kernow

Can't give you a wave as we are on the other side of the ship facing the bridge.😂. I had a really good night's sleep and don't feel too bad this morning. I'm sure you will be fine, I know I was just unlucky, as soon as we heard about our wait staff we knew there was a fair chance of catching it even though we'd both had our fourth booster jabs about a month before we flew out. We all know the risks, covid is just part of cruising now, we've done 3 since the re start and been fine, it's just disappointing that it had to happen on this one. They've told us to wait in the cabin this morning and all the covid people will be collected and taken off the ship last, sometime after 9. I hope all those coming on this next cruise will let us know how you are getting on, I'd love to hear what I'm missing😁.

Mark went down earlier and showed the Guest Service Manager the policy which someone kindly posted in the other thread. I've now just received a letter stating that they will provide 100% cruise refund😀. Don't know how long it will take but at least it should cover the hotel in Sydney.

Yes, we both had covid back in April. Mark had virtually no symptoms and I felt like I do now for a couple of days and then much better. Fingers crossed it will be the same this time. This cruise is slowly turning into a bit of a disaster, for the last hour or so there has been no water in the cabin, judging by the FB posts it's the same for all cabins right across the ship!

Yes, we've decided to get off tomorrow and isolate until feeling better in Sydney. Don't really fancy spending another 7 days stuck in the cabin. I've spent most of the day looking at hotels and have just booked the Rydges Darling Square Apartment Hotel. Hope it will be OK. We're thinking that in a few days time we'll be able to get out and about and explore Sydney a bit. I've emailed our TA in the UK to see if we can get a refund on the next cruise. The ship are suggesting we will only get a FCC but the policy on the website suggests a full refund so we will try. I'll keep updating here for the rest of the trip. Fingers crossed we can still make the most of our time in Australia.

Thank you. That's what I thought, can't find anything to say if this is just for US or would be the same for cruises booked in UK.

We're currently on Ovation from Sydney. The cruise was booked in the UK in April 2022. We should be doing a b2b with the second cruise starting tomorrow. This morning I tested positive for covid. We would prefer to get off the ship tomorrow and stay in a hotel in Sydney for the next 11 days There is no mandatory isolation there and recommend is only 5 days so could be out and about in a few days time. Guest services on the ship are saying that we are only entitled to a future cruise credit for the next cruise and not a refund. I temember this being discussed on here previously but can't find it now. Can someone help me find the exact policy please. Worse case scenario, we do have insurance but it would be easier if we could just get a refund.

This morning I woke up feeling a bit unwell, did a covid test and unfortunately it was positive, Mark is negative at the moment. I've been down to Medical, it was fairly chaotic down there with a lot of other positive people. Now back up in the cabin where I have to isolate for 7 days if we want to stay onboard. Mark is free to come and go as he pleases while he is negative. Just had a call from the guest service manager saying that they are disembarking all positive b2b tomorrow but they could try to get an exemption for us as international guests. Mark has gone down to talk to him to see what our options are. Not really sure what we are going to do at this moment.

I've just come back from Medical after about 2 hours down there. Very chaotic with lots of people who have also tested positive.DH did the test with the b2b group and is negative. I was examined by the doctor and was given painkillers and decongestants then escorted back to the cabin by someone from housekeeping. I can stay in the original cabin and have to isolate for 7 days. DH is free to come and go as he pleases. No one seems to have any information, they just gave me the letter below. DH has now gone to guest services to see if they will say more but there are very big queues. They don't know yet whether positive b2b will be kicked off tomorrow or not. The doctor told me they will decide later, it depends how many test positive. We don't really know what to do, we're thinking we'd rather get off and book a hotel in Sydney where there is no mandatory isolation and we could go out in a few days time. We don't know what the policy is for a refund of the next cruise (we do have insurance).

Currently on Ovation and there has been lunch in MDR every sea day.

Lots of Fjord cruises available from Southampton both RCL (Anthem) and other lines. We did one on MSC last May, had beautiful weather and May/June cruises have long hours of daylight which is lovely for the long sail in/out. Weather in Norway is variable and can be good or bad anytime during the summer months. We enjoyed it so much we've booked again for next May. Lots of competion for the 7 nights from Southampton so prices are often good.

So very sorry to hear this, it must be such a difficult time for you. Wishing you all the best.

It was an ice cream sundae, can't remember the exact name. It was chocolate and mint chocolate chip ice creams, hot fudge sauce and whipped cream. Delicious but Mark had to help me finish it! At this point in the holiday I've eaten so much I can never finish anything, Not sure how I'll manage next week😂.

Last night we went into the lounge as usual and noticed that Haffnar was now wearing a mask. He told us staff have been told to put them on again. We went to see the show, it was just OK but at least they had something on. Tonight is the second formal night and once again no show. A word about the dress code on this ship, it has been super casual. The other night the theme was Tropical and it even listed shorts as part of the suggested attire. For the first time ever Mark wore shorts (nice tailored ones) to dinner in the MDR. We're just having a lazy sea day today, currently around 23 degrees so sitting on the balcony with a beer enjoying the sunshine as it looks like colder weather next week.

If we returned to Noumea we'd love to go over to Duck Island. Royal had a trip there but it looked very easy and much cheaper to do it yourself. The water taxi left from Anse Vata beach.

We really enjoyed our day in Noumea, it felt like quite an upmarket place, a bit like a tropical South of France. A real contrast to Vila but we'd love to return to either.

The pool was at Chantilly's on the Bay, it was a really nice place. Wish we were close enough to go to these islands for a beach holiday, we loved them.

Map of Noumea.

Today we are docked in Noumea. They bus you to the terminal building about 5 minutes from the dock. There are various tours/ hop on/off options offered there. We have taken a bus which cost 15 AU dollars pp, think there are about 5 stops. We are currently sitting in a bar/ restaurant at Anse Vata Bay. It is beautiful here.

I lost my mum back in June. She loved cruising too, her cruise drink was always a Bellini so this one was for her. Cheers Mum🥂.

Our waitress is back but now our assistant waiter is ill! Dinner was very nice again, the food has been consistently good all around the ship.

Yesterday afternoon we had yet another medical emergency so we came in close to Noumea and a boat came to tender the patient ashore. Then we headed back out to sea to circle around until we docked this morning. The weather was very hot and the seas are beautiful around here. The England match was re run on the TV in the cabin so Mark watched that before we went to the lounge for pre dinner drinks. Not much going on again, nothing in the theatre and another showing of Pixels in 270. The theme for the night was tropical so we thought they may have had a deck party but they didn't🥱.

Yes, it was the same Blue Baths tour that we had cancelled. Think we will just wait until we get there and see what we like the look of. We saw Pixels a few days ago, that seems to be the only show at the moment. Lots of people are moaning about the shows, there is supposed to be one tonight that was not mentioned on the original sheet, 'The Groove Line'. Not sure what it is but we will probably go. There were still a few wrecked boats in Vanuatu but someone said not as many as last time they were there.

My 24 hour Internet is coming to an end shortly. Will try to find some tomorrow ashore but if not will be back on Thursday😃.

No problem getting a sunbed on an Australian cruise, it's 10.30 am, 29 degrees C and the Solarium and indoor pool are packed.

It's 12 noon and we are currently cruising through the Havannah Boulari Passage.The pilot came onboard about an hour ago. This is our consolation prize for missing Mystery Island and I think it's not a bad one, especially for us from the other side of the world who will probably never get the chance to see it again.