PerfectlyPerth

lol must have been typing at exact same time as @MillyDM 😆

@WHB Re footwear. Other than the muckboots which I have taken my own pair on 3 of my 4 trips (which have all been 24-32 days) I take one pair of shoes. Yes just one! Same pair on every voyage (and all my other holidays over the past 16 years or so). A pair of Keens Mary Jane's. They have great non slip tread for icy decks. And easy to slip into quickly if there is a whale call when I'm in my cabin. (And many of the expedition team ladies wear similar). I wear them without socks in hot destinations and with thin merino or bamboo liner socks on my flights, in Ushuaia, and on the ship including out on the decks. On all my voyages I think I've only seen a couple of people with full blown hiking boots. Most just have good walking shoes. I've seen plenty men and women in open hiking sandals too (snazzy with socks!). It's the non slip tread that's important not the shoe type. Re doubling up on parkas and overpants - really no need. That would be overkill ! I've not seen anyone split their overpants. Ever! (And I'm plus size so if it was going to happen it would be to me!). Goretex is a seriously sturdy fabric. I have seen a lady tear her parka sleeve - catching it on a sharp bit of metal out on deck. Fortunately I always have a roll of duct tape in my bag so I repaired her parka for her in a minute. Simple. And a once off. She told me in an email years later she is still wearing her parka with my duct tape patch in her euro snowstorms ! Which itinerary & vessel are you on that goes below the Antarctic Circle for 12 of the 16 days? Most vessels doing the peninsula only go below it for part or a day or overnight. The longer Ross Sea or Weddell Sea or Commonwealth Bay ones spend more time below 66 degrees south but they are generally 20-30 days long. Is it one of the new peninsula itineraries aiming for Peter the First Island ? I hope the ship has helicopters. We landed high up on the plateau of the volcano and it was pretty awesome. That was part of a New Zealand to Ushuaia voyage so we came to it from the opposite direction - not from the peninsula.

I'm mid 50s and have been travelling & cruising solo since I was 15. To be honest (and sorry if I'm blunt) the idea of my parents having any say in my life at 30 horrifies me! I didn't even allow them any say when I was 15. I was very independent. I have a wide circle of friends of many ages and I honestly don't know a soul who would allow their parents that kind of influence in their lives after they turned 18 (legal adult in my country). It may be different where you are so I'm not judging. Everything you said in your first post about what you like (and dislike) in cruising tells me you really want to be a solo cruiser !!! You are really doing nothing new to you. You have already cruised regularly so you know how it all works and what you like to do. The difference is you have the joy of that cabin all to yourself. All the decisions each day are yours. I live with severe anxiety. It literally disappears on holidays because I am at peace. The best bit about being a solo is that it's completely up to you whether you want to be an introvert or an extrovert. And that can change by the hour or the day. I'm introverted in the mornings. I like to have breakfast in the main dining room at a solo table in peace and quiet. At lunch and dinner I may feel more extroverted and join a group table and chat with strangers. I may feel totally different the next day if I'm too "peopled out" or if something happened during the day that caused a bit of an anxiety flare (say a tour got cancelled or ran late and I got over stressed). In addition, travelling solo removes the arguments about what everyone wants to do etc. And removing that constant argument situation actually reduces your anxiety. Win win !!! So go for it. Once you have done it and discovered to love it, perhaps the parentals will cut (or at least trim) the apron strings. good luck and happy cruising.

There is info about accessibility options on the official Rottnest website that might get you started on ideas. https://www.rottnestisland.com/visit/accessibility

Ola has been in Aus for years. Also Didi. Many drivers work with multiple aps and take which ever jobs come thru first. Most prefer the alternatives to Uber as they make a better profit. Uber takes out bigger percentage in fees. My female friends drive for Ola & Didi during the day and Shebah at night.

As it all relates to inner ear balance and equilibrium - a simple thing like a blocked ear from a cold or swimmers ear or a bulging ear drum (which I've been dealing with for two years now so I feel motion sickness sitting on my sofa!) can change how you feel. But it doesn't change you suddenly into a seasick person for life. So the next time you are on water you will likely return to your mighty sea legs.

There is a big souvenir shop in Ushuaia that sells loads of maps. They are usually for sale in the ship shop as well. If you want to have one ready before you go - the most common ones are available on Amazon and EBay. You can select one that has all of Antarctica on one side, and a close up of the peninsula on the other side - which is better for the finite detail of your landings etc. This is the one I have for each trip and it was bought in the ship shops. Antarctic Explorer Map; (Ocean Explorer Maps): Visitor's Map of the Antarctic Peninsula Region and map of the Antarctic Continent https://amzn.asia/d/7xXuG5M

Ohhh my pleasure. Glad the Mucks worked well for you. I look forward to hearing more about your whole trip ❄️🐋🐧 Good tip for others re the poles & the fact that spares are carried on board.

Ahh yes. If you are disembarking completely and heading to the airport then the 109 tram is easier for access straight to Southern X Stn and the Skybus. The shuttle buses have been going for a few years pre pandemic. I live in the middle of the cbd so I watch them unloading through the day. As residents we get notices with all the planned days of ships in port and where the buses will be raking up parking bays etc.

The link tells you where the stop is. It's on the Queen St Bridge between Southbank and CBD. A minutes walk over to Southbank or a minutes walk to Flinders St to access the free trams such as the historical city circle tram or the 70 & 75. 10 minute slow amble to Bourke St Mall. The point of the bus is that it's specifically for cruise pax only. It has no other stops. It aids in reducing congestion for the normal commuters so they don't have to explain to their bosses they were late because 5 trams went past too crowded with cruise pax.

Not everyone disembarks the ship at the same time. They all come off in dribs and drabs. With some getting collected by coach tours, some picked up by friends/ubers/taxis, some heading off for a walk. You can expect queues anywhere you go. It's a thriving busy city.

Solo is not a marital status. Single is a marital status. I am single & travel solo. I have many friends who are married but cruise solo as their spouses don't like cruises. The solo supplement has existed for eons. Not just in cruising but in train & coach touring, expedition travel etc. I have been to many restaurants that don't necessarily say they don't cater for solos but do state they have a "minimum table spend". It's up to me whether I want to dine there or not. Just as it's up to me as to whether I cruise with a company that charges a smaller or larger solo supplement.

per above. There are shuttle buses now on every cruise ship day. https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/news-and-events/events/2023/10/23/public-transport-during-the-2023-2024-cruise-ship-season/

All the detail is here. PTV put on buses specifically for cruise passengers so as not to overcrowd the commuter trams. https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/news-and-events/events/2023/10/23/public-transport-during-the-2023-2024-cruise-ship-season/

Your list looks good. Round the ship I usually just leave my base layers on and pop on yoga pants/leggings/cargos (any work and I already have them for my flights and in airports & hotels on the way to and from Ushuaia) and a t shirt. At all times I'm carrying my fleece hoodie or parka & camera so I can spring out to the decks if there is a whale sighting. In the pockets I already have my fingerless gloves, a buff (gaitor) & beanie, & sunglasses. Always ready at the go. I'm not a "dress for dinner" person and have never met anyone on my polar trips who would be. So the yoga pants and tshirt suffice me. The camera and outdoor gear go under the table ready to be grabbed. We had 800 Fin whales bring the ship to a halt during dinner one time. Everyone just grabbed parkas and cameras and headed straight out to the decks. (Waiters grabbed plates and returned them to the kitchen before joining us outside to enjoy the view).

I went with Quark 3 times and Oceanwide once. Oceanwide occasionally has solo discounts but mostly it has the supplement. Your son can also choose -with most operators - to be paired up with a same gender passenger to pay for just the berth price in a twin cabin. If Atlas told you anything about the "Arctic line" in relation to Antarctica I would be seriously concerned about their lack of geographical knowledge. I've been well below the Antarctic Circle on all of my trips. The peninsular trips only go a tiny way beyond it. Not enough to make any specific differences. Depending on what region - west side or Weddel Sea side - there may be more ice floes & bergs. Also - I wouldn't put too much effort into worrying about cabin choices and balconies etc. At the end of the day you are only in there to sleep and shower. Most of the time you will be on landings or zodiac cruises, out of the decks watching the scenery & photographing the wildlife, in lectures, dining or meeting fellow passengers. We have only had a couple of trip reports on Atlas on the Trip Advisor Antarctica Forum but feel free to read them. https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTopic-g1-i12337-k8993183-Frequently_Asked_Questions_Top_Questions_on_Antarctic_Travel-Antarctic_Adventures.html https://antarcticafaqs.boards.net/thread/451/atlas-ocean-voyages

Quark & Ponant both have deals with no solo supplement. Other operators may also - I just know those two right off the top of my head.

If you can master Cruise Critic you can master a booking site ! It's pretty simple. Select country/city scroll thru tour options, read reviews of the tour guides, communicate with them, book, pay. The cancellation terms and process are explained on the site.

To clarify. Tours By Locals is not an organisation per se. It is essentially a consolidator go between site. Tour guides - generally self employed individuals or small businesses - register an account with the website to advertise themselves. The benefits are that payments for tours are done via the website so if there is any issue you contact the website direct. And the reviews can only be submitted by people who booked and paid for a tour so you can rely on them being legit. The tour costs are negotiated between you and the tour guide before the transaction. The website itself has nothing to do with the prices. I've booked tour guides via the site in various countries since 2010 and I have overseas friends who have used them when visiting Aus. I particularly liked that after finding a tour I mostly liked I was able to contact the guide directly via the site and discuss tailoring parts of the day to suit me more. ie removal of shopping stops & replacing with photogenic lookouts.

Just to avoid any confusion - Sovereign Hill is an attraction in the town of Ballarat. So you are not "also" being taken to a separate place. There is so much to see in Melbourne itself, even just in the CBD. I don't think I would spend half the day heading regional.

Mansfield is simple to get to. It's not exactly the outback. Victoria is a tiny state. (I'm ex West Aussie where a day trip to visit a parent is an 8 hour drive). It's under 3 hours on highways if you rent a car. Some twisty windy bits closer to destination. Or a twice daily coach trip from Melbourne. https://www.vline.com.au/Plan-trip-buy-tickets?from=Melbourne%2c+Southern+Cross&to=Mansfield&date=07%2f12%2f2023&journeypref=Fastest&tformat=24&otimes=mor;aft;eve&rtimes=mor;aft;eve&transportmode=Train|Coach&maxtransfertime=240

If you search for Lovick's High Country Adventures on Facebook (I can't link it from my phone) - they are the family who were the horsemasters & stuntmen riders on both films and they have been doing trail rides to the film locations up in Merrijig and Mansfield for decades.

Yes being able to remove the Muck Boot liners and pop my own orthotics in really helped my plantar fasciitis on the landings where I knew I had lots of walking or standing planned. If it was just a helicopter flight seeing or zodiac cruising day I left the Mucks own liners in (they are nicely padded anyway). Worth noting - for others reading - being able to remove the inner liner is also handy for those who have (I never know what it's called) a high "top of foot". Just gives that extra bit of space inside for the foot to slide on in.

It doesn't sound like you are doing the super active Basecamp style itinerary so at most you are going to have an hour to maybe three of strolling on pebbly shores and possibly up onto ice/snow covered region. I'm a long way from physically fit and I managed just fine - given my trips went to regions that can no longer be reached and involved multiple kilometres of walking in knee deep ice to get to emperor colonies for an entire day. The boots are very well made and insulated. I never got blisters from them (and I'm the queen of blisters when breaking in normal shoes). I only ever needed a single pair of normal merino hiking socks. Nothing more. For thin feet - yes perhaps wear a liner sock then a normal hiking sock to fill the gaps. You can also bring your own orthotics as the boots have removable inner liners. My Mucks have been to Antarctica and the Arctic considerably more often than me as I have loaned them to multiple friends and even people here on Cruise Critic and Trip Advisor. I've also worn them on snow and/or muddy hikes (well - lengthy strolls!!) here at home over the years. So I really wouldn't over think the boots so much. You will get to try on various ones for size once on board & try out how many socks will work best for you. At 4 trips totalling 70% of the circumference over 116 days - I'm a mere amateur polar expeditioner. I've met many people on my trips who are on their 20th expedition. ❄️🐧🦭

I've done 4 lengthy trips - using the ships loaner Muck Boots on first trip then my own on the next 3 trips. They have good ankle support and a good thick tread for walking. Never needed to change into other boots on shore and have never seen anyone else do it. Aside from it being time wasting - you want every valuable second on shore - you would be doubling up on pre and post landing cleaning etc. Unless you are doing something like Oceanwide's Basecamp climbing type activities where a certain kind of footwear is needed - you won't need anything extra on shore.