cassamanda

happy Easter to all hope you have all had a wonderful time with family or friends.

Will have lots of chocolate tomorrow whilst packing for Monday. Yeah:)

I suspect it's more like 0.8%.

 

If 80% of passengers removed their tips the cruise lines would soon move to malking them completely mandatory, if only because they couldn't handle the queues at the customer services desk. If it takes an average of 5 minutes to process the request for removal then on Celebrity Solstice, for example, it would take at least 186 man hours for 80% of the passengers.

 

If you can't afford the gratuities on the USD cruise lines then either only cruise on AUD ships or don't cruise at all.

Agree. Some remove prepaid tips but then tip individually which i can live with. Those that remove tips then dont tip at all should not cruise on US ships. As has been said, when in Rome...

On the subject of small USD notes, probably only at the Airport or on board change at the Casino or line up at Guest services.

Thanks to research by springaussie on the RCI forum this link to the UK web of RCI shows the Australian & NZ deployments to come on sale to them on April 15. https://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/pre-register/

Looks like the ships will be Mariner (? singapore), Explorer, Voyager, Radiance and Ovation, with Mariner, Voyager and Ovation out of China during Winter. Legend not listed but appears on the Carribbean cruises.

ABC news site is saying the same thing, though they're not specifically mentioning cruise terminals, just airports.

 

Coincidentally as I was reading the news I received a text from Princess saying our boarding had been brought forward an hour due to the strike!

IMO the strike is to do with immigration staff regardless where they are employed so i would take it that the strike is off for the period over Easter. This is obviously to avoid a build of masses if people.

We are sailing Monday, so we will see.

Princess will have old info. The PM only intervened this morning.

I really have been biting my tongue whilst reading this thread and will try to continue to do so:rolleyes:

We are also doing this cruise with Voyager in April 2017 and it will be the first cruise for my son and his partner. We are expecting a "normal" cruise.

Firstly let me say that as far as itinerary goes, there is just no point in repeating the same cruise you are doing with X. The only additional port that the Voyager cruise takes in is that of Darwin.

We recently cruised on Legend from Singapore to Fremantle and had a fantastic time. We enjoy visiting Singapore, as many Aussies do. Great food, shopping, places to see, extremely clean where you get severely fined fir littering, cheap transport and friendly people ( oh and yes they are Not Chinese - they are Singaporeans.). Just dont go there in September as the air pollution is extreme due to smoke drifting across from Indonesia.

Cruises starting and finishing from China are different and are targeted at the high roller Chinese gamblers. This is where RCI sees where the current market is and that is why Quantum and Voyager class ships were deployed there. Many of the bars are closed and the Casino is expanded on those cruises.

Voyager of the Seas spends most of its time in Australian waters sailing to the South Pacific islands catering for the younger Aussie demographic. The bars are fully manned by english speaking Phillipinos, Indonesians and the like. The pool parties are on and there is No Smoking in the Casino or on balconies when cruising out of Australian ports.

You may get a smattering of Chinese holiday makers on Voyager out of Australia but these people will be much more reserved in the behaviour.

Not Princess american ships visiting. They changed that. Must have listen to the same unhappy complaints that RCL is receiving re Legend.

I was actually referring to the RCI ships. I know that Princess converts to AUD.

I think most of the complaints coming from the public are because they dont realise how old Legend of the Seas is.

 

Legend is not that old in terms of a ships life. Rhapsody was a similar ship with some refinements yet it was the most popular.

Princess Aust and P&O have older ships.

I think we have been spoilt with the likes of Solstice and Radiance and now everyone expects all ships to be of the same or better standard.

As I recall, the website of one of the US-based cruise lines that regularly cruise down here used to quote a fare and only added the port fees & taxes right at the end of the booking process. It made it very hard to compare prices with local TAs and other cruise lines. That may have changed now though.

 

But most of them, including local TAs, don't make it clear that the daily gratuities on USD cruises are extra, and that can be a trap for newbies. Even people who have cruised a bit but only on AUD ships can get caught out by that.

Agree that it can be confusing. X has the taxes shown in very pale grey under the quoted price and then are added in when you select your stateroom number.

Just to clarify, once we get off the ship we catch a shuttle(city run?)

to Octagon which is the city center?

From there we are to walk 3 blocks(easy to find?) to the rail station.

Is this the beautiful station they feature?

I purchase a round trip ticket, I know this seem silly question, but... I need to be clear. That ship won't wait. Some trip take a coach bus back. The round trip is then 4hrs? or is the 4hrs. one way?

Is this not the same train Royal Caribbean (etc.) will be hiring? Princess leaves from the dock. Royal C. doesn't show N.Z. excursions yet.

A certain c-----.com offers this trip $199. for wine, cheese and shuttle and includes a tour that extends the trip for 8 hour. Price isn't bad but I didn't think I want to be gone 8 hrs. This excursion leaves at 8:30 from ship to train station with half hour there, so this is the same train again right?

You have nothing to worry about by doing this trip on your own.

There are 2 trains that do this trip. If only one ship in port then one goes from the ship and the other from the station.

If there are 2 ships in port then both trains are allocated to the ships so then you cant do this privately.

Email Dunedin railwYs and they will clarify.

The train returns to Dunedin early afternoon giving you time to visit the Cadbury Chocolate factory on your way back to the Octogon. You can also book a town tour from the i-site (information centre) in town that actually takes you right back to the ship.

Judy, the daily gratuities ensure that the crew at all levels get their share of the tips. After all, if you dine at the buffet restaurant a few times during your cruise are you really going to carry cash around with you to tip those staff that gave you good service there? It's easy to tip your cabin steward or main dining room dinner waiters but those people behind the scenes that make it possible for your stewards/waiters to give you good service also deserve tips.

 

It really is best to consider those daily gratuities as part of the fare. Also take into consideration that the reason cruise line like Royal Carbbean can offer what looks like amazingly good bargains is their prices are always "plus, plus" - plus port fees and taxes (although many TA include those in the prices they quote) and plus gratuities. The Australian-based cruise lines include all that in their fare.

This is not quite true. The Australian website must and does quote all taxes as per consumer law. You only get the plus plus business when you use American websites.

She's coming back though right?

Not at this time but check the calendar on the plan a cruise page of the RCI website once the new deployments are out that include Australia.

Welcome to cruise critic.

You can also pre pay your gratuities on line or through your travel agent. However with the rising dollar, might be better to pay on board. Your gambit.

Deployment for Australia seems to be 21 March but that could be our 22March.

Historically these dates have been delayed as far as May.

We loose Legend of the Seas - going to Venice in April 2017:(

Legend of the Seas is perfect for smaller ship cruising in Europe:)... as for being unpopular I believe it is more so the fact they insist on USD onboard ..... this is something that needs addressing especially as they spend the better part of 6 months a year here....... time they changed....

 

We did Mariners Asia repo from Barcelona, onboard renovations were happening as we cruised.... more gambling venues and high end shops were created ...bars were sacrificed as Asians prefer gambling to drinking....from what I have been told some of these area's have already been altered back..... perhaps readying her for a shift ;):D:D

All of the visiting American ships use USD not just Legend and we have several based here for 6 or 7 months so i dont think that is the sole reason for Legends unpopularity. Radiance, Voyager and Explorer are all doing reasonably well in the popularity stakes - at the moment.

However, i do agree that Royal/Celebrity do need to seriously look at using Aussie dollars whilst based here for the bulk of the year plus the repo's.

This repo smacks of the Rhapsody repo to Europe. Pity, already booked with family on Voyager in April.

We actually enjoyed Legend and think she is a great little ship. Only problem we had was bad dining room administration and poor food.

Sad to see her being repositioned to Europe during winter. One day RCI will wake up and realize that there is huge interest in cruising our northern parts during our winter. Legend is the right size for this also.

Legend does not appear to have been very popular with many Australians. I wonder would she have been better positioned out of Sydney with either Explorer or Voyager out of Brisbane.

Would be a mistake having Mariner in Brisbane as that would make 3 Voyager class ships hear. Just guessing but would Mariner need a refurbishment from her predominantly Asian market?

I really was not referring to the addition of humour in posts. As a true blood Australian I love a good joke in the correct context of the discussion.:D

I agree with your thread. The term is used in the CC guidelines as Thread Hijacking and is discouraged. Jokes are always appreciated and can show off our Aussie humour.

Very annoying when the discussion of the original topic is changed to some thing totally unrelated and makes searching for answers on a particular topic difficult.

If you have an unrelated question, just start a new thread - simples.

Oh I am familiar with costco having stayed with friends living in the states.

 

It was certainly an unusual experience visiting one.

Costco is in Australia too.

Several in the Sydney suburbs but none in the city.

For a newby the drink packages may be worthwhile but once you start to get loyalty points, they become less so.

Do it yourself.

Email the railway and ask if there is a special shuttle direct to the station. There was when we did it. There is also a short town tour you can do after the train trip from Dunedin that drops you off right at the ship.

So the only real advantage is that the train departs from the ship and you get a boxed lunch, for $300:eek:

No brainer.

Just as an adjunct to the above, we chose to stay in Alice Springs and chartered a plane to Alice. We had a wonderful time and the "magical feeling" is true. So we got cheaper accomodation and a wonderful experience.

There are daily flights between Ularu and the Alice.

Much cheaper to fly into Ularu.

We have just researched a visit there but in our winter months. Too darn hot in summer and then there are the flies:eek:

KI for sure over the two in summer but you need more than just a few days precruise from Sydney. These places are worlds apart.

We bought a wine package on our very first cruise (they are no longer available) but have never bought (or needed) the current drinks packages.

I just dont see the need to drink like a fish every day.

With loyalty drinks on RCI and Celebrity together with our 2 bottles of wine we are so much better off by buying as we go.

is this the same for RCI and Celebrity? I am trying to understand all the new wine policies and how they differ from US departures.

 

Thx

ML

No. This only applies to Princess Australia.

RCI policy is quite clear - 2 bottles per stateroom only.

Does anyone know if you do this tour if they also bring you to the caves? Somebody at work mentioned that I should go to the caves as it is amazing.

Thanks! Supposed to be down in a village with s very narrow road.

That would be Jenolan Caves.

This is just beyond the Blue Mountains and about 1hr 20m from Katoomba. This would have to be done on its own or in conjuction with a very quick stop at Katoomba - say 3 Sisters plus Scenic World. Need to be out of Katoomba by 11.30am to make the one-way traffic down into the Caves during the 12-1.15 timeframe, otherwise you will be up against two-way traffic on a very narrow road:eek:

Travel time from Sydney to Jenolan is 3.5 hrs.

Their is a guest house for overnight accom.

I suspect "Meamat" might live in Queensland, where grocery stores are not licenced to sell wine - or any other alcohol. Anywhere in NSW (obviously including Sydney) most grocery stores also sell alcohol - and have a good selection of wines, beers, etc.

The IGA store in the AMP building at Circular Quay (young St) sells some very fine wines including Penfolds Grang Hermitage ($500 - $5,000 :eek:) as well as your standards.

Lombok is also in Indonesia. It's pretty boring too.

Quite a big difference between Bali and Lombok even tnough they are neighbours. Main race in Lombok is Javanese whereas Balinese in Bali. Big dufference in the two cultures even though they are both Indonesian.

My personal viewpoint is that many younger Australians have a lot to answer for in the way they disrespect the local cultures in both dress sense and drunken behaviour. I have been going to Bali for 50 years and Lombok is now at the pace that Bali was 50 years ago. Eg, local taxi is still the donkey and cart.

My son visited Bali last month and was disgusted at the Australian bogan behaviour of today.

I tried to do some searching on CC re the topic of camping in Australia but I couldn’t find very much information. My husband and I have booked a cruise for 2018 and we are thinking of renting a car or campervan and touring in Australia before the cruise. I’m hoping some experts here can help us out!

Our cruise begins in Perth and ends in Sydney.

 

 

 

Here are my questions:

1) - How common is it to rent campervans? (ie. bright green/purple vans I’ve seen advertised)

2) - Do you need to book campsites ahead of time?

3) - What is the approx. cost of a campsite?

4) - Camping on the western side vs eastern side (Perth or Sydney) – how do they compare?

 

 

Any other information would be very helpful!

 

 

 

** We would like to avoid having to bring our own camping equipment – that’s why we are considering a campervan. Otherwise, we would bring a small tent, etc and ‘donate’ it (or rent equipment). We are experienced campers and don’t require a luxury camping experience. We have also driven across Canada and the US numerous times, so we understand distances!

 

Just bringing this back to the top. Note that the OP is sailing out of Fremantle but has not stated which city they are flying into from Edmonton.

Lets assume they arrive in Sydney, then the logical trip would be a campervan one way from Sydney to Perth. The big decision is do you go via the south coast or inland via the Riverina etc.

Other options are camping north or south of Sydney then flying Sydney to Perth.

More info needed. Such as when do you cruise, cruise itinerary, time available and arrival airport.