Sparky74

I appreciate the larger font, particularly at this time of night! I look forward to reading about the rest of your trim, regardless of what size font you use.

I was invited to conduct an early ANZAC Day service at an aged care facility yesterday and then attended three services today. I was surprised that most of the crowd today didn’t sing the national anthem. At the nursing home yesterday, they sang well.

If Australia is a lucrative cruise market, why aren’t there more ships based here year round?

This itinerary is tempting but it’s the wrong time of year for us. We really can’t be away in December. ☹️

Well, six months later and it would seem that $100/person/night cruises are getting few and far between. I’ve not been actively tracking prices lately but I clicked on a link in an email from Carnival and their "sale" fares are higher than I expected. This old thread came to mind and I’m wondering, what are your magic numbers NOW; what do you consider a good deal NOW?

Although I haven’t renewed my club membership I'm still getting the special cub members only emails. 🤷‍♂️

Naturally. ♻️

I’m having a bit of a tidy up this arvo (ie I’m looking for something that’s “lost” in the general mess). I found the October/November 2023 edition of the “magazine”. Also the February 2024 edition which is still sealed in plastic! They’re both going into the recycling bin.

I’ve been using this TA for the last few years. In early 2023 they advertised a very good price for a cruise that suited us. One needed to be a club member to get the special price. We paid the $90 membership fee as it was significantly less than the savings. I received emails on about a weekly basis, was apparently in a draw for a free cruise each month, and they posted a magazine (substantial advertising brochure) every other month. We chose not to renew our membership but would do so if there was another special price on a cruise we wanted to do.

The only issue we had was that it was too short! As we prepared to get away I started questioning if it was worth the effort for such a short cruise but as we drove up the highway I felt like a burden was lifted. Once we ere on the ship I decided that yes, it was worth the effort. But before we knew it, it was time to pack and head home again. Still and all, it was great to have a mini break before the preChristmas busyness really kicked in. I’d certainly consider doing it again. In unrelated news, DW and I are both currently down with the COVID. Others have had to take on our responsibilities for the last couple of days and our planned trip to Scone for Christmas with my family (1st time in 14 years) isn’t happening, which is a disappointment. 🤷‍♂️ But hopefully I'll see them for my significant birthday in a couple of weeks instead. Bring on the next cruise!😁

And we’re back in the land of mobile signal. DW is just showering and getting dressed before we go for breakfast. then it will be time to clamber off the ship, retrieve our car from Portside, and head for home. We had 50 OBC due to our shares. DW had a couple of soft drinks and we purchased our boarding photo. This still left $8 so I explored the shops last night and got DW some chocolates. It was an effort to get away for this short cruise but worth it for the refreshing break we’ve enjoyed. Now, let the silly season begin! 🎄🎅

We are on the ship! No more posts from me until we get back on Monday.

This is just a 3 night "Seacation". We’re taking phones and tablets. I’m fully bearded at the moment so only shave my neck and I use a razor. We’re not at the hearing aid stage yet although that day is rapidly approaching. We use old fashioned manual toothbrushes and my watch is a self winder I inherited from my grandfather. DW isn’t even taking the camera on this trip, just the phone. 😁

Thanks, everyone. I knew CC people would have the answers. We have a USB charger with changeable plugs, similar to the one pictured. It’s now packed although it looks like we could get by with just cables.

We’re sailing on the Coral Princess tomorrow and DW has just asked if we need a power adapter. I can’t remember.

They live here in Grafton and will presumably drive to the port. We do.

Apparently they are doing a snorkelling excursion at Airlie Beach. While equipment might be supplied Personally I'd rather use my own than put a second hand snorkel in my mouth!

It’s 4 nights to Airlie Beach ex Brisbane. I’ve spoken to the mum this morning and she said that soft drink packages and snorkelling gear were both on her list to get but she’s happy for me to get either of those 😁

There is a family at church that are going on their first ever cruise during the upcoming school holidays. Mum, Dad, four boys aged 16 to 6 plus their French exchange student. The kids won’t find out until Christmas Day. I need to check but I think the cruise is on P&O. I’m not sure if it’s to the Pacific Islands or if it’s up the Qld coast. As DW & I don’t have any kids of our own, we’d like to give them a Christmas present, something for the cruise. I'm thinking snorkelling equipment or soft drink packages. Any other ideas?

I’m sorry to hear that.

Has anyone found any great Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals?

Hmmm… Not really my scene.

We must have been rich because we stayed in motels! We weren’t a camping family. Even when we had a picnic or BBQ Dad would complain that we were "living like the blacks." His words, not mine! 😱 On the Cairns trip we stayed with Dad's sister and family in Mackay on the way up and with his elderly uncle at Hughenden on the way home. I clearly remember staying in a motel at Emerald on the way back to Bundaberg because we accidentally stole a lime green towel. 🤦‍♂️ We rented a unit in Thredbo called "Blue Duck Lodge". Don’t ask me how I can remember that. Before my youngest sister was born, we had a fortnight in a camper-van in New Zealand and toured both islands. It must have been 1979 and I would have been 5. We borrowed my grandparents movie camera for the trip and Mum managed to pack everything in two ports. Us kids must have been 9, 5, and 3. Those were the three big trips of my childhood. Annual holidays weren’t a thing for us when I was growing up but I’m making up for it now! This time next week we will be on the road to Brisbane to board the Coral Princess for a 3 night "Seacation". 😁

We had a bench seat in the front. So Mum, Dad, and 11yo in the front. 8yo, 6yo, and 2yo in car seat in the back. At least we had air conditioning. In about 1988 the six of us did a road trip from Bundaberg to Thredbo and return in the same vehicle. Mum, Dad, and 17yo in the front, 14yo, 12yo, and 8yo in the back! 😱 That was probably our last family road trip.

I remember we had a whole series of those free maps from the RACQ when we did our road trip from Bundaberg to Cairns in 1982. Mum, Dad, and 4 kids (11 down to 2) in an XD Falcon station wagon. I’d much rather travel by cruise ship!