buchhalm

Leura is fabulous. I think the nicest village in the Blue Mountains. Some of the best restaurants are there. As for the HoHo bus, dont expect any great frequency. It's not London or Paris. 😉 Also, some of the nicest lookouts/sights are not on the HoHo route. I think it's well worth renting a car to explore the region.

I had to Google that. I thought "Luminosa" was a Costa ship. 🤷🏻‍♂️

They even cancelled The Phantom of the Opera , because masks are no longer required.

Our first ever cruise was on the maiden voyage on MSC Opera. Wonderful ship, and we had a lovely time. I remember every PA in 5 languages and there were no tea spoons anywhere. 🤷🏻‍♂️ The Italian food was lovely, apart from horrible soups. Every other type of cuisine was meh.... And we learned that A) don't go between an Italian and a buffet table, B) Bikinis on ladies of a certain age and girt are frightening C) Italian children are very active Never been on MSC since. *But the ships DO look lovely

God, that image. My Gyno friend, Dr. Bernd would say that he doesn't want to be thinking of work whilst on holiday.

I think it depends on the destination. That means what type of passengers are in the majority. Take one of the Celebrity ships. Cruising Northern Europe, laid back and well educated. Not many kids. Cruising the Mediterranean, lively, younger professionals, a few kids. Cruising the Caribbean, American bogans, hundreds of mobility scooters parked in the corridors. Cunard in Europe: old people in good shape that are full of spirit. HIP HIP, replacement, is the catch cry. Cunard in American waters. Floating nursing home.

Shortly before 6pm. She's still docked

Two of them in Sydney now

And there traffic right now. 4.15 pm, 20 October

Why? How about nurses, fire fighters, cops.... Why not teachers?

MY wifey once managed to get a sunburn on the bottom of her feet, after falling asleep on the beach. Everything else was well covered, but.... I said that it would have surprised me had she caught sunburn on her tongue. 😉

Agree with previous posts. The "Chemist Warehouse " chain is by far the most inexpensive option to buy such stuff. Lotions and potions galore. Shampoos, moisturizers, protections galore (from mosquito to birth to sun), vitamins, over the counter medications. All there. Check their website. Unless you have a very specific favourite American brand of stuff to slap on your body, perhaps save some weight and luggage space and buy what you need here. Leave any leftovers on the ship. Many cruise lines collect stuff and put it on a shelf in the crew area. *seen that on multiple occasions. As for greasing up before going for a swim. PLEASE put on sunscreen half an hour before going in the water, so that the substance can be absorbed! Otherwise you leave an oil film like the Exxon Valdez on our reef! 😎 Re-apply after the swim!

Vets as in animal doctors?

Who is Carins?

Credit card surcharges. Most hotels in Australia seem to charge. Also some sit-down restaurants. This will be indicated on the menu somewhere. Some businesses may have a minimum amount before they accept plastic or waive a surcharge. (Usually around $10). This is to recover costs to THEM. RAT available at just about every chemist/pharmacy. The closest one to your hotel I can think of is at the Gateway plaza at Circular Quay, to the right of the tram stop. (I attach a photo). There are also convenience stores, eateries and as far as I know a medical center there. ATM. Plenty of those around circular quay. AVOID any ATM inside convenience stores. They are privately owned and charge a hefty surcharge. Ant BANK owned ATM will have the name of the bank or the word 'bank' somewhere on it. If the ATM charges a usage fee, it will be displayed on the screen before you make a transaction. Taxi at SYD airport is just outside arrivals. Level walk. During busy times, there is usually a dispatcher there. He will allocate a suitable taxi (depending how much luggage you have). Uber is not far either. Well sign-posted, but still not easy to find if you aren't familiar with the location. When you land in SYD, and before you even get to passport control, you will see stands with free tourist information booklets. They are pretty good and informative. Just don't grab one in Chinese or Korean. They all have the same pictures on them. Above all, RELAX!!!! You seem to over think things. 🙂

You seem to be a bit confused, Mate. Perhaps read through the threads first.

The price you see is the price you pay. For everything in Australia. Tips in restaurants are not expected, but of course very welcome. Give CASH. Don't put it on the card. 10% or thereabouts is good. I usually round up to the nearest $5 note. Coins are a bit weird (unless it's lose change in a cafe). Note that the habit if "suggested tips " is creeping in when you are presented with a credit/debit card reader. We HATE it here. Ignore and don't feel pressured! Again, cash tip if you want to. That way your server gets it for sure. And another thing. Many bank machines or card readers will ask if you want to pay in the home currency "For your convenience ". *USD in your case*. NEVER accept this. Pay LOCAL currency. Otherwise you get a shocking exchange rate.

Australian $ of course. Why would it be anything else? 😉 Pics from our last dinner there a few weeks ago...

Oh, if you are after a fabulous and classy cocktail bar, "Maybe Sammy " is literally out the back door of the Four Seasons. Open from 4.30 pm Wednesday to Saturday, with $7 mini cocktails Happy hour for the first hour. Gorgeous men behind the bar (according to my wife), jazzy music, GREAT cocktails and yummy bar snacks. Not cheap after happy hour, but the place is deservedly voted in the top 25 bars in the world.

Agreed. And from 1 October they are once again open 24/7! And the provide luggage storage facilities as well. ( I noticed a sign on the door about the latter)

If the Four Seasons is within your price range, it is one of the best hotels in Sydney. It is a level 500 meter walk from the hotel to the OPT. Out the front door, turn left, cross the road and walk UNDER the road above your head. Turn left, just before the first building you get to (there is an icecream shop) and walk straight on. The OTP is 4minutes walk from here. Note that Google maps will probably suggest a slightly different walking route. One has a flight of stairs just before the museum of contemporary art, the other has a sloping road towards the waterfront AFTER the museum. As for shops, there are a few convenience stores for basics at Circular Quay railway station and inside the office plaza just opposite. Both are less than 5 minutes slow walk from the hotel. By the way, there is a superb restaurant in the lobby of the 4 Seasons, "Mode Kitchen and Bar". Moderately priced (for a restaurant in a luxury hotel)

Wonderful line by a comedian on Cunard a few years back. As Cunard is full of OLD people, his first line was "Hellooooo, coffin dodgers!!!!" 😁

Hmmmm. I don't think that for some one travelling Seabourn, COST of an extra night or two in a hotel is the main factor here. 🙂

The better-than-the-rest-of-us residents of the Eastern suburbs for the most part didn't feel the need to wear masks during the height of the pandemic, when many of us were locked away...

I suggest Chateau Yaldara and Yalumba, Chateau Tanunda and St. Hallet for wineries. "Artisans of Barossa " And "Harvest Kitchen" restaurants.