Left Aqaba 11.00p.m. and sailed back out into the Red Sea about 5.00a.m. and then headed north up towards the Suez Canal, docked outside Suez around 9.00p.m. and now have pilot on board, but have to wait until we get go ahead to enter Suez could be as late as 5.00a.m. For our ship to transit the Suez costs $353,000 approx. Australian Dollars, big bickies, this all has to be taken into account on everyone’s fares I guess! Many ships awaiting to get go ahead to enter the Suez, will be interesting as 3 years ago still just one channel but now there is two for most of it so transit is much quicker. Looking forward to getting into the Med and up to Italy. Tuesday 14.6.2016 – Transit through the Suez Pulled up anchor at ... read more

Off ship first thing with our excursion buddies Bill and Joan, great couple, 82 years old and like 60 year olds, met our tour guide, as per instructions outside the port gate, took a shuttle bus out and met Valentina, a gorgeous Russian lady, what a fantastic day! She took us all around Muscat in her a Toyoto Landcruiser. She has lived in Oman for 4 years after having lived in the UAE for 16 years, I had booked her online for a private tour for the four of us and we were not disappointed. The most unlikely places sometimes turn out to be wonderful! Valentina says she really feels at home here in Oman, men and women are equal and it is a very safe country….and as we found out throughout our 6 hour tour ... read more

On our way! Left Melbourne around 5.00p.m. on the 17th May, after having got to Port Melbourne, Marky had to drive us back home as John had forgot his bow ties for the formal nights...after having paid a fortune for them he did not want to buy some more! Very smooth ride out of the bay in Melbourne but after that a different story....it was around a 5 metre swell for at least 24 hours and the ship had to reduce its speed to around 13 knots...it is the roughest we have EVER had it after over 165 days of cruising! We didn't feel sick or anything but you had to be careful walking around the decks etc as it went up and down a lot! Adelaide Thursday the 19th, docked at Outer Harbour which is ... read more

Friday day at resort, swimming reading in the morning and a wonderful spa experience in the arvo. Two hours in the spa, massage and facial...John said best spa massage he has had...so that is saying something, tiny little hands but could they pack a punch! Sooo relaxing! Dinner tonight was at Rice Bowl...pan asian restaurant and it was great! Thank god for that. Had a bit of all different asian foods....grilled sesame chicken, tom yum goong, salmon with red curry sauce, John had grilled prawns, tom yum goong and bulgogi, the bulgogi was amazing..the biggest tray of all different ingredients to roll up in lettuce...thoroughly enjoyed everything. Saturday, leisurely breaky...such a good breakfast spread...even bottles of bubbly to have with your breaky! Then an hour and half walk along the beach to walk it all off, ... read more

Not too early flight from Melbourne 10.30a.m., 8 1/2 hr flight, first international flight with Vietnam Airlines (last time we flew from Bali and on Malaysian) and were impressed, their service was great, food very good and plenty of leg room. Arrived Ho Chi Minh 4.10p.m. (7.10p.m home). 36 degrees hot hot hot!! Aircraft out in the middle of the paddock, bused to terminal but exit was pretty smooth and our little driver was waiting for us from the Beautiful 3 Hotel...took a cheapy for the first 2 nights before flying up for our luxury escape near Danang to the Angsana Resort at Lang Co. Beautiful 3 hotel..quite impressed for a $45 a night price tag for the two of us including buffet breaky...excellent! Very clean and everything you need and it is situated in the ... read more