Chiliburn

That would be nice if it happens.

https://www.dailypost.vu/news/call-for-an-international-wharf-on-tanna/article_c9279db7-2984-5bc3-a9c2-bf1002c316d7.html

@NSWP

Cougar report Uncle Les 

Celebrity Edge had a mature clientele,I would say 95% of the people were over 50.

The entertainment was pretty sedate and it was quite safe for a couple of young fellows like us.

And there was a singles concierge!!

Steak and eggs every morning to keep the energy up .

3 hours ago, arxcards said:

There were some great deals going a couple of years ago. We booked Celebrity Edge - this very cruise. It was a good deal, attractive at a time that cruising was still paused. It needed to be that sweet a deal way to get passengers aboard. You can't compare it with current pricing.

 

However, we did not look for discounted packages. We could have booked an "upgrade" with a package, but it would have turned our refundable deposit into a non-refundable one. We had a couple too many cruises booked, and when the pricing of specialty restaurants and drinks was being announced as double+ that of pre-pandemic, we pulled the pin and had our deposit refunded.

 

We love Celebrity, having enjoyed a couple of great cruises on Solstice. You can compare cruises with land holidays for price, but you can also compare them with other cruise lines. That is the comparison that has us abandoning Celebrity for now. When it comes to booking something today for next year, there is much better value out there. I can afford it, but there is a principle to saying no if I think pricing is OTT.

My conclusion,Edge is a lovely ship. The food is way better than R.C and the cabins are larger with premium fittings .

 I had a interior cabin with a King bed and the cabin was huge.

 I paid $2,000 for it which was reasonable for 6 nights.

I would keep an eye out for a cheap cruise if I was you  Geoff.

Chili ,the last of the big spenders.

9 hours ago, icat2000 said:

What do they charge per day for the beverage packages ? And what do you get in them. I haven't cruised Celebrity since 2016 so bit out of the loop. Good deal is the key. I haven't really seen any good deals from Celebrity of late. 

I’m not sure what the drinks packages are but you would have get it.

Theres three I believe and most of the people had to upgrade to the more expensive one to get a fancy drink.

Not that I’m into it but they even charge for yoga sessions.A few of the gym sessions had charges also.

14 hours ago, springaussie said:

Does anyone know why Brilliance and Serenade are going to Yorkeys Knob and not Cairns?

They were originally on the Cairns list. 

The only reason I could think is the tide ?  They can get big tidal movements around there.

Or Royal is just to tight .

16 hours ago, arxcards said:

You need the XE app on your phone to do your conversions.

No additional tip?? 😉

I’m a bit of a cheap Charlie in the tip department but always tip the cabin attendant 

1 minute ago, onlyslightlymad said:

The coffee is awful.  The best I managed was to go to the pod machine in the Retreat lounge, choose doppio, do it twice, then add your own milk.

I bought a coffee plunger along and I m pretty popular .

I bought a couple of drinks last night out side of happy hours.

A coke was $US 6 and a bourbon and coke was $US18 ,that’s about $24 Australian.

Royal Caribbean for a bourbon and coke is $US11.

2 hours ago, arxcards said:

Indeed. Add us to the current list.

We used to love doing short cruises in Royal's suites. The high prices aboard have steered us away, and they have started jacking-up the suite prices in line with the drink and/or restaurant inclusions. Never say never, but they have lost us for now.

It’s a nice ship Geoff but you wouldn’t like it because your medallion won’t work .

But they are really out to fleece the punter . you just need to say .Do I really need that suite or that special restaurant where you eat to much.

2 hours ago, reeves35 said:

So, in addition to a drinks package you pay another AUD9 - AUD12 for a drink and then there will probably be an 18% service charge (AUD1.50 - AUD2.20) added on top of that.....you'd want it to be a nice wine!!!

I have never bought a drink package as I try not to drink so much but I believe there two tiers. The basic just covers the average drink,beer ,house wine,mixed drinks,coffee,juice.

I heard at the bar a couple times,someone order a cocktail or a fancy glass of wine.

The bar tender said your drink package doesn’t cover that it will be an extra $6 or $8 

The Tender area or gangway is really fancy. The side of the ship opens up to like a shop front with glass windows. Like the perfume area at Myer .I started to take a picture inside but security jumped on me.

33 minutes ago, resordanis said:

Chilli, the food in the buffet will be good on Celebrity. Anything is better than the Windjammer.I will be interested in your comparison seeing you are now Elite with Celebrity!

Elite doesn’t really give many benefits,90 minutes of internet and a open bar from 5-7 and the drinks are pretty limited.

The food is definitely better that windjammers,the Breads a as good as you get.

They have a lovely baked ham they are carving up in the buffet,heaps of smoked salmon and even pickled herrings . I just had ham and egg bagel,very tasty.

As you said, asked the cabin attendant for a kettle and he had one in half hour. I have my trusty coffee plunger so all good in the coffee department.

6 hours ago, cruisin from florida said:

They make a LOT on gambling in Asia. Profits, baby!

They are probably got some kind of an arrangement to exit cash out of china ??

Macau was one of the best for the Chinese,hit the casino ,loose a bit and transfer.

I’m on this cruise also,we where on about 11:00 .

Lovely ship very modern and classy.

The food in the buffet is a touch above Royal Caribbean but that’s not hard to do.

14 minutes ago, springaussie said:

Ovation will be in Singapore after the Beijing season.

10 year dry dock due April 2026. 

It doesn’t sound like a very consistent development for Singapore. Maybe Voyager might spend some time there.

4 hours ago, Cruise Wonderland said:

 

Double Q class already happened in pre-covid times. In 2019 there were Spectrum in Shanghai, Quantum in Tianjin, and Voyager in Hong Kong.

 

https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Deployment/2019_2020/Deployment_China_SC_FINAL.pdf

https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Deployment/2019_2020/Deployment_China_QN_FINAL.pdf

https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Deployment/2019_2020/Deployment_China_VY_final.pdf

So what ship do have in Singapore in 2025?

52 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

Yes but a lot has happened since 2019.  The booking trends and economy of China are wildly different post-pandemic compared to five years ago.  Cruising came back very quickly in the US and Europe markets, less so in APAC markets.    

I’m surprised they have 2 ship let alone one in china.

10 minutes ago, woodscruise said:

Aren't 2 Radiance class ships still not allocated to a region after the AK season?

I think one was going to Tampa and the other Galveston/ New Orleans. That could change easily.

10 minutes ago, springaussie said:

Putting a Radiance Ship on Brisbane 25/26 would make more sense. It could even do a lap or 2 of Oz. 

That would rule out bringing a couple of ships through the Suez Canal.

5 minutes ago, ozdevil said:

i have heard  Mr Wongs  in Bridge Lane  cbd is not bad for chinese?

I am thinking of taking the good bride there  either before or after our cruise and if she is lucky we go twice  if any good

It’s just getting something good for a reasonable price in Sydney.

https://www.chatthai.com.au/2017/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/18/ct_cq_dinner_WEB_2020.pdf

26 minutes ago, woodscruise said:

Geoff, If the Red Sea is still a no go, could they run it via South Africa directly to Brisbane, as an alternative (maybe non rev)?

Voyager from leaving Rome to Brisbane has 6 weeks unaccounted for . So maybe around Africa?

I think they had the hooks ?

https://www.sydneyluggage.com.au

And for Thai food we have a Thai town in Campbell street but Chat Thai has a couple of locations one in circular quay and they are better than a kick in the bum.

https://www.chatthai.com.au

1 minute ago, resordanis said:

What ships here Chilli?

It’s looking like Anthem in Sydney and Voyager in Brisbane for the 25-26 season .

But there’s a couple of Radiance class in Alaska in 2025   ,which one could turn up ??? . That’s a bit of a long shot there though,Cheryl.