3rd Unlock the Past History & Genealogy Cruise

It is possible Laraine, but shipboard internet (via satellite) is quite expensive and slower than on land. It is available only in some areas of the ship (not cabins). See FAQ page

Yes, there is the option to pair ladies with single ladies (or men with other men). Go to the Pricing and booking page and click the link to register your interest. Clean Crusing, our booking agent can pair you with someone already looking for a cabin partner, or put your name down to share with someone else.

No to your first question. We have seen nothing like this on our first two cruises. I recall two very young children on our last cruise, but no teenagers at all. There may have been some, but if so they were not even noticed and certainly no unruly behaviour by young or old was seen. I would see more in any town or city I was out and about in. Bear in mind there are upwards of 400 different cruises a year with around half a million passengers - in Australia alone. Maybe 100 times that many worldwide. How often have you seen a report like this? in Australia? Internationally? It is likely less frequent than in the general community.

Our group, mainly older people with a common interest, mostly meets together for its programmed activities as well as social interaction and meals.  It is possible there could be an idiot on board, but they are on our roads and communities every day too. Read our past cruise testimonials for a general impression of how people found it.

Yes there will be Margaret. There will be a cruise table as part of the Gould-Unlock the Past group of booths. We should have more on speakers, the ship itself and a draft program to show by then too - Alan

A passport is needed - see FAQ link. I don't think a visa is required, but check with Clean Cruising - "Pricing & booking" link. We already have someone wanting to share, and expect more wanting to. You need to check with Clean Cruising about single occupancy of a cabin, but it is probably double the price of the twin share rate. This is similar to hotels/motels where you usually pay the same for the room - regardless of whether one or two people occupy the room.

Personally I favoured a Tasmanian cruise, but we have had to back off that for several reasons:

• the March option has only a 60 seat conference venue (did not know this initially)
• we had decided on the February Rhapsody option only to be advised 3 weeks ago the conference centre was to be halved in capacity next year to 60 - again inadequate

That left the January option on Voyager to take in Tasmania - or another cruise destination. January was finally discounted for several reasons:

• our survey showed a decided preference for February over January.
• A number voted against any of the three options because it was an Australian destination.
• with school holidays and the fact this is the first voyage out of Sydney for the largest ship ever to be based in Australia (with lots of publicity) it is expected to book our very early. 

Our cruises vary. The first one went from Brisbane to the Pacific Islands. The 2nd is going from Auckland to Sydney via eight ports in New Zealand,Tasmania and Melbourne. We chose Sydney for a different departure for our 3rd - with Tasmania as a preferred different destination - but that is not a settled commitment yet. A major factor in future is a ship with good conferencing facilities and this pretty much limits us to ships that only come down south for summer - and almost all of those go out of Sydney.