Bodogbodog

Come on guys, give your kid a job, book here !!!!:halo:

 

Standby for incoming.:evilsmile:

Very principled - so do you only cruise on Australian flagged ships and buy Australian made goods from Australian owned companies?

It’s a global world market these days - why wouldn’t someone take advantage of that?

If Australian companies can be competitive then business will naturally flow to them

Yes I have no doubt its real

My days as a comedian are numbered...

That address is real - there’s a squatter family in there at the moment :-)

Some US TA,s do indeed require a USA address and this can be stipulated by the Cruise line so not always a TA rule. Also in USA they have "state specific" sales with cheaper fares to entice locals to cruises that are not selling well.

If you can’t nominate a US address then I’m very disappointed in your creativity

Try using 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500 - I know that one exists ;p

Seriously though there are ways around that requirement - it’s not like they go knock on the door to check...

Appreciate these nice visuals from Bodogbodog, our travel "neighbor" in Sydney, Australia. Great sharing of a special and scenic area.

My pleasure - I wish I was along as official photographer - alas I am merely remote technical support

Although I’m not complaining as I’m at Sydney Airport waiting to fly to LA to catch Crystal Serenity on a trans Pacific voyage next week - so now it’s my turn for a photo :-)

Photos from Recife

My advice on US Travel Agents

Make sure they don't charge change or cancellation fees - note that the cruise line may charge them though

Make sure they don't a premium to use a credit card to pay

See if you can pay in Australian dollars in Australia

See if you can pay by bank transfer to avoid card exchange rate fees up to 3% (I don't because I am addicted to airline points programmes :D)

Ask them questions about their experience on the lines or similar lines to those you are considering

Ask them what they can offer as additional benefits eg free excursions, onboard events, OBC etc - don't expect ALL these things but if you don't ask you don't get

Look for one you know who is looking after - they care (generally) - those who are just in a cue that you're routed to wont pay the same attention

Look for recommendations from friends or those who have used them - that's how I got onto mine several years ago - a personal recommendation from someone I was cruising with who told me how impressed they were with the Travel Agent and what extra's they had got them

Hope that helps

Seeing as this thread has found it's way back, I am considering at least testing the water with US based TA. Can OzKiwi and Bodog provide a few hints so that one might be able to make an educated guess as to which one(s) they use?

We can’t name names on CC - it is against the rules

Just a bit of information that confirms my earlier post

I just checked in for my flight to the US tomorrow - on Virgin their advice is be at the airport at least 2 hours before departure for bag drop and processing after online checkin

Please see a Virgin Australia team member at the airport to obtain your boarding pass and to have your travel documents verified. This will include a valid passport and may include visas and/or proof of onward travel. If you have checked baggage, arrive at the airport least 120 minutes prior to flight departure. We also recommend that you are at the boarding gate at least 45 minutes prior to flight departure.

If you are flying to the USA, you must have a copy of your itinerary with you (either electronically or hard copy) and please arrive at the boarding gates 75 minutes prior to departure.

Interestingly the boarding pass I printed out refers to arriving at the airport 90 minutes prior to departure....talk about confusing and contradictory

Some photos from Alter do Chao

And the last view of the Amazon

I have tried twice to answer but internet sucks

Been more off than in since 3 pm

Not answering it agaun

Robin

Here's some suggestions to help with posting and proof reading your posts to improve their clarity:

Prepare them offline in a notepad or even a draft email message - then you can check it and save it for use later on

When you want to post it to Cruise Critic and you are able to get online then just cut and paste it into the forums

Depending on the platform you are using you can use Apps like the Cruise Critic app or Tapatalk app to access the forums and post to them - you still need to be online but it's often easier than using a web browser interface to do so

Hope that helps

Sorry - Cruise Critic rules specifically prevent people mentioning specific travel agents. You will get generic descriptions of what you can expect but no specific names or recommendations

There shall be no third-party recommendation (whether positive or negative in tone) of travel agencies on any forums within Cruise Critic. General discussions regarding the TYPE of AGENCY to be used to purchase a cruise will be allowed, as long as no recommendations for any source of purchase are posted.

Touting of your personal cruise agent or cruise line "personal cruise consultant" (or any other venue by which you purchase a cruise) is not allowed on our message boards. Postings that contain "tell them John sent you" will be removed without notice.

This means you should not ask about someone's travel agent, nor should you respond in kind. Offering to email someone your travel agent's name or info is also not allowed, nor is asking members to email you for the information.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/faq.php?s=&do=search&q=Travel+Agent&match=all&titlesonly=0

It also means you cannot post links to travel agencies, no matter what the specific reason.

That said you can expect things like OBC, gifts, shore excursions, on board receptions, pre cruise accomodation etc - but not necessarily all of them - sometimes you can choose and sometimes they or their consortium will set the deliverables

I suggest you follow a few of the current WC blogs and you will get an idea from them of the sort of inclusions that are provided - there's a list in this thread @ https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2571981

Think about what happens to your iPhone when you are in flight mode on a cruise - does the date and time update correctly? Does it update correctly when connected to the internet via the ships service?

I believe that is your answer on what to expect with the Apple watch

Depends on the time and the day, as traffic can be a factor and double the price.

https://www.taxifare.com.au/rates/australia/sydney/

 

Perhaps consider UBER as well.

Interesting - if taxis are in short supply then expect Surge Pricing with Uber - ie the Costs will go up

To the OP - just take one from the taxi rank - I assume were talking International terminal - there will be a good supply there - or if you like Uber then its easy to get picked up at the airport. We don't have Lyft here

Does it adjust for the new time zones when on the ship?

No - it's just like an iPhone - it needs a connection to the cell service to update the clock - you can turn it to manual but that can create a world of pain trying to get it back in synch - at least that's the experience a friend had when we sailed with them across the Pacific

Thanks for posting the trivia questions and answers, but I sure hope you are posting the most difficult ones.

Yes - the reports are great and much appreciated

I'm a big trivia fan as well but those questions are very hard (which is good as they challenge you of course)

Have a great time and enjoy all the activites

There was a good discussion on Norfolk on this thread @ https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2578725

Note the crane on the wharf in the picture I posted can be under the sea during storms

When I talked to locals they said don’t bet on getting on - many cruise ships can’t get tenders ashore

Surely there’s got to be some tolerance and understanding that we are all at the mercy of the sea and this is a very exposed little island

Hopefully we make it ashore next month when Crystal Serenity makes it maiden call at Norfolk Island

There is only one qualification to what I have said: if you have access to the Qantas first class lounge, then four hours could be a very pleasant time

Thanks for the confirmation I just couldn’t believe it when some said 4 hours

There is no new requirements or recommendations from the authorities - I am travelling in less than a week so would be aware or have been advised if that were the case

Yes the Qantas First lounge is one of the best globally I believe but even with the spa and the restaurant there’s only so much eating and drinking one can do - so even with that access I’d still opt for a couple of hours

The OP will be out in the concourse so no such luck - and for them the challenge is more around the amount of time to allow to travel to the airport

hoping someone who frequents SYD will respond in kind

They did and I do

I fly in and out of Sydney International airport regularly and have done so for many years

You said no need to show up hours ahead. But, that is a faulty assumption given the vagaries of modern air travel. Your post also insinuates that an airport (specifically SYD) is not a pleasant place.

What assumption is faulty about anything I’ve said as it relates to Sydney Intl airport? I know the security processes that guests are required to pass through from firsthand experience and they are different than say LAX or Heathrow

You are clearly cautious as indicated by arriving at the airport the day before for some flights. I look at what the airlines require and knowing the airport and how it operates make a choice that compiles with the requirements. You are correct I don’t see an airport as my holiday destination

Don’t try and put words in my mouth - I didn’t say it wasn’t a pleasant place just that there are nicer places to spend time at in Sydney

Some airports are worth "sitting around"

On that one we will have to agree to disagree - the option of spending time in Sydney proper or in an airport concourse seems a clear cut choice to me - but to each their own

It's been about a decade since I was last at SYD and I don't have much recollection of the amenities

And here was I thinking this thread was about Sydney International Airport in Australia as opposed to San Francisco International airport and its’ facilities...and that the OP was looking for local knowledge and input

Thank you all for replying. It is Virgin and I have no status. I was hoping to do a tour to the Blue Mountains that day that said I would be at the airport at about 4:45 pm and thus the question for my 7:30 pm flight wondering if I was allowing enough time.

I think given you will be coming from Western Sydney from the mountains you do run a risk of hitting traffic on the M4. The trip from the scenic area of the mountains is around 2 hours each way without a delay

I don’t know how long they’ve allowed for the trip to the airport but it looks risky and tight to me based on Sydney traffic - 1 hour plus delays can easily occur on the main routes and that would put you at risk

Maybe you will need to consider another tour that day and do the Mountains earlier in your visit - sorry but that would be my recommendation

So, basically, you are agreeing with 3-4 hours if only for a buffer related to traffic.[emoji106][emoji106][emoji106]

No I’m not

There’s a big difference to needlessly sitting around Sydney airport for 4 hours (twice as long as you need to IMHO) and actually getting to the check in on time given the traffic in Sydney

If I were agreeing then depending on where they were coming from, let’s say the central city for example, they might have to allow 3 hours for the travel to the airport and to checkin - but if they were coming from say Hornsby they’d really need to allow 4 hours in total to be on the safe side.

Judging Sydney traffic is an art not a science - although traffic apps like Waze and Google maps is helping these days

I’m amused that someone from CA and someone from TX is giving advice on a question relating to Sydney airport - yes there’s a theoretical answer but I think the OP was looking for practical advice and local knowledge

Some photos from Manaus

Keith - interesting recommendation - how many times have you flown out of Sydney International airport? I think some local knowledge may be useful

First it depends what class you are travelling and your airline status

Qantas state on their tickets:

• International First / Business Closes 60 minutes before departure
  
• Economy / Premium Economy Closes 90 minutes before departure
  
• Qantas codeshare services (QF Flight numbers operated by Jetstar)^
  Check in opens 3 hours before departure Closes 60 minutes before departure
  
• Jetstar Business / Economy (JQ)^ Check in opens 3 hours before departure Closes 60 minutes before departure
  
• Flights operated by Jetstar Asia (3K)~ Check in opens 2 hours before departure
  

Virgin is 90 minutes before departure

You do need to see what your airline requires

So I guess it depends on how cautious you are and how much you like waiting around airports

If you have checked baggage and been ticketed then they are unlikely to leave without you if you are stuck in a processing lane - they will be paging you and sending out the search parties - they don't want to unload your baggage - now if you are finishing that last drink in the bar and ignoring pages then you deserve to be left behind

Sydney has facial recognition on immigration gates so if you have an electronic enabled passport you will use that - then through security which is not as (visibly) stringent as most US international airports

Two hours is fine - a 33% tolerance over the airline recommendation - three is being cautious ad four is just plain crazy

Now what I will warn of is allowing time for Sydney traffic delays - our traffic is notoriously bad most of the time and certainly around late afternoon as the commute begins and that impacts airport traffic - so do allow plenty of time to get to the airport at that time of the day