mr walker

Yes, Les, we will certainly utilise the buffet. I look forward to my made-to-order omelets for breakfast 🙂 We mostly have brekkie & lunch in the Jammer, or sometimes we combine the two & make it brunch in the dining room on sea days when it's offered. We normally have dinner in the dining room, but have been known to visit the buffet when we just want a casual dinner. Hope all's going well for you mate. Cheers Neil & Tracey

No, no, no! Can't survive without proper ice-cream Geoff. Happy to pay for it 🙂

@AusTravelllerwill be interested to see if the new menus are in place for your cruise - there is to be a dinner theme for each night (French, Mexican, Caribbean etc), with a Chef's recommendation for 3 courses on each of the themes - regular dishes will also be offered. I read a few days ago on a FB page "New Menus will be on all Royals ships by February", so maybe in time for your cruise?? And should certainly be for us on 11-Mar. If not, I'm sure we will find something to eat 🙂

Sounds like a perfect port stop in Brisbane - stay onboard & relax.

Look forward to you reports - we are on Ovation to NZ - 11th March. Enjoy!!!!

Ovation to NZ 11-Mar [12N] I can't see we will have a bill for this cruise. The USD350 OBC which was the booking deal is now showing as A$664 ??? We don't plan on too many ship excursion & I already have the internet & the Diamond vouchers & lounge will cover most of our drinks. Looks like a lot of RC shirts & trinkets or maybe we can win in the casino with the OBC money 🙂

Good advice. Oh, how I long for the days of parity or even better!! A further option is to have a travel money card as issued by many banks. For RC, it has to have a name on the card, so not a generic one that are also available. We got one of these from CBA several years ago & a few years ago, &, when the Fx rate was more favourable (mid 70c's), we loaded several thousand USD on as our 'spending money' to cover our onboard costs. Covid came along and so we have much of that money still 🙂 We look forward to spending it, although with pre-purchases in A$, OBC & some C&A benefits that may not be so easy 😦

I do not have anything to add to the great information already posted by the good CC folk on this thread. Reading this thread just made me think how this little community works together to provide information from all of our collective experiences, without the nastiness or misinformation often found on other boards and social media. I have seen in other places where asking such a question would subject the poster to abuse or ridicule, or unhelpful suggestions. HAPPY NEW YEAR to all & hope that all the cruising and posting is all enjoyed by all. Cheers

My first thought! I have seen people 'caught' by the little doggie with fruit, sandwiches etc for eating on their excursions 😦

I thoroughly recommend Tourworks in Dunedin for a trip like this - we used them on our last visit to Dunedin - Russ was great & he’s a true local

Yes Julie, that was my first thought. Quite unusual in my experience, especially not being able to visit Rotorua

Hope everyone had a great Christmas & Boxing Day. Just relaxing now as it is just Tracey & I here now. Our sons have just left after Christmas yesterday (with Mum) & the annual leftovers lunch ( after bacon & eggs rolls for brekkie) & watching the cricket as had become our Boxing Day tradition. Cheers to all

Yes we have been to the Kempsey Centre - my Dad & I have both been 'Mates of Slim Dusty' club members for some years. Since dad passed in 2016 we have kept his membership current - he would have liked that. Thanks Marion - my Mum will be joining us. She's 87 so we need to make the most of every Christmas. We hope you also have a wonderful Christmas

Julie, your day in Lyttelton sounds like a 'it's a tough gig, but someone's gotta do it' scenario. Helpful to read your comments on Lyttelton, as we will have our first visit there in March (Ovation OTS) & likely we will just take a look around there as we've visited ChCh a number of times. Cafe, pub.... all sounds fine 🙂 Enjoy Christmas at Sea tomorrow.

No Pies for us at the moment 🙂 We are preparing for Christmas lunch tomorrow with today's tasks including cooking up the beef & pork in the convection oven. We also will have ham & chicken & enough salads to feed everyone, at least. While we are preparing this, we are listening to Christmas music, including my present to myself (I know it's not Christmas until tomorrow, but I'm as 65 year old kid 🙂 ) - the Slim Dusty "Christmas on the Station" CD, just released in time for Chrissie. The recordings were done 50 years ago (Slim passed in 2003) & the music is most appropriate for an Aussie Christmas. My favourite so far is 'Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy' which brings back memories. Lyle, for your trip down-under you will need to familarise yourself with Slim Dusty. Oh, to finish up our lunch we had a fruit mince pie each, so we are still on track with pies. Merry Christmas to all.

I recall our tour of Speights in 2013 as best brewery tour I’ve done. The samples at the end just kept flowing. At one point I suggested that we should maybe head out to get the bus back to ship. Our host said “no need to go so quickly, you’re bus isn’t even here yet & they won’t go without you”. Another couple of samples & I had to cross my legs on the way to ship 😁

She’s backed out & turned to head off

Hi Les, trust you are doing OK mate. Just a quick note wishing you & your family all the best for the Festive Season from Tracey & me. Hope to catch up with you maybe in February. Take care mate - we, along with all your friends here on the Aus/NZ board of CC, are thinking of you. Cheers

We have used the RC laundry service a number of times & never had them lose anything or any issues - they even hung my T-shirts on hangers😦. Yes, it costs but it is what it is. I don't have any item of clothing that cost $2.25 - I'm not sure you can buy a hankie for that these days?? The funniest time was when we boarded the ship in Seattle for our Alaskan cruise & handed our steward a full bag of dirty laundry - he looked at us as if we were crazy - we bring our dirty washing on to the ship?? We had done a 10 day land tour immediately prior & you can only carry so much luggage! And we were going to be onboard for the next 32 days [B2B2B] home to Sydney

It's always great when tablemates agree to take turns, either by rotating thru or just a 'no-one can seat in the same seat until they have sat in all the others' approach. On a large table (8-10) it also helps everyone to spend time with everyone else.

It's always great when tablemates agree to take turns, either by rotating thru or just a 'no-one can seat in the same seat until they have sat in all the others' approach. On a large table (8-10) it also helps everyone to spend time with everyone else.

Sounds like a definite possibility. I was once on a transpacific flight and clearance was delayed as some 'treatment' was past the specified date. The flight crew came thru the cabin spaying aerosol cans of something 😦

Great thing to do. The company I worked with & recently retired from have been donating to Buy a Bale for several years now in support of the farmers. The donation is on behalf of our staff & our customers. Even though I'm retired, the company have asked me to arrange again this year - I still do some contract work for them. It is my job for today!

Hope you and Rolf have a great cruise - enjoy!!

Cheers Chilli - Merry Christmas!