Lifestyle

The carnival is most definitely not over

It has been an interesting 12 weeks in our travel shops. Buoyed by the arrival and departure of one, occasionally two, cruise ships daily to and from Sydney to augment those which already ‘homeport’ in our harbour, Trendsetter has enjoyed a constant stream of clients keen to know more.

To plan their cruise, be it ocean or river...to start to dream about the fabulous experiences they will enjoy within Australasia, Asia, the Americas and Europe – or the far flung reaches of the Arctic and Antarctica...to enjoy the simple freedoms of unpacking once and letting someone else take you to the world…

Then just this week, some dreams have been shattered by the realisation that unpleasant incidents onboard cruise ships do still happen, albeit infrequently and most out of the public eye.

The first of these, necessitating removal of unruly passengers from a P&O ship, was quickly overshadowed by the Carnival affair – and like it or not, Carnival will continue to feature in reports for some time to come. It’s a public relations nightmare and not a job I’d like to be handling.

I won’t gloss over the drawbacks of cruising, nor do I intend to exaggerate them. My own experiences have seldom been bad, and feedback from hundreds of clients also attests to the fact that cruising is a great way to holiday. Why else would we be seeing the exponential growth in repeat cruisers, and also the first timers market which is attracted not just by seductive advertisements and sharp pricing, but the tales and talk from is Carnival. And while some may turn up their noses at the aforementioned P&O, the entry level cruises do what the luxury end cannot – they provide cost-effective holidays for those on even the tightest budgets. And what’s wrong with that? Everyone deserves a little luxury and spoiling. The luxury of unpacking once, the luxury of having someone else cook and clean, excellent resort facilities to enjoy and then an evening kicking back in the disco or taking in a Broadway show.

Our task, and one which we love to do, is to help you find your ideal cruise. I firmly believe there is a cruise for everyone, even those of you who say “you’ll never get me on a cruise ship”. You won’t believe the choices afloat...

So don’t get hooked on the negative publicity still to come regarding Carnival. And try to expand your consciousness to realise that there will be a cruise option for you. Cruises are overwhelmingly a positive holiday experience – your chances of experiencing this are vastly improved when you consult a professional cruise agent team such as Trendsetter. Come see us soon!

their friends and families. Put simply, the good and great experiences far outweigh the bad – and that includes possible seasickness!

In the last 10 days, I’ve had the good fortune to inspect (and sometimes dine on) five fabulous vessels from equally fabulous cruiselines - Azamara, Viking, Crystal, Silversea and Regent - in addition to hosting a group cruise onboard Seabourn Encore from Auckland to Sydney in January. So that’s why I am looking more tubby than usual! And while an inspection and meal is but a superficial taste, this concentrated dose allows me to better differentiate among the luxury vessels.

This information is then disseminated to Trendsetter Travel team members, all of whom also get to check out various ships as the occasions arise. Together with our personal sailing experience, this allows us to offer you relevant and up-to-the-minute advice such as which ships employ the smartest technology; which are best designed; which have the best pools; the ships offering the best value; those offering the biggest balconies or best rooms for families; those with the lowest single supplements for our valued solo travellers, and so on. You might be tempted to pick up the Sunday travel pages and opine that “this cruise looks great” but how do you really know?

Silversea is not for everyone. Neither

TRAVEL Adrienne Witteman, Managing Director, Trendsetter Travel & Cruise Centre.

The right start for your new pet

Adopting a new puppy or kitten into your family is incredibly exciting! However, it is also a time where you will likely have many questions and uncertainties regarding your new pet, particularly on how best to care and integrate them into your family.

While there is no lack of available information and opinions on pet care, wading through it all to find the most reliable and up-to-date recommendations can be difficult.

This is where a visit to your vet becomes invaluable. While vets are known for health examinations, medical treatments, and preventative care such as vaccinations, there is so much more they can do for you and your new pet. Initially, a health check can reassure you that you have adopted a healthy animal. This also provides a good opportunity to speak about the breed of your dog or cat; any potential health problems that they may be prone to; tailoring diets to suit your pet’s size; potential health concerns, and behavior that is typical of the breed.

Your vet and the nurses can also discuss information about how to keep your new puppy or kitten as healthy as possible. For example, tooth brushing for dental health; exercise and play to maximise fitness; mental stimulation; and medication to avoid contracting worms, heartworm, fleas and ticks.

Puppies and kittens, just like human babies, also require a series of vaccinations to prevent against common and potentially dangerous, or even fatal, diseases.

These initial vaccination visits to your vet are the perfect opportunity to not only acclimatise your pet to the sights, sounds, smells and procedures in the vet clinic, but they also give you an opportunity to ask any niggling questions.

Although they may have had their first vaccine before you adopted them, they will need at least two to three more vaccinations at 3-4 weeks intervals to complete their juvenile course, with a final vaccine after 16 weeks of age.

The core vaccines for dogs will protect against canine distemper, adenovirus and parvovirus. In addition, the incidence of canine cough makes the additional vaccines for bordatella and parainfluenza part of the standard C5 vaccine used in Sydney.

Cats require a core F3 vaccine, which protects them against panleukopaenia, feline calicivirus and feline herpes virus.

Ensuring that these first few visits are as positive and happy as possible will help reduce future anxiety - for them and you alike. Your vet and the nurses within the clinic will spoil your puppy or kitten with pats, cuddles and plenty of tasty treats. They will make the visit as calm as possible, so even though needles may need to be given and temperatures taken, your pet should come home feeling that the vet clinic isn’t such a bad place after all.

Behaviour is another area your vet is an expert in, and they should be your first stop for any issues or questions. Early training using modern, positive reinforcement techniques will help set you and your pet up for positive interactions and a healthy, strong bond between the human and animal members of your family.

Most vet clinics run puppy schools, or can refer you to a local, recommended puppy school. These first lessons are essential during the peak socialisation period to establish your puppy’s initial obedience and behavior problem solving.

Although kitten kindies are less common, your vet is the best resource for discussing early behavior issues and training for kittens too.

Dr Michelle Trebeck. Veterinarian. Figtree Veterinary Clinic Shop 10/225 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove West. Ph: 9428 4700