kernow

Really enjoyed your review, I've never thought much about Hawaii but after seeing all your beautiful pics it's now somewhere I want to visit. Safe travels for the rest of the journey.

I hope so, it seems to work well on both MSC and P and O who have both switched over to it in the last few years.

I think the difference between Australia and the UK is that Australians have the gratuities included in their cruise price whereas we in the UK don't so many choose to opt out. Surely on the ships that sail from Australia the crew are paid just as they would be if everyone paid the gratuities because in effect they have.

Southampton , we can drive there, easy parking and never had much of a queue. Barcelona, fairly short flight, terminal right in the city with lots of hotel choices and always well organised. Dubai, like everything else there very efficient and easy to board. Maybe we have just been unlucky but we've always found the US ports more chaotic than those in many other parts of the world.

I always feel slightly ashamed to be British when I see queues of people on the Southampton cruises waiting to remove their tips. I wish Royal would just include them in the price on UK bookings like they do in Australia.

No problem, thanks for asking. I've really enjoyed following along, hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Hawaii, a TP crossing is on our bucket list.

Ah, just checked and it changed in 2019, we all need a visa and to pay the conservation tax for NZ now.

Did you go recently? I think it's changed fairly recently and thought everyone except Aussies now had to pay.

Thanks for another great review, I enjoyed following along.

We're British and had to get both Australian and New Zealand E visa plus pay for the NZ conservation tax.

We're going in Nov, you can do it all online and it comes through quickly. Lots of good info on the Australia/New Zealand board and some very helpful people. I'm planning to do a live thread for our two cruises for anyone who has questions.

Nice to see you back cruising always enjoy your reviews, looking forward to this one. Hope you both have a fab time.

Enjoying your updates so far. Is there any chance you could try to find out what capacity the ship will be sailing at on the Sydney cruises. We are on the 16th Nov cruise for a b2b, check in opened yesterday but still no covid protocols announced. Thanks, hope you continue to have a lovely time.

I don't think it's worthless at all. We have a booking for next year where we got 5+5% and 50 obc pp. This is for YC where the prices only ever seem to go up as you get closer to the sailing so worth booking early. We also really enjoy the free speciality meal. I agree we don't get as much as on some other lines(I think RCL is the best) but still nice things to have especially as we did status match in 2017 for our first MSC cruise.

Just guessing but I think YC is at the front because of all that glass and the amazing views. On our Fjord cruise it took your breath away.

Have not had a connecting cabin but cabin doors are not 'inset' like on Celebrity so assume connecting door is inside cabin. I'm not a casino person so don't know about smoking, have walked through and not noticed it like on some ships though. We've been in YC twice (and booked again for next year), I'm sensitive to movement and yes there is a bit more than in cabins further back but not enough to stop me booking again (as YC is amazing). For me, the most movement I've felt is in the YC restaurant rather than the cabin. We love TAs, but I have said to DH that I would not do a TA in YC as I wouldn't want to take a chance on all those sea days if the weather was bad.

Look forward to reading this, especially the 2nd cruise as we will be flying to Sydney in Nov for a b2b on Ovation. We'll also be away for a month so will be following how you get on.

Virtuosa has cabins with the bunks the same as in the picture.

Looking for recommendations for companies with whom we can book a transfer from Sydney airport to our city hotel. We will be arriving early morning after travelling for 24 hours so don't think we will feel like using the train or queueing for a taxi, it might be easier to have something prebooked. Thanks.

Both the NZ and Aus applications ask if you have a criminal record (as does the ESTA that we have to get to come to the US). I don't know what happens if you have, maybe more questions?

Yes, that looks to be correct for US citizens. As a UK citizen I was able to get an evisitor subclass 651 which is free. You can find out which one you need here https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder This is the official government site, others may charge an extra fee so be careful.

We are cruising to Australia and New Zealand in Nov and have recently done our visas for both. I'm British but think it's still the same form as you. My passport is in my married name and I also entered my maiden name, both visas came back in a couple of minutes as did my husbands. I was impressed how easy it was.

Don't know if it's the same price for every cruise but my 7 night in May which still has the ship showing as Grandiosa(although it will now be Virtuosa) has it available in the planner for £82pp. I think it was the same for our 7 night earlier this year, I do know it's much more expensive if you leave it to book onboard.

I think the problem is that both Preziosa and Grandiosa were supposed to be sailing from Southampton for a short time in April, now its just Virtuosa. Our May cruise is still showing as Grandiosa, expecting that to change soon. Hope you get sorted.

Hope you've managed to clear the traffic and are onboard having that first drink😀.