mr walker

I agree, but don’t expect that many survey respondents were ranking culture based on sport

My first thought was actually that the people who voted for Melbourne having the best culture must have never been to Melbourne, or at least not spent much time there, or perhaps the problem is that they haven't spent enough time elsewhere 😮 All my life I have heard Melbourne has the best culture, the best shopping, the best coffee, the best food etc etc. My experience is that they do not excel in any of these, but I admit that they are the sporting capital of the country, and indeed perhaps the world.

Sydney born & bred - was always a "Gregorys". Now a GPS 🙂

How many pies do you reckon have been consumed in that time mate ? - I reckon we have all had our fair share 😁 🥧

Yes, it's amazing that people pay thousands to travel to a 'free' wi-fi spot, far more important it seems than seeing or doing anything at the destinations. For some, the main focus is getting online asap to make contact with others, post on social media (food photos) & play games on their phone 😮 If I was working in the excursions dept of the cruiseline I would be selling tours that offer free wi-fi at some point of the tour - you would likely sell a lot more 'tours' 🙂 Also, I doubt too many consider the security aspect of free public wi-fi in a foreign country.

They are easily recognised - evenly balanced from having a chip on both shoulders 🙂

Hope all’s going OK mate - I’ll have a crownie in your honour 🙂

I wasn't seriously suggesting you were a plant - it was a joke based on some others (perhaps on CC with another username) re-appearing after a long time to make a comment. Sorry if I offended you. I'm glad you are over 80 and still cruising - only hope it is the same for me. Stay safe & enjoy. Cheers

I recall reading about issues on sailings out of Galveston, where non-Texan beer had to have Texan sales tax added to the price until the ship reached 'international waters' & then some other rules applied. Caused a lot of complaints by the early onboard drinkers.

Wow. Lunch in a pub with friends with beers and sports - sounds perfect. Count me in next time Geoff - doesn't even need to be on a ship 🙂

Hope you both come good soon. Stay safe

Thanks Geoff for the information. I am now looking at us doing this cruise (Syd-Syd) 37N - no flights 🙂 . Let's see if I can arrange it! It's only money, right? 🙂

Intrigued about poster "yungyung" - joined CC over 10 years ago & then zilch until 2 posts within minutes of each other yesterday, both attacking P&O Aust on a thread about VOS. Maybe a RC plant? 🙂 😮 Guess they were pretty busy on the 200+ cruises.

For this reason, we almost always have tours (with locals) booked ahead of time. Then we are able to have a leisurely breakfast & get off & join our tour at appointed time. Note: this doesn't work so well on Fiji time, where you may have a leisurely breakfast followed by a leisurely wait for the tour to depart 🙂

Ask 10 economists & you’ll get 10 different answers. The value is somewhat based on the strength of the Aus economy vs other countries. People make & lose lots of money trying to make money on Fx rates. The cruise lines are not making extra, just charging in $A to the equivalent USD amount. Its less than 10 years ago when the $A was higher than USD & our cruise bill was less in $A than USD - we were happy then 😁

Oops - typed wrong year. Majestic cruise is 10Feb 2024 not 2023 😳 Port stop in Vila showing 8am - 6pm. This is second itinerary change - with Noumea going from first to last port

Just received notification from Princess that Mystery Is now off our itinerary for Majestic Princess 10Feb '23 replaced by Vila due to "Cruise Ship Congestion". Was looking forward to Mystery Is again, but now the opportunity for duty free from Vila 🙂 3 ports in Fiji and the 'Paris of the Sth Pacific' are the other stops.

received email from a TA, and then 30mins later direct from Princess 🙂

Yes, see you then.

we all seem to suffer the echo, echo... effect at times 🙂

Our Brilliance cruise (Cruisin' Country charter) 1st Dec is from CQ of course, so no opportunity for a White Bay sausage roll that day 🙂 I'll keep an eye out for you when boarding mate to say G'day. I'll be the one with a cowboy hat and Panthers shirt!!!

Got home late morning on Saturday from our 15N cruise. We had run down our 'fresh' food supplies prior to leaving, so limited options for a quick lunch. Queue the Four & Twenty beef pies in the freezer, quick zap in the micro & a liberal lash of tomato sauce - beautiful!!!!! Life is good 🙂

Not this time, but when we got to Lemon Bay I thought maybe I should have worn my swimmers. The cordoned off area for swimming was quite small

Hope it all goes well for you mate. Hope to catch up again in new year. Stay safe. Cheers, Neil & Tracey

we had a lovely day in Noumea last week on Pacific Adventure cruise. It was P/H there so some shops were closed but all tourist venues were open. It was truly beautiful weather. Took the HOHO bus (A$15), did a full loop & got off at Lemon Bay, walked along beach & then adjourned to La Barca for coffee & then a few local brews with lunch & then back to terminal where the ladies did some shopping. It was great to visit there once again