buchhalm
Members-
Posts
1,893 -
Joined
About Me
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Location
Muscat/Oman, Abu Dhabi/UAE, Bangkok and Sydney/Australia
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Interests
food, travelling, music, navel gazing
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Favorite Cruise Line(s)
Celebrity/Cunard/HAL/Seabourn
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Favorite Cruise Destination Or Port of Call
Something new every time
Recent Profile Visitors
1,909 profile views
buchhalm's Achievements
Cool Cruiser (2/15)
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Gosh. Costa Victoria! The. Worst. Cruise. EVER. So bad, it was hilarious. Rolling delays meant we arrived in Bali, not at 9 am, but at 7.30 pm. In pouring rain. And they still insisted to conduct sightSEEING tours of the Balinese countryside in pitch darkness.
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Can I bring this In? If not, suggestions to get some?
buchhalm replied to Yehootu's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
1. Commercial food items are generally ok. 2. Leave everything in originally sealed packaging. 3. DECLARE anything you can consume. Apart from the forms you will be given, Quarantine agents will ask if you have anything to declare, and then you tell them what you have. They will be very nice and polite about it. You can basically tell them you have half a dead cow in your bag, and they will very politely say "sorry, not allowed ". But since you have declared it and ticked the Yes box, there will be no fine. But try to sneak in a banana, and they could get agro and fine you. (And fines have at long last significantly increased). 4. If you would get upset about having to give up your food items at Quarantine, don't bring it. (Unlikely, judging by what you describe). 5. We DO sell nuts in Australia. (and bubble gum and nylon stockings) π -
https://morrisons.sydney/ On George Street. Never had a bad meal there. Great selection of beers and wines. For a larger group you may have to pick up the phone to book. And as for many other places, a security deposit may be required AND you may be charged an automatic gratuities of 5 to 10% (which CAN BE REMOVED!)
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Ok, I'm going to say it: I don't care a whole lot about emissions when I go on holiday. I don't attend or support such nonsense as car races, but I do not feel any guilt for taking an occasional flight or a cruise every now and then. I get annoyed when airline reviews talk about "carbon emissions " before they mention the service or - God forbid- a price. To be asked to pay a "carbon offset fee" myst be the biggest scam in history. A "white, middle-class problem. WE should "do something about it". Meanwhile, most of Asia and Africa (with probably a handful of exceptions) don't give a damn. Don't care, or say they can't afford. Let the rich Europeans, Americans and Australians deal with it. Sorry. Rant over.
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It's not the size that matters. It's what you do with it...
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Show / theatre times on Crown Princess
buchhalm replied to Muffinz's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
With other cruise lines (and I can't see why Priness would be different), all show times are scheduled so that people with can catch a show either before or after their seating, be it "early" or "late". If you have "ant time dining", you'll have to play it by ear. -
Let's all go on Windstar then....
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Fine. But a tip must be entirely voluntary. Therefore any service charge must be included in any advertised or published price.
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Flight attendant?
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Queen Mary Auckland /Sydney Feb 2026
buchhalm replied to anjo's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
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Yes, I have that stamp too. And then some @#$$@!! border guy in Hawaii was giving me trouble for "defacing an official document". πππ
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Bummer. Beat me to it.
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MR WONG is without a doubt one of the best modern Chinese restaurants. (It is NOT a traditional family run quick in and out; big portions place!) It is definitely upmarket and CAN get very $$$$$$ . People who are used to suburban Asian restaurants will have palpitations over the prices. BUT we have always found it worth every cent for the quality. Great drinks too! If you want to get in; book TODAY. You can always cancel up to two days before. *they MAY take a credit card authorisation for bookings!