Sparky74

There’s absolutely no need to tip extra. It’s already been taken care of as yet he gratuities are built into your fare.

My in-laws boarded today and friends from church board next Sunday.

I was a bit miffed with RCI the last time I sailed with them. They changed to servicing staterooms only once a day just before our sailing and I insisted that this wasn’t the product I had booked and paid for. I was tempted to ask them to remove half of the stateroom attendant’s gratuity as they were only giving me half the service, so presumably they were looking after twice as many cabins, but I exercised self control and left things as they were.

Before gratuities were included in Aussie sailings we always opted to prepay them. When we've sailed from O/S we’ve paid the auto gratuities. I don’t like the tipping culture and I think it’s got out of hand in the USA. I’d much rather employers pay a decent (living) wage but me withholding tips isn’t going to change that. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. On a lighter note: What’s the difference between an Australian and a canoe? Canoes sometimes tip. 🤣🤣🤣

Some people already have a negative view of cruise ships and the cruise industry. Could you imagine if someone seriously suggested turning the Opera House into a cruise terminal? 😱

I usually have the car radio tuned to ABC Radio National. As a result I often hear only part of a program, sometimes just a snippet. The other day they were talking about the Sydney Opera House. Apparently yesterday (Friday 20th October) was the 50th anniversary of its opening. They were saying that before it was built Bennalong Point had been set aside to build the Overseas Passenger Terminal. Who knew? 🤷‍♂️

At $11.06 now probably isn’t too bad a time to buy Carnival Corp shares, although as you indicate the price may well dip further. One long-term forecast suggests that the price might rise to $12 by the end of 2023 and then $17 by the end of 2024, $20 in 2025, $25 in 2026, $30 in 2028, $35 in 2031 and $40 in 2034. This has to be balanced against the exchange rate and at the moment the greenback remains strong against the Aussie Dollar. I'm not too concerned about the short term fluctuations in price. I’m in for the long haul. My modest holdings of 100 shares give me OBC 😁 and I guess I'll hang onto my shares until my cruising days are over, or if I fall on hard times and need the money, or if they stop paying the OBC. 😱

For many of us it was our first post-pandemic cruise. The Roll Call was very active and we bonded online before we boarded. That made it a special cruise.

That would be the one. This may jog your memory. Here's the bit of doggerel that I penned for our meet up. It could be sung to the tune of "The Teddy Bears' Picnic". If you go down to the port today, You're in for a big surprise. If you go down to the port today, You might not believe your eyes. There in her glory, dazzling bright: A big cruise ship, all shiny and white. Today's the day we board the Coral Princess! If you go down to the port today, Who do you think you'll see there? If you go down to the port today, You won't see a picnicking bear! There's old folk, young folk, fat, and thin... And everybody is wearing a grin. Today's the day we board the Coral Princess! Embarkation Day is here! I'm so happy I could dance and sing. Hear us raise a mighty cheer, Loud enough to make your ears ring. It's two years since we have cruised. I hope I have remembered what to pack: I've formal clothes, my swimming togs, My passport, and toothbrush; Uploaded my negative RAT. If you go to the Wheelhouse today, At about half past three. If you go to the Wheelhouse today, Do you know who you will see? Irene, and Cilla, and all of the crew From Cruise Critic, yes, me and you! Today's the day we board the Coral Princess!

We don’t gamble nor do we drink alcohol. I don’t even want to connect to the Internet when I’m on a cruise so those "plus" packages aren’t much use to us.

I thought it was last year. We were on the Coral Princess for Auntie's birthday on 1st July. We sailed out of Brisbane in late June and ended up docking overnight in Cairns as they decided not to go to Port Douglas because of the wind. Were you on that one, Evon?

It’s helpful to me. I see it and say to myself, "Oh yes! I remember her." I have a very good memory, it’s just not very long! 🤣

The first cruise in my table should be 17/6/24.

Date Nights Ship From To Interior Daily 17/6/23 10 Pacific Adventure Sydney North Qld $849 $85 13/11/23 2 Grand Princess Adelaide Melbourne (one way) $189 $95 20/11/23 13 Pacific Adventure Sydney New Zealand $1,074 $83 27/1/24 7 Pacific Encounter Brisbane North Qld $599 $86 30/1/24 14 Pacific Adventure Sydney Singapore (one way) $1,274 $91 14/2/24 10 Pacific Encounter Brisbane PNG $899 $90 3/3/24 8 Carnival Splendor Sydney South Pacific Islands $761 $95 23/4/24 10 Pacific Encounter Brisbane PNG $899 $90 6/5/24 10 Carnival Splendor Sydney North Qld $958 $96 19/5/24 9 Carnival Splendor Sydney South Pacific Islands $831 $92 25/5/24 7 Pacific Encounter Brisbane North Qld $649 $93 28/5/24 10 Carnival Splendor Sydney North Qld $988 $99 1/6/24 3 Pacific Explorer Cairns Brisbane (one way) $251 $84 4/6/24 2 Pacific Explorer Brisbane Sydney (one way) $188 $94 11/6/24 9 Carnival Splendor Sydney South Pacific Islands $831 $92 24/6/24 10 Carnival Splendor Sydney South Pacific Islands $936 $94 4/7/24 4 Pacific Explorer Sydney Auckland (one way) $299 $75 5/7/24 9 Pacific Adventure Sydney South Pacific Islands $809 $90 14/7/24 9 Pacific Adventure Sydney North Qld $854 $95 21/7/24 15 Carnival Splendor Sydney Singapore (one way) $1,305 $87 30/7/24 10 Pacific Adventure Sydney South Pacific Islands $944 $94 31/8/24 7 Pacific Encounter Brisbane North Qld $649 $93 30/9/24 10 Pacific Adventure Sydney South Pacific Islands $864 $86 13/10/24 8 Carnival Splendor Sydney South Pacific Islands $791 $99 16/10/24 10 Pacific Encounter Brisbane PNG $944 $94 21/10/24 10 Carnival Splendor Sydney South Pacific Islands $951 $95 2/12/24 8 Pacific Adventure Sydney Tasmania $749 $94 7/2/25 11 Pacific Explorer Fremantle Singapore (one way) $1,079 $98 6/3/25 8 Carnival Splendor Sydney South Pacific Islands $749 $94 5/4/25 6 Pacific Explorer Adelaide Auckland (one way) $584 $97 19/5/25 8 Carnival Splendor Sydney South Pacific Islands $755 $94 2/6/25 10 Pacific Adventure Sydney South Pacific Islands $989 $99

Really? 🤦‍♂️

The first rule of gambling is that the house always wins. In the long term at any rate. Individuals may occasionally beat the system but human nature means that they rarely quit while they're ahead.

There's lots of good deals to be had at the moment. For what it's worth, here's a list of cruises that I can find. currently priced under $100/person/night, sailing out of Australian ports. There was too many to list individually so I made a table. YMMV Cheap Cruises.pdf

DW is a Disney fan and we were excited when Disney announced they were coming to Australia. I went green around the gills when I saw the prices! 😱🤑💸💸💸 Too expensive for us I’m afraid. Their market is obviously a more affluent demographic. I'll stick to hunting for bargains on inferior, I mean interior, guarantee cabins on other lines. 🤷‍♂️

It was more of an academic question. We don’t have a multisegment cruise planned at the moment. To date we’ve sailed with Princess twice and have another one booked. We’ve sailed four times with P&O and have two booked for next year. So that makes 9 cruises. Only another 6 to make it to Elite! 🤣 Not that we sail for the loyalty status!

Have all lines done away with staggered boarding times? The in-laws are sailing on Brillance OTS on Sunday and reckon I that everyone boards between 2pm and 4pm. 🤷‍♂️ Perhaps @gbenjo can give some insight.

@Jean C will be happy about that.

I often wonder how much these "free rooms" actually end up costing them. I’m sure that neither the cruiseline nor the casino will be loosing money on them. 💸

But if you were looking at spending a week in Cairns anyway, it could be a bargain add on at the end of your holiday.

I hear you; cruising is still the best valued holiday for DW and me.