tangogulf

Sydney is just a port call today for Solstice as she is on a 16day cruise from Auckland to Freemantle.

We were on the previous cruise. Lots of kids as it was mostly Pacific Island ports. One lunchtime, found a bread roll with a bite taken out of it in the bakery section of Windjammer. Promptly notified a staff member who immediately removed the entire basket. I'm no longer surprised at some peoples behaviour in public dinning venues anymore.

Ricardo Sanchez is the Concierge in the SL on Radiance until May. Juan Diego Miranda-Allen (JD) hopefully starts in the DL on 31Jan18 though he was having issues getting a new New Zealand Visa else he should have started 17th Jan.

Soon it will be a base price for the cruise which will include a cabin and food in the WJ, then you pay for room cleaning, eating in the MDR, this is something that would make me think about going with another line or even more land based vacations.

 

We are on Ovation in May and have heard a rumour that they charge for ifly, something that was free on Anthem, I hope it's not true as it's one of the reasons we booked Ovation.

iFly is free on Ovation whilst it is sailing in Australia and New Zealand. Once back in Asia there is a fee. Usually because the Asia cruises are between 3-5 nights long whereas in Oz they are 9-14nights usually. Hard to get 4,500 passengers even one "fly" on longer cruises let one shorter ones.

We disembarked Radiance of the Seas in Auckland on Wednesday this week. Very easy. On the sea days from Tonga down to Tauranga, NZ customs were onboard to do face to face customs and quarantine checks so that made it even easier at Auckland. Just hand in your stamped customs form when you get off the ship.

Voyager departed the OPT at around 6pm tonight Sat 30th Dec and backed out just past the Opera House before returning to the OPT. Assume some kind of emergency (medical or mechanical).

Anyone onboard have any info?

Picked this up as watching nine news and ship wasn't there in the background and then it was so took to the Harbour Webcam to check it out.

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No problem......The TRS desk is open from the time we start boarding so you will be OK to claim your refund when you board. As you say I think the time restrictions are for the airport. I have escorted guests back off the ship when they have forgotten to claim but it is frowned upon by the ships security so not suggested. 😡

Fantastic. Thanks for the info Graham. Very much appreciated.

Hi Graham - merry Xmas and hope you are doing well once again.

Quick query when you get a chance.

We are leaving on Radiance on 3rd Jan and my Daughter wants to claim the GST on a digital camera she bought via the TRS system. The TRS website says this can be done at the OPT but says only between 1 and 4 hrs prior to departure. Which means between 2:30pm and 4:30pm. With Border Force there for all of check in, I was thinking perhaps this time limitation really only applies at the airport for plane departures. Do you have any info or guidance on this?

Whilst we can check in at anytime from 11:30am we were certainly hoping to board earlier than 2:30pm.

Rgds Tony

Was on Ovation recently in the Schooner bar one night drinking a Long Island Ice Tea. Mavel from the CL worked there at night, saw me and said I can make you those upstairs in the CL. Next afternoon she quickly had one ready for me when I arrived for pre-dinner drinks. Was better put together and even looked better than the Schooner bar drink. Now that's great service.

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Those things look huge!

The Environmental officer on board the Ovation explained in great depth for 30 minutes about this. The pollutant is in fact steam which they go at great lengths to make it as clean as possible more so than any other ship. most ships don't have an environmental officer onboard, we were very impressed.

I'm sure (well not really) they are telling you correct info. The visuals though are quite the opposite. Looks bad. Perhaps they need to put more effort into their "eco friendly" status.

Weather isnt too bad here is Sydney. Little bit warm but really a good day. Great to catch up with friends and family. And of course the obligatory relaxing bevies. Now going for an evening nap before the next 'round. :cool::eek::eek::eek:

You can have lobster and Prime-Rib in the MDR. BUT you will need to pay a surcharge for the privilege unfortunately.

Merry Xmas to one and all. And many thanks to all those who have contributed wonderful and valuable information during the year. It is very much appreciated. Especially Mic, Gut and gbenjo.

As tangogulf posted, the cocktails are in the Concierge lounge, for suite guests. Although it's quite a walk, it's a very relaxing, private and peaceful venue as a result. Note that the lounge does offer limited snacks/meals at meal times i.e. the continental breakfast as already mentioned, and a small selection at dinner. The choices are usually of a higher quality though.

 

Coastal Kitchen only offers sit-down dining as a restaurant. You can order drinks there with your meal, but would need to pay for them separately (or if you have a drinks package, would be charged to that).

 

CK was my favourite 'main' dining venue on the ship though; I hope it may become yours. :-)

Looking forward to CK. Reviews have been quite good. Have booked dinner there for most nights.

I have had everything on the menu in Murano's as we have just ordered meals as well many times. There is not one dish that I have not liked, just some that are better for me. The Goat's cheese soufflé' and the Pear Angelou are also very nice.:D

Yep - better than most restaurants we've been to on land. Service is excellent and food is quite yummy. Love the table side service. Though its been a couple of years since we've done Solstice so haven't checked recent pricing. Hopefully it hasn't increased too much.

I wouldn't know, the place would get real busy if a cruise ship rocked up.

Nah - they would just end up going around in endless circles. Isn't that what Canberra is famous for:D:D

I've noticed in all the recent film and video of Ovation that the exhaust from the smokestack is very very visible. More in fact than you notice for other ships. Very blue and very visible. Thought this newer ship had technology to limit pollutants emitted from fuel burn. Perhaps it's just me but it does stand out when I view.

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Hah. Like watching an F1 car race. Kept wanting the ship to catch up and pass that vessel in front!. :)

Checked today ...yes there is now a priority line for Customs.

Excellent thx Graham. Hope it works better than our Explorer embarkation in March last year where the toughbooks used for checking went down and everything went manual for a while. No priority lines either. Was a bit of a mess. Not the checkin staffs fault. Was some kind of power issue in the terminal.

Ah, gotcha. I'm new to this whole cruising thing. Can you tell me whether this suites lounge is where we will have our evening cocktails? I wasn't sure whether they would be in Coastal Kitchen or whether they would be in a separate lounge?

For those in a Grand Suite or above the Suites Lounge (Well Concierge Club) on Deck 12 Aft will be where the nightly cocktail hour (well 3.5hrs actually from 5pm to 8:30pm) is held. Bit out of the way but should have spectacular aft views.

Nice one. After 4 Sea days (Including the longish time they spent in Milford Sound) I'm sure passengers will be pleased to make landfall again!

In Australia if you booked with a local TA or even with RCI direct I believe you would be forced to cancel and rebook at whatever the current rate is losing whatever benefits such as OBC that you may have had included in your original reservation.

Terribly inflexible rules we have here in OZ.

It is envisaged that with the new check in system (next generation) that the Ovation is using, "mobile" check in agents (and lots of them), on line check in at home and no issuing of seapass cards in the terminal ( they will be in your stateroom) and nominated check in times there will be virtually no queues so the need for priority lines is eliminated.

Once you drop your luggage off there will be check in agents standing in the forecourt of the terminal with handheld tablets and scanners etc and once they do a quick check of your setsail and a "verbal" health questionaire, your setsail is stamped and you are on your way onto the ship. The CIAs (check in agents..I just thought of that :D .. might use it) will also be spread throughout the terminal and you can be "processed" anywhere. Setsails can be reprinted photos retaken etc and if need be the old level two check in area is set up to handle any "problem" documents .

 

Obviously this system is new to us in Sydney but once any little wrinkles are ironed out and, judging by the first embark last Thursday, it will be a smooth, hassle free, speedy check in for everybody. I think many people do resist change but, given a chance, this new system will have them wondering how they could ever check in any other way, the old way will seem archaic.

Still have to fill in those damn Aust. Govt. Departure cards though which I see in the news they are planning to do away with in the next couple of years.

thanks for all your speculation no problem with Dunedin weather have a look at South west coast of NZ :rolleyes: Sick bags have been out for days :rolleyes: Been in Miliford Sounds since 5:30 am leavin noon :)

Sounds like they arent doing Dusky or Doubtful sounds either.