alexandra cruiser

March is the end of our summer in Australia. In the southern states it is generally hot and dry (25 degrees C to 40 degrees C). Northern Australia is very different, hot and humid, potentially with heavy rain at times. Technically it is still the season of cyclones in northern Australia, but they are fairly rare in late March. So what that means for cruising is that you could get fabulous weather, if you like the heat, and calm seas. Alternatively if you are unlucky you could pass through one of the summer storms and that could bring winds and some waves. Weather is so unpredictable, but one thing you can almost always count on in an Australian summer is that it will be hot.

and the hot weather is something I m used to,live in FL.

So the Tasman sea is not known for routinely rough seas,then?:confused:

Can you specify? I am not going to read those reviews.

 

I was on such a cruise with a different line. New Zealand is spectacular. Kiwis (the people) are the nicest people I have ever met. The ports are well organized with private tours that can be spontaneously booked on the pier. We were lucky with the weather.

I like to read reviews,but also like to hear both sides.;)

Portugal, the Douro river was scenic and great small towns to explore.

Russia,neat to see the big cities and also small ports along river.

Egypt,when it was SAFE,would NOT do now.But was fantasic,yrs.ago.sigh.

Not Europe,but Asia.LOVED the Vietnam /Cambodia one.So exotic.

Love the alternate river and ocean cruises,to see best of both worlds.

Sadly,think the Danube is getting very busy with many riverboats now,forcing many to dock together.Not pleasant,no privacy.;)

seems majority of threads,right?

Think its because they re the largest,and advertise the most.

But,after taking one, found I prefer the more luxury lines.

AMA has been my favorite so far.BUt TRYING Scenic in June.

Found you get what you pay for applies here,like everything else.

Also, dont like the payment policy,balance due much earlier than others.:(

see a few will be going soon.

Look forward to your member reviews.

All details appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Or have YOU been on one??;)

know that a few are going soon.

Looked at the 2 under member review section,and less than great.

Anyone else have different opininion?:confused:

Have heard this is rough stretch too??:confused:

This is one I m thinking of next yr.or even 2016.Have been looking at all the lines that do this,seem very similar.

Have my first Riveriera one booked next Dec.,but have loved both on Regatta and Insignia.;)

seemed to feel in almost everywhere,so sad.

Some of the itineraries change ships ea.yr. Now have to consider that when looking ahead.

Know its like beating a dead horse,but sure wish they COULD FIX it.:(

thinking of taking another Regent cruise,but loved Mariner(none of the vibration probs noticed).Wondering if last dry dock or refurbishment has done anything to eliminate this on Voyager.??

Know some were NOT affected,but it was a problem for me.Thanks for honest answers,in advance.;)

from Auckland to Sydney of this year is NOT OFFERED next yr.That s the one I wanted,now switched to 11 day.May either wait till following yr and SEE if it comes back.Or look at other lines.THAT ONE looked the best,boo hoo.

But will look forward to the reviews of this yrs.cruise.;)

Good questions!! We are now less than three weeks till we will be boarding the Celebrity Solstice in super spectacular Sydney harbor for our Jan. 20-Feb. 3 Sydney to Auckland cruise. For our Jan. 9 flight out, it's only one week away. Doing Cairns and Adelaide/Kangaroo Island prior to our cruise. Getting closer!!

 

I'll be doing a live/blog on the Celebrity board with lots of pictures, travel details that might be helpful in considering the Solstice. Don't know that I'll get 100K+ in views like on our last two cruises, but it is fun sharing, getting good comments and questions, etc. Below you can see much on the Solstice, its features, etc.

 

Ours is a 14-day cruise, allowing a couple more NZ stops than just what some other 12-day cruises offer.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 156,987 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

Looked at Celebrity,but the large size turned us off.Know you took Silverseas to Norway,right?Was looking at Seabourn,SS,or Regent.Maybe you can point out the differences,pros and cons?

Just in research process and trying to find out all the details.

Not till next yr,or maybe 2016 so plenty of time.

Any details would be appreciated,loved your previous photos and blogs in past.Thanks in advance.

how about any one commenting on any recent Australian cruises?

Will still have to make a decision on the smoking thing,but trying to find out about the cruise right now.Am comparing various ones, and the SB looks best as far as itinerary and dates,etc.Also,have $400 OBC.

Do like the formal optional, so that s a plus,too.;)

so it could spread to other cabins,verandas.May be stuck not able to open door or sit on veranda with smoker nearby,

Why not update to eliminate ALL smoking in suites AND VERANDA??

Sad because I found a cruise I REALLY LIKED,and may have to reconsider.:(

I had heard it was being changed this year.That will be a deal breaker for us,we loved the cruise but smoking in suites and verandas(which goes to other ones,of course) is so outdated now.Will have to search out the answer BEFORE I even THINK about booking another.

:(

and smoking policy was holding me back from booking on SB again.

I understand they ve changed both,correct?

Moved to Regent and Oceania,was considering SS but above was a concern for DH.

Can t find the cost of shore excursions listed,just descriptions?

Did you take one of these cruises?Anyone?;)

Thinking of next yr. and wonder about it.Saw 3 good reviews in member section,any others?

Have been on Sojourn and loved it,wonder if they switch ships ea.yr.?

How were the shore exc.,did you take ships?on own?:confused:

and AMAZINGLY now I ve been offered another $450 in OBC??E mail did NOT say if from TA or O,and I ll take it.Said to help make up for my confusion over fare,,,??Perhaps hearing I called on own for clarification prompted such,who knows.Had sent a blistering email to him in first place,but sent one later after it was cleared up.

This is an internet agency but they do give 5% cash back,no brick and mortar ones near me.Have used them 3 times in past,but I end up doing most of the work(but like to be in control as much as possible).

But am content now,and understand it all better.Have taken 2 prior O cruises and never had this confusion(but never booked onboard ,either).Now i KNOW.PS.I m always leary of the art auctions too(sound too good to be true,in many cases).Love the lectures tho.;)

and at least the kids weren t YOURS,or grandkids in my case.Can TRY to ignore them.Every luxury or premium cruise we ve been on over the holidays has this problem,but it s good time for us to get away,

Did they have a special xmas program at nite,or ny eve?Not that I d stay awake,haha.??

What was entertainment like,good singers and dancers?

How were shore excursions,did you do your own?

Have never been on Riviera,just Insignia and Regatta.Did you notice long lines for buffets,shore exc.,etc??;)

and found out the ONBOARD discount is only the $200.NOT the $1500 I Saw on statement...that was the early booking discount.

So basically you only get $200, free gratuities,free internet ..NO OBCs for booking onboard.Not the great deal I thought it was.

It just gets confusing when one brochure says one thing,must read fine print to get exact meaning of these fares.My TA essentially told me same thing. I get it now,but upset by whole thing.whew.:confused:

may have to look under airlines separately,didn t see that option.But my DH STILL can t get over the time,36 hrs.whew..we did 22 from VIetnam and he managed.

Yes, on my bucket list too.

I M also an RN,but semi retired now.Worked ER,ICU but now only fill in at DH 2 offices.

This will give him an incentive to book this cruise, hes 70 and won t even retire,or close 1 office.LOVEs his work and all his friends are other dr.s,it seems.

Yes, besides being an elect.eng.,your twin was also Pres.of League of Women Voters,where I was VP.Are you also into Politics,Governement,etc.Emailed Pam and told her I found her twin,she got a kick out of it too.She also cruises ,but on non cruise ships with her DH were they do peace corps type work in 3rd world countries.

As I may have stated,the thing holding him back is the business class air price and TIME inv....he only can take off 16 days of he gets antsy.Plus,hes very SCottish and cheap,haha.:rolleyes:

essentially I got NO ONBOARD BOOKING discount,yes free gratuites and internet WOW.

The onboard discount brings me down to SAME as is now offered,$7600 inbook at time of booking,then take off my pp discount$$200 and $400 air credit.Comes to $5599...as compared to current $6199 brochure listing,,,would NOT THE onboard discount apply here,then,all of the above ??

Seems NO acc.to Oceania and my TA,what am I missing here.??Feel I got cheated somehow.As I said before, with Seaborn they HONORED the lower fee,NO HERE.

May cancel since its over 120 days before I lose any money,upset,as you can see.

PS.it s for the Holiday in Tropic,Dec.23.cruise.:confused:

Oceania customer service, please feel free to explain this to me.

pardon but are you same Rachael whose a Dr.?Just wondering,myDH is an orthopedic surgeon and he d love to talk Dr.stuff if we booked this cruise.

But looked at airfare and time,he said NO WAY,from Orlando it was 14,000 ea.and 36 hrs. to Sydney on Kayak.Now may book another,still exploring which one.

PS.you ll laugh but from you pic on avatar you have an identical twin named Pam living in Mich.whose an electrical engineer.Uncanny resemblance.

than what I booked at.Have notified my TA for the reduced rate.Has this happened before with this line?I had it reduced on a Searborn one.:confused: