We were REALLY tempted to "bump up" to the Feb. 2011 Auckland to Sydney cruise but just couldn't work the schedules between the 4 of us. Sorry I won't meet you ChatKat and hear about my old stomping grounds in Thousand Oaks. We leave tomorrow. We have spent hours on the phone with Qantas trying to get assigned seats but to no avail - we have to wait until airport check-in. Thanks Betty for the reports from Australia!