reedy8

On cruises in Japanese waters every cabin has a kettle.

That's because the Japanese and Chinese market demanded it. You will probably notice in China many people wandering round with a bottle of cold tea in preference to water.

I could see two whole crate things of kettles waiting for collection when we disembarked the other day ...so perhaps not, or perhaps just comes down to who screens your luggage? (As I can't imagine they'd all have been without a safety shut-off...)

I think they might be for cabins, it seems that a lot of the major cruse companies are following Royal Caribbeans lead and are providing tea/coffee making facilities in all cabins. They started doing it in the UK apparently due to customer demand. (see, they do listen!!!) I for one get up and turn the kettle on first thing, preceeded only by the call of nature. ;)

Forum

 

love sailing with RCCL

Depends where you are from, in countries where wages include gratuities its not so common, people feel the normal gratuities are enough to cover it , in countries where they don't, tipping above gratuities is much more prevelant.

Even though I' m in the first group, after some research on what cruise employees are paid, I tip above the gratuities unless I found the room steward to be rude or really slack. (not that thats ever happened to me)

Can someone post a pic of these folders that are spoke of.

 

Thanks

My original one was an Australian made brand but I think they are mostly made by Eagle Creek now. This shows how you pack them as well.

http://shop.eaglecreek.com/packit-garment-folder-medium/d/1325

I keep seeing references to using packing cubes. Those of you who use them - can you explain what it accomplishes? I've never used them and it looks to me like it would make packing harder, since you have to accommodate different-sized objects in the suitcase. I can see using the packages that compress clothes into a smaller size, but would like to learn what the attraction of packing cubes is.

I love them, I got my first about 16 years ago and have added to my collection ever since. Its a really great way of organising things. In one of the smallest sizes I can pack, 2 pairs of bathers (swimsuit) a sarong, and a sunhat. All my undies into another (it has 2 sides with 2 zips, so you can have clean stuff in one side and not clean stuff in the other) I keep a medium size one for "stuff' electrical plugs, a first aid kit, medicines, pen & notebooks, copies of documents, all those things you tuck into pockets and can never find when you need them.. I get the 'sacks' for shoes.

Surprisingly if you fold or roll things well, you get very little creasing. Now all my friends have them too.

I went through this in 2015. The port puts that info out since most cruise ships do not allow it. However, we were on Oceania and we always bring wine on board especially being in Sydney pre-cruise. I contacted the port and they said if the ship allows it then it's okay. Contact the port for further information in case it changed. I contacted the port authority in 2015.

Thank you

Hi Everyone

 

Azamara has created a new Referral Program exclusively for Le Club Voyage members.

 

Details here : https://www.azamaraclubcruises.com/le-club-voyage/offers/refer-receive-program

 

Hope this is helpful !

Can Referral Program credits earned on Azamara be used on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity? Azamara is pretty new down here in Australia and we only have a teeny weeny Azamara cruise season (about 2 months). I could fly to the northern hemisphere season but flying is right near the bottom of my favourite things to do.

Anyone done this itinerary in February ?

Wondering what the waters are like given a smaller vessel?

 

Thanks ..

I had a similar question on a 'part' section of a Singapore to Sydney cruise (the particular part only available thru RAC Australia from Bali to Perth) right in the middle of monsoon season. Having trouble finding a site that provides historical data during that period for the Indian Ocean, only able to find projected data.

Hello

Notes on http://www.sydneyports.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/28641/WB_Cruise_Terminal_Info_Sheet_24052013_FINAL.pdf for White Bay says:

WHAT NOT TO BRINGYou are NOT permitted to bring any alcohol onboard forpersonal consumption.Duty-free, tax-free and personal alcohol purchased onshoremust be surrendered by passengers at embarkation or prior to boarding at any port.

It is dated 2013, could be old info.

This is in contrast to Azamara's Alcohol policy, Can the mediator please advise what the ruling is here

Not what you want to happen:(

 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/89943787/Aussie-cruise-ship-passenger-denied-New-Zealand-entry-on-character-grounds

Most countries do this, they check a passengers criminal records (probably linked to their passport) before they let people disembark. If you are born overseas and are living in Australia now and commit a serious crime, even if you have lived here 50 years and know no-one in your own country, you are very likely to be deported.

Everyone is focusing on the included alcohol - mixers matter as well. On the Journey recently (enjoying Gordons and Schweppes tonic as included) until we hit N Australia. They got a resupply of mixers and the tonic was AWFUL. (called Royal or something like that). Kudos to the bar staff who knew me - they let me know if they had found some Schweppes tonic - great service!

Nope, according to Mr google, Royal is a Waitrose brand, never seen in sold in Oz, we get mostly Schweppes or Kirks

So far the answer seems to be no.

I'm getting a friend to ask her suite concierge for her cruise that goes 25 March to about the 6th April

Hi all

 

This cruise is being sold by RC & through T/A's but I have also been told the Perth to Sydney can be purchased seperately but only through one travel agent. Anybody know who?

Never mind, I found it.

Hi all

This cruise is being sold by RC & through T/A's but I have also been told the Perth to Sydney can be purchased seperately but only through one travel agent. Anybody know who?

Thank you!:D

How come in the area to find posts on a specific ship there is not a link for Ovation of the Seas.

I was just about to ask the very same question!

I'm sure I saw somewhere that RC was going to build a few more medium size ships but can't find the post. Is this true or was I just wishing it was true.

So we are TOTALLY new to cruising.:confused: We are going on RC ...So let's set the scenario.. the cab drops our luggage off at the cruise ship and us. What happens next? And then what happens? And after that? Just let me know roughly step by step for that first day and next morning.:confused::rolleyes:

If you want to research the ports you are going to, there is also a great discussion thread further down the opening page on 'boards' where people who have already been there posts helpful hints and ask questions.

Alas, it seems once again the Princess ships winning overall as voted on this years awards, don't come to Australia. Only one of the 10 tops winners have, and that is RC's Ovation.

Sort of makes us feel they don't care doesn't it

In the new brochure it shows inside cabins in place of the concierge lounge on deck 9.

Think I may have found the brochure you are looking at, in the 2017-2018 worldwide brochure blue cover, on page 84 showing Voyager class, the 3 lounges, suite, crown & diamond are all together on deck 14. Praps

that is showing the newest voyager class ship the Navigator. Thats if you can call 2002 new, wish they would build more of these medium size ships

In the new brochure it shows inside cabins in place of the concierge lounge on deck 9.

Can you tell me what brochure that is please? I googled 2017 Royal Caribbean brochures Australia, and the one that are shown on their site, still have to concierge (suite) lounge. Was if for a particular ship in Voyager class or was it the brochure for all RC Australian cruises.

thanks

Is there a kettle in the cabin? Thanks xx

Yes, they put kettles in cabins on UK & Australian cruises. You can pick up little UHT milks from the windjammer at breakfast, or often your room steward will get one for you. Its up to you, but I found both the tea bags & instant coffee provided was bit mediocre so you may wish to bring your favourite brands, they don't take up much room

From email:

We've got some exciting news to announce that's going to make selling Royal Caribbean adventures even easier. Join us online on March 1st and learn all about the upcoming re-categorization of our accommodations. We're making fleet wide updates to stateroom names and deck plan codes, so finding the perfect home-away-from-home for your clients will be simpler than ever. Also learn about enhancements to Groups policies and more.

Unfortunately Captain Tito, every time Royal Caribbean re-catorizes their cabins, the only people who benefit are the shareholders of Royal Caribbean. I've not yet seen any that benefit the consumer. Just a way to increase profit margins.

Thank you!

Initial impressions - Voyager of the Seas 21 Feb 2017 Fiji and South Pacific

We have been on VOTS twice before. Overall for this cruise, we are happy so far, despite a few changes.

 

There were a number of steps to boarding: dropping off luggage (no tip required), getting into the building (passports and cruise contract checked), check-in with photo to get the seapass card, filling in the departure card to hand over to Border control, scanning, then finally through the onboard seapass check. There was one very cross fellow who wanted to board at about 11.30 for deck three but they wouldn't let him on - this is the first time I personally have seen the boarding times adhered to!

 

After boarding, we went to get a coffee from the DL and then to the Windjammer for lunch. The WJ was fairly crowded but the food was good. There was a real buzz of excitement. Our rooms were ready by around 1.00.

 

Our GS was showing some signs of age but was clean and comfortable. Our Diamond welcome amenity (?) was two cans of diet coke and 4 bottles of water - no small packet of cookies. Instead, that afternoon two plates of cookies were delivered and then later an assortment of fruit.

 

Dinner in the MDR that night was one of the best MDR meals we've had on any RCI cruise.

Shock and horror - neither the DL or the CL had sparking wine on the drinks menu. Apparently it was removed the cruise before ours. It was very strange as sparking wine is still available in the other bars using the Diamond coupons.

 

As others have reported, the Casino is completely smoke free :) Although I sympathise with the smokers who actually gamble (not the ones that just use the casino to smoke without gambling), it made it much more comfortable for me!

 

The internet is not quite "Stream" - it is possible to stream a program but you have to wait a long time for it to buffer. We haven't really seen any difference between the internet surf and stream package and the free diamond surf days.

 

Breakfast in the WJ on day 2 (sea day) was a nightmare - no tables to be found anywhere and although most people were queuing, some people were rushing around and pushing in rudely (They are either rude or a bit overexcited given it was the first day). We ended up eating out near the pool.

 

The Meet and Mingle wasn't up to the standard of previous ones we have attended. No drinks, food or the M&M gift. However the activities manager was amusing, lots of prizes were raffled and I was pleased to win a bottle of sparkling wine and an RCI drink bottle - mainly pleased about the wine :).

We tried lunch in the MDR on Day 2 and the food was very good although service was slow and servings small (I didn't mind that). The salad bar was gone which disappointed a lot of people.

Dinner Day 2 in the MDR was great (formal night) - so far we've been very impressed with the food (perhaps it is the Aussie produce that makes the difference to us).

 

We tried breakfast in the MDR for Day 3 (sea day) - nice food but very poor service (slow slow slow) and missing items etc. One poor server seemed to be doing all the work in the Diamond/Suite section. We skipped lunch.

We attended our first ever art auction just to see what it was like. Not many items sold, but it was an interesting process. Don't think I would be tempted though.

By day 3 things have calmed down a bit in the WJ - went for an early lunch and it was much more civilised.

Giovannis for dinner was very nice - lovely food and good service.

Hooray - sparkling wine is back in the CL and DL - for now! Apparently there were lots of questions about the decision. I'm not sure how long the supply will last though!

 

Day 4 (sea day)

 

The weather has been great and the seas calm so far.

 

I'm happy to try to answer any questions. :)

Re Breakfast, can't you eat made to order b'fast in Chops as a Diamond or Concierge guest, we could on the Explorer, we sort of over dosed on smoked salmon eggs benedict.