So, we're crossing our fingers and signing up for a 46-day cruise from Los Angeles (LAX-you're going to have to get used to my using the airline codes for cities. You can google them!) to SYD, November 27 to January 13.
And just to be gluttons for punishment, we're going on a second cruise---well, it will really be first, but we chose it second---from Montreal (YUL) to New York (EWR) in September.
Both are on the Seabourn Quest (Ships (seabourn.com) and Seabourn Quest) a line we chose entirely because of the itinerary from LAX to SYD. It has a great reputation (both the line and the ship) so we're looking forward to our next adventure on a cruise line we've never been on before.
Now the planning starts: we (that is the Royal "We" as I will be doing the planning and Randy will be doing the "Yes, dear."). We have to get airplane tickets to and from YUL and EWR, a rental car to LAX, hotels before and after, and most important of all, what to do in Australia when we get there other than see our friends in SYD and our son and DIL in Ulladulla (no airport code for Ulladulla as the closest is 43 miles away, Moruya, MYA).
In Australia, aside from the above desires, we want to go to the Gold Coast and Brisbane and MAYBE the Daintree. We have been to both before but one of our goals is to go places we've not been to. We have spent oodles (a non-quantifiable time period over the past 40 years) of time in Australia. I kept journals (paper in the old days) and one trip is chronicled at Australia Grand Adventure (pamryan.blogspot.com) and a longer cruise at World Cruise 2012 Sydney to Sydney (worldcruise12.blogspot.com).
On to the planning!
Already thinking ahead to dining on board the Quest! This is a menu from another Seabourn ship, but I'm sure Quest will be equally great! And they have unlimited caviar! Yes, indeedy, unlimited caviar!
