datone

When we did our recent cruise on the Muse we received our cabin assignment about 2 weeks prior. We had booked a Panorama guarantee and ended up with a Superior Veranda. Really happy about that.

The Quantum case was nothing to do with documentation - Royal Caribbean totally at fault. https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/devastated-guests-turned-away-in-brisbane-after-royal-caribbean-oversold-cruise/news-story/9fa154d210df073801a252ff66e69d67

Apparently Princess is increasing the price of wifi from US $14.99 per day to US $24.99 for those that don't have packages and take the standard fare. So US $10 per day or around $15 per day for us here in Aus. A 66% increase which is steep. This is if you take it for the whole cruise, otherwise US $30 per day for casual use according to the thread on the Princess board. Makes you wonder if the next step is to increase the cost of Princess Plus and Premier.

I have just got off the phone with Princess as I wanted to purchase the internet for my October cruise before the price rises. Especially since I am in Australia and a US $10 increase per day is around Aus $15 per day here. My elite discount was not showing in the app and the consultant I spoke to said it is because I am showing in the app as a new cruiser. She went on to say this would take a few days to rectify and I could purchase then with the discount. I said it would be too late then as it would have gone up and I wanted to get it at the current rate. To get around this she has listed it in purchases and reservations in my personaliser with the old price, and said payment is not due until final payment. I have taken a screen shot and she also sent me an email confirming this so hopefully no issues down the track. Now showing the higher price on the app so just got in in time.

Well this just happened in Australia. 13 couples who had guarantee bookings were given this letter at the dock. By then, they have already had the expense of travelling to the port, maybe a pre-cruise hotel, and possibly taken annual leave etc. Apparently only 2 couples ended up being able to board. Getting this letter at the dock when you are ready to board is not a move-over offer. It is pretty poor of Royal Caribbean and if it happened to me, I would be livid.

From reading the posts about this over on a RC page, 13 couples were given this letter at the dock and only 2 ended up being allowed to board. So it was not a move-over offer. It affected those who had chosen guarantee cabins.

I would be pretty annoyed if this happened to me especially if I had taken leave, flown to the port etc. How can they not have a cabin available? According to a RC page, 13 couples were turned away. Makes you think twice about choosing a guarantee cabin.

I would also recommend Lake Tekapo if you want to hire a car. Just over an hour from Timaru and the drive is very senic with things to see along the way as well. Church of the Good Shepherd is one of the most photographed churches in NZ. Some information below you may find helpful: https://myqueenstowndiary.com/things-to-do-in-lake-tekapo-new-zealand/

Am looking at booing a cruise on Diamond Princess next year and I can get an obstructed oceanview for the same price as an interior. Trying to decide between E410 and E412 which seem to have not much of an obstruction? Has anyone been in either of these and can confirm if this is the case. Thank you.

We are on the Muse in December. Are you able to let me know what is the issue with the TV's? Thank you.

No bowties showing yet for our Muse cruise on 7 December.

If you don't mind P and O - Pacific Adventure 20 November 2023, 13 nights NZ return ex Sydney, $944 pp interior twin. Works out at $73 a night.

Depends on budget. Cheaper option could be Skydrive in Auckland. Only NZ $12.50 each if you are a senior, otherwise NZ $18.00 each. Taxi/uber if you are not worried about budget. https://www.skydrive.co.nz/

Silversea still requires vaccination for some of their local cruises. There is a list of them as follows on their website which was updated on 2 October 2023. I am on 7 December Auckland to Sydney and no vaccination required but the ones after ours below do require it. We don't go to Tasmania but on looking at the itineraries the ones on this list do. The following itineraries require all guests aged 12 and older must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least two weeks before embarking on the vessel. Guests must bring proof of vaccination or boarding will be denied. Silver Whisper WH231212016 – 12th December, 2023 - Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand WH231228016 – 28th December, 2023 - Auckland, New Zealand to Sydney, Australia WH240113016 – 13th January, 2024 - Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand WH240129016 – 29th January, 2024 - Auckland, New Zealand to Sydney, Australia Silver Muse SM231221014 – 21st December, 2023 - Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand SM240104014 – 4th January, 2024 - Auckland, New Zealand to Sydney, Australia SM240118014 – 18th January, 2024 - Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand SM240201014 – 1st February, 2024 - Auckland, New Zealand to Sydney, Australia SM240215014 – 15th February, 2024 - Melbourne, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand If your voyage is not listed above, there are no longer any vaccination requirements.

We had E409 on Majestic. Loved that cabin and wouldn't hesitate to book it again.

Have a look on Ebay. I am in Australia and buy it that way so I have it ahead of time. I take one each night of the cruise around 9 pm, starting the night before, and by the time any drowsiness kicks in, I am ready for bed anyway. Never been seasick since I started using this.

I'm with Bank of Queensland and last week received new terms and conditions for the complimentary travel insurance. Previously no age limit but changing in November to under 81.

I am on the Silver Muse Cruise on 7 December from Auckland to Sydney. On the Silversea website there is no requirement to be vaxxed for this cruise, but the cruises after this with various dates from Dec - Feb that visit Tasmania are listed as requiring passengers to still be vaxxed. I thought all the states had dropped the requirement.

Understand why we have to be at White Bay because the bigger ships will be at the OPT. With having the overnighter taxis/uber should get plenty of work.

We arrive in Sydney on 20 December on Silver Muse and have an overnight as we don't disembark until the next day. Unfortunately we will be at White Bay.

According to this article unvaccinated cruisers can book their cruise from this weekend! https://cruisepassenger.com.au/news/federal-government-removes-cruise-vaccination-requirements/?fbclid=IwAR1F3EZUC81it_uPXRYUWMXWza1Jz2wPT8rClJGTP9jqycyLCnypQrIVaU8

Bank of Queensland credit card insurance now covers Covid.

Restaurant bookings have just opened for our cruise in December on Silver Muse. As this is our first Silversea cruise, just wondering if you actually need to book ahead of time or whether you can leave it until you are on board. Also, when do you find out which nights are formal so you can organise any restaurant bookings around this. I thought I had read that you would see a bow tie to indicate which ones are formal, but where do you find this? Thank you.

142 days to my first Silversea cruise ... and I can't wait.