Hot Issues Dividing Cruisers RIGHT NOW! (Podcast #459)
Tips For Travellers
On my last cruise, a Windstar Fjords cruise, I posted clips on Instagram of the best attended event of my entire cruise. It immediately ignited a fiery, lively, and divided debate about if the event was a good idea or not. It got me thinking about other things that I talk about on social media or in my videos, that spark heated debates and where cruisers fall into “for” or “against” camps, with few on the fence. So, let's find out where you stand on these right now as I suspect that, like me, your stand is shifting as we face a new world of cruising. Become a Tips For Travellers...
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I Cruise The World's "Most Popular" Small Ship Line: Windstar (Podcast #458)
Tips For Travellers
After loving recent cruises on 600 and 700 passenger ships, like Oceania Insignia, Azamara Quest and Seabourn Encore, I wanted to see if going ever smaller was even better, so I booked myself on an 11-night Windstar Star Pride “Lands of the Midnight Suns”. Now this ship only holds 312 passengers, and they claim to be the market leading small ship line and have both these yacht style engine-driven ships that I went on, but they also have sailing vessels as well. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For...
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Epic Highs & Unwanted Lows I Had Cruising In Paradise! (Podcast 457)
Tips For Travellers
It took me 26 hours, three flights, and a time change of 12 hours to get to my French Polynesian cruise in one of the remotest parts of the world. It was brutal, and so how did it go once there – and do I recommend putting yourself though all that? I explore all of this in this video 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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My 11 River Cruises Taught Me These Eye-Opening Lessons (Podcast 456)
Tips For Travellers
I am often asked about river cruising and find many people do not fully understand what it is and is not, and this are the 6 things that I have come to appreciate about river cruising around the world that people need to know before they consider one 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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I Try Out Cruising In A Controversial Ship-Within-A-Ship (Podcast #368)
Tips For Travellers
I test out cruising in Yacht Club, a limited access “ship-within-a-ship” on MSC Cruises, to see if it really is better than cruising as a “regular” passenger and if it is worth paying the premium for the experience and the perks. For bonus & exclusive content (including videos, articles, eBooks and more) become a Patreon Patron: https://www.patreon.com/tipsfortravellers
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I Discover The Best & Worst Sides Of MSC CRUISES (Podcast #454)
Tips For Travellers
There are so many rumours, beliefs, stories, and misconceptions about MSC Cruises with many drawn by their great fares but worried about the reports about the ships, food, service and entertainment. I cruised with them to uncover the latest 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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People Keep Falling For These 7 Crafty Cruise Port Tricks! (podcast #453)
Tips For Travellers
I expose and looks at common scams that I have seen cruisers, including my friends and even myself, fall for when in a port on their cruise so you can avoid falling for these... 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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Questions I Wish I'd Asked BEFORE Cruising the Nile! (Podcast 452)
Tips For Travellers
Seven out of ten travellers told me they really want to do a Nile River cruise. But almost all said they were unlikely to do it, because they had too many questions and concerns. Having done one, I have discovered the answers to those questions, and a few they should be asking but aren’t. 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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Epic Highs & Unwelcome Lows I Had Cruising the Nile! (Podcast #451)
Tips For Travellers
I reveal the best and very worst things I experienced on my AmaWaterways Nile River Cruise and time in Cairo, and answer if all things considered is it worth taking this trip. It's complicated 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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Scams Cruisers Are Falling For BEFORE Even Leaving Home (podcast #443)
Tips For Travellers
I look at scams playing on cruise lovers eagerness to cruise right now, like my friend Helen, who almost fell for one of the four scams very active now catching cruise passengers while at home thinking or planning a cruise. This is the first of a two-part series about scams targeting cruise passengers right now, the other looks at scams in cruise ports Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube:
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