Sfr1959

I'm sailing on Radiance out if Sydney. I get into Sydney fairly early in the morning. I have some things I need to do in the city and will probably be bringing my wine in my carry on on the plane. I'm flying business class so weight, etc not a problem.

 

 

 

As I said I have some things to do. You can actually dump your bags at circular quay quite early. I'd like to check my main bag and my check in bag (with the wine still in it). And carry all my devices and valuables in a small backpack around the city.

 

 

 

I realise that my bag with the wine in it will likely be flagged and held. My question is, will they allow me to get that wine when I go down to security? I just don't need those extra 3kg on my back for several hours, bouncing against my devices.

 

 

 

Will I be able to get my two bottles or will they hold them until disembarkation. I don't want that because I'll be buying duty free.

 

 

 

Anyone have experience with wine in checked bags at Australian embarkation points?

Back to the question that was asked !!!!!

If you leaving from Sydney Circular Key there is a nice wine cellar on the corner across from the 4 Seasons.

They have great good quality wine at great prices rather then paying RCI prices. Average over priced by 600%

Radiance is a beautiful ship, we cruise on her in May doing a Alaska cruise. Beat place to relax, with a view is "Champagne Bar"

Enjoy cheers

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We always leave our wine in our checked luggage,

All's that will happen is you will be called down to show the steward it's not spirits. ( and the allowable amount.)

We are the some as a lot in Australia, who fly in to connect with cruise.

Less stuff to carry around till your room is ready.

Cheers

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We thought the same about changing cabins as we book our cabins well in advance because we like mid ship. On our cruise last Nov on the Voyager we had a Promenade cabin (deck 7)

Guest relations left a message on our door and phone to call them. Their was a large Chinese group who had the 4 cabin ether side of us, and another friend wanted to be next to them and wanted our cabin.

We didn't really want to, but Guest Services put us into a JS mid ships with some OBC and 2 specialty restaurant vouchers.

So we are always up for an offer loll[emoji106][emoji106]

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Jjhhhh

On our last to cruises, one being Radiance on May 20, they only offered them on last 4 days of a cruise, when people couldn't purchase drink packages

Cheers

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I think RCI have got their program right for Mr & Mrs General Cruiser, but for people who do solo and suite cruises it is out of whack.

With general cruises it take 10-12 cruises to get to Diamond, which is a very loyal cruiser.

We just got of an Alaskan cruise on Radiance, where a well to do lady from the states, is Diamond after 2 cruise. She did the B2B relocation of Explorer of the Seas from Australia. 11 night New Zealand cruise (33 points) then 24 night Transpacific cruise ( 72 point).

That give her a total of 105 points in 2 cruises, my question to RCI, who is the more loyal cruiser to their brand ??????? (Not hard)

If people book suites give them extra benefits, give them priority seating, and their own CL, seating by the pool, they have paid for them.

But don't take the loyalty rewards away from Mr & Mrs General Cruise . Crown and Anchor Loyalty program, Is to reward Loyalty to the RCI brand. not a suite and gold card reward system.

How do they fix it ?????

Probably the best way is to go to a 1 point per night across the board. If you book a suite you get all the benefits which you have paid for, but only 1 point per night.

Personally I think the same for solo traveler's

The system they have now is influenced by money, not loyalty

This will probability put a few noses out of joint, but just my view.

PS: By the way my wife and I are D+ and never been in a suite or had any cruises less then 7 days.

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S

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We have a few B2B cruises starting next month ,

and all have dropped the drink Package price between $12 & $14 AUD

Per day

Really happy pricing is going in right direction [emoji485][emoji485]🤓

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Most drinks on voyager of the seas are $10-$12 each and include gratuities (they have to as the cruise is from Australia) so seems the Australian market is cheaper

It's not that our market is cheaper , it's all got to do with exchange rate. That $10 - $12 USD is $14- $17 AUD which is very expensive in the Aussie market place

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Can someone explain RCI drink package pricing.

In April- May we are doing a B2B cruise on Explorer of the Seas,

First cruise Ultimate package is $86 AUD per day

then second cruise is $ 94 AUD(some ship)

We then spend 4 day in Vancouver the board Radiance of the Seas

Ultimate package is $97 AUD

But before you say it got to do with the Dollar

In Dec 16 we booked Ovation of the Seas and its $84 AUD

Go figure , spoke to customer service and they couldn't give me an answer, except they would get a manager to ring me (been 4 weeks)

Not upset with RCI , want roan my cruise but just don't understand !!!

Cheers [emoji481][emoji481][emoji481][emoji485][emoji485]🍾[emoji322][emoji322]

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Yes we were on Voyager on Nov 15 and they do have kettles with tea and coffee . No fresh milk but powdered, we just when up to the windjammer and got a glass of fresh milk and cream and kept in our fridge [emoji106][emoji106]

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We have had upgrades on our last 2 cruises with RCI.

Didn't ask for them, but we had booked midship " Promenade suite" and was upgrade to balcony , on some level and only just 5 cabins away.

Was told the reason why, is that when RCI is trying to sell remaining cabins, inside and Promenade cabins are easier to sell, so they give upgrades to premium inside Cabins.

That's our experience, and really blessed.

Thank you RCI

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We were on Voyager late Nov 15 , was a great ship,

You will always get people wigging about things.

Just chill and enjoy your holiday [emoji41][emoji41][emoji41]

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Latest pic's of Ovation of the Seas

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Agree and always pay Gratuities, but was just pointing out how these companies really do their employees a dishonour really.

If I give a steward a tip at the end of a cruise its for his excellence and shouldn't be pooled and then divided up between all staff.

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This old Gratuities Apple again.

Here's a thought, why not remove the name Gratuities. And increase the fare to cover staff for a fair income.

That way Cruise company should or will pay a fair wage.

And then we can tip for excellent service.

I think gratuities on a bill, are a crock, for company to get out of paying a fair wage to staff. Tipping is for excellent service

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We are going on cruise in Nov with RCI.

They have drop price by nearly 40% from when we booked 6 mths ago.

I rang RCI and asked if we could upgrade to a JS which I calculated would have cost $1500. They said I couldn't at the promotion rate and it would cost us $3200. Anyway after 30 min trying to get someone to understand how silly this was with no outcome.

I cancelled my booked ,

2 min later rebooked the same cabin, saving me $1450

After cancellation penalty of $637

Profit was $813 plus the promotion OBC of $400.

Thanks RCI , because your sales personal can't think outside what's written on the screen or manual in front of them, I just made $1213 which could have been your profit for an up grade

WIN , WIN, WIN FOR US [emoji41][emoji41][emoji41][emoji41][emoji41][emoji41][emoji41][emoji41][emoji41][emoji322][emoji322][emoji322][emoji485][emoji485][emoji485][emoji485]

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We are also on Legend in November. Bad reviews are one thing I don't pay too much attention to as people are always quicker to criticise than to give credit. I know we will have a great time and you will too:)

Yes totally agree, we loved it and will cruise on her again [emoji322][emoji322][emoji485][emoji485][emoji41]

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Yes we had it last sea night, was a really great treat as my wife was going to have it at an extra cost that night.

Our Water Kalo just keep bring them out for those who wanted more, plus they had Baked Alaska for desert.

Doesn't get much better then that [emoji322][emoji322][emoji322][emoji485][emoji485][emoji485]

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Hi Robanill

We just got of Legend on a 10 day Asia cruise (Singapore, Thailand , Cambodia and Vietnam ) and

1. RCI take you passports and organise Visas for your ports of call each. They do it as a group so is about 90% cheaper then doing it yourself . But just go into cruise info for your ports of call.

2. Yes pastries are free at Coffee shop

3. Should be around 60 days I think, but we did all our own as you can organise before you go, or just grab a taxi or Tuk-tuk for a day tour,

4. Yes it's still 2 bottles,

5. No need, all the water onboard is great with fountain around the ship.

6. We went to Chop Grill one night and was really great, but the MDR has a 7 day menu, which feature a lot of what Chops has. You don't need to do specialist Resturants as the food in the MDR was a high standard with great choices.

8. You will find out the night before when formal nights are.

9. You will have Lobster a couple of night complimentary , and you can have as many as you like [emoji41], also there is steak on the menu every night from NY strip to Eye fillet. The food on Legend I think was one of the highlights of our cruise.

Hope this helps , have an awesome cruise

Cheers

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Hi Serena,

You don't get any with any cruise line except P&O.

I we have a few cruises booked with Royal Caribbean, so I rang them and there discount only applies to US and Canadian military and emergency services.

I forwarded an email to there management in U.S. Explaining how Australian , British , Canadian and US force all fight together, they sent a reply saying they would be looking into it in the near further.

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I think the pins are an awesome idea at C&A events, We like talking to same minded people who have a lengthy cruise history, to get the ins and outs of different destinations and cruise lines. Plus all the secrets of different ships within RCI.

Personally we have never encountered any rude or elitist pin holders

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This is what you do:

 

 

 

When you settle in on Cruise #1, find some time to chat with the Loyalty Ambassador. Tell him/her your situation: This cruise will make you Emerald. S/he should be able to take care of making that happen on Cruise #2.

 

 

 

:)

Cheers thanks for that, just worked it out that will be Diamond after the 2nd leg ,

Happy happy [emoji322][emoji485][emoji41]

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Hi all we are doing a B2B next April

Sydney- New Zealand - Sydney 11 days

Sydney - Seattle 25 day

We qualify as Emerald after we finish 1st leg.

Do we have to wait for RCI to post it on there site

Or are we automatically classed as Emeralds

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With all due respect but "everyone" does not know. Particularly people from Australia and New Zealand who are cruising on those ships where tipping is not required as it is built into their fares. Please get your facts right.

I agree ,

In Australia we tip for good service, not for the pleasure of someone bringing my meal to the table, serve me a drink or clean my room and make my bed. That's what we pay for in out fare !!!!

But if someone give me a great dining experience, or makes my night a enjoyable in a bar and entertaining or my room steward make the effort to give above average service and shows us personalised service,

We tip very good, because they deserve it. We have done a few cruises where we have had "crap service" and the steward know's straight away because we ask to be moved.

Why is it the passengers responsibility to pay the Cruise lines staff.

We pay that in our fares and we should only be obliged to tip for great

service.

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