Sparky74

This thread has prompted me to post an updated cruise bargains list on the El Cheapo Cruises Thread. The cost of everything has gone up (I really notice it at the supermarket) but there are still some cruises to be had for less than $120/person/day.

Do you find a list like this helpful and or interesting? I'm happy to post a list like this from time to time if people want it, watching cruise prices is a bit of a hobby. But if no one wants it I won't bother, Just hit the reaction (like or thanks) button to let me now if you want me to keep posting these lists. Date Nights Ship From To Interior Daily 22/10/24 6 Royal Princess Auckland Sydney (one way) $651 $109 30/10/24 5 Pacific Explorer Auckland Melbourne (one way) $469 $94 3/12/24 11 Crown Princess Sydney Pacific Islands $1,299 $118 17/12/24 2 Pacific Explorer Adelaide Melbourne (one way) $201 $101 16/2/25 25 Island Princess Sydney Cape Town, South Africa (one way) $2,486 $99 19/2/25 10 Pacific Encounter Brisbane PNG $1,053 $105 24/2/25 10 Pacific Adventure Sydney Pacific Islands $989 $99 29/3/25 9 Pacific Adventure Sydney Pacific Islands $890 $99 29/4/25 10 Pacific Encounter Brisbane PNG $1,137 $114 17/5/25 9 Pacific Adventure Sydney North Qld $939 $104 2/6/25 10 Pacific Adventure Sydney Pacific Islands $989 $99 11/6/25 10 Pacific Encounter Brisbane PNG $1,187 $119 23/6/25 8 Pacific Adventure Sydney North Qld $791 $99 21/7/25 10 Pacific Adventure Sydney North Qld $1,088 $109 8/8/25 8 Pacific Encounter Brisbane Pacific Islands $890 $111 13/8/25 9 Pacific Adventure Sydney Pacific Islands $890 $99 20/8/25 10 Pacific Encounter Brisbane Pacific Islands $1,137 $114 1/9/25 9 Pacific Adventure Sydney Pacific Islands $848 $94 3/9/25 10 Pacific Adventure Sydney Pacific Islands $998 $100 6/9/25 7 Pacific Encounter Brisbane North Qld $791 $113 10/9/25 9 Pacific Adventure Sydney North Qld $848 $94 17/10/25 8 Pacific Encounter Brisbane Pacific Islands $939 $117 20/10/25 8 Pacific Adventure Sydney Pacific Islands $791 $99 24/12/25 8 Pacific Adventure Sydney Tasmania $840 $105 3/2/26 13 Pacific Encounter Brisbane Singapore (one way) $1,398 $108 21/4/26 10 Pacific Encounter Brisbane Pacific Islands $1,148 $115 4/5/26 12 Pacific Adventure Sydney Pacific Islands $1,398 $117 9/6/26 10 Pacific Encounter Brisbane PNG $1,148 $115

I think it took us 3 cruises to make it to Mystery Island as it kept getting cancelled from our itinerary. We made a similar comment about it remaining a mystery. 🤣 It’s a nice little island but having been there numerous time now I’d prefer to return to Champagne Bay. We’ve only been there once or twice. We've had some great port days in Noumea but I always tell people you need to have a plan. If you just get off the ship and wander around town it can seem a bit "blah". But we’ve been snorkelling there. (Not that we’re very experienced or proficient. "Look! A fish!" LOL) If you want to see the fish without getting wet the aquarium is great and quite affordable; no need to book a tour, just catch the local bus. And once we went kayaking on the river. It was manageable for us even though we’re fat not fit! Don't write off Noumea but do your research and go with a plan. 😁

Surely the exorbitant port fees charged in Australia are part of the reason we are seeing ships withdrawing from the local market and prices rising. At this stage cruising remains the best value for money holiday that DW and I can find. YMMV

Also taxes are generally included in the price. eg In the supermarket, the price on the shelf is the actual price you pay.

The OPT (Overseas Passenger Terminal) is conveniently located in the CBD, between the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, and is serviced by the Circular Quay train station and passenger ferries. We are looking at staying at the Rendezvous Hotel for our cruise in November as it’s one of the closest to the terminal but there are many hotels "nearby" depending on your definition of that term. 😁

Yes! I reckon I enjoy my trip three times. 1. When planning the trip. 2. When experiencing the trip. 3. When remembering the trip.

We are teetotallers so the RCI Diamond drinks perk is of limited benefit to us but it’s still nice to have. I’ve never been a big soft drink consumer and now that I'm sugar-free, even more so. DW enjoys the occasional soft drink. Last time we were on RCI we discovered that you CAN use the vouchers at Starbucks in spite of the T&Cs on the website. DW doesn’t drink coffee but is quite partial to a chocolate frappe! This thread (below) suggests you can get complimentary Starbucks drinks at venues that aren’t standalone Starbucks branded cafes. 🤷‍♂️ It’s worth a try. YMMV

Hooray! How many days until embarkation? 22 days until our next one! 😁

On way of the cruises we took last year I forgot to pack my rashie. Rather than go topless (nobody needs to see that!) I wore a T-shirt with my boardies in the hot tub. There was obviously plenty of chorine in the water as the bottom ¾ of the shirt is now a quite a few shades lighter.

Well, Caleb who drew the diagram is married to a doctor…

I think my problem is that I’ve had too many birthdays! Although my mother-in-law reckons that it’s been proved "scientifically" that birthdays are good for you. Apparently, the more birthdays you have, the longer you live.

We are doing a PNG cruise in a couple of weeks and have no idea what we’re doing on port days! 😱 Any advice?

I really struggle to sleep on aeroplanes but when I sit in the lounge in front of the TV…

I really struggle to sleep on aeroplanes. My friend, Caleb, must be similarly effected. He drew this diagram en route home to Australia from his holiday in Norway.

This popped up on antisocial media just now.

Don’t tempt me. 🤣 If I wanted to "sabotage" them I’d have to use my shoe rather than a baseball bat. 🤔

We tend to follow the "you pack it, you carry it" rule. But if we’re cruising out of Brisbane, I drop DW and the luggage at the BICT. She will drop off the luggage while I park the car. When we disembark, she waits with the luggage while I go and get the car. Simples! Our November cruise will be a different story as we fly to Sydney and have an overnight stay. AND we’re on RCL so no self serve laundry. 🤦‍♂️

3. Depending on which ship you’re sailing on, there will probably be USA power outlets in your stateroom. But only Australian power points in you hotel room when ashore.

Call me a Luddite but I also refuse to use self service checkouts. 🤷‍♂️

No! Don’t give in! If enough of us politely refuse to use the app they’ll have to continue to offer an alternative.

I never said it was the ONLY reason she gets cranky! 🤣 In fairness, I sometimes get cranky too. 🤷‍♂️

I wonder how many laundry pods I’d need for the hot tub. 🤔

Keeping in mind that the show is an infomercial, I find it fun and informative to watch. And it helps with ideas of where we might holiday in the future. I like that they have a diverse cross-section of Australian society represented. It’s easy to become invested in the "characters" even the one that rub you the wrong way.

As Ozwoody has indicated, the third vertical pin is the earth or ground pin. Double insulated devices usually only have the two slanted pins. Also, our power points usually have a switch incorporated into them. The down position is normally on and up is off. Our light switches are usually oriented this way also which I think is the opposite to the USA.