MMDown Under

Plan B - Ask rental company can you drop the car in Auckland the next day to rejoin the ship there (3 hrs 200 klm)? Accidents happen. In Norway passengers were stuck on top of a mountain following a car accident. Fortunately it was a cruise tour. We only ventured independently on foot in the valley.

Missing Rabaul would be a big disappointment for many passengers.

It will be a party in Sydney. I hope they don't make Richard Branson dangle from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, as he would be game enough. Passengers will be happy to arrive in Darwin after the long cruise from Athens.

There was a medium HAL ship which did the most interesting itineraries that I'd have loved to cruise on. However, it regularly had maintenance issues, so I wouldn't cruise on her. I used to follow blogs by passengers cruising on her. The big cruiselines don't spend the required level of maintenance on big ships, whilst the small shipping companies do. I always check what is above and below my cabin, as loud music at night is so annoying if you go to bed early. Did you ask if you could change cabins. You should check out your cabin for 8/1 in advance and request to be shifted in unsatisfactory. Hope it is covid and flu free.

Sorry to hear of your inconvenience with no working toilets in the first week. How old is the ship?

That is so funny, but true. I wondered how my elderly neighbour's marriage would last after the husband retired. He'd come inside, after doing some gardening, and say Dot, Are you ready to go out? No I wash on Mondays, He'd try the next day. No I iron on Tuesdays, He'd try the next day, No I volunteer at the Red Cross on Wednesdays, He'd try the next day. I go to Seniors Club on Thursdays. Do you want to come? He was a slow learner.

Thank you Picton looks a beautiful place. We must have just flown through there by car hire from the ferry. That tour sounds great if our ship fits the timing. We're scheduled to be there 8.30 am to 8 pm Azamara Journey will be there from 5.30 am to 5.00 pm.

Thank you That will be wonderful, Do they pick you up at the ship?

What a great view!

Thank you. I don't play golf nor drink but I do like wineries, Last visit to Napier I bought wine at a shop in town. Which is better for wine and what type to take home for my daughters. I I'll ask them type of wine, BTW I like the little half bottles of botrytis wine. Brown Bros Patricia is a favourite. I love birds and wildlife and coastal scenery.

Looking for personal recommendations for excursions to - Napier (15/1) Cape Kidnappers (Gannets) or similar) Have visited the art decor town. Picton (16/1) First visit (Drove through from ferry down West Coast South Island ?)

"the little wheel of death spinning" - now that is a good name for it. My first instinct is "how do i escape"? whereas my daughters just turn it off and start again.

Yes isn't it the same family as cold sores which I used to get from stress. And still do!

That is very young for both.

The Govt must have got a shock when people stopped travelling during Covid. The prices have increased a lot in recent years. When I travelled with my elder daughter she was included on my passport photo for one passport cost. I shudder to think what families pay now. Air fares used to be half price. Children were free in accommodation if they used existing bedding. Most accomodation had two double beds. I'm glad we travelled a lot with the children when they were young.

I knew they had a beach house up there, but not where.

I use matching colour pegs on washing but don't match peg colour to colour of clothing. My girls certainly didn't learn to hang clothes from me. One peg only wherever it fits. And they have no idea how to load a dishwasher. It makes it so much easier to empty the dishwasher when like items are together. But they both love to vacuum, which they didn't get from me. I just don't see the dirt!

Wow sounds wonderful. I knew there were spectacular views at Sunshine Beach. We used to tour there and check out the new architect houses when the suburb opened up. We often ate at the Surf Lifesavers.

It seems a long time since i used a passport so i'll have to triple check also i did leave it home one time and had to drive home to get it. i only got a five year one and was starting to worry i wouldn't get to use it.

DO YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL VIEW LAST TIME I WAS AT LIFESAVERS I NOTICED A COUNCIL BUS INTO NOOSA WHICH WOULD BE CONVENIENT IN PEAK SEASON. OURS IS A 3 BEDROOM COTTAGE BUT DOES SLEEP 8 AS THEY DID IN THE OLDEN DAYS.

I knew your family holidayed together but got location wrong. Our family holidays annually in May at a holiday house at Moffats Beach Caloundra, Dogs welcome.

What a wonderful experience for your grand daughters. I hope they join in with some of the children's activities. Sometimes they are too shy. Are they the grand daughters who holidayed with you in Nth Qld?

When is your cruise? My cruise departs Auckland on 12/1 for Tauranga (13-14/1), Napier, Picton, Wellington, Sydney (2), Melbourne. It arrives on Auckland on 12/1 on a reversal of that cruise.

In Antartica there were a number of small cruise ships cruising at the same time. However, they kept out of view as much as possible to not spoil the isolated wilderness experience. I wonder who enforces these rules. Your son would know if it was enforced or just an honour system, Les.

I knew there were too many cruise ships in the Kimberley. I had no idea that the crowding was spoiling the unique wilderness. Overdue for regulation. When I cruised from Cairns to Darwin with Coral Expeditions it was magical, as we didn't see another cruise ship.