Ondine

I found the same thing. It wouldn't accept a PDF but it would accept a JPEG. I wish they would state what format they want.

Not sure about the "lack of demand" for Grand Princess. The NZ cruise for 4th Nov only has obstructed oceanview's and inside's available apart from the occasional suite. Balconies have been thin on the ground for the past 3 months. This cruise has had several move-overs from cancelled cruises applied to it. The following cruise to Nth Queensland has been fully booked out and showing sold out for months. It too has had multiple cancelled cruises moved to it. I am on both. The NZ one started out as a Sapphire Princess booking and has been moved several times. The Nth Queensland trip started out as 23rd March 2020 (Golden Princess), then Nov 26th 2020, then March 23rd 2021 then Dec 2021 (Sapphire Princess) and now is Nov 17th 2022 (Grand Princess). Passengers just rebooking or moving over. We have very limited cruises from Melbourne this summer so they will fill the ships from down here I would think.

I don't think the length of the cruise is a problem because if they allow you to stay onboard for B2B2B they it is the same length as the original booking.

I would like to see them walk up the hill!!!!! Did it once and found the going tough. Although coming down I sometimes felt like I was going to sit down in parts.

mmmmmm maybe I might get lost, or forget who I am (dementia) or get on the wrong ship! Makes me feel like a kindergarten child having to hold someone's hand. They are not the only company with that rule. Maybe it is to do with the underwriter.

I found that their Multi trip annual policy was under $1000 for me but if I put in for a 30 day cruise single trip policy it was over $2000. Very strange so I will be going with a multi trip annual policy. I rang this morning to check that it covered medi-vacs from a cruise ship and it did so looks fine. Also has some covid cover which looks reasonable. I have 7 cruises this season booked so it makes sense. Hope I don't run afoul of their medical questions. Most insurances wont cover me because I am over 80. Insure & Go would only cover me if I had a younger person accompany me. I have some solo cruises booked so no go with them although I have used them for years.

On some videos there are people with scooters but not necessarily oldies. All ages.

After checking NIB last week I again had a look at them and they have got a 15 per cent off Click frenzy sale EOFY at the moment. They don't seem to care that I am over 81 and when I got further into their form for an Annual Multi trip policy it listed several types of trips and one was cruising. Looks like I will be signing up tomorrow if they will still have me. I am not in any way promoting them but they are welcoming to an oldie when most other companies give 75 as the cut off age. For any other oldies take a look.

Yes we will be on the Grand after she gets here from USA. She calls in Sydney first then 2 days down to Melb. Lurgy will still be aboard I think. Oh well - what will be will be.

Let's hope that all goes well and she actually launches next May. Fingers crossed and toes.

I have been looking at NIB. They seem to be one of the few who will cover over 80s at a reasonable cost. They don't seem to have the bells and whistles that others do but the basics are good. Good choice.

They are probably feeling a little lonely and lost after the hiatus. Little ducks huddling together. Saw on YouTube that there were 6 cruise ships in Nassau the other day. The areas that are accepting cruises are virtually wall to wall cruise ships. Shots of Miami show multiple ships docked each day.

Maybe the cruise companies could cover the Covid bit to appease the Fijians. I've been looking at insurance policies and the Covid restrictions are quite confusing to say the least when you read the fine print. We could take our own RATS with us because we will take several days to get to Fiji and will probably call in at Noumea or somewhere on the way. I have a Fiji trip booked for next Feb on the Grand Princess. Booked at least 18 months ago.

So sorry to hear that Julie. Think of all the precious years you have had him. He was lucky to have you.

Well I chose my name in a hurry when it suddenly asked me for one. Ondine is a naughty water sprite in a ballet from years ago. Margot Fonteyn performed it.

We have an election here in Victoria in November so Dan is on his very best behavior. Even dismissing calls by epidemiologists to bring back masks.

When I first travelled on P&O Au in 2015 the food was much better in the main dining room and buffet. You were able to get side dishes of various vegetables if you wanted which were good. The mains were better then also. Much larger menu as well. They have gradually done away with all that and the last time I was on I was disappointed with the food offered. The cabins were ok and the staff were fabulous. The entertainment was good both theater and daytime activities. The main downside for me is the lack of food out-of-hours unless you want to pay extra. I don't mind paying for coffee from Charlies Bar because you pay on other lines if you want other than standard black out of a machine. You also have to pay for pizza and burgers etc. Something like the 24hr International Cafe would be great. I don't always want food out of hours but I want that choice. The pricing down here in Melbourne, apart from the few cruises they added when they got the go-ahead, has shot up to now be dearer than Princess!!!! The family are booked (re-booked from last year) on Dora for the New Year cruise and because of having youngsters along it is the obvious choice for us but if I was travelling alone it would have to be a real bargain or special itinerary for me to book them now. If Carnival were down here then I would take them over P&O Au anytime and they are not perfect in the food department either.

I was doing an online quote. It now allows you to do cruise quotes but not annual ones yet. The cruise button is active now. My first cruise is not until November so I have plenty of time to look around but am just trying to find out an approximate price and which companies will cover me. Credit cards policies are out, so are companies which have a 75yr or 80yr cut off. InsureAndGo used to make anyone over 75 wait until 120 days prior to sailing before they would give them a policy so that probably will still apply. I am sure companies are still fine tuning their offers at the moment. Tried Medibank because I am a member but couldn't get their annual policy to upload. Like I said I have plenty of time to get insurance.

I should be so lucky!!! What is Ketut doing now I wonder. Is he still looking after Rhonda? Think that was her name. Having someone bringing me speciality coffees while I lounge around watching movies on deck may not be too bad. Never done it. Would be nice to have someone to carry my suitcase. Funny thing is that when I travel with my eldest son, because we have a good relationship closer to friends that mother & son now, some people have thought he was my boyfriend/partner by the way we talk and look at us a little strangely. Like walking on eggshells with what they say. When they find out we are mother and son they explode with laughter and relief.

I thought that I would try a dummy quote for my future trips. They are not doing multi trips yet but are now doing cruise insurance. Put in the information and although they cover you up to 100 yrs old message came back telling me as I was over 80 I needed to be with another passenger who was under 80. OMG I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Told the kids and they laughed till they cried at the thought that their independent mother needed a baby sitter to take out insurance with InsureAndGo. I feel like some sort of child who needs looking after. Such is life. Luckily all bar one of the cruises I will have my eldest son with me.

I see that they have now postponed the launching of Resilient Lady until the Spring of 2023 (ie April next year). She will stay in Italy getting the finishing touches until then. Maybe waiting for things to settle down what with shortages of crew and Omicron still causing trouble. Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady are sailing with only a small percentage of passengers on some voyages according to reports.

Lots of people make bookings on the first day and then never turn up or find that the time doesn't suit them any more.

You used to be able to make bookings as soon as you boarded for the Waterfront from tables set up in front of the restaurant entrance and bookings for Mario's and Dragon Lady from the bar at the entrance to them. At least this is how it was on Pacific Eden. That was in the olden days but now with the App things may be different.

Back to the original topic - are they serving Pepsi or Coke? I believe P&O are now serving Pepsi and some people are not impressed. First world problem. Thanks

I have cruised to NZ a few times between November and March. Fiordland can be cold/cool in the morning but if you are there in the afternoon then it is nice. Dunedin/Port Chalmers - I have been drowned each time I have been there but I would say cold/cool Akaroa has always been lovely say 20-22 degrees Picton was similar to Akaroa Wellington if you take into fact the wind factor is cold and very very windy Napier has always been lovely again 20-22 degrees Tauranga is a little bit warmer than Napier Gisborne was similar to Tauranga Auckland I found to be warm or hot and rather humid Having said all that I am a cool blooded person who dislikes the heat so that probably colours my perception of temperatures.