phoenixx

1 hour ago, Ozwoody said:

Hi Phoenixx

That's great, seen your post on the Round Aust roll call.

Are you arriving Syd on the day, or arriving a day early?

 

Regards

John

 

Hi John,

Haven't booked flights yet (coming from Auckland) but will be at least the day before (my nerves couldn't cope with flying in on the day) 😁

See you on board 🚢🥂🍹

15 hours ago, Pansy2801 said:

Thanks for answering my questions. I did not think that passengers need to clear Australian emigration. Now I understand why is the delay.
The cruise was offered as Sydney to Auckland. It was also one  Auckland to Auckland that will start few days earlier and we booked first, but then decided that is better even that the cruise is shorter since we have more time to visit both Sydney and Auckland . 

There will likely be lots of people getting off in Sydney, a lot of cruisers from the previous cruise before Auckland.

On 1/14/2024 at 1:08 AM, Ozwoody said:

Crown does not arrive in Australia until 26th Oct, its first cruise is the Syd-Syd round Australia, ending on the 23rd Nov.

I will be on it for that cruise, if you can't confirm before then let me know and I will tell you what's there.

 

Regards

John

I'm getting on in Sydney too! 😁

2 hours ago, Mareblu said:

Hi phoenixx,

On Page 3 of Letter of Eligibility:

 

"Under this group policy, the eligible traveller/s listed  below have access to International Travel Insurance which includes epidemic/pandemic (such as COVID-19) coverage and cover while cruising including while aboard a foreign registered cruise vessel in Australian territorial waters.  Cover is outlined in the sections below, subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and applicable sub-limits outlined in the Policy Information Booklet."

 

The PI Booklet is viewable online as part of the complete information forwarded by Westpac, and a scan through reveals the normal travel insurance inclusions and exclusions.  Allianz is the underwriter.

Hope this helps.

 

I'm in NZ and policy is with AIG. I've just spoken to them and there is no Covid cover! How stupid is that, if Westpac Australia cover Covid but NZ does not, what's the difference? (Rhetorical question but really, that's seems unfair). It also does not cover when in NZ waters, which I see yours does.

On 7/28/2023 at 3:52 PM, Mareblu said:

Only last week I applied for and received free travel insurance through our Westpac mastercard, for next year's trip, which includes two cruises (Oceania and Cunard).  I completely missed reading the last section of the Letter of Eligibility we received, and being concerned about cover for the cruises, I rang the helpline.  A patient and efficient person confirmed we are automatically covered for cruises, and directed me to, "Eligibility for Cover while Cruising and for Epidemic/Pandemic (such as COVID-19) Cover".  

Hope this answers your question, as it did mine 🙂

Hi, I'm just sorting my insurance now for a January cruise and have Westpac Platinum card. Was this sentence "Eligibility for Cover while Cruising and for Epidemic/Pandemic (such as COVID-19) Cover" specifically stated in the letter you received or in the policy document?

Many thanks

1 hour ago, CruiserBruce said:

We did clockwise...no noted issues. Can't think of any problems, other than when you might gain or lose time. But that seems balanced by the fact its a circumnavigation, and the time changes are going to happen no matter what.

What time of year did you do yours? Thanks

33 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

We did clockwise...no noted issues. Can't think of any problems, other than when you might gain or lose time. But that seems balanced by the fact its a circumnavigation, and the time changes are going to happen no matter what.

Thanks for your response Bruce. I seem to remember that I read ages ago that you get smoother seas in one direction but can't find the info or remember it!

Does anyone know if it is better to do the Australia circumnavigation clockwise or anti-clockwise and the reasons? 

I read something about this years ago and thought I'd saved it but didn't.

It seems some cruises do clockwise and some anti.

Google brings up nothing related to this on a cruise ship.

TIA for any help

Does anyone know if it is better to do the Australia circumnavigation clockwise or anti-clockwise and the reasons? 

I read something about this years ago and thought I'd saved it but didn't.

It seems some cruises do clockwise and some anti.

Google brings up nothing related to this on a cruise ship.

TIA for any help

Does anyone know if it is better to do the Australia circumnavigation clockwise or anti-clockwise and the reasons? 

I read something about this years ago and thought I'd saved it but didn't.

It seems some cruises do clockwise and some anti.

Google brings up nothing related to this on a cruise ship.

TIA for any help

Kiwi here, spend more time in NZ, particularly the South Island.

On 2/12/2023 at 1:18 AM, island lady said:

 

Agree!  And do similar.  Usually a "sea day" laundry day for me.  

 

I use a collapsible rubber tub, and also bring my own laundry detergent.  Wash in tub, rinse in sink, then roll in towels to absorb excess water.  Hang from hangers on magnet hooks on ceiling.  Works for me.  😉 

 

 

Do you have a link to buy your collapsible tub please, and does it fit in the sink? Thank you

5 hours ago, lissie said:

New to HAL and not having access to a laundromat. 

 

We are doing a cold-weather cruise and practically all our clothes are merino wool. These will be destroyed if put through a dryer. Have you had any experience  of getting items returned wash only ie damp? They will dry overnight in our cabin no problem 

I'd like to know this too?

Oops I just realised I earlier logged in and posted under an old account with a defunct email so just posting here again to place mark.

My last Cruise was Panama canal in October 2019. 

2020 I had a month booked to Alaska including 2 cruises for my significant birthday, all that went down the gurgler 😭😭😭

Nothing booked for 2021 except a one night Train trip to The Chateau Tongariro for mid winter Xmas.

3 booked next year and in 2023 the 35 nights Princess Auckland-Hawaii return. I'm excited about that as the longest I've done was an 18 night Transpacific.

🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

Aucklander here. Didn't feel a thing, nobody was hurt, sounded far more dramatic that it was. The worst thing was the emergency phone alert (several times) when I had my headphones on! 😨

16 hours ago, Kiwi Kruzer said:

Article in NZ Herald this morning states 

Plan on borders remaining closed till 2022.

Can you cut and paste it here please

2 hours ago, Bowm54 said:

Talking about Covidiots, the Pakistan cricket team is now in Christchurch, A number of them have refused to isolate in their hotel as required. Reportedly 6 have tested positive for coronavirus and are in quarantine.

 

As a body, the Pakistanis are reluctant to co-operate and claim New Zealand should be welcoming the group and not  subjecting them to the same quarantine requirements as other visitors.  

The NZ Herald has a full report

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/black-caps/123527207/pakistan-great-shoaib-akhtar-warns-new-zealand-cricket-to-behave-yourself-over-tour-threats

These idiots should be deported and barred from ever returning 😡

On 10/28/2020 at 12:59 AM, banzaii said:

I, for one, have been trying to see all from RCCL perspective.  I am now starting to see some areas where RCCL do not come out looking so shiny.

 

The TPs were only released in late July which is about 2-3 months later than usual.  OK, give them the benefit of the doubt - they were making sure these deployments were likely to go ahead.

 

Many people used Lift & Shift to transfer  their 2020 TP or TA to these cruises next year.  There was little risk in keeping your money tied up for another year as these came with price guarantee.  We all understand, keep our money if it helps keep the company viable.

 

OK now it gets dodgy!  Cancel Quantum TP, because we are now going to send it to Brisbane instead.  Don't offer any explanation, compensation or alternative cruises.  Bump up prices on Ovation TP and restrict the cabin stock available. 

 

Seranade (Radiance class) was going to cruise US West Coast and Radiance, after the usual Alaskan summer has a heavily booked TP. to Brisbane  Rather than offering a transfer to a now empty Quantum, Cancel this TP altogether, send Radiance to US West coast and start selling TP fares on empty sister ship Serenade.

 

It looks, from my perspective, as though RCCL is reneging on the L&S cruise with confidence policies and has done so with little or no regard for it's passengers or customer service principles.  This does not seem like a shuffling of deck chairs, it seems deliberate if not conniving.

 

There is only so much good will and loyalty one can offer before it starts to manifest like sheer gullibiliy.  Whatever faith I once had in this company is going on holidays until I am convinced they can act honourably, in good faith and safely.

So my email to M.Bayley with my thoughts on my cancelled Quantum TP April 2022 (not cancelled afaiac, just sailing from Brisbane instead of Sydney) got me an email reply from the executive office. Today the person that sent that email called me! Apologies blah blah blah. I said I want an explanation as to why RC are reneging on the L&S etc. Got no explanation of course, just a load of waffle, can't disclose what's going on etc etc, waste of time! I did get my deposit refunded today which is amazingly quick but I'm still ****ed off with them 😥😡

7 hours ago, banzaii said:

My Sydney bound Quantum TP, 14 October 2021 embark HNL has disappeared from RC website.  🤔

I couldn't sign in to the website yesterday and it's still down this morning!

On RC website my Quantum repo 2022 to Honolulu is still showing as out of Sydney!

19 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

True , I only have a 45 minute train ride to Sydney.

But for pheonixx it’s a flight.

 I’m glad I rolled my couple of cruises over to Ovation next season, Quantum just didn’t suit us.

Isn't Quantum the same as Ovation?

I'm in Auckland so have to fly anyway 😏

Hmm I'm booked on Quantum for the Transpacific out of Sydney April 2022! 

On 8/22/2020 at 6:09 PM, MMDown Under said:

My friends got their expensive travel insurance policy refunded when their cruise to Alaska was cancelled.  (Still waiting for Air Canada business class tickets refunds.)

Did you have refundable tickets with Air Canada? 

3 hours ago, bazzaw said:

Our cruise was meant to sail in May ,many months after it was actually cancelled in February. When it was cancelled , I went to FC to find the TA who we dealt with was on holidays so another TA looked it up and simply commented that they were non-refundable flights ( and it was me who wanted to cancel the flights) - but that she would refer it to the actual TA when she returned from holidays. I heard no further for a few months and did not even bother to chase it up because I thought it would be  a waste of time/effort. In the meantime, there had been a lot of Hoo-Haa about FC and cancellations on the News and in the Press and so about 4 months after my enquiry about cancellation, I did call them to see if there was any chance of a refund (expecting to be told "no") and my TA said " I was just about to call you - your refunds have just come through" !!  I was VERY surprised as I really didn't think I would get these and was more concerned about getting my $30,000 refund from Cunard. You should tell them that you KNOW that people have received refunds for non-refundable fares. 

Thanks @bazzaw, was your AC from Vancouver to Honolulu?