Sparky74

And we’re back in the land of mobile signal. DW is just showering and getting dressed before we go for breakfast. then it will be time to clamber off the ship, retrieve our car from Portside, and head for home. We had 50 OBC due to our shares. DW had a couple of soft drinks and we purchased our boarding photo. This still left $8 so I explored the shops last night and got DW some chocolates. It was an effort to get away for this short cruise but worth it for the refreshing break we’ve enjoyed. Now, let the silly season begin! 🎄🎅

We are on the ship! No more posts from me until we get back on Monday.

This is just a 3 night "Seacation". We’re taking phones and tablets. I’m fully bearded at the moment so only shave my neck and I use a razor. We’re not at the hearing aid stage yet although that day is rapidly approaching. We use old fashioned manual toothbrushes and my watch is a self winder I inherited from my grandfather. DW isn’t even taking the camera on this trip, just the phone. 😁

Thanks, everyone. I knew CC people would have the answers. We have a USB charger with changeable plugs, similar to the one pictured. It’s now packed although it looks like we could get by with just cables.

We’re sailing on the Coral Princess tomorrow and DW has just asked if we need a power adapter. I can’t remember.

They live here in Grafton and will presumably drive to the port. We do.

Apparently they are doing a snorkelling excursion at Airlie Beach. While equipment might be supplied Personally I'd rather use my own than put a second hand snorkel in my mouth!

It’s 4 nights to Airlie Beach ex Brisbane. I’ve spoken to the mum this morning and she said that soft drink packages and snorkelling gear were both on her list to get but she’s happy for me to get either of those 😁

There is a family at church that are going on their first ever cruise during the upcoming school holidays. Mum, Dad, four boys aged 16 to 6 plus their French exchange student. The kids won’t find out until Christmas Day. I need to check but I think the cruise is on P&O. I’m not sure if it’s to the Pacific Islands or if it’s up the Qld coast. As DW & I don’t have any kids of our own, we’d like to give them a Christmas present, something for the cruise. I'm thinking snorkelling equipment or soft drink packages. Any other ideas?

I’m sorry to hear that.

Has anyone found any great Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals?

Hmmm… Not really my scene.

We must have been rich because we stayed in motels! We weren’t a camping family. Even when we had a picnic or BBQ Dad would complain that we were "living like the blacks." His words, not mine! 😱 On the Cairns trip we stayed with Dad's sister and family in Mackay on the way up and with his elderly uncle at Hughenden on the way home. I clearly remember staying in a motel at Emerald on the way back to Bundaberg because we accidentally stole a lime green towel. 🤦‍♂️ We rented a unit in Thredbo called "Blue Duck Lodge". Don’t ask me how I can remember that. Before my youngest sister was born, we had a fortnight in a camper-van in New Zealand and toured both islands. It must have been 1979 and I would have been 5. We borrowed my grandparents movie camera for the trip and Mum managed to pack everything in two ports. Us kids must have been 9, 5, and 3. Those were the three big trips of my childhood. Annual holidays weren’t a thing for us when I was growing up but I’m making up for it now! This time next week we will be on the road to Brisbane to board the Coral Princess for a 3 night "Seacation". 😁

We had a bench seat in the front. So Mum, Dad, and 11yo in the front. 8yo, 6yo, and 2yo in car seat in the back. At least we had air conditioning. In about 1988 the six of us did a road trip from Bundaberg to Thredbo and return in the same vehicle. Mum, Dad, and 17yo in the front, 14yo, 12yo, and 8yo in the back! 😱 That was probably our last family road trip.

I remember we had a whole series of those free maps from the RACQ when we did our road trip from Bundaberg to Cairns in 1982. Mum, Dad, and 4 kids (11 down to 2) in an XD Falcon station wagon. I’d much rather travel by cruise ship!

Yes, we tend to prefer slightly smaller ships. We’re on the Coral Princess for a 3 night "Seacation" next weekend. 😁

My claim to fame is that at a very young age I (apparently) received swimming lessons from Michelle Pearson who later went on to win Commonwealth and Olympic medals for swimming.

DW and I are Australians. Last year we flew to Seattle and really enjoyed a 7 night Alaskan cruise on HAL but were disappointed that our helicopter flight to Mendenhall Glacier and dog sledding excursion was cancelled due to the weather. We're hoping to return to Alaska next year, 2025 when we will have the luxury of 8 weeks vacation, but not unlimited funds. Our current plan is to cruise for 7 nights from Vancouver to Whittier, spend 2 weeks exploring the Anchorage/Denali/Fairbanks area, then cruise for 7 nights from Whittier back to Vancouver. I have been posting questions on the Alaska board. See link below. I've come over here to ask about the Caribbean Princess and the Sapphire Princess. Although they are both Grand Class ships, I understand that the Sapphire Princess is larger (115,875 gross tonnes as apposed to 110,894 gross tonnes) yet she hold less passengers (2674) than the Caribbean Princess (3110). Have I got this right? We're leaning towards the Sapphire Princess as we’d prefer a ship with less passengers. Is there any reason we should be drawn towards the Caribbean Princess instead?

I was wondering who he was, then the penny dropped! 🤣 DTs are short for "Richard" Togs!

I think I was in high school (or at least upper primary school) before I heard the term "ute". It was always a tilly. Oh, and we were a Ford family, not Holden! 😁 Now "nickoff" I am familiar with. I was often told to do that. Or to POQ. Come to think of it, I still am! 🤣🤣🤣 ———————— Funny how this thread has wandered. It’s nothing to do with Cunard now. 🤷‍♂️

Stickers? I’ve come across togs, swimming togs, swimmers, bathers, bathing costume, cossi, and even swimming trunks. Then there’s board shorts or boardies, the Americans have "jams", rashies, bikinis, and a one-piece. I’ve heard Speedos (I think that’s a brand name too) called budgie smugglers or even DTs (and don’t ask what that stands for) 😱 But "stickers" is a new one on me. 🤷‍♂️

I’m currently thinking that we might do a 7 night Northbound cruise (Vancouver to Whittier). Then spend two weeks in the Anchorage/Denali/Fairbanks area. We could then do a 7 night Southbound cruise (Whittier to Vancouver) on the same ship. I think it might be kinda nice to do both cruises on the same ship and see the same staff and crew again. Also I'm guessing that 14 days should give us sufficient time to explore the area. I’m wondering if we can get by without hiring a car? We drive on the left in Australia and I’m not sure how I’d go driving on the "wrong" side of the road. 😁 I’m thinking maybe after getting off the ship we catch the train straight up to Denali for a few days, then on to Fairbanks for about a week. I wouldn’t mind doing a day trip to North Pole from Fairbanks. Then maybe fly to Anchorage for a few days maybe with a day trip (or even overnight) to Seward before we reboard the ship in Whittier. When is the best time to view Salmon running? Is June too early?

Port = suitcase Duchess = dressing table Tilly = ute or utility truck Refidex = street directory Peanut Paste = peanut putter Nikko = permanent marker Sometimes older people from outside Qld are familiar with the term "duchess set" which refers to a set of three doilies that sit on a dressing table. It’s now 8 days until our next cruise. 😁 I mustn’t forget to pack my togs.

I believe that "port" is short for portmanteau which strictly speaking is a hinged case with two equal halves. Growing up we had ports like this; the lid was symmetrical with the base. Early in my working life I asked a colleague (originally from Victoria) if I could borrow her Nikko. When she refused I wanted to know why and she replied that she know what a Nikko was! DW was born and raised in NSW. It triggers her if I talk about peanut paste but back in the day "butter" could only refer to a dairy product in Qld. Now, will someone please hand me the Referdex…

I stand by my earlier comment that the interior designer of the Splendor was an absolute genius if they convinced someone to pay money for their services!