j_jaye

Littlebluebook- one of our party rang carnival to ask about soda water. They were transferred to the USA call centre and the helpful person recited the soft drink package inclusions (which was the US packages) and stated it might be different for Australian sailings. So not very helpful at all but the list she read did have club soda on it which I think is American for soda water. However we have found that cascade have cans of soda water (200ml) which is sold at woolies and Dan Murphy’s.

My experience with carnival has been that they will provide a sharps container, best to call before departure to request one but if it isn’t in your cabin just ask your steward.

Carnival will store your friends extra insulin in the medical bay fridge whilst she keeps what she is currently using in your cabin. This does usually require going to guests service who contact the medical bay since hours vary in order to retrieve it.

Personally I find that a hassle, especially given lines can get long at guests service. I choose to use a FRIO wallet instead and keep my insulin with me in my cabin. It also allows me to keep my glucagen injection in my cabin because well it isn’t much use in the medic bay fridge in an emergency. There are a variety of wallets available and a few are listed in the Diabetes Australia site for your state shop.

Other people use the ice bucket and zip lock bags and tip their room steward to ensure the bucket is kept topped up.

And then others just use the mini bar fridge but the tip I have heard with that is to keep the door of the cupboard that the fride is in ajar. Apparently the reason why they are notoriously not cold is due in part to being on the cupboard. Not sure if I trust it but others do and report no problems.

Going through customs/immigration/security with medication and sharps is the same as at the airport. Just make sure she has insurance that covers her (because a medivac is expensive, as is onboard treatment) and carry’s a letter from her doctor stating medications and the need to carry sharps. I also bring an extra of everything. Depending on where you are sailing to buying a replacement (say a glucose monitor) can be expensive and hard.

Going Phuket to Melb is even worse. Not only can't you bring any duty free onto the plane but they also confiscate water/drinks purchased/acquired in the departure area.

The same excuse is used, that it is the Aust gov that demands it and my guess if they do it is because of what they view as lax security measures at those particular airports. Jetstar make a hefty profit selling bottled water.

What the hell is laundry rage????? We are doing a transpacific next year and expected to do laundry but now I am afraid. I did some on a Caribbean cruise but was the only person using the machines.

We were on Carnival Glory and it was at either Cozumel or Costa Maya and we were sitting on our balcony with drinks waiting for the pier runners to begin their show when we (and everyone else on their balcony) observed two young guys jump off the pier and into the water as they made their way back to the ship, to much cheering from their friends. Security and Carnival staff came a running.

Our departure was delayed and 20 mins later they were escorted off the ship and had to walk past everyone on their balconies and at the deck party heckling the hell out of them.

On Bora Bora use:

http://www.reefdiscovery.pf/us/index.html

 

They go strictly for the best snorkeling stops and there isn't a bunch of 'show'. Let them know how you feel, good vendor.

 

On Moorea rent a car and find your own special place: https://www.avis-tahiti.com/en/

 

I've attached a list for good things to do on Moorea.

Thank you for the links TBK. I will check them out.

Are there any ethical tour operators at these ports? No judgement on anyone else but we prefer to not use operators that chum or feed animals and want to avoid seeing others handling marine life. We rather just jump in the water and if we see a ray/shark/dolphin/turtle then it is an extra bonus.

Happy to pay for a private hire.

Thanks.