u/ApprehensiveExit5520

Looking to get into a more technical position on passenger vessels.

As I can’t quite stay and land and study for an additional 4-5 years to pursue a engineering or navigational role,
Are there any other ways to pursue something perhaps in electro-technical or hvac or something? Or if there is anything that can be studied online and practical done whilst on vacation.

Being off ships for a 4 years period is just not something I can really afford to do.

Hey everyone,
I work on cruise ships and sign off in Australia around 17 January 2027. Instead of flying straight back home to South Africa, I’m thinking about spending 3–5 weeks travelling around SE Asia.

It’ll be my first proper solo trip, so I’m still figuring out what makes sense.

At the moment I’m thinking Thailand and Vietnam, but I’m definitely not set on that. Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos etc. are also on the table. I’m on a South African passport, so visas are something I have to keep in mind as well.
I’m not really interested in trying to see 5 countries in a month. I’d rather stay somewhere for a few days, explore, eat good food, take photos, maybe do some hiking or other random activities and hopefully meet some people along the way.

I’m also not much of a massive party person. I’d still like to stay somewhere social and meet other travellers, so I’ve been looking at hostels with private rooms, group activities, food tours and that sort of thing.

**Budget wise**, I was thinking around **$1,500–2,000 USD for 3–4 weeks**, excluding the big flights. I’m happy eating local food and using public transport, but I don’t really want to spend every night in a dorm. I’d probably mix private hostel rooms and cheaper hotels.

Is that budget realistic? And if I pushed it closer to 5 weeks, what would you budget?
The other thing I’m trying to figure out is luggage.
Since I’ll be coming straight off a 5-month ship contract, unfortunately I can’t exactly travel with one 30L backpack.

Right now I have a medium checked roller, a small carry-on roller and an 18L PGYTech camera backpack. I’m thinking I’d somehow ditch/store/nest the small roller and travel with just the **medium suitcase + 18L backpack**.
The backpack would have my laptop, iPad, notebooks, digital camera with a 40mm and 85mm, a small film camera, film, SSDs, chargers etc. The suitcase would basically be clothes, shoes, toiletries and whatever else I still have from the ship.

How much am I going to hate myself dragging a medium roller around Thailand/Vietnam? 😂

I’m not planning on changing cities every two days. I’d rather spend maybe 4–6 days in places I like, so I’m wondering if the suitcase is actually that big of a problem or if backpacking Reddit is going to tell me I’m insane.

Mainly just looking for suggestions from people who’ve done it before — where would you go with 3–5 weeks, what sort of budget would you plan for, and are there any places or experiences you’d say I absolutely shouldn’t miss?

Also interested in anything that’s particularly good for a first solo trip and makes it easy to meet people without everything revolving around partying.
Thanks!

Hey everyone,
I work on cruise ships and sign off in Australia around 17 January 2027. Instead of flying straight back home to South Africa, I’m thinking about spending 3–5 weeks travelling around SE Asia.

It’ll be my first proper solo trip, so I’m still figuring out what makes sense.

At the moment I’m thinking Thailand and Vietnam, but I’m definitely not set on that. Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos etc. are also on the table. I’m on a South African passport, so visas are something I have to keep in mind as well.
I’m not really interested in trying to see 5 countries in a month. I’d rather stay somewhere for a few days, explore, eat good food, take photos, maybe do some hiking or other random activities and hopefully meet some people along the way.

I’m also not much of a massive party person. I’d still like to stay somewhere social and meet other travellers, so I’ve been looking at hostels with private rooms, group activities, food tours and that sort of thing.

Budget wise, I was thinking around $1,500–2,000 USD for 3–4 weeks, excluding the big flights. I’m happy eating local food and using public transport, but I don’t really want to spend every night in a dorm. I’d probably mix private hostel rooms and cheaper hotels.

Is that budget realistic? And if I pushed it closer to 5 weeks, what would you budget?
The other thing I’m trying to figure out is luggage.
Since I’ll be coming straight off a 5-month ship contract, unfortunately I can’t exactly travel with one 30L backpack.

Right now I have a medium checked roller, a small carry-on roller and an 18L PGYTech camera backpack. I’m thinking I’d somehow ditch/store/nest the small roller and travel with just the medium suitcase + 18L backpack.
The backpack would have my laptop, iPad, notebooks, digital camera with a 40mm and 85mm, a small film camera, film, SSDs, chargers etc. The suitcase would basically be clothes, shoes, toiletries and whatever else I still have from the ship.

How much am I going to hate myself dragging a medium roller around Thailand/Vietnam? 😂

I’m not planning on changing cities every two days. I’d rather spend maybe 4–6 days in places I like, so I’m wondering if the suitcase is actually that big of a problem or if backpacking Reddit is going to tell me I’m insane.

Mainly just looking for suggestions from people who’ve done it before — where would you go with 3–5 weeks, what sort of budget would you plan for, and are there any places or experiences you’d say I absolutely shouldn’t miss?

Also interested in anything that’s particularly good for a first solo trip and makes it easy to meet people without everything revolving around partying.
Thanks!

I’m sure we can all agree that we hate the long lines at the airport, especially through customs.

I currently bank with FNB (premier) and Nedbank and I’m unaware of any benefit that side with this. It’s made me tempted to look into discovery bank.

Anyone have any input on this?
I’m an SA citizen but travel about 1-2 every 6 with on contract work, and personal travel outside of that.

Looking into potentially upgrading my Nikon Z body but not sure for that.

Currently have the Z6, and looking at either something like the Z6iii, Z6, or I believe it was the Z5ii.

Basically looking for a smaller body to travel with as my lifestyle as a seafarer limits me to mostly living out of my bags for majority of the year when traveling.

I might dabble with video though I’m not sure. Maybe I’ll just get a insta360 for video 💀

How do some of you manage the food situation onboard?
Some cruise lines don’t really offer the healthiest of options, one being CCL, and it’s rather difficult to stick to a healthy diet, whether it’s something like keto, no carb, etc.

Any advice?

Shoutout to Cape Town tandem paragliding. Did one for the first time this week and it was awesome! Nerve wrecking at first but definitely worth it.

Though, weirdly enough, not many locals partake apparently, which as a local, that’s definitely a shame.

I’d highly recommend doing it at least once

At 33M, I’ve lost so many friends over the years. They’ve cut me off, apparently constantly blaming me for treating them like shit, yet they could never point out how I did that when asked to elaborate. Used by others just for financial gains which I had cut off for my on sanity. Even though who I’ve known since I was 18-20.

But now, with the very few that I have left, met over the years, it’s hard being the friend that no one considers, no one checks up on or texts first.

Along with dealing with emotional bluntness (which developed over the years seems) which now makes it harder to make new friends.

Being the only person left in my family, it can get tough and lonesome.

I’m struggling….

I’ve found 2-3 companies which do the paragliding from signal hill and lions head.

Anyone have experience with these? Which one is recommended?

I currently hold a valid MCV and transit visa to Australia to join my next vessel. However, I’ve had to renew my passport. I’ve followed the process online, I’ve done this once (as per the Immi portal) I updated it on my MCV.

Funny part is now when I check via VEVO, my transit visa is updated, but my MCV is not.

However when I check via MCV status using my new passport number, it shows the MCV. Only VEVO can’t find it based on the new passport number and MCV grant number.

Anyone else had this? Any recommendations?

I currently hold a valid MCV and transit visa to Australia to join my next vessel. However, I’ve had to renew my passport. I’ve followed the process online, I’ve done this once (as per the Immi portal) I updated it on my MCV.

Funny part is now when I check via VEVO, my transit visa is updated, but my MCV is not.

Anyone else had this? Any recommendations?

Up until a month ago, Uber was working perfectly fine. As a seafarer, I’m usually in different ports and utilize it without issue.

However, when attempting to use it about 3 days ago in South Africa, I noticed all my American Cards were removed. This was not done by me. Every attempt to re-add them states that the information is incorrect. However the cards are functional and I’ve checked the details multiple times.

Odd part is that my South African Cards work fine.

I also no longer have the Apple Pay option available in the app even though I have multiple cards available and functional.

Support has been pretty useless as per usual.

Anyone had any form of luck on fixing this?

would anyone be willing to share their thoughts on the above? If this is something you've gone through or are going through? what you've done to overcome it, or what had initiated?

I know its probably terrible to self-diagnose, however, looking back on my life, it seems this could be the cause to my current struggles, which just throws me into a never-ending loop that's self-feeding.

Been considering going to therapy, but the idea seems to terrify me. Just as going out to new places alone, I feel I’ll be judged. I hate this feeling, as I’ve always wanted to travel and had this thought of “I don’t care what people think of me”.

I wasn’t always like this, a few years ago (before COVID) I was outgoing, didn’t care what people thought and did whatever I wanted.

Now, I’m the exact opposite. I struggle so socialize, I stay locked up in my apartment most days. I’ve lost practically all my friends, and the small handful I “think” I have are the type that never next unless I text them first. I’ve noticed I also struggle to feel emotions. A friend who got a major promotion decided to announce it to me first and I couldn’t react, it took me a good 5 min before I managed to.

I don’t know what’s happened over the years but i do not like where I am. I want my old self back but im not sure how to even look for the right therapist once I get over the terrifying thought of attending.

Seen a bit of mixed opinions on the above, so looking for some advice, particularly relating to foreign assets.

Context being, as the only child (no family), in the event of my passing, I do not have family to appoint as an executor, or address a will to.

At my current standing, I have a number of foreign assets, mostly financial via Interactive Brokers, to individuals who are not South African citizens (primarily US, Italian, Macedonian) and a number of global charities.

What would be the best way forward? I see a majority of people recommend going through a lawyer instead of banks?

Obviously the will shall get altered based on future dependencies, but at this time that is the current standing.

Looking at changing departments to either deck or engine, however , I do not have any formal qualification in any of those fields.

Do companies generally sponsor cadetships? Any other way to get required certifications, trainings, degrees? So far all I’ve seen is 4 year programs, followed my a year cadetship.

I honestly can’t afford to stay off ship for such a period due to finances.

Looking to get a new passport issued, as mine expires in June 2027. As I have a trip to Japan in Feb 2027, I hear that this might cause problems due to the validity of the passport being less than 6 months.

Anyone recently applied for a passport in Cape Town via a bank branch?

Any idea on the turn around time on it? I do need to keep my old passport as my visas are still valid.