colourbird

Just because you don't like it, it doesn't mean it's bad or there is anything wrong with it. Massive sized ships are obviously popular as they keep building more of them, which they wouldn't if they couldn't get people to sail on them. We are looking forward to our trip on Icon and so too are thousands of others.

The best thing would be to get rid of the smaller ships and just build and run the larger ones that can fit substantially more passengers on them. That's more efficient. It's a win for everyone, the environment and the passengers who end up with more to do on the ship. Having fewer ships would also please the residents of the countries who complain they are swamped with ships.

They are extra buses, not replacement buses.

Good, then they can run the service.

Brisbane is getting 200 new train replacement buses. I'm sure some of them could be used for cruise ship passengers.

That's not a tip. That's called bribery, as you are trying to influence another person.

Considering the ships generate a lot of money to their local economy, it wouldn't hurt to provide some form of public transport to the port. We've got a cruise from Brisbane next year and are starting to work out options. It's put us off booking other cruises leaving from Brisbane. If others are like us, Brisbane is losing quite a bit of money. We would have booked a hotel for a couple of nights, bought meals, used transport etc... It wouldn't be too difficult to make transport to the ship easier for passengers.

I really resent tips (although I do tip for great service). I work in a service industry where we don't get tips and aren't allowed to accept tips or any gifts even though we go out of our way to assist people all day long (and the pay's not that great).

I once had a compliant powerboard kept aside for the duration of our cruise, whilst my friend on the same cruise with an identical powerboard was able to use his the whole time! Depends on the officer who checks your bags.

I found they are over cautious and will sometimes impound compliant power boards.

We've had that sort of view a number of times. Always prefer it to the same old views of the opera house and ugly buildings between it and the quay.

Actually I've noticed that, and it's us Aussies that have the reputation for drinking a lot.

How many ships do they need in the Caribbean? That market must be a huge money-spinner for the cruise lines, since they keep adding more and more large ships. More and more American's must be getting the cruise bug and many of them don't want to travel far.

I have a Macquarie (Platinum) debit card which the cruise lines treat as a credit card in terms of surcharges.

We are going on Icon later this year. We usually choose a cabin close to the front of a ship as it is quieter and sometimes there's more motion which we love. On Icon we booked a cabin closer to the centre as it would probably take around 10 minutes to walk from one end to the other if we needed to go to the stern.

The waterfront is very attractive in the early evening. It's an easy walk from the ship.

This was from our overnighter in December 2022.

Hopefully Yaya_in_Oz's ship will still be there!

Icon was originally supposed to be sized between Quantum and Oasis class, so you never know what size the new class will be.

Icon and Oasis class ships don't tender, so that's not an issue. I'll let you know what the crowds are like later in the year.

There is a market for a large ship. They can't fill Quantum as we already have Ovation in Sydney. People will travel to Brisbane from all over Australia just like Americans who travel to Miami to sail on Oasis / Icon class ships.

Yes she will with three more large sisters / half sisters to take her place.

I'd say Wonder of the Seas will home port from Brisbane as it is the only port in Australia large enough for her. She was meant to come here via China a few years ago, but Covid put an end to that. She would probably just do round trips between Brisbane and Lelepa.

Not large enough for RCI. They need something like this...

Our Norwegian cruises in May 2024 are back to back and cost A$5,650 per person per 10 days and that was after getting it reduced from A$6,915 per person when we first booked. That's for a balcony cabin, not a suite.