Porky55

Overheard an officer say 120 off and 111 on so basically equal. However, seems we will be increasing the numbers of US passengers, which makes sense.

Even though we love HAL I think Royal, Carnival or P&O will do a better Christmas cruise for kids. 😄

We cancelled a cruise in Feb this year, just before the cutoff deadline - 30 days? It was cancelled for medical reasons. We received 25% of what we had paid Cunard, paid back into the original credit card we had used to pay them, and the remainder from Travel Insurance. Found it imperative to have a letter from Cunard stating that we had cancelled and the amount they had repaid, then a letter from GP with medical reasons for cancelling and making sure all the correct forms for both Cunard and Insurance were completed - and received ALL our money back. Most important - you must follow all their procedures and it works. I managed ALL of this via email. It can be done. Good luck 👍

Not sure where you live in Aussie, but don't you find the fruit and veg so much yummier and lusher than in Europe than here? Our theory is the proliferation of markets in the EU and truly fresh produce 🍇🍓🫐 Rose

I love visiting cities, but wouldn't live in one. We have lived all over Australia and found large regional towns far better for kids, families, buying homes, playing sport, public schools, retirement villages, public transport, parks and gardens etc etc. Everything is within 15 minutes and when/if you need big cities for specialist medical or whatever, it's an hour flight away. So …… I don't think any of these cities are any better than the next, each has good points and bad. A place is what we make of it … much like a cruise ship 😉 Rose 🌹

We were firm Etihad passengers - via Abu Dhabi where we have spent time on stopovers. But have recently been getting much better $$ with Singapore Air - (particularly on 'one way' ) by booking as soon as the dates open to book. As much as I love Qantas - have yet to find a price to match SA. We too like mini suites and 5⭐️ hotels (while still flying Business 😉), so try to find a bargain of some sort. Helps that DH is still working full time. Once he retires this will probably disappear. 🥹

Couldn't agree more with what you have said. We have reached a point in our life that we can afford 'Both' business class flights and 5 Star Hotels. And lots of cruising. Hopefully we are all helping Kiwi_cruiser 😁 Rose

We are with CBtours - check Webjet, Skyscanner, TripAdvisor, Expedia, etc. and then go to the airline direct. There are a few things to watch this way though; on overseas flights I have always gotten the best price and seats by booking early - like as soon as dates open. This can be between 9 to 11 months before the date. Then times - we fly to Europe every year as our son lives there and last thing we want is flying for forty hours - which really means wasted hours hanging around in airports. We prefer Singapore as the flight to Amsterdam is a total of around 24 hrs usually. This gives us 21/2 hours in Singapore (would never have less than this after a dreadful connecting flight a few years ago of just 3/4 hrs 😰 - frantic). Etihad is also a favourite. Need to add we always fly Business as we have worked hard to be able to. "Research" is the key. Only you know what you can afford, the Class you want to fly and the time you are happy to use / lose. And always check the T&Cs of your bookings - must always be able to cancel or change with minimum $$. Flying from Australia, cruising and our ages make this imperative. Can I add that the times we used TAs they were ALWAYS more expensive than the flights I could book myself. ( At least get quotes from TA and then compare what you can do yourself). And when Covid hit, we had business flights booked with Singapore Air and received all our money back within two days of notifying them - two days!! And … if things go wrong, I can handle them myself. Cheers, Rose

Agree with the laundry sheets from Woolies - been available for years and work a treat, both in the machines (just throw a couple on top of laundry)or dissolve in water for handwash. Rose

If you want to you probably could 🤔 just wrap it and put a luggage tag on it and it will be delivered to your room with luggage - then you can bake away 😄

Hi, this mini suite doesn't have any teak loungers, or ottomans but it has an amazing balcony. Only FULL suites have the fancy furniture and a mini suite isnt fancy in that way. This is a photo of the balcony - if you want to see more check out https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/member/catgallery.php?ship=Majestic Princess&cat=Mini-Suite

I'm sure that Sky News (Fox) isn't the only media outlet in Australia who report inaccurate, or even fake, news. Media overall have a lot to answer for in recent years. All very sad anyway, regardless of reports. 🥺

It's a long drop if they did 😳 🫣

With everyone else, never had anything go missing on a ship. But did get hit in Paris by the backpack pickpockets - walking near the Louvre but fortunately the young lady was seen by a Hotel concierge nearby who yelled out, and the young lass dropped my purse and ran 😮‍💨 We were warned of the same type of activity while in Barcelona, so keep belongings close, wallets in front pockets for men and just be vigilant and careful. This was years ago and have been very alert ever since 🤔

I actually really like the look of the layout 🤔 Each to their own I guess 🙄

It's in the buffet - don't think they have taken anything out, it's just a selection of smoothies that can be purchased. Or is included in beverage packs.

This is the Juice Bar on Majestic currently. These $ are AUD$

It does to me too 🙄 Perhaps free laundry tokens for a cruise would be more appreciated? Or Specialty Dining? Or a free shore excursion? What do you think? Rose

This is direct from the Princess website (Australian departures but don't imagine they are different) 🙄

Another vote for Meclazine (buy online from the US too). Start night before cruise and take 1 every night there on regardless - there is usually no warning of rough weather and depending on level of symptoms (I'm up there with lissie, get seasick on a wooden bridge) these keep me upright. Rose

Must agree - if you have eaten Tasmanian lobster, it hard to find another that compares 🦞 But Aussie prawns are just the best 👍

We are doing a WC sector next year, booked and paid for cruise here in Aus and gratuities are included. This could be because Coral is AUD and Australia bound? Rose Update: We have a cruise booked on Royal in '24 from Sydney to Vancouver and it will be in USD and we will need to pay gratuities, so, I think you probably will have to, too. Cheers. Rose.

Thank you - I didn't think so. Enjoy the remainder of your cruise 😄

Not sure the ship will have the voltage (240V) to actually operate it at enough power to style your hair, unless it actually switches between 110V (US) and 240V (AU)? You could bring it and try, but be prepared for a chance that they query it as it will look 'strange' on the X-ray scan. We had an electric shaver queried and had to rescue it (and it's suitcase) late at night from Guest Services 😳

Can you confirm for me please, there isn't an International Cafe on Diamond? Or there is and which deck? We have cruised Japan & Australia on Diamond but can't remember. Social Media convo says they have removed it, so thought I'd check with someone on board. TIA, Rose🌹