kernow

2 hours ago, swoopy2110 said:

Thanks 🙂

Yeh I can't see why the free version wouldn't be accepted. It's on the Australian Government Website that the 'free' version is fine for 'going on a cruise'.

The cruise calls into NZ and I know we need the paid for visa there. Just don't know whether they'd want to check the AUS visa to.

 

Although, I know in the US they don't even bother to check the ESTA anymore, they just want to know that you've got it with you.

Thinking about it I don't think we even had to show anything other than our passports when we arrived at Sydney airport although I did have the print out of the visa details with me. I assume nowadays when they scan your passports they can see the visa details automatically. 

Sydney airport was the quickest international airport we have ever arrived at. Don't know if we were just lucky but we were less than 30 minutes from getting off the plane to getting into a taxi. Very impressed.

Not sure why this has been moved since you are asking about RCL requirements but I have found this for you on the RCL UK site (you were quoting the US one).

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/gbr/en/faq/questions/what-travel-documents-i-need-for-boarding-day

It states

'

• For cruises departing Australia calling into only Australian ports, Australian citizens require either a valid passport or government issued pictured and laminated ID card to be used as identification. Children aged 17 years and under will require a passport or Birth Certificate to travel or government issued photo ID. Children under 16 years of age, who do not have a passport or Photo ID, must have a copy of their birth certificate or their parents Medicare Card.
• For all other nationalities, a passport (plus visa if needed in Australia) is required.'

No mention of a specific type of visa.

We sailed on Ovation from Sydney in Nov 2022, we used the Evisa you are talking about to enter Australia, I can't remember showing anything but our passports when we boarded the ship. We are also from UK.

7 hours ago, cruiseboy89130 said:

Replacing him with a dancer and CD girl says it all!

Nick Weir was a CD, we had him on a Celebrity Eclipse Baltic cruise in 2010, his brother was Hotel Director on that cruise. Previous to that he was a gameshow host on UK tv (Catchphrase).

9 minutes ago, cublet said:

Hello,

 

They could always keep it in Southampton for longer.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

They still have to get to Dubai for 7th Nov as that cruise is still going ahead. As they can't go through the canal they need longer to go around Africa so the last Southampton cruise has already been cut short by a few days.

1 hour ago, Sinbad 2 said:

A little bizarre in light of the Red Sea situation but yesterday we received an email from RCI informing of a port change and that because of a potential immigrant delays in Mumbai we would now miss Muscat. My one and only explanation which seems unlikely or very risky if the do it is sail the Anthem empty from Southampton to Dubai. Wish they’d let us know, alternative cruises are increasing in price

They have cancelled the Southampton to Rome and Rome to Dubai legs already. It does look like they are sailing empty around Africa and will resume with passengers in Dubai.

5 hours ago, LadyZolt said:

Thanks -- I'm glad I have been able to upload some to this site, but someone else will have to take over in a few weeks because we recently had a family situation arise back home, so we will have to leave the ship in Dubai and head home, and we won't get to finish the world cruise.  We hope to be able to plan a future cruise that will sail through the Suez Canal, and we'd like to also see the Norwegian fjords and other things that we'll be missing now.  Maybe Royal Caribbean will offer another world cruise in a few years and we can book that.  🙂

Sorry to hear you have to leave, I hope everything works out for you.

You've done a great job with all your pics and info keeping us updated about the cruise, I'm another one who has really appreciated it.

Following along too. I've enjoyed your reviews in the past so looking forward to this one.

Have a fab trip.

19 minutes ago, Jetdriver787 said:

I enjoyed it and found it quite amusing.

I did too, I was laughing my head off at some of it. I think the whole thing was meant to be very tounge in cheek.

We are also booked on Rome to Dubai and Dubai to Singapore. The Dubai to Singapore leg is still showing on the website but the cruises before it are not. We're just waiting to see what happens, if the Dubai to Singapore leg still happens we'll just do that and probably add a few days in Dubai before. 

Hope they tell us all soon as realistically we all know Rome to Dubai won't happen but we can't make any plans until they cancel.

9 hours ago, Frapaccino said:

Thanks everyone,  it’s about saving money but having the ability to not wonder or worry about the bar tab! Think I might enjoy it more not having to worry what tab my 18 year old racks up! 

@little britain Lol yes I think he will smash it, finishes his A levels this year so will live it up! I’m wondering what you mean by sale around 4/7.. 4th July? 
 

Really appreciate all the replies, lots to consider! If only we had D  sounds great! 

 

Anyone know when 

 

Do you mean when do you become D? If so it's the cruise after you reach 80 points in C&A.

Have you already downloaded the RCL app? You can see individual drink prices on there, just click on dining, then bars and lounges and then the individual bar and it's menu. (might be a dollar per drink more out of the UK because there will be no added gratuity).

7 hours ago, ringers0815 said:

We are now in Brisbane. It was a lovely cruise. The food and service were great. The disembarkation process was very efficient. No waiting in line anywhere including going through immigration and customs. We booked the shuttle going downtown ($20 each) and they took us and our luggage downtown in about 20 minutes. The drop off point is Anzac square which is right in the middle of the CBD. Our hotel was a 5 minute walk from there. Overall a great experience with Serenade right up to the end of the cruise! We will follow along if someone keeps posting on this thread. To those still onboard or rejoining later, have a great cruise!

 

Hélène

Thank you for all of your lovely photos and your time to keep this thread alive. I've really enjoyed checking in every day and seeing where you all are and what you are up to so hoping someone else onboard will keep posting.

Enjoy the rest of your trip.

1 hour ago, CSHS1979 said:

 

He's saving his thrill quota for Sydney Bridge Climb

He's much braver than me, my knees were wobbly just walking over the bridge on the pavement😀

6 hours ago, Thisguylikestocruise said:

What would a 9 night Greek Isles cruise from Civitavecchia in late September be like? Already have it booked, wish I would’ve picked Celebrity for this itinerary instead.  

Should not be too bad, all the schools in Europe are back then.

1 hour ago, SquishTheWhale said:

Sorry if not relevant to the topic of 3 dining times, but I booked early dining on our upcoming Oasis sailing in May and it's showing at 6pm which is perfect for us with a small child. But the comments on here seem to be saying early is 5 or 5.30?

Do you think the 6pm could be incorrect, or do Med cruises tend to have later dining times?

Our only other RC cruise we did MTD but that starts too late for those with kids.

I would think 6pm is correct for a Med cruise, it's normal to have later times than US cruises. I remember one cruise years ago when RCL had a ship based in Malaga that late dining was 9.30, even we who like late sitting changed to early which was 7pm.

27 minutes ago, Tatra603 said:

 

And yet their attitude towards mini segmenters, particularly those stranded in Dubai has been curt and dismissive.

Sadly it does sound like what they told you is correct though, you will not be able to book the Dubai/Africa leg (unless you have any friends onboard).

@ringers0815Thank you for all your beautiful pics and for keeping the 'live' part of the thread going.

Just wondering if life onboard is continuing normally or has it been taken over somewhat by the changes for the 3rd segment and all the talk of that?

12 minutes ago, oleaglefan said:

Just curious if anyone has information on how the current situation impacts the Anthem Suez Canal sailing on October 23, 2024, let me know. Couldn’t find a roll call for that cruise. Thanks 

We're on that one, here's the roll call

24 minutes ago, time4u2go said:

Lol am I the only one that couldn't care less if I stayed in a cabin (and bed) where someone had died?

It wouldn't bother me either.

18 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

North America.

 

Whether your agent receives e nails directly will depend bonus how they are set up in the system.  Theses e mail notifications go out to tje agency owner and not to the agent directly.  It is then up to the agency owner to sent the notifications to the agent.

 

Ive been in that position as an agent and it's frustrating but Royal has sent them.

Are you saying that you know that notifications get sent to the UK agents and the UK office at the same time as those in North America?

I have spoken to the owner of the agency I often use and he has had no idea of cruises that have been cancelled. The last time this happened to me was in 2022 when Radiance was pulled from Australia. He actually said to me he didn't think it was correct until I sent him a copy of the cancellation letter that others had posted on here. It took him about 3 days to get confirmation.

Sadly it is how RCL operate in the UK. Over the years I've had major changes/cancellations of cruises which I've read about on here which UK TA or even RCL UK office have no idea about. All have turned out to be correct and the news seems to reach those in the UK offices a week or so later

I've complained even sending emails to Miami but nothing changes so I've learned to live with it. I sometimes think the Miami office sees us in the UK as second class customers.

1 hour ago, Tatra603 said:

I'm not sure if I should have done this, but I needed to vent. I've just emailed the following to M Bayley:

 

Hello,

 

I am writing as a loyal but disillusioned Royal Caribbean cruiser.

 

I have had the Dubai to Athens segment of the UWC booked for some considerable time, even getting the stateroom I really wanted.

 

It has long been apparent that the Middle East itinerary was no longer viable, so I waited with baited breath to find out where we would be going instead. Flight to Dubai for two is booked, as are the (non refundable) 4 nights pre cruise hotel.

 

Imagine my (and hundreds of others in the same situation) disappointment when an email came through giving me the stark choice of rebooking a different cruise (there are none suitable) with no more than $100 OBC or a full refund.

 

So we're left high and dry in Dubai. The uncertainty exacerbated and prolonged by the baffling and pointless decision to draw it out by another 11 days before letting your more important cruisers vote on the new itinerary (let's not kid ourselves, it will be option 1). So Dubai to Cape Town will be the same 18 nights as Dubai to Athens was.

 

When my TA contacted RCI (UK), she was met with a wall of denial that Pravda would be proud of, both from the agent and then the supervisor. Rebook or refund, there is no other option. There will not be a RC cruise leaving Dubai on the 9^th May. Even when my TA pointed out that it's part of a world cruise and RC are unlikely to let Serenade sail half full, the denial continued. 

 

Now, we're not silly. We know RC is all about the $$. We know the new cruise can and will be repackaged and remarketed at a higher asking price than I paid for the Middle East.

 

I don't mind that. What irks me and many others, is the unceremonious dumping of us and our custom. Why not give us first refusal on the new segment, allowing us, if we want, to keep the stateroom we had booked? Instead, should the new segment come up for sale, we'll be involved in a massive bun fight for  what will be a very popular cruise. A random and unfair fight to get THE CRUISE SHIP AND STATEROOM THAT WE HAD ALREADY BOOKED. 

 

I can envisage a scenario where we can see Serenade docked from our hotel window, knowing that we won't be boarding it. If that happens, then needless to say, our long and happy relationship with Royal Caribbean will have come to a sad end.

 

I think you've done the best thing, I would probably have done the same. Even if it gets you nowhere you've lost nothing. 

Hope you get the resolution you want (especially as something similar could happen to all of us due to be on Anthem in October).

10 minutes ago, sgmn said:

Laura, has John made up his mind which he prefers?

Do the full world cruisers have the final say which route they go for ? 

Personally I like route one though a few of those stops would have me concerned. 

How safe is the Straits of Hormuz?  Years ago we sailed it on a cruise from Dubai and got buzzed at top deck level by an Iran military jet.

I would of thought they would of rerouted from Singapore. 

I think at this point the Straits of Hormuz are considered safe. I know MSC (and maybe others) are still doing their 7 night Dubai cruises until April when they too have changed their repositioning route.

We've also been on Dubai cruises in the past when we've seen Iranian ships and planes nearby, may make me feel a bit nervous at the moment but I don't think they'd go if they thought there was any real danger.

4 hours ago, CSHS1979 said:

Someone on FB made a chart comparison of the change between original itinerary and option 1 and 2

For me option one is actually a much better itinerary than the original one. 

We are booked on the Anthem repositioning to Singapore in Oct/Nov and I really hope they change it to something similar to this.

8 hours ago, marquisite said:

What do people think about having a 'Part 2' thread with the changeover to the Ultimate Asia Pacific expedition segment? Or keep everything in the one thread?

 

Thanks all for sharing your experiences during the Ultimate Americas segment!

 

Nice, I'll be onboard on that date as part of 4 minis. 😁

I'd love to see everything carry on in this thread. 

I'm really enjoying following along, big thanks to all those onboard who have contributed so far. Hope those who are staying on and any others who board will continue to keep posting here.

I'm also following a couple of others on FB but I still love CC best😁.