arxcards

6 nights or less $50 7-13 nights $100 14 nights or more $250

Based on lower berth capacity, the US standard, Westerdam.

Luminosa - zero. Sorry, is that cheating? 😂

There is nothing to stop you doing a cruise out of the Caribbean, or many other destinations. Given that the US has resumed over a year ago, they only backed out of similar protocols three weeks ago. For Royal - https://www.royalcaribbean.com/the-healthy-sail-center We are heading the same way, but have a few bridges to pass under first. While frustrating that things move a bit slower than they should, I think most of the measures have made sense. No, I am not a scientist, but I do understand numbers, and that is the main driver to the speed of restrictions being eased. I have a different outlook, and have enjoyed 2 cruises since the resumption with 2 more next month.

I agree, there is always something on in Sydney, and it is too far out for punters to be creating too much demand on the hotels. We like to book something early, usually via booking.com, but always something we can cancel till close to the date without penalty. One plus post-covid, is that so many hotels will now let you cancel up to the day before arrival without paying a premium. If we find something better later, we will cancel the original booking.

We have bought a few over the years, but only ever used one. When they have promos these days, Princess often throws up a $99pp deposit, although the rest of the deposit is usually payable sooner than it would be for FCD booking. For a while, I felt like it locked us into booking Princess, regardless of what else was on offer. I might head that way again soon though, if Majestic is anywhere near as good as Coral was last month. I guess it would be too easy, but I gather we wont be able to purchase our FCD's with OBC? We have a fair chunk of OBC for 11 nights on Majestic.

I have had days in port on P&O in Adelaide and Brisbane, and X-Ray was via private security in the terminal. Brisbane was just in June. We have had a few days in port in Melbourne, but I can't recall specifics.

They should have shut the borders sooner. Your previous cruise was 2nd only to Ruby. You will be waiting till at least into next year for vaxx requirements and pre-cruise covid testing to be lifted, but on the current rate of improvement, mask mandates may be lifted before Christmas. You can currently cruise as one of 5% of the passenger/crew count if you have a medical exemption that prevents you getting a covid vaccination. That 5% also includes kids under 12, so it is really hard to get in on any upcoming cruises with that medical exemption. The states hold sway with an agreed set of protocols currently linking NSW, QLD, VIC, SA. When they do back off on their requirements, I think all of the cruise lines will follow suit soon after. This is the current NSW information page - https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/travel/cruising-rules Things are moving slowly, but in the right direction. - The federal ban was lifted on 17th March - P&O resumed Aussie cruising on 31st May - Over the following months, it is now up to 3 ships operating, but our ports will be filling up over the following 4 to 6 weeks. - Covid numbers were elevating through code yellow and orange statuses, and the cruise lines responded by chopping up itineraries into shorter bits (less days = less infections on the government criteria). Cruises to the islands and PNG were modified into short domestic itineraries, at times a bit of a mess. - New Zealand has opened and had one ship visit, as well as Fiji that saw their second ship arrival over the past 2 days. - The first PNG departure leaves Sydney tomorrow, which is only the 2nd international departure since cruising resumed. - The first cruise into New Caledonia is imminent, but Vanuatu isn't officially open till 1st December - Mask mandates on public transport and inside cruise terminals were lifted during this past week. - Covid status on each of the cruise ships has remained in green status for the past month or so, but there will be a cautious approach until ships start to call in Hobart and Fremantle.

Just a bit of a project to capture the fleet, as they migrate south for the summer. in order of arrival dates into Australia. Jump in and post transit info for your ship of interest - port and ship cams etc. Carnival Splendor is well on the way, having just departed Port Denarau for a Sydney arrival on 30th September. Majestic Princess has recently departed Los Angeles bound for Honolulu, set to arrive in Sydney on 20th October. Bon Voyage Stu. Celebrity Eclipse departed Seattle a couple of days back, and will arrive in Sydney on 22nd October. Ovation of the Seas is currently on her final Alaskan cruise, then will depart Vancouver on 30th September, to arrive in Sydney on 29th October. Carnival Luminosa will leave Palermo following her rebranding in the coming days. I don't yet have a specific time. She will depart for Brisbane without passengers, with a likely pause in Singapore, then on to arrive in Brisbane on the evening of 29th October. When they get their ship together, she will start cruising on 6th November. Quantum of the Seas will set off on her final Alaska cruise tomorrow, then depart Vancouver for Brisbane on 3rd October, arriving on 1st November. Grand Princess is on the final days of her Alaskan season, follows with a 7 night cruise to LA, then sets off for NZ, Sydney and Melbourne on 3rd October. Arrives to Sydney on 2nd November, then into Melbourne 2 days later. Queen Elizabeth completes her Med season on 10th October, and heads to Fremantle, arriving on 7th November. Westerdam departs on her final Alaskan cruise tomorrow (our time), and returns to Seattle on 2nd October. She will then depart for Sydney, to arrive on 8th November. Noordam is currently on her final Alaskan cruise, which will follow with a coastal cruise from Vancouver to San Diego. She will depart there on 8th October, and arrive in Sydney on 12th November. Norwegian Spirit is still some time away. Currently on her final Alaskan season cruise, but that will be followed by a series of itineraries between Hawaii and Papeete. Arrives in Sydney on 21st December.

Yes, they are available, but they weren't really promoting them much. I didn't look too closely, but believe you can buy them via the medallion app as well as from the future cruise rep.

If you are already on a suburban train, Town Hall is definitely a better stop for White Bay than Central is. For anyone coming into Sydney on an intercity service, it terminates at Central. Much better for us to pay a few dollars extra and take a cab from Central, versus lugging our luggage over to the suburban lines for a next stop train to Town Hall.

They used to also allow you a single switch of your FCD to another cruise. They aren't as attractive as they used to be.

You can bank them into your own account, but there is a pretty hefty fee that will take a chunk of it.

The check-in staff assemble at 10:30am, and are usually setup and ready by 10:45 - on a normal day. The Sydney sailings have been listed as first check-in at noon, as you have with yours. I presume they set it a bit later in case of any extra covid protocols to tend to. In past years it has been 11am, and you could usually get there a bit earlier to find check-in already open. Looks to be the same, as long as there are no issues with the ship.

I loved how they all seemed so professional, but when the genies bumped into each other or the concierge, all they did was whinge about their lieges. That said though, I would jump at any opportunity of having a star class genie again.

Hmm, not that I can recall. I think that just translates to - you replied to my email without a list of 20 things you want. I only had one wish, but he couldn't fulfil it anyway. It seems all the genies and concierges all send the same bloated email full of pasted info that is really hard to read. He wasn't particularly good as a pre-cruise communicator himself, but brilliant once we were on the ship. I would have to fire up an old computer to find his name, but he sort of reminded me of a young version of Law and Order actor Benjamin Bratt, if that narrows it down a bit.

Awesome way to burn your bacon too.

Oh yeah, I should have remembered. Ours were in our genie's coat pocket.

Cool, it has been a few years. Is that new for Royal, or started back before lockdown?

Yes, for a full suite, you will get seapasses at check-in and your Wow bands will be in your suite. Both the cards and wow bands work, so your choice which one you want to use.

I guess it depends on how much of the couple of hundred million has been spent to date. Yes, money talks in Vanuatu, but idle promises do not. Depends where they draw the line at large ships for Isle of Pines. OK for Majestic Princess and others a bit smaller to call there this summer. There is no ban AFAIK, but an issue with logistics of tendering xxx passengers a couple of km's. Royal has no scheduled visits there this coming season, so curious why their AU/NZ social media page recently posted a picture of IOP. Lifou does have a restriction. I am not aware of it being a size restriction, but they have capped the frequency of visits. Before the lockdown, there were times when they were getting 4 ships per week. Mare is currently out of action altogether for another couple of months, I believe due to damaged infrastructure.

There is no rumour. Vanuatu officially opens to cruising on 1st December, P&O has secured 2 x trial visits in November to assess how the protocols work. As mentioned Royal are currently discussing the requirements with Vanuatu officials, but I see it as highly unlikely that they will have a ship in before P&Os first call on 9th November, P&O has decades of goodwill there, assisting to build tender wharves, offering disaster assistance following cyclones, and most importantly they employ Vanuatu crew on their ships. So where are you going? In lieu of Port Vila and Mystery Island, I think Isle of Pines and Lifou are a definite possibility. For now, Royal hasn't decided, and may be holding on to hope of gaining permission to call in Vila, so for now, it is still up in the air and open to negotiation.

Go to your Apple or Google Play store and search for Australian ETA, and follow the steps listed here - https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/electronic-travel-authority-601#HowTo

NSW used to have an expiry for some states' concession Opals as the NSW government didn't have access to some state records to determine if eligibility had changed. Pension card holders had no expiry, but senior card eligibility from some states did. I believe that is no longer the case, as they have a national register/cooperation between states.