Author Archives: Sparky
TP1 Day 34: Brisbane, Australia, to San Francisco CA
This was a travel day. By air. 20 hours on two flights: Brisbane, Australia, to Hong Kong, China, then to San Francisco CA with a 6-hour layover in Hong Kong. Both flights on Cathay Pacific, an airline that I had never used before. Did I enjoy being on a plane for 20 hours? No. Did … Continue reading
TP1 Day 33: Brisbane, Australia
This was our last day in Brisbane. We had to vacate our room by 11am, which we did after our free breakfast. But our flight did not leave until 1am so we had a full day to sightsee. We decided that the best option would be to hire a taxi for the day. That would … Continue reading
TP1 Day 32: Brisbane, Australia
Another beautiful day in Brisbane – high around 80 with bright, sunny skies. We had a free breakfast at the hotel – nice but not spectacular – then the 4 of us went in search of a river ferry. It was a short walk to the river, but construction (which is EVERYWHERE in Brisbane – … Continue reading
TP1 Day 31: Disembarkation in Brisbane, Australia
This day marks the end of the 30-day cruise on the Carnival Luminosa, but not the end of the TP1 – we still have 2 nights in Brisbane and the trip back to Florida (which I am NOT looking forward to). Disembarkation was relatively smooth, especially in light of the fact that Carnival has never … Continue reading
TP1 Day 30: At sea
This was the last full day aboard the Carnival Luminosa. After breakfast I attended a couple of trivia contests where I did poorly. I made one final attempt to break my losing streak in the casino and failed – lost $30 (down $590 with one small bonus in $430 in losses). I should have just … Continue reading
TP1 Day 29: At sea
Our penultimate sea day. I only mention that because I love the word “penultimate.” We started the day in the casino where things went just fine for Marlene but went from bad to worse for me. I kept thinking that I was due for a bonus that I never got. I lost $110 (down $560 … Continue reading
TP1 Day 28: At sea
As Day 28 started, we passed by Thursday Island at the very northern tip of Australia and turned south, hugging the shore through the Great Barrier Reef. It was odd – and a little disconcerting – to be sailing so close to land, often between the mainland and coral islands. It was also disconcerting that … Continue reading
TP1 Day 27: At sea
We sailed through very shallow (less than 100 feet in some places) water between Australia and New Guinea. I had no idea that the ocean was this shallow in this area. Nor that the countries were so close – maybe 80 miles apart. I guess I am learning geography while we cruise. After breakfast we … Continue reading
TP1 Day 26: At sea
Another day on smooth seas. After breakfast we had to line up to retrieve our passports. I had lost my “receipt” (just a piece of paper with my name on it) so I had to sign the ship’s copy TWICE – once to acknowledge receipt of the passport and once to declare that I had … Continue reading
TP1 Day 25: At sea
Another beautiful day at sea. This time in the Banda Sea. Yeah. I had never heard of it either, but it is the name of a large body of water near Indonesia. We started the day in the casino. Marlene won a bunch – she is nearly even now – but I lost $50, down … Continue reading