timtam2

poor little Century :( So sad to think a dignified older lady is going to be subject to (most likely) a ghastly tarting up by her new Chinese owners. I'll never forget what happened to the SS Oriana after she was sold to the Chinese - it was unrecognizable after they had finished 'refurbishing' her (then they left her to die and sink ..)

I'll be on her one more time in 2 months and will savour every moment.

I'm also very sorry for the people who have had their plans to sail on her to Rome crushed. I'm sure many of those people are past passengers and friends of Century and wanted to see her out in style. Now, she is going to slink back to Singapore and whatever future awaits her.

How awful to plan for a great trip and be denied boarding at the last minute.

Exactly - if there is ANY doubt in the interpretation, just get the visa! You've paid all that money for the flights, the cruise, the hotels etc - what's a few more $$$ for peace of mind. The rules could change again 5 times before you leave.And I wouldn't want to be arguing my case with just a printout from an internet website.....

Once you get the bus from the terminal out onto the main road near the MRT, you *could* walk, but no point really - you may as well continue on public transport. In photos, it looks as though Marina Bay Sands is close, but at the moment, there is one giant construction site in between!

If you don't have too much baggage, you could walk up to Town Hall station and get the train to Circular Quay, ship is right there. A taxi would be more convenient - I don't get taxis for trips within the CBD itself so not sure how much it would be - perhaps $20, depending on what the traffic is like.

Why risk it? Just get the visa

No logo store on Mariner. Still the pokey little kiosk which always had more customers than the big $$$ watch shops. I hope Quantum has a logo shop and a resort wear shop.

Hey Troll.....I was working for P&O while you were still wearing nappies. I have been cruising for 35 years. The age range on board these days is much broader than back then. I can remember some cruises on the old Oriana where the Stern Gallery had maybe 20-25 regulars at night - the sum total of the under 30s!

But now, those pesky oldies, how dare they spoil the oh so cool ambience onboard. Oh wait....I think the wall to wall bogans may have already done that

Moorea is very beautiful but very basic. When you come ashore from the tenders, there is nothing there really - just a parking lot - some of the locals will set up stalls and beyond that will be people offering independent tours. I think there was a general store type of thing a bit further down but that's it. You really need a vehicle to see the best of Moorea - be it ships or independent tour or just a taxi.

It is a long walk and a crazy one at that. Take a taxi.

I'd be wary too. These 'start up' small cruise companies rarely come to fruition. There were a couple of duds back in the 80s where people lost their deposits. The biggest one was the company that was going to convert a car ferry into a cruise ship....I cant remember its name now.

Of course, if this company has the backing and capital behind it, it may be a goer. And I hope they do - the more ships for us, the better!

*sigh* Another thread based on the premise that only the US 'deserves' the 'best' . Well, the times they ARE a changing....and business goes where the $$$ are.

Love the attitude of some posters on this thread that the Asian market really only deserves the 'Hand me downs' whilst the US should only have the best!!!!!:eek:

Oh yes they hold the payment. Thats how they offer reduced fares. Make the customers pay up early and get interest on the full payments before they pay the cruiseline. They are not the only ones doing this. The crowd with 'the Captain' are notorious for this lurk.

Slightly off topic but gbenjo, are there likely to be any job vacancies this season?. Im looking to scale down from full time work and I have prior cruise turnaround day work experience.

My past few trips to Singapore, I've always stayed at the Conrad on the Club floor. This year, I noticed a decline in service and standards during my stay. Next year , I may try the brand new Sofitel instead

Booked the 3 nighter out of Singapore :D

There was supposed to be a pre sale for C&A members. It wouldnt come up for me when I logged on at the office or home, but it did when I logged onto the mobile site with my phone. It said you had to call to book. I can deal without that experience so I will just wait until its on the website for sale

Dates...from Travel Weekly.com

"The 4,100-passenger ship will leave New York on May 2 for Shanghai. It’s first call will be in the Azores, on an 11-day cruise that includes Cartagena and Palma de Mallorca, Spain, terminating in Barcelona.

That is followed by a 16-day segment that transits the Suez Canal to finish in Dubai. A third segment departs Dubai on May 29 on a 14-day voyage to Penang, Malaysia.

After a three-day short cruise roundtrip from Singapore, the trip concludes with a nine-day exotic Asia itinerary departing June 15 from Singapore to Shanghai.

Found the dates...I cant post the link, its a mobile link and doesnt wotk...its from Travel Weekly

That is followed by a 16-day segment that transits the Suez Canal to finish in Dubai. A third segment departs Dubai on May 29 on a 14-day voyage to Penang, Malaysia.

After a three-day short cruise roundtrip from Singapore, the trip concludes with a nine-day exotic Asia itinerary departing June 15 from Singapore to Shanghai.

The cruises go on sale to Crown & Anchor Society members on May 20 and on May 22 to the general public.

Funny. Royal Caribbean Australia announced it is 57 nights...where did those 4 nights disappear to?:confused:

Cruise Critic has now stated that it is 53 nights 'at sea'. It includes a 14 night Dubai to Singapore, a 3 nighter round trip out of Singapore to Port Kelang, then 9 nights Singapore to Shanghai.The info comes from a press release apparently. It goes on sale to C&A members May 20 and general May 22. These are US dates so their May 22 is our May 23 (as already announced here) so for C&A, it should be tomorrow....

I would prefer the last sector but depending on the prices, I might have to make do with the 3 nighter!

I think the emails depend on what cruises you have done previoysly as well. I did not get the Explorer email the other week but have received the Quantum ones. I have mainly cruised in Asia with them, so think that is why.

Im really hoping for a Singapore to Hong Kong sector...

Sorry, but Yorkeys Knob is not just for the GBR - it is also the port for Kuranda and the beautiful rainforest.

From Yorkeys Knob, you could only get as far as Green Island anyway on a daytrip from a ship, and that is certainly not the best of the Reef.

If you want to see the best of the Reef, you need to go to Port Douglas and spend a couple of days there

Or book a cruise that stops in Port Douglas.

Yorkeys Knob and Port Douglas are always a tricky proposition due to the weather. Many cruises have these calls cancelled, so you need to be prepared for that possibility

Ahh, that is the big question - will there be a drydock or will the renovations be done during the voyage (as they did with Mariner)?

Many off shore call centres use 'fake' names - this can be a ploy by the company to try and disguise the fact you are speaking to someone in a different country ( this never works though!) or for convenience, as many customers would struggle to understand the real names.