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At last! It's RADIANCE cruise day!

gaechann

By gaechann,
in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers

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gaechann

gaechann

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Yes, thanks to those who enquired, Mum is doing OK though I have to dress her arm each day. The medical staff on-board were fantastic even though we had to wake them up at 2.30 in the morning.

 

The day prior to leaving the ship they provided me with all the necessary bandages etc. so that I could continue to attend to her wounds each day until we arrive home.

 

As the fall was ON-BOARD there was no charge at all! Thank you Radiance of the Seas!

 

Gae

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jennyau

jennyau

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Yes, thanks to those who enquired, Mum is doing OK though I have to dress her arm each day. The medical staff on-board were fantastic even though we had to wake them up at 2.30 in the morning.

 

The day prior to leaving the ship they provided me with all the necessary bandages etc. so that I could continue to attend to her wounds each day until we arrive home.

 

As the fall was ON-BOARD there was no charge at all! Thank you Radiance of the Seas!

 

Gae

 

Thanks for the update. I'm glad to know she's ok. The no charge thing was fantastic!

 

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Forums mobile app

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  • 2 weeks later...
gaechann

gaechann

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Hi all

 

I've promised to give you more details of our recent cruise so here we are with DAY 1:

 

Our flight from Coffs Harbour was delayed by 2 hours which meant that we didn't arrive at the Airport until about 1.30. Then because Mum had wheelchair assistance we were last out of the plane.

 

We had booked Town Cars to take us from the airport to the Passenger Terminal so the driver was doing a few laps of the taxi rank until we arrived EVEN THOUGH I'd advised that we would be last out of the plane. We only had to wait about 10 minutes once we were outside of the Arrivals Terminal before the car turned up just before 2.00pm.

 

The ride to the Passenger Terminal took about 20 minutes. We were excited when we at last caught sight of the ship! We had priority parking at the Terminal then we had a wheelchair provided by a crew member who also took charge of our luggage. He took us right through the check-in/Customs procedure to our cabin.

 

Check-in took about 15 minutes. We had all our forms completed (except the health one which they give you when you arrive) with our passports and credit cards in hand so were handed our on-board cards then ushered through Customs, followed by the security scanner then up the ramp to the ship.

 

This time they took our security photos just after we boarded, handed us back our on-board cards which we put into our lanyards then we went down to our Accessible Cabin 4006 - portside.

 

This was a nice size with a LARGE bathroom and extra cabin room to allow room for a wheelchair to turn around. The down side was a large porthole inside of a window and NO JUG!

 

We did have a frig but would have preferred a jug to make our early morning cups of tea/coffee/hot lemon drinks!

 

Our steward came and met us straight away & offered to split our bed into 2 singles. We asked about a jug but had no luck! We then went up to the Windjammer for a late lunch. It was nice to see the Welcome Aboard Decorations there - all carved from vegetables. I'll see if I can add a photo of this later.

 

The Windjammer was larger than the Rhapsody but not as large as the Voyager. The upside was that there was more seating room here as the aft of the ship has extra seating as well as the Rita's Cantina and Azumi Restaurants which could be used for any overflows.

 

It was TOO COLD to sit outside so we settled for a window seat inside. Actually we found that it was often TOO COLD inside the ship as well. Obviously the air-conditioning was turned up a tad too much. Thank heavens we had packed one light jacket each. My Mum said she would have worn her long underwear if she'd brought it so it affected her more than myself.

 

We thought about purchasing one of the Dining Packages offered on the first day but reasoned after the great spread at the Windjammer that the Main Dining Room would suffice for dinner each night so saved our money.

 

We went back to our cabin to un-pack before going up to the Viking Crown Lounge on Deck 13 for our sail-away. We had brought our new binoculars with us so were able to check on all the little islands that are dotted throughout the Harbour.

 

The noise coming out of the Diamond Lounge adjacent to the Viking Crown Lounge was a bit loud then when they spilled out into the VCL, we moved downstairs! It seemed that no-one in the DL were interested in the sailaway but were more concerned about getting their fair share of the free drinks available!

 

We skipped dinner - we were booked into My Time Dining which was on Deck 5 - bought a drink at the Theatre Bar then settled in to await the Welcome Aboard Show.

 

This was a bit of a fizzer! The juggler/comedian had been on the Rhapsody in March and had NOT improved!

 

Our Cruise Director Bobby Brown was a no-show as he'd had a family emergency so had flown home and left his assistant Gordon to take his place.

 

PLEASE NOTE: At the back of the Theatre on either side, there is an area for Disabled Passengers to sit with their wheelchairs/walkers. This was very poorly sign-posted with small wheelchair signs on the back of the chairs in front so we stumbled across this by accident only.

 

UNFORTUNATELY, it became a nightly battle with able-bodied people to obtain a seat in this area. Most refused to move and if they did, many were quite reluctant to give up these comfortable chairs with more leg-room. My Mum who rarely raises her voice, usually had to ask people if they would please allow her use of the chairs if we didn't arrive about half an hour before the shows! We reported the problem to Guest Relations but nothing was done about it.

 

Early to bed as we'd had little sleep the night before! Alas, it was too hot in our cabin for the bedding and too cold if we did away with the doonas. We learnt to turn the air-conditioner up during the day and back down to cool in the evening.

 

DAY 2 - day at sea when we have an opportunity to explore the Radiance to come.......

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gaechann

gaechann

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I wonder if anyone can tell me how to upload photos from My Photos into these messages please.

 

I've clicked on the Insert Image icon here above but then it asks for the URL of your image.

 

I went to the photo, right clicked then selected COPY then came back here and used Control V to Paste but nothing happened.

 

HELP PLEASE!

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Kiwi Kruzer

Kiwi Kruzer

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I wonder if anyone can tell me how to upload photos from My Photos into these messages please.

 

I've clicked on the Insert Image icon here above but then it asks for the URL of your image.

 

I went to the photo, right clicked then selected COPY then came back here and used Control V to Paste but nothing happened.

 

HELP PLEASE!

 

Hi Gae,

Its easy once you get the hang of it. You need to go to a photo hosting site such as TinyPic or Photobucket....there are lots of other free sites out there as well....Mr Google can help you there if you want any more.

Once on there you can upload a photo from My Photos and the site will give you a URL for posting on message boards. It will look like this ......url....... You simply copy that url ..the letters IMG in brackets must be included as that is the key for the pic to be included .....and paste it into your message and the photo will come up.

I always hit the preview button to make sure its there. Sometimes it takes a short time before it comes up.

Hope this helps.

 

 

 

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gaechann

gaechann

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Hi Gae,

Its easy once you get the hang of it. You need to go to a photo hosting site such as TinyPic or Photobucket....there are lots of other free sites out there as well....Mr Google can help you there if you want any more.

Once on there you can upload a photo from My Photos and the site will give you a URL for posting on message boards. It will look like this ......url....... You simply copy that url ..the letters IMG in brackets must be included as that is the key for the pic to be included .....and paste it into your message and the photo will come up.

I always hit the preview button to make sure its there. Sometimes it takes a short time before it comes up.

Hope this helps.

 

 

Thanks David! You're always so helpful - I'll give it a go later!

Gae

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Icerecon

Icerecon

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Here's the Aft area of Windjammers. You'll need to walk through the LHSide through Rita's Cantina or the RHSide through Izumi.

 

Gae this is our favourite area onboard Radiance spent many an hour there having lunch and taking in the scenery reading etc.

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gaechann

gaechann

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DAY 2 - at Sea

 

We tackled all the correspondence left in our cabin early this morning before breakfast:

  • Cruise Compass for Day 1
  • Shore Excursions folder
  • Sheet of Officers & Staff Onboard
  • My Time Dining Instructions from the Maitre d'
  • Gratuities Letter - new instructions
  • Crown & Anchor Letter & booklets
  • Meet & Mingle invitations

Breakfast - we like to serve ourselves so it was up to Deck 11 aft to the Windjammer where we found our favourite hot cooked "museli" which is really rolled oats with cut up fruit, dried fruit and nuts added. To a small spoonful of this I would add extra silvered almonds, 4 prunes, a spinkle of cinnamon and half a small tub of plain yoghurt. Absolultely yummy!

We would then usually finish off with a piece of wholemeal toast (they don't have grain toast but you could take some grain bread from the display and ask for it to be toasted) with either a poached egg or some scrambled egg and a piece of tomato. All finished off with a cup of hot water with some lemon squeezed into it.

 

Deck 12 - Time to walk off our breakfast by doing the circuit of Deck 12. This was where the childrens Adventure Ocean section was found towards the back of the ship. I took some photos of the kiddies wading pool and slide. The Sports Court, Samba Grill & Video Arcade were also found towards the rear of this deck.

 

The middle of the deck was where the Teen Disco was located and the Crown & Anchor Office was open here too at certain times. There was one bar here towards the front section of the deck where those who were sun-bathing on this deck could obtain refreshments. At the front of the deck there were 2 sets of binoculars mounted which you could use for free. The front of this deck was also where the Spa & Fitness Centre was located.

 

Deck 13 - This was where the Concierge Lounge and Diamond Lounge were located for those passengers who were either in suites or had reached at least Diamond status in the Crown & Anchor Loyalty Program.

On this deck also was the Viking Crown Lounge which was often used for the Art Exhibitions & Auctions. The Starquest nightclub & mini-golf course were also on this level.

 

Deck 11 - This was where lots of people would gather either around the outdoor swimming pool or the indoor pool in the solarium section. Plenty of bars in this area. We would often use the solarium bar for our specialty coffees and get a light snack from the Solarium Cafe. They served breakfast & lunch here so it was often a nice alternative to the Windjammer for some. Additional Spa & Fitness centre activities were to be found at the front of this deck.

 

Deck 10 - Didn't visit this. Mostly suites located on this level. It always amazes me that those that pay the most for their cabins are located on the highest cabin deck so would experience lots of noice from the public areas above and also be subjected to the most violent movements IF the seas were rough!

 

Deck 9 - This was where the library could be found at the Centrum Section of the ship. We would call in here some mornings to do the daily crossword, trivia & suduku puzzles. Of course there were books to be read as well.

 

Decks 8 & 7 - Didn't visit them either as they were filled with cabins.

 

Deck 6 - The Helipad was located at the front but it was accessed via stairs from Deck 5. The top level of the Theatre is shown at the front of this deck behind which the small cinema is located. Get there early if you want to see a film as there are limited seats available. The Casino is next then the Centrum after which you'll find the Schooner Bar, the specialty restaurants (which we didn't visit as the food in the Main Dining Room and Windjammers was very nice) and lastly at the rear the Colony Club which was where trivia, dancing and other activities were held. The billiards tables are located in this area as well.

 

Deck 5 - This was where we spent most of our time. Either out on deck which was sheltered from the sun and out of the cold air-conditioning or sitting around the Centrum area listening to some music (our favourite was the Colibri Duo with the violin and guitar players). At the front of this deck was the main level of the Theatre behind which was the art gallery, the shops and the photo gallery. Past the Centrum to the top level of the Main Dining Room which is where all the My Time Dining passengers are seated.

 

FORMAL NIGHT tonight so it was meet the Captain (Sindre Borsheim from Norway) sfollowed by the Captain's Welcome Aboard Reception in the Colony Club where he introduced all the heads of each section. His 2IC (Vice-Captain) was a lady that we saw nearly every day inspecting the decks with the Chief Engineer,

 

MEET & MINGLE was held today for our Roll Call but we missed it as at the same time we were sailing past our home area of the NSW coast so were keen to take in the sights of our beautiful mountains and harbours.

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gaechann

gaechann

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DAY 3 - Port of Brisbane where we are docked at the Grain Terminal as the ship is too large to pass under the Gateway Bridge up river to the Brisbane Cruise Terminal and also too large to turn in the river up-stream. Another st*ff up by the authorities?

 

We were told at breakfast that the show in the theatre last night - Boys in the Band - a tribute to the Jersey Boys, the Beatles, the Jackson 5 & the Bee Gees was fantastic! Sorry we missed it!

 

We have a little bus tour booked around Brisbane - a ship's tour. I've decided that we'll take advantage of the ship's tours in the main as we are covered if there is any mishap during the tour. Such as if Mum has a fall getting on or off the bus etc.:eek:

 

We met in the Theatre for our tour. An annoying thing was that we had to walk right down to the front of the Theatre to collect our tour stickers. Not an easy thing to do for many with wonky hips & knees. Impossible for those with walkers and wheel-chairs! Many complained but they (nice young, athletic employees) didn't make any changes later on.

 

Then down to the ramp to depart. A lonnnnggggg walk to the bus, much longer than the 200m they had mentioned so Mum should have taken her walker. She just had a cane so had to have a few rest stops along the way so we were next to last on the bus. The last person was a man who forgot to bring his sea-pass with him to be "binged" off the ship!

 

The tour was great though and our driver was a hoot! Brisbane is the closest Australian city to where we live so we know it quite well but it was nice to be escorted around. I especially enjoyed seeing the South Bank area where the Expo was held in Brisbane all those years ago. I have some photos to add later.

 

It was interesting to be told about all the FREE bikes that the City has financed for use to try to avoid traffic snarls. Unfortunately, they are rarely used as the powers that be forgot that the riders need helmets! Another example of beaurocracy gone mad! I wonder how it works in other cities that provide these free bikes to get around?

 

Back about 2.30 so had a late lunch in the Windjammer before retiring to our cabin for a little rest.

 

Went to the Dining Room for My Time Dining where we had the BEST meal of Slow-cooked Prime-rib Fillet before going into the Theatre for a great show - Piano Man a tribute to Billy Joel, Elton John, Stevie Wonder & Barry Manilow. There were 2 shows - 8.45 & 10.30.

 

I'll now post some photos from our day in Brisbane.

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