arxcards

Try this one. They had a change of mind/policy/heart. Check from post 41 onwards.

This is now out of date. I will find a link to the more recent and relevant topic.

I thought it was only 3%. The discount doesn't apply to taxes and port fees, so it isn't a straight calculation off the total fare. Talk to Princess or your T/A to get a clear price before committing.

Further North. BOM's 4am update: Jasper should start to move to the west by Sunday towards the north Queensland coast and reach the coast by about Wednesday. The highest risk of a cyclone impact lies between about Cape Melville and Townsville, including Cairns and Cooktown commencing on Tuesday. As Jasper approaches the coast there is a risk of re-intensification and the potential for severe impacts. This model is currently accurate, and consistent with BOM. The BOM will only forecast 72 hours ahead, so there are no official cyclone warning and watch areas until tomorrow.

You can use 1× FCD pp to get your 3% discount. Two FCDs will not give 6%. Worth looking at segments to get around this, but it would be useful to keep the same cabin. For booking 2025 WC, it was 1000's cheaper to book the whole cruise than to book in segments.

They have learned from experience. The last big one through there (Yasi) wiped out most of their equipment and pretty much everything else, but the buildings survived. It has been a regular target for cyclones, so it must be a great spot for a weather station.

That was their version for the spethial media event people. They have targeted a fair bit of media that normally doesn't get a cruise ship invite, and they are gushing over rock star suite guitars and free pina coladas. I will be happy to wait and see what the paying public think.

Such idyllic conditions. Short memories of the altered course of two or 3 ships departing Vancouver/LA/SF this past September to dodge a West Coast storm. Also, Majestic Princess waiting off Auckland for a day at the end of her crossing before they could dock (a whole 6 weeks ago). There is a deep ocean crossing on either side of the tropical stuff. Usually not significantly rough weather, but rarely calm for the whole crossing either.

Yes, I was just looking at the jumble of the shipping schedules. On 10th, it was still saying Luminosa was departing for Airlie Beach, and Airlie Beach still has the ship arriving on 12th Dec. But, in opposition to that, the return back into Brisbane on 14th December does show Luminosa coming from Sydney. Sydney Ports has now updated with Luminosa anchored at Athol Buoy on 12th December.

Glad it helped.

There is always the plum job as concierge of Lelepa.

Where does that leave Big Gav?

Yes, plus Melbourne.

Ocean conditions? How long is a piece of string - there will likely be some bumpy days.

Not sure in this case. Usually around 15 minutes. They will normally tender you to the Man O'War steps on the eastern side of the Opera House.

This now looks certain to cross the coast as a cyclone, and it looks to be targeting Port Douglas as a CAT 2 or 3 on Wednesday evening. The earlier modelling had predicted it would lose intensity, but the conditions are warmer than they would have been in the past and this is building towards being a monster for this time of year. By some quirk, for large cruise ships, so far it seems like the two Royal Caribbean ships are the only ones to be fully impacted. Luminosa has a Sunday departure to Airlie Beach which could just dodge all this, but it might be a bit too close for comfort and it is likely to see an itinerary change as well.

Seems like it. Back to sea now, with lots of media aboard for a party down to Melbourne.

Wow, sofa beds.

True. If given the option of getting the suite for $150pp cheaper without 360, would that still feel like a freebie. Similarly, saying no to Royal class concierge lounge to save some more. These are included in the inflated suite price, not freebies. We have just booked a suite on Discovery for March 2026, and 360 was one of the reasons in choosing a full suite vs a mini. Until I saw that we could reserve 360 on the app, I assumed it was invite only. It better be still a site perk by the time we get there, as it could well be a relevant $360pp by then.

The predicted path currently points directly at Port Douglas at around cat 1 The cone of uncertainty is over 1000km though, with Bowen at the most southerly point, and the affected warning area for something that is around a week away would be almost double that.

A bit of a yeah-nah

Unlikely. Possible if they can rule based on the original itinerary, but unlikely. If you see the duty free open on the first night, get in before they change their mind. As mentioned though, our duty free cruising only gets a decent price when they are visiting a good duty free port.

That is a strange way of referring to anyone who is immunocompromised or with co-morbidities. But yes, if you cruise you are currently getting short odds for catching it. If there is a fair chance it will make you very sick, the protections from screening no longer exist and even government advice says that cruising is not a safe environment for you. No comparison to a shopping centre though.