I Put The Highest Rated European River Cruise Line To The Test (Podcast #544)
Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers
After a five-year break, I returned to river cruising in Europe to see how the experience compared to my past trips. I chose the European River Cruise line with the highest ratings by recent passengers and boarded with high expectations. This video shares my thoughts on what they did both well and less well, and if I felt they deserve the ratings they are getting Links mentioned in the podcast: Avalon Food and Bar menus + Daily Programs: Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: ...
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Don’t Pick The Wrong "Premium" Cruise Line! Here’s What You Need To Know (Podcast #543)
Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers
I've recently revisited and cruised on all five of what the industry calls “Premium” cruise lines, as I keep getting asked which is the best these days as so many cruisers are confused by all the recent changes in the fleets, new on-board offerings, tweaks to inclusions and exclusions, and the seeming push by all to attract a different passenger type. Welcome aboard, I'm Gary Bembridge, and I'm going to compare each line including what they're best known for, good at, what they're less good at, and who I think should cruise with them right now – and why. Become a Tips For Travellers...
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7 Big Mistakes I See Too Many Mediterranean Cruisers Make!
Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers
I am just back from a Mediterranean cruise on Sun Princess from Barcelona to Naples. As on all my cruises, I was delighted to chat to followers of my channel and new travellers I met, unfortunately not all of whom were having the perfect cruise. Why? Because too many had made mistakes that I have seen time and time again on the 25 Mediterranean cruises I've been on to date. So, I decided to put this together to help anyone planning a Mediterranean cruise to as avoid these traps and mistakes Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams...
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I Tried the Fancy Sanctuary Collection on Sun Princess. Here’s What I Found! (Podcast #541)
Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers
I cruised on Sun Princess to experience snd test out the new Princess Cruises SANCTUARY COLLECTION. This video shares my thoughts on if the SANCTUARY SUITE , Sanctuary Club deck, Sanctuary Restaurant and other perks and benefits included in the fare to see if it was all worth it. Here's my verdict and thoughts Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place...
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I Tried the New Princess Megaship and Here’s What Happened! (Podcast #540)
Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers
Princess Cruises have entered mega-ship cruising with the launch of their 4,300-passenger Sphere Class ships, Sun and Star Princess. Hearing it was totally different to their other ships, reading very divided reviews, and seeing many asking if Princess were abandoning loyal guests to attract a different type of passenger, I had to test it out for myself. And this is the good and bad news I found. And I will reveal, as past frequent Princess cruiser, if I will I cruise on these ships again….or not. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and...
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I Cruised Princess Cruises Despite Saying Never Again! (Podcast #539)
Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers
It's been three years since I was last on Princess Cruises, when I vowed to never return after going on three underwhelming cruises in the space of 12 months: Sky and Regal Princess in Europe and Majestic Princess in Alaska. I felt Princess had lost its way, and they had slipped behind their competition in the premium category. In fact, I made a video after those cruises, which is entitled “My Last Time? Issues I Have With Princess” about my feelings. But I relented because I wanted to go on a Group Cruise hosted by my vlogger friends “Paul and Carol Love To Travel” which was on Sky...
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More Cruisers Are Being BUMPED From Cruises Than Ever. Here's Why! (Podcast #537)
Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers
I decided I should investigate why so many cruisers are being bumped of cruises right now after seeing in just one day, it happening to so many. Including Carnival bumping many passengers off several up-coming Carnival Conquest sailings, upset people in a Seabourn Facebook group reporting being bumped off one of three back-to-back cruises they had booked, and P&O Cruises cancelling and bumping thousands off a 35-night sailing to the Caribbean In this I am exploring seven reasons it’s happening more these days, what you should watch out for, and how to protect yourself. Become a Tips For...
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Things We Can't Do On A Cruise This Year, But Could Last Year! (Podcast #538)
Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers
I’m just back from a Sky Princess cruise to Scandinavia, and during that I realised there are a surprisingly large number of things I cannot do on cruises this year that I could last year. For example, as on last year’s Princess cruise, I bought the “Princess Plus” package. While it still includes a Drinks Package, unlike last year, this year they’ve now excluded canned sodas from that package, only allow me one drink per order, and have banned double measures. While this may seem not a huge change, it is an unwelcome change from last year and got me thinking about others. So,...
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I Put 8 Underrated Cruise Tips To The Test! Here's What Happened (Podcast #536)
Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers
I’m just back from a 7-night Sky Princess Scandinavian cruise where I challenged myself to test out eight cruise tips I think cruisers massively under-estimate, including one that I have seen totally wreck entire trips – and almost created a massive problem for me. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: Offers: Get 10% any order of The Cruise Maps who you visit the site using this link: Get up to 30% off collectible tokens of place you’ve visited using the link:
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Overrated Tips Every Sensible Cruiser Should Stop Using - RIGHT NOW! (Podcast #535)
Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers
I'm just back from a cruise on Explora Journeys Explora 2, and was disappointed how many passengers I met on there are still following cruise tips that frankly I know are overrated and out-of-date. Tips that many cruising articles and videos are still recommending cruisers use. I'm Gary Bembridge, and I want to tell you about four overrated cruise tips I think you should ditch overboard and (importantly) what you should be doing instead. Links mentioned in the video - and savings on cruise products eSim by GigSky: Get 10% off using and code “TFT10” at check out. * 10% off any your...
info_outlineGary Bembridge of Tips for Travellers shares observations, tips and advice for visitors to Sydney in Australia.
Subscribe free to the show on iTunes, Stitcher Radio or TuneIn Radio
This show covers among other topics:
General Observations
- Harbour area around circular quay is magical and the iconic view of Australia and Sydney. Beyond the harbour bay is less compelling and different to any city. Architecture not that exciting.
- Not a big a city in world league just 4 million but is young ( ve age is 36)
- 19% Asian
- Casual outdoor lifestyle and informal
- Mix of colonial roots from UK and American feel
- Festivals important to the city to attract visitors and create excitement and energy - film / food/ mardi gras
- Expensive city - accom, food, coffees, going out etc
History
- Settlement was named after UK Home Secretary (Lord Sydney) when Penal colony was established.
- Year after most of indigenous population wiped out by lack of resistance to European diseases.
- Not the capital - Canberra is. Rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney meant it would be neither.
Getting there
- Lots of flying options.
- Cruise Ships now fast growing way to get there too.
- Need Visa, which can get online.
- Smart Gate Fast track entry for electronic passports including UK, NZ, Swiss, Singapore, US Global entry
- Customs very strict - border control tv show - disease obsessed
Best time
Southern Hemisphere so Summer peak is Dec / Jan and coldest in July.
Getting around
- Traffic quite congested - large use of public transport by locals
- Taxi - expensive , Train system - good, Bus system good and inexpensive - buy ticket or cards at newsagents / convenience stores
Where to stay
Harbour area
Top things to do
Harbour Area
Do harbour tour HOHO or tours from Circular Quay (explain options)
The Rocks
Museum of Contemporary Art - stunning building - renovated and expanded 2012
Explore the icons
Sydney Harbour Bridge - bridge walk - 4 hours long short 1,5 hour
Opera House - behind scene tours and backstage tours -
Visit the beaches
Bondi - use 333 bendy bus - train to Bondi a Junction then bus
Manley - harbour trip there scenic - surfing - snorkel - penguins
Darling Harbour
Buzzy and busy with many tourist attractions:
Sealife Aquarium
Australian National Maritime Museum
IMAX
Madame tussards
Powerhouse Museum
Sydney Tower and Skywalk
Shopping
Westfield Sydney
Queen Victoria building
Pitt street - the 5th Ave of Sydney
Oxford street
Other
Olympic Park Tour
Gardens - Hyde park, Botanical gardens, Chinese gardens
Luna Park