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!

Dixie: You can book Exit Row Seats for $160 if they're available. Since ours opened up yesterday (too bad they won;t let you transfer them) they're open now!

Qantas is weird with their seat assignments. Mine have appeared, changed, disappeared and then yesterday I was able to get one online but not the return. Since I'm alone, it doesn't really matter....I just want to be on that plane!

Thanks Freddie for the heads up on the AM bat spectacle. I have a feeling that's where I'll be on Tuesday morning after I wake up early due to the time change.

I just heard that Frank and Carla won't be joining us, too bad :( I guess it was an offer they couldn't refuse.

Lauri,
The same thing has happened to us. Since we are scheduled for a 4 hour layover in LA, we're hoping we can get something decent - just don't want a middle seat for 14 hours! Hopefully Lauri we will see you in LA.

Thanks Chatkat - I will check it out.

You'll see us in LA too! Where are you folks staying?

Everyone, acrophobes or not, have a great time!

I'm at the Park Hyatt, sadly I don't get to Sydney until Monday, so I'm not sure who I'll see in LA.

Hello All:

I have to say that Regents offer was very enticing.. We really wanted to do this trip, but its just a crazy time for us right now, so we moved our booking over to the Feb 8th sailing on the Voyager...We will miss sailing with a bunch of great people but at least we get to see some of you on Fun2 in January... The only thing I want now is for the 2 people who are gettting our Qantas Biz Class seats from SFO to SYD tonight to call us and say Thank You!!!!! Yeah Right!!!!!

FV

Frank:
You & Carla will be missed...But HEY! it was a really good offer. We actually thought about taking it. We just have too many trips planned for next year (Such a problem, right?)

Doug

You get off the day we get on the Voyager!!! :mecry: :mecry:

Well now I am thoroughly frustrated with Qantas. Just got a call saying if we didn't move to a later flight we might get stuck in LA. We did move to the later flight and the seat situation is still a mess. Qantas stated we were guaranteed to be on that flight but they said the same thing about the earlier flight. So they still seem to be disorganized. I have kind of lost confidence in them. Hopefully, we have dealt with this before we leave and things will go smoothly tomorrow. Got my fingers crossed!

Frank,
Mark and I are disappointed that we won't be spending time with you and Carla on Dingo but understand the situation. We didn't take the offer because of people like yourselves on the cruise. Hope to spend time with you on FUN though.
Cheron

Glad this worked out for you and Carla, Frank. You will not have much time between FUN and the next one, that's for sure, but it will be good to be away from all that Boston snow for a good bit of time in the winter!

Photos from Sydney. Nothing special but my family will enjoy. Hope you find a few that will encourage you to plan a trip to this beautiful country.

View from my hotel room


1st Peek of the Bridge


Manley Ferry Leaving Sydney


Harbor Bridge with "tiny" Walkers on Top. Wish one could have been Me


Sydney Opera House

Manley Beach



Only missing the Infamous Buffed Aussie Surfers. I kept looking.


My Beautiful Good & Wonderful Sydney Friend & Tour Guide - Lee


Lunch Begins and My Food is Spotted


The Hover


No photo of the Snatch and Grab but I Had to Say a Fond Farewell to One Delicious Potato Scallop

On Our Return We Passed the Gateway that Will Lead Us Out of Sydney Next Tuesday

And the Return. Can you tell I love this Harbor?

Hi Lee - How do we get all these tourists to sit down so I can be alone with "my" Opera House?


That's Better


And the Next Day..............
The Sydney Sisterhood of the Traveling Bracelets
Together Again ........at Last


The Sydney "Sisters" (Betty, Beth, Crystal & Lee) Lunch by the Harbor.

Palm Cove and the Great Barrier Reef. It really is out there!

Views from our Apartment This Morning.








The end for now.

Thanks Betty! Wonderful photos of great gals (not bad scenery either)!

Nice pictures Betty - glad you are having such a great pre cruise time.

Betty, thanks girl, for the wonderful photos. Good job! Keep having fun and keep reporting, Please!

Leaving for the airport and an hour. Let the adventure begin!

Great pictures, Betty! I love the hovering bird!

OH what a wonderful time you are having the pictures tell the story!!!!! I can't wait to return to Sydney it is such a beautiful city. Loving your seamail, too.

Pictures take time to post but they are so wonderful to see and transport the viewer to the experience. Looking forward to seeing you in a few short days.

We'll be leaving in a few hours! Betty, this whets my appetite. See you all shortly.

Awesome!!!!! :app: :app: :app: Would love to be there with you all!

Laughing at your bird/food thief. When my youngest son was about 14 mos old, we were sitting by the pool at a hotel in St. Thomas eating breakfast. A huge bird swooped down and stole my son's break right out of his hand. The look on Jon's face was priceless--a "I can't believe that bird did that" look.

Great pictures, Betty. I wish I could be there with the Sydney "sisters"!

Kathy

I still have to wait for Saturday to leave :mecry:

Am I the last Dingbat to head Down Under?

What great pictures. You all look so lovely. Even that bird.

Mark and I leave Friday night.

Sitting here in the AA Admirals Lounge at JFK waiting to board at 4:30. Getting excited.

Sitting here in the AA Admirals Lounge at JFK waiting to board at 4:30. Getting excited.

You must in the skies now Andi - don't forget your seamail once you're settled in for this great trip and rest of us doing laundry and cooking back home :) :) :)

Betty, loved looking at your fun Sydney pictures!

Andi & Doug ,Cheron & Mark, Ngaire & Ken and ALL...safe flights to all!

So happy to hear everyone else is on their way or getting ready to shut their suitcases & turn out the lights. I missed the Reef trip yesterday and decided to pass on the rain forest today, but I have seen others. Long boring story of why, but where I am, is so nice & beautiful, I am as happy as can be. The 3 of us return to Sydney tomorrow. See you there. Safe and restful travels to all.
It's time to DINGO, mates! :3smile:

Pixs of where you are looked wonderful Betty - I'd opt to stay put too

Finally arrived at LAX. Good AA flight on time. When we got out of our gate there were permanent signs for gate 44 to qantas shuttle. It was right next door. We didn't have to go through security. There were separate shuttles for Melborne and Sydney. Quick and easy. Only 19 more hours!

Glad to hear that things at LAX went smoothly. Tomorrow it's my turn!!

No I think we are the last dingbats to leave. Depart DFW at 7.45 pm on Sunday to BRISBANE then connect to Sydney. FF miles you do the route you have to take to get the seats. Arrive around 2.30 pm on November 16th - yes we know one of these days we will miss a ship. So far so good and we always come in at the last minute.