kate59

@2022cruisey thanks for info. We have been before but didn't do tours we usually like to wander and sit and watch people.

I like to have small notes of currency if I purchase anything but previously no issue getting money from ATM.

Getting excited now.

33 minutes ago, Korimako said:

No I'm not French, but we used to live in France. I can't get currency before I leave as my NZ bank no longer issues foreign currency

Check what other currency exchange in your area. There is an exchange at Circular Quay but expensive 

On 10/11/2023 at 12:16 PM, Korimako said:

Yes I was thinking of doing the HOHO to orientate myself. I did a quick Google for ATMs near the visitor centre and have found at least 3, so I just hope the info is up-to-date. There is a BNP Paribas quite close by, so hopefully that should still be functioning!

I usually just get currency exchanged at home before I leave as better exchange rates and less fees.

Not sure where the Majestic will dock given the size of the ship.  Are you French? curious as I could try my French lessons on you whilst on our cruise>

1 hour ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Have you seen the cost of lettuces lately? 

 

🤣🤣🤣

Yes actually down to $6.99 yesterday at local IGA but been up to $14. Darwin 3 weeks ago was $3.90 - I did think about bringing some home to sell.

8 minutes ago, NSWP said:

Few pastry chefs can get the gf pastry rate. In the past 11 years since coeliac hit me, I have tried many.  No bakery in Batemans Bay has gf pies. Sad that.☹️ That is why I have buy the frozen ones, or travel 45 minutes to Haydens Pies @ Ulladulla and get a few. They are good but pricey.

Thanks, for info. I go down the Bay about twice a year for a few days. As a child I spent my holidays at South Durras, where I developed my appreciation of nature. 

13 hours ago, NSWP said:

Went to Heatherbrae at Sutton Forest a couple of years ago, expensive and pies 🥧 not great, i had a gf one, $10 from memory, all they had was veg with lentils, gross, in the bin.

Unfortunately gf never seem as good but I think I have just learnt to adjust. Heatherbrae have had steak pie when I have gone, both Sutton Forest and in the Hunter area. I just miss apple and blueberry pies. 

33 minutes ago, NSWP said:

You are coeliac are you not, gf pies at bakeries very hard to find.

Actually wheat intolerance but easier to say gluten free. Heatherbrae pies do gluten free although not much choice. Hubby loves his pies. 

1 hour ago, MicCanberra said:

It is hot here, 33 degrees is too hot for soup

Obviously not in Canberra.

3 weeks and I will be enjoying 33 degrees in Darwin - oh to be warm again for a little while.

Can't wait to get up to the Southern Highlands for a good pie when it warms up a little.

2 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

I recall the bracelet on the ship was $54.  It was a gift but was surprised it was so much.  It might be cheaper to purchase it ahead of time. 

Thanks, 

On 11/14/2021 at 7:37 PM, MsSoCalCruiser said:

My friend gave me this bracelet for my birthday. She purchased the bracelet on the ship.  I love it.  

 

Just curious about the cost of the bracelet, thanks

Just wanted to say "Thank you" for the info about the Woolworths Gluten Free Pies. I love them, tonight I am going to try the bacon quiche one but the chunky beef is as good a pie as I have tasted, although not a big pie eater.

@PACD_JG I am in similar 'ship' but opposite. I booked a Deluxe obstructed balcony on the Royal and we got changed to the Sapphire going Sydney to Tasmania - I got the notification of change a few weeks ago but was busy so just looked at it. The Sapphire is a lovely ship as we cruised Norway and Iceland in her July 2019 so was ok about the ship change.

No obstructed balcony's on the Sapphire so supposedly got an upgrade, which I just noticed, to a BC Balcony - not an upgrade as smaller cabin which I did expect, and on Aloha Deck - we never book Aloha as too high up, plus cabin is under the Pool area.

I have sent my TA an email that it needs to be changed and I am not happy with the current allocation. I am usually very easy going but this allocation is not good, this was already a rebook of a rebook, if they can't do better I might have to change the date so I can book what I want.

I am aware Princess is having a terrible time - especially with our government not even being prepared to give a start up date.

Yes cold here but we still got to have morning tea outside so we could catch up with Hubby's brother, first time seen them since early June, they live 8kms away.

4 minutes ago, Cruisers47 said:

Sorry I thought being like Boris …better not try anymore faux pas.

 

I think if anybody tries to book at the last minute there may be an enormous rush, although I don’t think there will be Christmas cruises.

 

there will be an election early next year and as somebody said….Ruby Princess

 

eileen

Ha Ha. I thought election was late this year,  but due to lock down I could be confused.

I don't think some of family would appreciate our cruising over Christmas.

1 hour ago, Cruisers47 said:

Hi 

 

after all my cruises being cancelled including next April by Celebrity I think I have just done a crazy thing over the weekend!  
 

booked a P & O cruise from Melbourne to Tassie over Christmas because it was only a $95 deposit each.

 

probably really silly but it just gives me hope.   God that sounds bad.

 

four weeks till I can get to the hairdressers in Melbourne.

 

at least my husband can play golf next week according to Dan the Man, thank goodness.

 

eileen

Don't worry I just keep moving deposits every time a cruise cancelled. Actually thinking I might try to book a cruise last minute once we get go ahead. 

Close to 16 weeks without haircut.

5 minutes ago, NSWP said:

How was the meat filling? I have had some decent ones and a couple with gristle and tough meat, all the same brand. Glad you enjoyed it.

No gristle, a few tender chunks of meat and gravy 

15 minutes ago, Porky55 said:

Give you case numbers but deaths still only at very sad 295 - no where near Vics now 831.
I think it’s extremely tragic for any loss of life from this virus but we have still been extremely lucky here. Ruby Princess was the lowest (though no less tragic) numbers, which was my original point.

Just want to cruise, like everyone else, but every time a restart is requested the Ruby “incident” is raised by someone in Govts as a reason not to.

Actually feel very strongly about this as we were on Ruby last March.

Rose.

 

 

I so agree. We had my hubby's 80th birthday on the Ruby Princess October 2019, a family celebration. We want to and prepared to cruise. Hubby has no major underlying disease, I do however I am now about quality not quantity. It was terrible for all those on the Ruby at the time and especially for all those who got Covid - it was all such an unknown.

On 9/10/2021 at 11:50 AM, NSWP said:

I believe today Friday 10 Sept is meat pie day? 

 

In that case...lunch awaits.

Finally found them - I had one on Thursday night and I actually enjoyed it. Now back to enjoying a meat pie with hubby at home.

16 minutes ago, woodscruise said:

Kate59, I do know that IATA is working on an app that is recognised worldwide as a vaccine passport.  The Medicare Covid Vaccination would only be recognised in Australia.

If a standardised world wide I can live with that similar to our normal passport. The problem will present if it ends up we need boosters at certain interval. Not being negative just thinking.

16 minutes ago, ilikeanswers said:

 

I suppose the one issue it solves is standardization. Medical documents all look different around the world, you have different languages and different layouts and styles. Makes it hard for border forces and immigration to recognise or authenticate. Sort of like our travel passports, they may have different emblems and colours on the cover but they are all essentially little books with the same standard layout and features that all governments can recognise and processs.

I can follow that is ideal option for when we renew passport. Until then we could still use medicare? 

I think I must be dense - is there any reason we can't use our Medicare Covid Vaccination that is already on our mobile phones or can be printed, as our vaccination Passport - why do we need something else???

We are able to save the document to access offline so why not use it intead of wasting more money. Oh that is right we have a PM who is into marketing so likes to make people think they need something they don't.

I failed marketing at Uni because I was too honest. 😁

I managed to find the Gluten Free meat pies at Coles the other day - not ideal but ok to be able to share a pie with hubby when he wants pie for dinner. I haven't mastered pastry cooking so frozen will have to do.

Heatherbrae pies on the Southern Highlands so a good GF pie unfortunately with lockdown don't live close enough.

1 minute ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Possibly because the sauce on pizza bases is a simple passata or tomato puree without all the additional stuff that flavours tomato sauce.

The taste is like it is too concentrated tomato. Love fresh tomato and don't mind some Italian dishes but if tomato too strong, not rapped. Have a great night.

5 hours ago, NSWP said:

I often use a bbq sauce base rather than tomato. 

So agree, I eat tomato sauce but don't like the sauce on pizza bases - no idea why

Just now, OzKiwiJJ said:

I once found a great pumpkin pie recipe. I haven't made it in ages but I think I still have it somewhere. It had just the right amount of spices in it.

Would love if you find it.