sunscreen

So I booked a shore excursion through the cruise line back at beginning of November for a cruise in March 2019.  I noticed today thru RCL emails that they have discounted this excursion.  Not a big discount but a couple drinks none the less.   On the excursion now it says check on board where it normally says add to your cart.   So I called them directly advising them that I do not want to cancel it online myself because it appears that it is fully booked and I might not be able to rebook it then.  So I thought they could do it from there end by simply crediting my OBA the difference.   No such luck.   Not very good customer service I say.  Other cruise lines I have cruised with automatically have credited by OBA with the difference if they discount a shore excursion that I have had previously booked.  Not RCL.  And then she had the nerve to ask if I wanted to book more excursions with them.  I said "no thank you"  I will be booking privately for this very reason.  So just a heads up to anyone else that encounters this and another reason to book your on excursions privately.  

Neither of us wants to attempt to drive there.  lol

I am looking at a tour from Sydney for just the Australia Reptile park as it is approx 1 hr drive from Sydney.  I only could find one and it combines a dolphin cruise and the sand dunes which I do not want.  Would rather spend all the time at the park.   Any suggestions would be appreciated...

We will be visiting Airlie Beach by cruise ship at the end of Feb 2019.   What would be some good excursions to look at?   We would like to see the Whitsundays and perhaps visit a beach but with stinger season, is it worthwhile?   I have looked over the Princess excursions but not sure if there is something private that might be better.   Jet skiing was an option however Princess only does Pioneer Bay and we would like to travel over to the Whitsundays and not guaranteed to be off the ship in time to join private tour.

We will be on the Ovation of the Seas doing a 13 night New Zealand cruise.  We always like to tip the room stewards extra and when we have cruised in past have always tipped in U.S. cash.    Was wondering what the staff would prefer on this cruise as the OBA are all in U.S. dollars but I would think they would appreciate New Zealand or Australian cash.    Any advice?  

I would like to see more information on ports as prior poster mentioned.   i.e.  tendering,  the need for excursions or doing it on your own,  whether excursion should be booked with ship or on own due to distance and travelling around certain areas.     

Was reading somewhere that when you disembark the ship you need to stand in line beforehand to obtain a time for disembarking for each port.   Does that mean they give the people that book RCL excursions priority disembarkation over people that book privately?   How far in advance does a person line up if they want to get off earlier?   

In Wellington my husband is doing the quad biking and I will be on my own.  Am I able to do the cable car, museum and Zealandia sanctuary on my own or should I book a tour?

Just booked tickets for West Side Story  at the Handa Opera for opening night and have a few questions  I'm hoping fellow patrons could probably answer.  We are planning on taking the water taxi over and from what I understand we catch near the Sydney Opera House itself.  Upon exiting water taxi we will need to go pick up our tickets from the box office.    I have read some reviews that say it can be kind of confusing to locate the box office at this venue.   Anyone have any suggestions or experience with this or tips?    We have never been to an opera before but the experience and location seem once in a lifetime for us.   

Good day,  Was wondering if anyone who has tendered in to Airlie Beach can give a rough idea on how long it takes?   We are on the Sun Princess on Feb 27th and are set to arrive at 7 am.  I would like to book a private excursion for 8 am but am wondering if this is feasible due to the tendering process.  Any help would be appreciated.  

Thanks everyone for all the advice.   Answered all my questions!!!

If we have 3 friends travelling in the same stateroom, all adults, can each register their own credit card when setting up account info on cruise personalizer before cruise?  Also, does the card have to belong to that person cruising.  i.e.  Parent has U.S. credit card and adult son travelling does not.   Can parent use his card for his son's on board account?  Exchange rate is terrible for Canadians without a U.S. card.

We will be visiting Sydney in March and are planning on doing the bridge climb. I noticed that as of Oct 1st, the company that usually handles the bookings has been bought out. I am not sure if I should wait and book with new company and perhaps incur a price increase or continue booking with the current vendor in hopes that all reservations will be transferred over. Any advice or news on this would be appreciated.

My son and his friend want to try a carnival cruise. Both are 21. I thought I read somewhere you had to be 25. Just wanted to confirm before we booked anything.

Just booked the York-Swiss Belhotel for our March 2 day post cruise off the Ovation. I believe its walkable distance from OPT. Anyone feedback from anyone who has stayed there? Booked a deluxe studio and I hope its on some of the higher floors as I heard it can be a bit noisy.

Anyone know where I can pick up a SIM card along out cruise, preferably near the beginning, from a New Zealand cell phone provider? I want to get some international calling for our 13 night cruise. In Australia I plan on grabbing one at the airport but since we are not flying but cruising to New Zealand just wondered if anyone had purchased one. And if so, how was coverage while cruising around New Zealand or was it limited to ports only?

Did you try this?

 

http://shoreexcursionsnz.com/tour/taieri-gorge-railway-larnach-castle/

Thanks for the link. Looks like that tour only runs 8:45 to 5 and ship docks at 9:30 to 6:30. Have sent an inquiry to see if they adjust their time.

Thanks for the replies. So if you had to chose betn the 2 excursion, which would you pick and why. :confused::confused::confused::confused::confused:

We will be visiting Dundedin on Ovation of the Seas and I am looking for a shore excursion that combines the Taieri Gorge train and a visit to Larnach Castle. RCL used to have this combo shore excursion but they have recently released excursions for this port and it is no longer listed. Can anyone recommend where I can find a tour that combines both of these attractions? Tks

I have been patiently waiting for air fare to come down flying from Western Canada to Sydney in Feb/Mar and its still around $2000 Can.per person economy. Any one have any history or idea if price will come down? Seems quite high to me for economy.

I too am looking for a place for several days in between cruises in March 2019 but I need something with a kitchen and a washing machine. Was looking at the Mantra 2. Love the location but not the price. $300 a night. Any other comparable establishments with kitchen, washer and free wifi anyone can recommend would be appreciated

Looking for advice or opinions on booking excursion for 13 night New Zealand cruise on Ovation of the Seas locally or on board. Because on board acct is in U.S. dollars and we are converting from Canadian funds, I would rather book locally due to currency exchange being better. However I'm wondering if certain ports have time constraints and recommend booking via the ship. i.e. Brisbane port recommends booking via ship because of proximity of port and heavy traffic. So wondering if certain ports in New Zealand have same issues. Anyone have any experience with this?

Thats what I thought to but when I went into my cruise personalizer it allows me to book excursions for all the other ports except Brisbane. Very odd.

Was contemplating booking a private jet ski excursion while on Airlie Beach near end of Feb 2019 cruise. However I know it is stinger season and wonder how safe it would be? Anyone done this during that time frame?

We are on the Sun Princess sailing of Feb 23, 2019 a 10 night Queensland cruise. Was wondering if anyone had trouble booking shore excursions thru the cruise line on this cruise? i.e Brisbane no longer shows any excursions available. Cairns is not showing all available excursions on cruise personalizer as opposed to Princess's website. I was looking in particular to the Australia Zoo excursion.