possum52

Then either all the onion is left in the bottom of the soup bowl or it gets stuck in the straw...🤣 I'm glad she was enjoying it.

I really don't like the oversized cheese crouton, all I want is the soup underneath. Yum! The first time I had French onion soup, I just didn't know what to do with the cheese toast. I tried to break it up with my spoon and just succeeded in splashing soup onto the plate the soup bowl was sitting on. Now, I just lift the toast off and put it on my side plate. I guess I should just ask for no toast.

I would think that your wife may not be allowed to board if she doesn't have a visa.

No, Lyle, it is fine. It should be less than 3 hours drive all up. Have you booked Craigs Hotel in Ballarat? I'm not sure if I told you my brother and sister in law who had been holidaying in Victoria stayed a couple of nights at Craig's. My SIL loves historical buildings and was keen to stay there. If you do the ferry to Queenscliff, there are plenty of accommodation choices there, instead of going into Geelong to stay.

The only other cruises from NZ are short cruises from two to five days and P&O Australia also does some eight to ten day cruises return from Auckland to Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

Edited as I made a mess of my post - and the road from Port Campbell to Camperdown to the south west (not south east). These links may be of use planning and driving in Victora Lyle.

The road to Ballarat from Camperdown is not a straight direct road. It is not a main road like the Princess Highway is. The map I have attached shows Camperdown on the Princes Highway which I have highlighted in yellow. You can see the road heading north east to Ballarat and the road from Port Campbell to Camperdown to the south east. These links may of usiplanning and driving in Victora Lyle - Route planner, Travel information, Victoria, Australia (visitvictoria.com) Victoria's road network : VicRoads

Camperdown is a small town situated on the Princes Highway, a continuation of the road you will use coming down the coast to Victoria and which goes through Melbourne. It is about 45 mins from Warrnambool so I know it well. We usually stop there for lunch when we are visiting my Dad and brother in Warrnambool. It is about an hour and half south west of Ballarat and another forty minutes or so from Port Campbell.

Is it possible to stay overnight in Sydney and fly home the next day? No stress and it doesn't matter what time you disembark. Spend a nice leisurely day without worrying if you will make it to the airport in time.

Please read the tipping thread at the top of the board. Tipping is not necessary in Australia and New Zealand. It is not part of out culture. The people conducting the tours are volunteers and they do it because they love it. You could perhaps offer to buy them a coffee or a cold drink or snack to say thank you.

Usually you will ask for the bill, as the wait staff don't want to push you out the door. If you are looking as if you are finished by perhaps starting to put coats on or similar, the wait staff will often ask if you would like your bill.

It is Linda. At least I wasn't trying to book a cruise or accommodation. 😀

Crazy, how cards won't work. Yesterday I ordered a digital copy of a death registration from the UK General Register Office for my family history research. I have ordered registrations/certificates in the past using the same card, which I use for all online purchases, but yesterday the website wouldn't accept it - for a whole $4.83. I then tried my husband's card and bingo! It worked, a card attached to the same account.

Cruise ship passengers are being trialled for the New Zealand Travel Declaration (NZTD), so not every cruise ship passenger has to complete the declaration. Has Celebrity notified you that your ship/cruise is one being trialled for the NZTD? If so, Celebrity should be telling you what you have to do. If not you don't have to worry about it. This is from the NZTD website - NZTD The NZTD system is still being trialled for cruise ship travellers. If you are travelling on a cruise ship which is trialling the digital declaration, your cruise ship company will share information with you about the trial.

The ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) is electronically attached to your passport. Just take the emails/documents you printed when you were granted the ETA for a 'just in case' situation. You don't need the app once your application has been approved.

I did infer that, and that our heat is not always dry.

Melbourne doesn't always have dry heat, it can be humid, not as humid as QLD, but we certainly can have quite humid days during the summer.

Freemantle is the correct way to pronounce it but there is no emphasis on the free. It is not said as Free Mantle.

Unfortunately the videos are not available in Australia, but they may be of interest to others not here.

The only cruise ship listed on the port schedule in Sydney on NYE 2025 is Azamara Pursuit to be docked at White Bay. Cruise ships are not docked at the OPT at Circular Quay on NYE.

We always take a plastic poncho in our back packs when on holiday, whether it is on a cruise or travelling on land. It is amazing how many times we have needed them, even for just a brief time.

Thank you Les! 🥰 I hope the packing is going well and it is not tiring you too much.

As you can't do anything about the weather, just be prepared and bring whatever travel sickness medication you use. I find that a green apple helps - there is usually a supply in the buffet.

Yes it is.

You can wear whatever colour and outfit you want to in Australia. It may not be really warm in Tasmania and Melbourne in late March as it is autumn here then. In saying that it there may be some hot days into the 30s. But as long as you have layers and perhaps a couple of pairs of long pants whatever colour you want, you will be fine. Always pack a light raincoat /jacket as well. Capris are fine until it starts to cool down. And of course you can wear white shoes all year round if you want to.