clairebearinaus

This is why I love the Cabeau one that straps you to your seat's headrest. You might feel a bit like Hannibal Lecter, but you're not going to flop onto anyone. It's great.

I have perfected the art of sleeping on planes and usually fly economy. It's a skill honed during a LGW-MEL flight sitting on a tailbone I'd broken a couple of days earlier. My approach involves a fair amount of substance abuse so I don't recommend it to others! I will, however, recommend bringing at least 2 different styles of pillow to maximise your choice of sleeping position. I go with memory foam that clips around my neck and fastens to the headrest so I can't slump. And a regular small pillow. Noise cancelling earbuds under noise cancelling headphones.

That's why I do it as soon as I board. The first person who greets me once properly inside the ship, I show them my card and ask them to point me in the right direction. It's usually on the same deck that I boarded onto so no need for elevators. Definitely over and done with in under 5.

There's just not enough chlorine in the world to make me want to get in one of those things after seeing people sit in them and drink literally all day without a break for the toot. And then parents let their kids get in and dive under the water. Yuuuuck.

It was still very useful advice to get the app downloaded, I now have all my anytime dining reservations done!

How frustrating. It's as if there's a glitch in their system blocking you from doing what you should be able to. It looks like if you were able to convince them to refund your fare back to the GO price, it would be more or less cancelled out by the loss of OBC. But I understand there's a principle at stake too.

Not exactly jumping off the page! But it's there:

I was intrigued by your problem because I've always chosen my cabin (when going down that path) as part of the online booking process, before payment is made. It's odd that you were able to complete your booking without choosing a room. I went onto the P&O website and did a dummy booking through to the page where you choose either the 'Go' or the 'Value' package. There's a little green dot to click on for the T&Cs, and it says the following, I hope it's of use to you: Room Selection The GO Package offers a guaranteed room fare type. This means P&O will guarantee you a room within the selected category, but will allocate that room on your behalf anytime between two months and four days prior to departure. With Value and Premium package, you are able to select your room in Cruise Control once you’ve completed your booking. Note: Room selection is subject to availability.

Ah, great thinking, this is why I rely on the knowledge here. I've installed and set up the app now - alas no MDR menus posted yet. It does seem a bit early. I thought they might follow a fairly predictable pattern that experienced cruisers would know about.

I am beside myself with excitement! Hence planning dinner 4 months in advance 😆

It's been a long time since I sailed with Celebrity. I'd like to book in some specialty dining for my upcoming cruise, and if possible would like to keep the chic nights (especially 'lobster night') free to dine in the MDR. Would any Celebrity experts be able to take a look at my itinerary and offer advice on when the chic nights will most likely be? I thought maybe the first and last sea day. Please and thank you! 23-Nov-24 (Sat) Singapore - Singapore 20:00 24-Nov-24 (Sun) 10:00 Port Kelang - Malaysia 17:00 25-Nov-24 (Mon) 08:00 Penang - Malaysia 26-Nov-24 (Tue) Penang - Malaysia 17:00 27-Nov-24 (Wed) 07:00 Phuket - Thailand 19:00 28-Nov-24 (Thu) At Sea 29-Nov-24 (Fri) At Sea 30-Nov-24 (Sat) 08:00 Hambantota - Sri Lanka 19:00 01-Dec-24 (Sun) 07:00 Colombo - Sri Lanka 16:30 02-Dec-24 (Mon) 14:00 Cochin - India 03-Dec-24 (Tue) Cochin - India 19:00 04-Dec-24 (Wed) At Sea 05-Dec-24 (Thu) 07:00 Mormugao - India 14:30 06-Dec-24 (Fri) 06:30 Mumbai (Bombay) - India 07-Dec-24 (Sat) Mumbai (Bombay) - India

I would think that washing your smalls in the average cruise ship hot tub would have them coming out dirtier than when they went in.

I know, I know, but then I miss bits of the book. And then there's the risk of dribble...

I was thinking of using laundry service on my next cruise because it's a 14 nighter, do you think it would be safe for 100% linen clothing? It seems fairly indestructible at home, can be washed and dried on very high heat.

However, I like to read on a cruise. Real paper books, not from a device. So I tend to fill the extra space in my bag with books from the op shop and donate them to the ship's "library". I've recently discovered the joy of audiobooks while cruising. Very lightweight - I only need my phone and earbuds which I'd be bringing anyway. And there's just something very luxurious about lounging around, enjoying the sea view while someone reads you a story :). Staying awake is the tricky part.

7 kilos of jewellery!! That's impressive.

I love it! A dish drainer, that's a new one. Reading your post I assumed you must drive to your port, then I saw you're in WA so maybe not. Do you take all that stuff on planes with you? (I do take pegs and a laundry line if I have a balcony and the cruise is long enough. Plus mini sprays of febreeze and no-iron stuff.)

I know it's not what you asked, but I would never expect quiet in any cabin. I've lost count of how many times I've sweated over the perfect cabin location only to be stuck with neighbours who have loud conversations on their balcony at all hours, slam their doors, let their kids run amok in the halls. Not to mention those mystery ship noises, and all the creaking that goes on if the swell picks up. So these days I just assume there'll be noise and make sure I'm prepared for anything with earplugs, noise cancelling headphones, and a white noise app. This applies to land holidays, too.

Inspired by the laundry thread, I thought I'd ask about how much 'stuff' people like to bring with them on cruises. I personally like to pack as little as possible on any holiday, it always makes for cheaper and easier transfers. I've always joined the FB group for whatever cruise ship and specific sailing I'm booked on, and have been fascinated (and sometimes amused) by the things people bring with them on cruises. Some of it comes down to allergies or being picky eaters/drinkers, which is fair enough. But there seems to be quite a lot who just love a good gadget, and others who, frankly, might as well have stayed at home because they seem unable to cope with anything being slightly different than usual. Off the top of my head, these are some of the things I've seen people say they bring with them: -All manner of foods including snacks (how can anyone EVER get hungry on a ship?!), their preferred tea and coffee, sauces/salad dressings, vegemite, breakfast cereal, juice. -Their own pillow, mattress protector, fan, bedding (yes a themed doona cover and pillow cases), room decorations including wallpaper that looks like the view from a porthole, things to stick on the cabin door, 101 Amazon gadgets for hanging things. -Bottles of hand soap -Blow up pool for babies in nappies, beach towels, on my last island cruise people actually brought beach trolleys and a Cool Kabana with them. Where do you sit on the minimalist-maximalist spectrum? Do you need the comforts of home while you're away? What's the weirdest thing you've seen someone bring onboard? I don't know why I find this subject so fascinating, but I do! 😄

I once brought a salad spinner (which was destined for the op shop anyway) along on a cruise with the intention of using it as a mini washing machine for my smalls. I honestly don't know what I was thinking. I'm normally a necessities only packer, and don't usually subscribe to the whole "BYO pillow/hooks/salad dressing/blow up pool/kitchen sink with you on a cruise" mentality I see all over social media. It also didn't work very well, handwashing was quicker and easier.

She was our first 'proper' (i.e. not weekender) family cruise, from Fremantle to Singapore. Absolutely loved that ship and everything about the holiday, I'm also very glad to see she's still out there.

That's the one!

I recommend the little bar right up the front of the ship next to the theatre. Can't remember the name, both Adventure and Encounter have them but themed slightly differently. The drinks are a bit more expensive but excellent, and it's a lovely atmosphere, though sadly often empty.

You say marketing fluff, I say lies. The whole premise of the tour was to see the city first thing in the morning when the markets are at their best. "Discover the metropolis of Mumbai in the peaceful morning hours when the city is just waking up, the perfect time to visit the flower market, the Dhobi Ghat, and the Sassoon Docks. Join your local guide and wander the tranquil streets of Mumbai, getting a glimpse of this bustling city as few get to see it before the city awakens, when the roads are quiet. Begin with a visit to the vibrant flower market where you'll breathe in the sweet aromas of the flowers that arrive in the city in the early morning hours."

I don't think a single week goes by where both Coles and Woolies won't have a special on one brand of laundry pods or another. My personal recommendation is the Ka brand at Woolies, which is often the cheapest at full price yet is frequently on sale at 50% off. But I wouldn't travel with pods - way too likely to get sticky and ooze everywhere if they get hot, wet or squeezed. I use the Restor sheets posted above (also Woolies).