arxcards

Sadly for anyone aboard, if not yet announced, the AIS destination for Noordam has updated to: POE (Port Chalmers) December 13, 18:00 UTC (Thursday morning kiwi time)

This is all about marketing reach - brand familiarity stuff, and things like more people knowing who Buddy is than know who Daicos is. Not true fans, not members, just market awareness. In true terms, I no longer follow AFL so much, but do keep an eye on how the Swans are going. I guess that fits me in those numbers. It has to be Sydney though. It doesn't make sense to engage with a Melbourne club when they are taking their ships out of Port Melbourne - ironically, the original home of the bloods.

It isn't about being bumpy or slowing her down. Typically if the seas are over 3 metres or the wind is excessive, it is considered unsafe to navigate in/out of the sounds. Nice to be rocked to sleep, but not at the expense of missing the fiords. This is the BOM ocean prediction for AM tomorrow. The odds are slim.

Note the edited anwser above

I just don't think that takes away Transpacific's or relocations in general. As long as they travel slow enough. If anything, the prices have been discounted for these types of cruises, so there is not a bucket of money like there used to be. The heavy discounting has only been because of the price of flights to or from the cruise. If that moderates, the cruise lines can make money from those crossings again.

It all seems like over-thinking. Alternate fuels may be more expensive (why they don't use them), but that will solve their problem. If mandated, it becomes more expensive for everyone, so the fares or bar prices are increased to cover the cost. Adding an extra couple of days to the itinerary solves the problem. Spending less hours in port to allow for a reduced cruising speed also does the same. Ships averaging 22+ knots from Sydney to Noumea will no longer be an option, so an extra sea day out and an extra sea day back. If that increases your days, it increases your fare. If it decreases your # of ports, well that would be sad.

Checking-in via the Carnival app was super easy yesterday, but it wasn't the app. When checking-in, the app redirected me to the mobile website which partly defeats the point of having an app. When arriving at the pier for check-in, I need my printed boarding pass and government ID, and they need to take security photos - so the hub app is purely for use onboard.

Still nothing out there for the super-app. I am not sure how you exactly classify early December, but figure that has passed either when you go into the 2nd week or into double figures.

Have a Dam good time!

Stock Perks is via smartphone app, not via email. The Princess one quoted above is current for Princess. The full list of contact emails for the various Carnival brands is here: 2022 US Annual Report (carnivalcorp.com)

One thing to add - I like Brisbane. They have dedicated check-in staff for the priority lane, and it is rare to get an inexperienced person to check you in. In OPT, you do get the fast lane, but are directed to the next available paddle. So first check-in for the day for this person and they don't know how to open the check-in menu on their iPad. Solved in a couple of minutes, so no big deal, but it wouldn't happen in Brisbane.

Downstairs - not really. Once at the top of the escalator - yes. Priority is all in one which is elite, as well as platinum, suites, current premier packages. Downstairs, prior to check-in opening, they try to ask passengers that have priority into a separate lane. That lane however, just ends up with anyone who wants to join in with minimal checking, but it is the first line to move when check-in opens. I am not sure what happens to this line after that, as we have always tried to be near front of queue. If you are there when check-in opens, it is likely you will have a short 10-15 minute wait in a seating area between check-in and security. From here, they will call transit passengers first, then elites & suites.

Or some dodgy carbon credits from Solstice's lawn??

Not a good look, especially for a current gen ship.

Yes, and yes.

Complete with her own fog machine. Cheap Asian bunker fuel, or are they trialing recycled vegetable oil?

Its a wonder those ponies aren't collapsing on the home straight.

Friends in Sydney on Quantum confirmed 10 - 15 minutes plus whatever queue time.

I love sea days too, but I wouldn't be flying to the US to do them.

But ... is it red?

The CD should be named Francis or Kevin. (sorry, bad bacon pun)

It is the one I wish we hadn't cancelled, but we have to get some medical stuff out of the way. Had they started their season at the normal November time, we would have already cruised on Edge. Timing just didn't suit. One day. There has been a bit of hype over the past week, but there is more innovation about this ship than the other new arrivals for the season.

It looks like something Talkeetna would have. Not sure that fits with your nite life apart from Northern Exposure.

Hi Anna?, Yes & Yes

It is still a pretty good deal, and I wish we had them at hand when we booked 2025. The main reason they apply long cruises differently, is that large numbers would otherwise "hold" a cabin with a $100 deposit, then change their mind when the 2nd deposit became due. PS: That means you also need to find another cruise to use the remaining FCDs.