arxcards

The shore tours aren't run by Carnival either, where they are not much more than exclusive booking agents. I see it as a moot point either way - we can use the very same OBC to pay for the bear after we board.

There are details about required medical screening for some types of visas. The way everything is spelt out on the most recent site update is a tad confusing, so I can understand why that is panic stations. I think there was a similar post a month or two back, so it isn't just the OP.

Do you have a credit card registered? You will need one to pre-book tours or specialty restaurants. You should be able to book dining room regardless. I am not having any issues accessing dining bookings for cruises next month, next year, or the year after. The dine line is an option, but my experience with them is less favourable than the app.

You can catch a local bus to the zoo, then walk it from there. The challenge of Diamond Head is the physical exercise, and the view is the reward. Last time there, we stayed at Park Shore across the road from the zoo. A few of the group we were with did the walk up Diamond Head. Not the top of my list though. With the protection of the ship not leaving overnight, a lap around the Island with a late lunch at Waimea Falls would make for a nice day if you have a good local guide.

Hi Eileen, I was able to delete the number from the field and just typed it in as (043) 2xx-xxxx. It needs the space between the ) and the 2. I had a few false starts before I found something it was happy with - very annoying part of an otherwise easy enough system. Good Luck!

Ours stems from a cancellation in 2020 on Spirit, then through 2 additional cancellations. $550 OBC is a lot for a 3 night cruise, but we will find a way to spend it. I just went in to order a Build a Bear with OBC. Alas, that is a "cruise cash" item, and can't be pre-purchased with OBC. Having variables like that adds to the confusion you mentioned. I also can't be 100% sure about tours, as our only listed tour is "Faster to the Fun" but that "tour" can be pre-booked with OBC. We are already booked in the Steakhouse so I went in and did a dummy booking for another night, but didn't lock it in. Having already booked steakhouse and internet with OBC, those are listed on the "Booking & Order Detail" page. To find your OBC balance, click on "View Invoice Details" a bit higher on the page. ----- Pick your items, and go to your cart. When you "Proceed to Payment", you will get this message to apply OBC to your purchase. The phone number format is tricky, and my PC wanted to autofill in the wrong format. Needs to be in (xxx) xxx-xxxx format

Hi John, Prior to final payment on an upcoming Splendor cruise, I have been able to use OBC to purchase Fahrenheit555 dining plus internet packages. We did have $550 OBC, and that has reduced in line with those reservations. They don't have my credit card number. I am going to pre-purchase a Build a Bear session tomorrow with OBC, so I can screenshot each step.

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Arthur Phillip Cruise Line, and recreated for Sydney ferries. The Ole' Tank Stream Terminal

Shirley you can't be serious!

What ship are we talking of?

I was going to suggest lunch at Hooters, downstairs in the Aloha Tower complex, but it closed during the pandemic. They had some nice harbourfront views.

Yes, several months before Australia did.

Too true. I just mention that in context. By making an effort to choose a card that might save $100 of fees/commissions on an overseas trip, the savings have well and truly vanished if you can't zero it. My everyday Visa is 12%, and even though it has a 3% international conversion commission, it would be a much cheaper TCO if I was unable to zero it.

Very few stores are no cash. There are a few KFC stores that hit the news this past week for no longer accepting cash, but we are still at the tip of the iceberg.

Thanks. I tried Nouveau on Spirit way back when, and picked the first night for the free bottle. I remember it being a pretty decent feed, but that is about all. I had squeezed the cruise between work commitments, and had been awake for 28hrs when I was trying to eat my dessert. Yes, we are pre-booked for first night. The OBC is easy to apply on Carnival's site. Italian, hmm, will have to suss that out. Looks like I need to get to know this mixologist - nothing new there.

Bang for your buck is everything. New experiences, the ability to switch off and relax when you want, the feeling you are being looked after - all at an appropriate price.

I was just reading about a new Vegan menu being implemented on Carnival, and I just started to wonder what else has evolved since we were last on Carnival ... ooh, maybe 6 years ago. Cruise Critic has a nice story about the Vegan menus, but they seem to hove omitted the ships that are being based here. A bit of further digging, Splendor is down for start of 2024, while Luminosa has no plans to have this yet. https://www.cruisecritic.com.au/news/carnival-introduces-new-vegan-menu One of what I hear is a handful of menus on rotation, and I believe there is to be a vegan burger and a vegan option at Chef's table, although it might be awkward to watch everyone else eating tenderloins & lobster. -------------- They have been promoting a mixologist class aboard. I have done many of these on lots of ships over the years, but never Carnival. In the days of the inclusive drinks package, these are becoming scarcer. Has anyone done one on Splendor, and/or know how much? ------- The steakhouse, Fahrenheit 555 (290.556 celsius). The menu looks great, has anyone been recently? ----- For anyone interested, we got an email through the week, stating their internet will be increasing in price on 16th October, as a hint to pre-book prior to that date for the current price. --- Any other hot tips?

I didn't mention an annual fee. There is a monthly processing fee ($0.95) which applies if you don't use direct debit or their facility to pay your account. I don't trust their facility, so pay via my bank's B-Pay, but I do pay it a couple of months worth of credit in advance so to incur that fee only every 2 or 3 months. While the card is dormant and in credit, say if you use it exclusively for travelling, there will be no processing charges. For cash, the 3% cash advance fee is much like having a pretty average rate through currency exchange, as long as you draw what you need in one hit. Cash is just an emergency thing for us now, or tips when in the US. Both of the above used to be fee free when we signed-up for 28deg. The other hidden fee is to make sure you are zeroing your card, as 27% isn't a cheap interest rate to be paying.

At this stage, I am yet to receive this email - for a cruise departing in 5 weeks time. We have an old Premier, and I wonder if they have only extended the email notification to affected Plus cruisers?

Yeah, I got lucky. Just a precautionary new drivers licence.

When travelling, I have long carried a Nicorette nicotine inhaler. It saves the need of a quick puff in the dunny. Not as impressive as your numbers Den, but I am up to around 5 months off the cigs, but I am giving the vapes a miss.,

Bloody P&O, cutting back on everything.

Just an account fee and a foreign ATM fee, but they are the only fees they have added over the years as far as I can recall. Definitely still one of the best traveller credit card options.

I am with you Barry. For many of the same reasons. I don't mind the ships so much, but am no longer a fan of the way they operate their hotels. For what was already a plain, boring and repetitive menu, to start charging for a basic breakfast egg dish was the last straw. It is only more unique itineraries & Luke Mangan that have kept us interested, but the line was crossed for us earlier this year. My thoughts on P&O Australia ....