woodscruise

Thanks Pushka, now one has to ask why would RCI send down under another Voyager class ship or bigger if they can not visit many islands in the South Pacific without having there own tenders onboard?

We got off Radiance of the Seas last Sunday, and they did have 2 gangways in operation. One was from deck 2 and the other from deck 5. The passengers who were assigned to go off on deck 2, there luggage was sorted on that level (that is the wharf level) and 2 or 3 customs officers were there. They check the immigration card and you exit right on the street level near Peter Doyles restaurant. Those who exit from deck 5, there luggage was inside the terminal building.

I do realize that RCI could use the local tenders, if the local ports have them, but one can assume that the South Pacific does not have the local tenders, at many ports, otherwise Voyager of the Seas would be going to various other islands where it does not have to dock. (Ports like Mystery Island and Ise de pines etc). Also if there is local tenders in the South Pacific, at these islands, why then would RCI be adding tenders to Voyager of the Seas, during its dry dock, as mentioned elsewhere on this board by Springaussie. Hence the question do the other bigger ships in RCI fleet have tenders? If they don't then the only ports of call for them can be the ports where Voyager of the Seas is currently going to, and that is where it can dock, and therefore they are limiting the ports that they can visit.

I have read somewhere that RCCL were looking at including more beach ports visiting the South Pacific islands. Currently Voyager of the Seas only goes to ports where she can dock, because of not having any tender boats, which I believe will be included in her dry dock later this year. If Voyager of the Seas did not have the tender boats, when built, but having them added, does anyone know if the other Voyager class series, and above ( that is Freedom, Oasis and Quantum classes) have the tenders or if they will be added in a future dry dock?

Finance journalist Michael Pascoe was one of the keynote speakers at last week’s Independent Travel Group conference in Hong Kong, and had a not-so-popular suggestion for some new cruise ship technology.

Royal Caribbean’s Peter McCormack had done a presentation about the stunning new features of the upcoming Quantum of the Seas as well as the revamped Voyager of the Seas, which will return to Australia after a

major makeover in Nov next year.

As well as more restaurants, a Flowrider and other additions, Voyager will feature innovative new “virtual balcony cabins” which add a big screen to inside staterooms displaying a live feed of the view from outside the ship, making you feel like you’re actually looking out the window.

Pascoe’s intriguing but unpopular idea was to ask delegates when this same technology will be available in the home “so you don’t have to get on the ship at all”.

Source: Cruise Weekly Thurday 28 November 2013

Interesting Wikipedia shows home porting as:

Cruise:

A vessel's home port is the port at which it is based, which may not be the same as its port of registry[1] shown on its registration documents[2] and lettered on the stern of the ship's hull.[3] In the cruise industry the term "home port" is often mistakenly used in reference to a ship's port of departure.

Navy:

In the Navy, a ship's home port is the port best suited to provide maintenance and restock weaponry particular to ships of that class and build. On conclusion of a tour of duty, a combat vessel returning to port will usually return to its home port.[citation needed] A single home port also makes it easier for family to visit sailors on leave.

I fully agree with what Barry has said.

When I was doing my associate diploma in travel and tourism, one thing that was said was travel is an intangible product. It is all about a person perspective.

Therefore a non rating ship maybe to some people a 5 star vessel.

Therefore, for me when I go on a cruise, I don't care what the rating is, I go on to experience the ship itself.

Once again it looks like the consultant does not know that other ships rate higher than Cunard.

During the current season the following ships are calling into Sydney (not home porting) and according to Berlitz 2011 rate higher than the Cunard Queens.

Europa 1853

Seabourne Sojourn 1787

Silver Whisper 1753

Crystal Symphony 1701

Queen Mary 2 Grill class 1702 Britannia Class 1541. (Is calling into Sydney twice)

Queen Victoria Grill class 1672 Britannia Class 1483.

Just received an email from Princess for upcoming Sea Princess cruise and they advised the captain will be Captain William Kent.

Correct me if I am wrong, I have just booked a weekend cruise next January on Celebrity Solistice, through a US agent, and they are giving me USD 25 onboard credit. This is part of a group fare. I am also have RCCL shares, am I also entitled to the shareholder benefit?

Appreciate your advise.

Astor is scheduled to arrive in Fremantle from

Rome on Wednesday, 11 Dec 2013 and has been

confirmed for an initial schedule of three

Australian summer itineraries.

Source Cruise Weekly 7th February.

Just a thought, but didn't I read somwehere on this board or P&O Australia board where the call ceentre now is in Miami.

I know that with all other Carnival brands the past passenger loyality is not combinable with other companies, however in Australia and UK Princess did still credit P&O Australia and UK with their cruises. So maybe Miami call centre does not realise this!

My shares are through a US stockbroker, and paid in USD, so all I do is a calculation on the day the dividends are paid at the Reserve Bank's rate and declare it on the tax return. ( I also have a US credit union account and do the same with the interest paid there).

I brought Carnival and RCCL shares through a US stockbroker about a year ago. Besides getting the onboard credit, we also receive the quarterly dividends. The onboard credit is considered as a gift so it is tax free.

In the autumn 2011 edition of Shipping Australia Limited,

http://www.shippingaustralia.com.au/Portals/57ad7180-c5e7-49f5-b282-c6475cdb7ee7/ShippingAut2011.pdf

Gavin Smith from RCCL talks about having a berth for the cruise ships at Port Botany. He writes that Sydney Harbour be used for visiting ships, whilst the local ships operate out of Port Botany.

Thinking logically, I would say the insurance company would not cover if you purchased a stand alone policy. However with some of the credit cards these days, they offer travel insurance when you purchase the majority of your fare on there cards. If you use the credit card, the travel agent does not use their merchant number, they use the cruise line / airline merchant number, so when the charge does go through it does not show the agents name or details only the cruise line / airline. So they would not know if you have purchase from a USTA or the cruise line directly through their website.

And further to my last post, yes the credit card companies did cover the cost of the Ansett collapse, and also the numerous airlines filing for bankrupcy in the US (chapter 9), as they claimed you did not get the service which you paid for, and apparently they became secured creditors in the liquidation filing.

Cheers

Michael

Yes, that is what happen with Ansett. At the time I was working with a major US carrier and after 911, and Ansett collapse the all credit cards companies increased the payment period on them from next day settlement to 1 month settlement. This was so that they were not exposed so much should an airline go bankrupt.

Therefore when the charge was made by credit card the airline did not get the money for 1 month and hence they were holding millions of dollars from the airlines. As far as the consumer and airline were concern they had paid for the tickets and were able to travel, as all documentation the airline had was paid for by credit card.

Michael

Isn't a cruise line the same thing as an airline? Remember Ansett? If you paid by credit card then you were protected as you were able to dispute the charge and the credit card company credited your account. If you paid by cash then you became a unsecured creditor. When you book through a travel agent in the US, the agent uses the cruise line merchant number (just like the travel agents did with Ansett) so on the credit card statement it does show the charge as been made directly by the cruise line and not the travel agent. So from this you should be protected.

Michael

Yes we can book on the cruise companies web sites directly, however it is not the cheap rates that the US T/A are getting.

I have just done a comparsion with a 7 night Carribean cruise 1 booked through Princess Cruises for an inside stateroom, on 3rd January, the price was AUD 903.76. The price for the same cruise, from an on-line travel agent was USD 499.00 In both cases taxes were addition. This will mean the exchange rate for this cruise would be .5521 if Princess leads us to believe that it is only the exchange rate difference. Today our exchange rate is around the .90 and when you convert the USD 499 to AUD this would be AUD 555 hence we can see who pays more for cruising and not been able to take advantage of the discounted prices in the USA. Then don't forget tips and other onboard expenses. :mad:

Regards

Michael

My first cruise was on the ss Himalaya which was a P&O ship. This was back in 1971. The journey was from Sydney to Melbourne, and was a 2 night 3 day cruise. And yes this did hook me on cruising!

Regards

Michael

My first cruise was on the ss Himalaya which was a P&O ship. This was back in 1971. The journey was from Sydney to Melbourne, and was a 2 night 3 day cruise. And yes this did hook me on cruising!

Regards

Michael