ozblue_7

Yes, I think you’re right about joejoes perhaps being in the package deal. Just leaves stki not being charged 20% gratuities on perk due to booking in Australia. 

Thanks for your help everyone.

As there was split opinion, I sent an email to ncl asking the same question and received this reply,

we we are an American cruise line. Therefore gratuities are compulsory. If you do not prepay our service charges, you will be charged on board in US dollars. Have a great day!

Sender was an Australian cruise consultant.

Seems a bit abrupt,  but nonetheless conclusive, but doesn’t sit with the experience of some on this thread. 

Trying to price a 22 day ncl cruise Dubai to Rome.

my question is does the price shown inAUD include gratuities for Australians or do I need to add the daily charge which is around$20 per person per day?

Also if I take the free?? beverage package will I also be charged the 20% gratuity per day which would be about another $20 per person per day.

On a 22 day cruise it makes quite a difference possibly turning a good deal into not so good.

Thanks for your help.

Just wondering if we should do our Huskies tour in Juneau or Skagway, and if we would be able to book on arrival at the dock? Would prefer to see what the weather was like first. We travel first week July and are looking at local tours rather than the helicopter excursion.

Azamara quest, 16 days from 6 jan 19.

From Melbourne toTassy and NZ. Ends in Auckland.

balcony guarantee $3818, other categories available.

Thats good for azamara isn’t it?

Hope so, just booked!

58 minutes ago, datone said:

Last minute fly/cruise deal departing 8 December 2018.

 

14 night cruise from Bangkok to Singapore on Silver Shadow

1 night pre-cruise hotel accommodation

All transfers between airport/ship/hotel

Return flights including one-way business class upgrade

$1,000 OBC per cabin

A shore excursion in every port

Cruise includes butler service, gratuities, beverages

 

Vista Suite $5,180 per person

 

Can't find this. Any clues?

Just heard from QBE who provide NAB insurance that they will not cover any pre existing. Seems banks are unanimous. We only wanted to cover hypertension and hypothyroidism but no go.

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Chez, you mentioned early on that you had all your documents ready at China immigration for the visa. Can you advise what documents they were. Sorry if you’ve already answered this.

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Thanks for the visa advice. What paperwork did you have ready?

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As the cruise is 2 years away I want to book without cancellation fees. All the agencies I have looked at charge fees.

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Website must be costing them money. I find myself now reconsidering and looking at other options. Seems problems are well known but seem unable to fix.

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Has anyone in Australia managed to book a cruise on the celebrity website. Been trying for a week now. Been in touch with celebrity, best they can suggest is book by phone!

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Difficult. There is ace parking within walking distance which annoyingly can’t be booked and can fill up according to its website.

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Thank you Syd.

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Thanks buzz. Seems odd that on line TA site has better information than direct site.

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On the p & o website how do you view available cabins and make a selection. I can only see that you can select a inside or balcony etc. what am I missing?

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On the p and o website, how do you view and select cabin numbers? I,m only seeing choice of class of cabin, I.e outside or balcony? What am I missing.

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Thanks for this Lockiepuris. We're just back from an Island cruise that we booked last minute and used your post as our only guide. We would add the following comments.

Noumea - We did the new double decker $25 city tour in the afternoon. Good value and the bus only half full whereas the morning tour was packed. Free Wifi and local entertainment (kids with guitar and singing) available in the central park. (forget the name).

Lifou - Enjoyed the walk up to the church look out but found the cave walk quite difficult. Once at the water hole it was very crowded. I would only do this walk if you intend swimming in the water hole.

Port Vila - Bought duty free alcohol at Fung Kwei which was delivered back to ship. No problem and excellent price. Didn't enjoy the free for all at the port gate with taxi, bus and private drivers yelling at us for attention. Caught a water taxi back, which was better. All rides seemed to be $5pp.

Mystery Island - Too hot to walk around this tiny island on this day, just enjoyed the beach.

Isle of Pines - Our favourite stop. Beach and swimming, eating $1 mangoes. Bliss. Gave the ice cream a miss though at $10!

Hate to say it, but I hope you aren't disappointed with P@O Jewel after Celebrity.

As long as you have downgraded your expectations you should be fine.

But the food, service and shows are nothing to the caliber of Celebrity. The ship is quite nice. The gatsby and White Party were fun.

 

We won't sail P@O again.

Agree with this but we would sail P&O again at the price.

Just back from 12 day Jewel Pacific Island cruise from Melbourne that we booked last minute at a bargain price.

As someone posted in another thread it IS down market with no dress code enforced, but we dressed up when we felt like and enjoyed the relaxed party atmosphere. All parties were well attended and great fun, some dressed for it and some didn't, but everyone seemed to have fun regardless.

Food was good enough, not great but you get what you pay for.

Drinks package was $79/day which is way too expensive for us. Beer was about $8, cheapest wine $8.50 and most cocktails $12. We think we drink a lot but to make the package pay we needed to drink twice as much.

I'm sure you will enjoy it.

Thanks Uncle Les. What disembarkation time would we request for a 9.00 am pick up? How long to pick up luggage and go through Customs and Passport Control?

I've asked this question on my Roll Call and had no luck, so thought I'd try my 'home' board.

Our Koningsdam cruise ends in Civitavecchia, scheduled arrival 7.00 am. What is a reasonably safe time to arrange pick up for our transfer into Rome.

I assume we have to negotiate customs etc? Sorry, first Mediterranean cruise.

Thanks everybody. I'm going to take advantage of the (slightly) higher Aussie Dollar and prepay gratuities with obc.

For our September Koningsdam cruise I intend buying OBC to cover gratuities. Should I place half in my name and half in DW or more simply all in mine? Are accounts combined?

That's why I don't cruise Cunard.

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The whole point of prepaid gratuities is to well, prepay gratuities, so no more to pay as far as I'm concerned. No need to worry just enjoy your cruise.

Having said that, for some reason, room service seems to require a tip according to many posts, so I'll probably conform with that, though I don't agree with it, and may avoid room service.