possum52

Yes you are correct re applying for an ETA. But you are not correct about when the validity of the ETA starts. From post 18 on page 1 of this thread - As quoted directly from the above link (official Australian Immigration website): "Visit Australia as often as you wish in a 12-month period. Stay up to 3 months each time you enter Australia." I just double-checked on my Australian ETA app and our visas are valid through July 16, 2023 (one year from approval.)

Visa subclass 600 is not an ETA , it also costs $195 per person.

It was a beautiful day for the Diamond's visit to Melbourne yesterday. For passengers who made their way into the city, they would have been caught up in the excitement of the AFL grand final. The CCD and surrounds were full of fans of both competing teams. I wonder if any passengers went to the game? As usual with our weather, it has turned and is wet and windy. The Diamond is anchored to the north of Phillip Island for her visit there today. It will be cold and wet for those going to the Penguin Parade this evening.

gam888, mchell810 has explained how to apply for the ETA very well. I will just reiterate that the only way you can apply for the ETA is through the app on your mobile phone. I see you live in Canada by your CC profile so I am assuming you are a Canadian citizen. This-link may be of help - Australian Visa Advice for Canadians I suggest you wait to apply for your ETA until you have booked your cruise. You don't need to obtain it months before as the ETA usually only takes minutes to be approved.

100,013 attended the game. A very big crowd for two non Victorian teams. Go Storm next week!

Norm Smith Medal for best on ground won by young Lion Will Ashcroft who missed last year’s GF after having a knee reconstruction and who only came back in round 16. Will is the son of Marcus Ashcroft who played in the Lions’ first three premierships in 2001-2003.

Big 10 goal GF win to the Lions.

This is my grandson’s view from the 2nd back row of the Olympic Stand.

Lions up by 73 points at 3/4 time.

Half time - Lions up by 46 pts.

No, not really unfortunately. We bought our coffees in Crooners Bar.

Two cruise ships which were due in Sydney early yesterday morning were delayed by around 6 hours. The delay was due to weather conditions not being safe to board a pilot to guide each ship into and through the harbour to Circular Quay. This could happen at any time of the year. A webcam showed the Carnival Splendor just about to pass the Opera House at 11.57am, six hours late. I'm glad we weren't on either ship, as trying to get a later flight back to Melbourne would almost have been impossible as all flights of which there were many were close to fully booked due to the AFL Grand Final today in our home city. Sydney Swans are playing Brisbane Lions. If we managed to get a seat, we may have been many hundreds if not thousands of dollars out of pocket as the flight prices had increased so much.

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I agree with yarramar. I would never even schedule a domestic flight until after 12pm. We have been late into Sydney and fortunately we had an afternoon flight home. There were international passengers having to reschedule their flights with some not able to find flights until the next day or later and then having to find accommodation. It would spoil my cruise if I was worried about making it to the airport in time.

Ok, I read up on them. Still very expensive if you have to pay for them and so sweet. I would much prefer a soft serve ice cream as a treat through the day. But each to their own. I wonder how many people are eating them each day?

I love desserts but these are just too sweet and are they worth $21 (if you have to pay for them)? I would much prefer the NY cheesecake or even icecream/gelati after a main course. We often just finish with a Baileys on ice which finishes dinner off well.

Hope your health issues are easily fixed Don. Your mother is amazing! My Dad is 94 and is still living at home, fortunately my brother lives with him. It is such a relief to my other siblings and myself that Dad had someone with him most of the time. Enjoy your cruises Don.

I hear the merger history all the time from son in law and his family. Son in law's father's family lived in Fitzroy and they had been Lions supporters for decades. The club supporters feel the other clubs sold them out.

Eddie Everywhere? Brent Harvey would have been very young,1996 was his first year in the AFL. The deal didn't go through because the other club presidents refused to endorse the proposed merger between North Melbourne and Fitzroy. Fitzroy had been placed under administration and the administrators and the AFL Commissioners recommended a merger between Fitzroy and Brisbane. The Brisbane Lions were born and the rest is history, they won their first premiership five years later in 2001 against my Bombers.

I always assumed growing up in the 50s and 60s in Victoria that the Swans (South Melbourne) were named after the swans that frequented Albert Park Lake situated beside their home ground - Lakeside Oval.

This link to a fellow Cruise Critic member's visit to Port Arthur may help. A day at Port Arthur

Is it the The Tasman Island Wilderness Cruise? Is there a reason you are considering doing an outside excursion? There is plenty to see at Port Arthur. I have only visited by land and not a cruise ship. We have gone on the harbour cruise which is part of the entrance fee. The harbour was flat. I would suggest you contact the tour operator as they would know what happens with cruise ship arrivals and the weather. The weather can be wild there - there is nothing between Tasmania and Antarctica.

At Port Arthur, you are tendered directly into the heritage site. What tour are you looking at?

Sorry, no I have not stayed there. It is accommodation above a pub which is the main business. It will be fine if you can manage flights of stairs as there is not a lift and I noticed from reviews that the shower is over the bath so not suitable for everyone. I wouldn’t stay there for those reasons. But if you are happy carrying/hauling your luggage up flights of stairs and using a shower over a bath, go for it. Enjoy your visit to Sydney.

Yes it would be rare for your neck of the woods to have a star AFL player. Much like it is unusual for NRL clubs to have a Victorian born player (have there been any?). Yep, the double sided tape will be out in force tonight.