Chiliburn

November is a cheap time and also February.

Early in the season September and March onwards the weather around NZ and Tasmania can get rough .

Glad you enjoyed you visit Terry.You certainly got around.

You will have to come back because you missed the red Center .

We have some good prices on suites here in Australia with the earlybird sale

Got $500 OBC ,didn’t get that last year.

Does anyone find prices for suites have jumped a lot since 4 years ago,a lot more than inflation.?

A few people down here think it’s because RC has got a good foot hold in the market so are putting their prices up.

What kind of cruise ship are you after.

Small ship,big ship,up market,family,party,adventure?

New Zealand in a good destination from Sydney or Melbourne.

Thank you

We have18 months ,I’ll have a decision soon from my friend.

I’ve booked a single in a junior suite on the ovation for next December.the cost was AU$7200 for a 12 night around NZ.

A friend will more than likely come along but not sure?

From what I understand it will only cost $250 for the second person. Bringing it to the advertised price of AU$7450 for double occupancy.

The agent said I can add the second person anytime.

The question I would like to ask has anyone had a problem with the price and adding a extra person.

Im hopping They won’t hit me with a extra full fair

So why can’t we name agents,I think it’s in the public interest to name bad agents.

I just changed agents from one I’ve been dealing with for 5 years to a other.

Because I was getting ripped off.

The best rate is to US$ Cash onboard the last night.

Second is to have your credit card provider handle the international transaction.

Royal Caribbean have a lovely option which is a rip-off.

That’s probably why,good on you.

Did you book direct or through a agent.

I usually cruise with RC and I’ve been burnt a few times.

The agent blames the cruise company,the cruise company blames the agent.

I will mention travel agents.

They’re like vultures and only want your money.no service.

Yes you may think it was a mistake.

We went to a special meat thing in big store as they don’t have butcher shops .

About us$50 half leg us$100 full leg.for NZ lamb.

In the end We got some beef and spuds,which I thought was a bit expensive

A year ago or so we were in Oklahoma visiting friends.they ask us what we wanted for dinner.

I said a leg of lamb.

They said ,no you don’t .

$US100. For a leg of lamb from NZ

Yes, actually they are.

 

 

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30 years ago maybe ,when we went to the states we didn’t have enough bags to put our shopping in.

All that good America produce.

Now in this global world we share the same substandard Chinese junk.

I always cross reference cruises from Australian agents to us agents and the price is generally the same.

I don't think Australian consumer laws have anything to do with the removal of auto gratuities by cruise lines. They used to charge the gratuities when our laws were the same as they currently are. The gratuities were removed because Australians don't like them. We haven't been brought up with tipping a part of every aspect of daily life. The first to remove them was P&O (I think it was October 2010), followed by Princess in May 2011. From memory, Royal Caribbean charged gratuities when they first operated out of Australia, but later they removed them. This was probably because of customer resistance to the practice.

I agree they probably dropped gratuity on the fare because of the backlash from Ozzie’s & kiwis.

But I’ve had this argument on Tripadvisor cruise forum for years.

If you buy something in Australia the advertised price is the final price you pay.

It’s the law.(don’t know what law)

So you go to your local travel agent and get a cruise,you pay the advertised price ,final price.

But when you are on the ship technically you aren’t in Australia.so they can do what they want.

In the USA you see something advertised,you think gee that’s cheap.

But when you pay for it they hit you with all these extra hidden fees and taxes.it could be anything.

Even American I’ve had a discussion with said how did they get their system.

You will need a couple of days to get over your flight.

Your ship will probably leave from circular quay,thats next to the opera house and a historic area called the rocks.

Also at circular quay is the main ferry terminal the best kept secret in Sydney.

Around that area hotels are EXPENSIVE.

Sydney has a fantastic and safe train system and there’s a train station at circular quay,a few minutes walk to your ship.

So if you don’t want to spend the big bucks around the harbour all you need is a train station near your hotel.

For something cheaper I would look around

Darling harbour

China town

Haymarket

RC include general gratuity on the fare in Australia and NZ.Their policy is ,all voluntary purchase attracts %18 gratuity.

So that’s if you buy a drink,go to a specialty restaurant,get a haircut.

From what I understand it’s a McDonald’s style menu with a few individual variations.

They have a basic menu and just add a individual cooks flair every now and then.

I had a lovely veggie omelette on Ovation a month ago.

With a fresh fried pork chop.

We have done a test on a few occasions.

A test between Windjammer and the dining room.

After eating in the MDR we go up to the buffet.

There’s the same food and usually fresher in the buffet.

But sometimes the buffet can be quite unpleasant if it’s busy.sometimes hungry people can be like wild animals.

I believe they will phase the MDR out

The cruise is what you make it?

Just like life.my dad said that to me when I was a kid.

Make the best of what is on offer.

I find online agents are cheaper.

Us agents are about the same price as local agents.

Unfortunately we can’t name agents.

I’ve been on the ovation 4 times and I’ve learned not to book way in advance unless you want a suite.

We just booked a junior suite for December 2019 and I think we got a good deal.

If you want a run of the mill cabin wait till 3 months before departure.

Ovation is a big ship and they usually have trouble filling it.

For a balcony expect to pay $200 a day.

Well I could be wrong and it wouldn’t be the first time.

On my account I have two people and ones my daughter.

Yes, the kids get their own c&a number.

I don’t think kids get thier own number,

My daughter uses my number as she on my account.

They removed my post,I wasn’t aware you can’t name agents.

Still $10 deposit is good,you can’t go wrong.