lissie

Haven't been to Boston yet -but I've researched it heavily as we are spending 5 days pre-cruise. Google maps says its a 40 minute WALK to the Boston Commons visitor centre - 25 min by public transit. I can't see a shuttle bus competing with the public transport on that time frame. Or just walk out and grab an uber.

That is not even close to being enough for travel to the USA! Not for someone who could have a heart attack

Thanks for the restaurant recommendation - I've put it on our list

Are they not offering a trip to Louisburg? That would be the obvious place to go in Sydney for someone interested in history. We're hiring a car to do it independently - but our cruise does offer it as a 1/2 day tour

I considered it for a milli-second - until I found the prices. Plus they want proof of car insurance - I could give them my NZ car insurance details - but I don't understand why- we have no coverage for overseas car rentals LOL I think we're stick to town

Interesting - we had lobster a number of times on our cruises last year - so maybe that was more supply chain - we were in Britannia too

Our first cruise with QE was Feb 20 we did 2 cruises a total of 55 nights last year . The main changes were: * no dance hosts * poor use of the queens room meant there wasn't as nearly much ballroom dancing as previously - this was mainly our second cruise with a female UK cruise director who was awful. The CD on the first cruise was a Canadian man and even though we had to be masked almost all the time and the officers were clearly not allowed to socialize, he made a big effort with the dancing , far more than the 2nc CD * ran out of some drinks - but we were doing long distance repositioning cruises (see my sig) so I think that was more logistics that deliberate * didn't really see much difference in food. Funny story on the 1st cruise some Grills passengers were absolutely furious because they were told for weeks that there was no black pudding or prunes on board - finally they ventured to the Lido and found both in abundance! * dress code had officially changed. They were also not enforcing it as they had to enforce mask wearing most of the time this was fair enough - but I was surprised that men wearing shorts were served in the Queens Room * there was some issues with missing lecturers and entertainment - all of that was done to Covid * now have pub menu in the evening - this was nice - but tricky to manage with trivia in the space at the same time. * the wifi was unusable on the first cruise - not slow - none existent - even most of the TV channels were out. This seemed to be mainly fixed on the 2nd cruise. * Cunard comms is awful (this is not a change) , they never announced covid number (see laundry rooms and craft corner for up-to-date gossip). They don't even say how many nationalities are on board. They didn't tell us we needed a Bermuda travel authority before boarding - I found out here and did it. Many didn't and then had to try to do it onboard before Florida - impossible to do with crap internet (it didn't require a paid connection). . Bermuda was then cancelled (no explanation - but obviously we had too much covid on board) - at least they manage to refund the cost promptly.

We always stay at https://www.booking.com/hotel/au/sydney-harbour-yha.en-gb.html - yes a youth hostel. A youth hostel with comfortable ensuite rooms - our last one had an iconic view of the opera house. Plus it's built over an arkeological dig which you can visit for free. For a youth hostel I'd say the average age was nearer retirement than uni age - its a lovely spot which I've recommended many to go to. Its easy access to the train and you walk to the cruise port all down hill - you'll know where you can see the ship from the roof

We were there in Aug 22. We didn't organize anything in advance but a tour agent found us on the wharf and we negotiated a mini-van trip @US$70 pp to Carrar NP and the Sky walk. The driver got lost going to the sky walk - we were actually the first group to do it since Covid - all 7 of us. It was a bit muddy walking down to the start - but it was a pretty good sky walk (I"ve done a lot of them in various places). Not difficult physically unless you have totally inappropriate shoes. Its is the jungle! We also didn't seen any animals and a only a few birds. It rained the whole time LOL We stopped at a local restaraunt for lunch at a beach (not sure where - we just asked the guide to stop somewhere). On return I did walk the town - looking and finding some OTC medicine. I can agree there is very little to see there, but it was nice to use my rusty Spanish again. The access to the sky walk is single track - so I wouldn't do it with a large ship's excursion as you will no doubt be stuck behind someone very slow (or you will be the slow one LOL)

New Zealand has very reasonable costs compared to the USA - and those limits are not even going to cover the ambulance to the emergency department!

We just got full insurance for our upcoming 25 day cruise which is part of a 2 month trip to mainly Canada - its about US$3500 (not a typo) for the 2 of us because of my partner's pre-existing. For comparison - last year we did 3 months overseas including 55 days at sea - and the same company charged us around US$900 (same pre-existing conditions). The insurance agent told us that insurance has gone through the roof because of the number of Covid claims on cruise ships. Last year we took an option without Covid cover - but that wasn't possible this year. We are reassessing an upcoming Japan trip with cruises next year. It may be significantly cheaper to just do a land trip - insurance may kill off cruising for some people soon than it does land travel - which is quite odd. We are lucky to even be able to get insurance - friends who were planning a 1/2 world trip when they are over 80 in a couple of years have just cancelled because they can't get insurance for anything longer than 60 days! (the cruise alone is longer than that) So once I'm older (I'm 61 he's 70) we will probably not be cruising - which is odd we started cruising because of my partner's health issues made it easier - not so much now.

is this face-to-face interview with Japanese authorities every time you reenter Japan a hold-over from Covid - or did it happen in the before times too

I agree - youll not get limes in your drink in a cafe in NZ - they cost a fortune - lemons are what you will get

Should be good - lots of sky to see - no mountains or trees in the way. A lot of satellites are in an equatorial orbit.

One thing I needed on the canal day which I hadn't expected to was insect repellent the ship moves slow enough for your to get bitten! And suntan lotion you'll need that! I always have 2 swimsuits so one can dry - and if its going to a hot weather cruise I take a long sleeve sun protective shirt because some ships have very little shade over the pool

Yes I do - because they came looking for the laundry in the first place - so what's the big deal about walking back to the lifts and going to another floor? There aren't laundries on every floor. If they are so disabled they can't walk to another laundry they should probably just send the items out for service Look I've never ironed anything except the odd shirt which was a bit damp when it came out of the drier. But I don't' see why its a huge deal if someone is doing more than one item.

If it's a NZ white wine it will be a screw top and can easily hold a week in a regular fridge - never mind a wine fridge

I grew up swimming around the corner in Karaka Bay - never thought it was cold Got a holiday job when I was at uni in Sydney - never swam in Wellington (or NZ) again. Except a few years ago my honory aunt who was in her 80s at the time decided to take my brother who was visiting and I swimming for old times sakes - it was bloody freezing!

Both - if you keep walking along the waterfront via the market and the marina and the cycle trishaw guys you'll come to it oriental parade - Google Search - think mini (very) Manly beach (minus the waves)

Which cities? My standard response for Wellington: On a fine day grab an uber up to Zealandia (bird sancturary) (beats the crowds doing the cable car and free shuttle). On the way back take the shuttle to the top of the cable car - cool little museum there (free) and either walk down through the Botanic Gardens or take the cable car down. On a wet day start with Te Papa (national museum) walking distance from where the shuttle drops you and if the weather improves walk along the water front to oriental parade. None of those attractions need a tour. If you have specific things you want to do e.g. wineries from Picton - look up tripadvisor - find the thinks to do listing and then contact the top players directly . Don' use viator or tripadvisor to book - you pay quite a lot more because of their commission. Also Google maps is your friends if you find what you want ot see on there and check driving distances you may find hiring a car is a good option.

In which case you just go to another laundry - there are quite a lot of them

You may want to double check again- I ended up paying C$60 for the day!

Japan is still wearing masks outside from recent videos I've seen - so you probably dont' want to go there if you don't want to wear a mask. They have dropped actual rules but if everyone around you is doing it as a visitor obviously you'd do the same .

You can drink the water, you can get ice buckets and you can carry on whatever you want. I don't think water packages are a big thing

I'm looking at the map and we've driven all the way to the top - there is nothing else up there apart from a few remote settlements which are restricted - the road/ track goes nowhere near the sea - you only see the sea on the west coast at Weipa and at the very top coming into Cape York - there is lterally nothing at Cape York - if you had to evacuate a cruise ship up there due ot an emergency - getting peolpe of the cape would be a nightmare.