerary.

You are missing the fact that Australia is a VERY large country, the same size as continental USA. 7-10 days is not enough time to see half the highlights. Viking has just announced a new cruise which circumnavigates Australia. It is 32 days!

Ummm, I'd be a little wary of anyone in Melbourne that needs an address of where to pick up a cruise passenger.

It depends on your overall time that you have away from US. You could do either a land trip from Auckland or Sydney coming or going or both and what else you want to see in Australia or new Zealand. The time of year may make a difference as well. Auckland to Sydney in 2023 lands you in Sydney at the peak of our holiday period where everything will be expensive and extremely busy outside of the city. The other consideration is that the cruise seems to be cheaper Auckland to Sydney than visa versa.

You may or may not need one but better to be prepared. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=hat+net&crid=169EFBIUE1DFB&sprefix=hat+net%2Caps%2C527&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

On a cruise ship the electrical system is different to that at home. Both the active and neutral circuits carry current whereas at home it is only the active wire. Having a surge protector can cause a fire if it trips as it only breaks the live current.

Sorry, this link starts at the beginning https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

This may help.

It started out as a small apple orchard that needed a way to use their apples, so they made pies from the "ripe" fruit and sold them out the front of the property. They are now manufactured in a local factory & sold around Melbourne