possum52

Read Post 2 of this thread.

Yes there would be time, the train takes approx. two hours to travel from Central Station to Katoomba. If you could manage to get to Central Station by 12.18pm from White Bay where you will dock - a taxi or Uber would be the best option, you will be at Katoomba by 2.18pm. The HOHO bus leaves every hour on the hour. Or you could leave very early the next morning - the first HOHO bus is at 9am. You could then leave Katoomba to arrive back in Sydney by mid afternoon. timetable route BMT (transportnsw.info) Map & Walking Guides - Blue Mountains Explorer Bus

If you have a set budget you may have to choose to do one or the other.

Even for domestic flights we never book one before midday. It is not worth the stress if your ship is late in or disembarkation is delayed for some reason. We have been late into Sydney and fortunately had a flight booked for 2pm and not earlier. It was still a bit stressful though. For an international flight, I would stay overnight and fly out the next day. Spend the day in Sydney after disembarkation.

Perhaps a taxi or Uber?

Melbourne is a very easy city to get around. You can walk along the road from the port along the beach which takes you through a number of suburbs and perhaps end up at St Kilda which is interesting to visit. Or take the ferry across to Williamstown, a lovely historic seaside suburb. Plenty to see and many cafes and restaurants to eat at. This service departs from close to Station Pier - St Kilda Ferry - ferry from Port Melbourne to Williamstown.

It will be a lovely day out, there are plenty of places to have lunch.

I forgot Williamstown, lovely historical suburb. My paternal great grandparents settled there when they arrived in Victoria in 1874 and my grandfather and his siblings were born there and some buried there as well.

Did you apply for a NZeTA? There are posts on the Australia and New Zealand Ports Board about the NZeTA. Today there was a post saying that this is what their NZeTA app said when they received approval - "This NZeTA authorises you to travel to or transit New Zealand" the wording on the email authorising Your New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) has been issued. You are now authorised to travel to New Zealand or to pass through Auckland International Airport as a transit passenger while you are on your way to another country." Did you receive the same message? If so, you are all good to go.

It's been sunny in southern bayside too. Warm, about 25 I would say but a but humid. I think the storms are on the way. I haven't been to Chinatown for a while but there was a good one on the left as you walk up the hill maybe halfway up. Can't remember the name sorry. Ypu may have to plan indoor stuff for the next couple of days with rain and storms forecast. At least it won't be cold. Museum, art galleries? Vic Market (not open tomorrow though). If into sport, a tour of the MCG or Melbourne Park. Or a show, of which there are plenty on in Melbourne at the moment. There's a couple of websites where you can get last minute tickets. Enjoy your time in Melbourne. Hope you continue your posts while here.

I find it odd that Norwegian Spirit is not offering excursions in Melbourne or are they all booked out? As you are only in Melbourne for nine hours, you may be better sight seeing around the city. Melbourne has a fairly easy to use public transport system of trams, buses and trains. We have museums, art galleries, a fantastic sporting precinct (you will be here while the Australian Tennis Open is on at Melbourne Park), wonderful gardens and parks all in or on the fringe of the central business district (CBD). Melbourne has great cafes, bars and restaurants. The lanes and arcades are interesting to walk through. There is Melbourne Zoo and a bit further afield Healesville Sanctuary where you will see Australian native animals and birds. Perhaps, if you haven't already, join the roll call for your cruise and see if there are others who would be interested in joining you on an excursion.

As the Norwegian Spirit is in Melbourne for only 9 hours, that is probably not going to work. There wouldn't be much time spent at Sovereign Hill to make it worth while.

The ferry to Devonport is a lovely way to spend a few hours. Devonport is full of interesting, historical buildings and there are plenty of cafes and restaurants to enjoy a coffee or meal.

Happy New Year to one and all! It is a beautiful sunny New Year's Day in Melbourne. Perfect for those having picnics and bbqs.

The ferries only stop at Balmain East in the evening and at Balmain early in the morning according to the ferry timetable. The Balmain East Ferry Wharf does not have a direct access to White Bay Cruise Ship Terminal complex. It is a roundabout way to get to the wharf from the terminal which means getting a taxi. If you look at google maps on street view where the cruise terminal car park is, you will see that the street that runs beside the terminal is up high and fenced off. The cruise terminal is in Robert Street and the first street access into Balmain is from Buchanan Street which is about a five hundred metre walk from the terminal and then it is approximately a two kilometre walk to the ferry wharf, a reasonable amount of which will be uphill.

I see you are on Norwegian Spirit and docking at White Bay. You will need to take a taxi/Uber to Circular Quay as ferries don't operate from there. As you are arriving from New Zealand, all passengers will go through border control but usually there is a line for those declaring goods and another line for those who don't have anything to declare.

Perhaps the Tourist Information Centre isn't back up running yet after Jasper. Or the centre is extremely busy answering queries.

Yes Airlie Beach is a tender port. If you want to go out to the Great Barrier Reef, you will need to do a ship's excursion as private excursions do not fit in with the time the cruise ship is at Airlie Beach. The ship's excursion's boats pick you up and return from and to the ship. Perhaps do a google search for ideas of what you can do in Airlie Beach. There will be shuttles to take you from the tender pier into the town.

From the Kuranda Scenic Railway in red at top of webpage - the railway is not running until February 11th - Kuranda Scenic Railway The Daintree - Due to impacts from ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, national parks and protected areas in the Daintree area are temporarily closed until further notice - Daintree Rainforest GRB excursions and Green Island are all operating as normal. You can contact Cairns Tourist Information Centre through their website or email at info@cairnstouristinformation.com.au p

We had an overnight at OPT on Diamond Princess a few years ago before departing Sydney. We didn't go off the ship during the evening but came back onboard late afternoon and then the next morning visited The Rocks' market before boarding again. I can't remember there being any extra noise during the night. We spent the evening on our balcony watching over to the Opera House/Mrs Macquarie's Point where there was an opera event outdoors. Aida if I remember correctly.

Credit or debit cards will likely be all you need. Almost every business in Australia and New Zealand accepts cards. If needed, you can easily take local currency out from an ATM.

No need to feel goofy. Someone in the family may have known Robyn. Things like this happen all the time I’m sure. A friend was holidaying in the UK, she was sitting on a bench in a London park, a woman came and sat beside her and started talking. They realised they had gone to school together in our suburb. Everyone has stories like this. On many of the cruises we have been on we have come across someone we know. Best wishes to you and Lynn and enjoy your Christmas Eve while we are eating our Christmas Day lunch. We are having seafood tonight. I am just about to make a tomato and onion pie which my Mum always made for Christmas Day so I have continued on the tradition.

The immigration refers to the ETA as a visa in their instructions on how to apply.

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to all on this board. We hope you all have a wonderful day tomorrow with family and friends. 🎅 Leigh and Rob

Lyle, I checked with my family, but no-one knows Robyn. Warrnambool is a city of 35,000 plus so it is not surprising they don't know her.