Just off Voyager

[Jarrah-cruise]

Actually, changing the second question ... Are you able to have both a cash account + add your credit card to your SeaPass? Many thanks! :)

[jozzee72]

I was on radiance of seas over New Years. I can confirm that there is no kettle in the staterooms. We had over 2000 passengers and it was a mix of everyone. Over 500 kids, lots of elderly, lots of young adults, young families... So whatever age bracket you were, there was someone your age. I agree that the clothes came out wrinkly. We decided not to go the washing the second time they offered the special. We bought a travel clothes line and washing liquid and used that most of the time. Best holiday though!!

[keagle]

Thank you so much, keagle! Just a few questions: When you say 'any type of cash', do you mean including AUD?

 

Yes, AUD or USD. I think that they would take pthers as well.

On the cruises that I have done to the south pacific, they can supply most currencies for places they dock. Like I said though, the on-board currency exchange rate is not great.

 

Also, when you say you get cash to put into your Seapass account, is your SeaPass therefore a bit like London's Oyster Card or Hong Kong's Octopus Card, where you load it with cash, and can therefore use it to pay whatever you need to pay?

 

Thanks a lot for your help, keagle! I really appreciate all the assistance! :)

I supply Royal Caribbean with my credit card number and the first sea day I put cash in to my Seapass card. I do this so at the end of the cruise there is less charged to my credit card. The other reason I do it this way is that I keep an eye on the exchange rate and try to get US$ when the AU$ is higher. I bought a heap when the rate was around $1.05.

 

You don't need to put cash on your Seapass card to be able to use it, as long as they have a current credit card to charge to.

 

Hope that helps.

[Jarrah-cruise]

I wrote to Royal Carribbean recently and they confirmed that (at least, the Promenade Staterooms do, so, I assume the rest will too!) all rooms have kettles. :)

 

Should clarify that I wrote specifically referring to the Voyager of the Seas, so, not sure about kettles on other ships.

 

keagle, once again, thank you, thank you, thank you! :) Your help is sincerely most appreciated! :D

[tassie cruiser]

Should clarify that I wrote specifically referring to the Voyager of the Seas, so, not sure about kettles on other ships.

 

keagle, once again, thank you, thank you, thank you! :) Your help is sincerely most appreciated! :D

 

There is kettles in every stateroom onboard VOS. Our friends had an inside and they certainly had it. We have been on Rhapsody and was in an inside cabin and had kettle, strange that radiance didn't. So, I can confirm that yes, kettles in ALL staterooms and coffee machines (that no one uses) in suites and above. Fiona

[tassie cruiser]

Yes, AUD or USD. I think that they would take pthers as well.

On the cruises that I have done to the south pacific, they can supply most currencies for places they dock. Like I said though, the on-board currency exchange rate is not great.

 

 

I supply Royal Caribbean with my credit card number and the first sea day I put cash in to my Seapass card. I do this so at the end of the cruise there is less charged to my credit card. The other reason I do it this way is that I keep an eye on the exchange rate and try to get US$ when the AU$ is higher. I bought a heap when the rate was around $1.05.

 

You don't need to put cash on your Seapass card to be able to use it, as long as they have a current credit card to charge to.

 

Hope that helps.

 

 

If we cruise on an AUS ship, we don't use cash, just register a credit card but US ships a bit different. For this cruise,

We also got US cash when the dollar was good and I ticked that I would be a cash payer. Not the right word, sorry, am rushing. Lol) As we had the drink packages didn't think we would spend much. After a few days I went to guest services and registered my credit card as well as I knew I would probably spend more cash than I thought (damm that casino) also took some Aus dollars and used in Fiji. And in NZ, we went to ATM and got out NZ dollars or just used credit cards if bit bigger items. Left the cash in the safe and as you can check your account on your tv in your room, would keep an eye on it and pop down and put cash on. Hope all that makes sense. Fiona

Edited January 14, 2014 by tassie cruiser

[SydSailor]

If we cruise on an AUS ship, we don't use cash, just register a credit card but US ships a bit different. For this cruise,

We also got US cash when the dollar was good and I ticked that I would be a cash payer. Not the right word, sorry, am rushing. Lol) As we had the drink packages didn't think we would spend much. After a few days I went to guest services and registered my credit card as well as I knew I would probably spend more cash than I thought (damm that casino) also took some Aus dollars and used in Fiji. And in NZ, we went to ATM and got out NZ dollars or just used credit cards if bit bigger items. Left the cash in the safe and as you can check your account on your tv in your room, would keep an eye on it and pop down and put cash on. Hope all that makes sense. Fiona

 

You can make life a whole lot simpler, and save the X-rate margin you will invariably pay buying USD notes in Aust, if you apply for a 28 Degrees Mastercard online with GE Money and use this to register with the ship, making sure to tick 'use my bank' re conversion rates.

 

This card is magic for travel - there are zero fees for purchases in foreign currency and the Xrate they give you is the wholesale market rate. At the end of the cruise you simply check your acount on TV in your cabin and, provided no issues, walk off. GE Money sends you the bill converting your USD on board purchases into AUD at the wholesale rate and with no fees/charges. You can also use the same card for purchases in NZD when you get there, again without any fees or charges. Its also great for online purchases in foreign currency.

 

The card used to also provide for zero-fee forex cash withdrawals from overseas ATMs if you pre-loaded cash into the card (so it wasnt a cash advance) but GE now apply a 3% fee for this. Most banks/cards will slug you 2 - 3% for OS ATM withdrawals, so use the 28D card wherever possible for purchases and minimise withdrawals.

 

I have no affiliation with GE Money, but am happy to compliment a good product when I find it.

Edited January 14, 2014 by SydSailor

[Sapphire57]

There is a kettle in your room so if you have a favourite coffee take with you. The coffee in dining rooms and room service was very good, the specialty coffee was also good. The coffee from the machines in buffet area weren't real flash :p

When rooms serviced the Robert Tim's coffee bags were put in room, they were great, that was a JS so not sure if that was offered in all rooms, if you like them you could buy a box and take with you, we were talking to a guy in the buffet area and he was explaining how they have just changed coffee brands as Aussies are fussy with their coffee. :D. We took a jar of moccona and didn't use as we loved the coffee bags and the room service coffee. We would just go to buffet and get a jug of milk to take to room as they only leave those little tiny plastic things of long life milk, that you need at least 4 to make normal. Lol

 

Thanks for that detailed reply. I think I might put some coffee in just in case. Better to have it and not need it than have a coffee headache ruin the day.

 

Karen

[Yillup]

I've heard that only one type of "champagne" (sparkling wine) is included with the new premium drinks package. That they do not count champagne as a "wine" in the dollar limit and only offer their house champagne. Did you have any experience with this?

 

Nice to know the coffee they offer when departing Sydney isn't as bad as the American syrup stuff everyone complains about in America. I don't drink coffee, but my husband does and he'd be sad if there was only the syrup stuff or paying for it...

 

Thank you for answering everyone's questions!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[moonlight_path]

Thanks for that detailed reply. I think I might put some coffee in just in case. Better to have it and not need it than have a coffee headache ruin the day.

 

Karen

 

There was definitely no coffee in the cabins on VOS. I read somewhere that there are coffee sachets around the ship - I found none. I always bring my own coffee (Moccona) and my mother takes those coffee bags but I found that even with MY coffee, it didn't taste like home. I can only assume it's the water. :confused: Also those stupid little long life milks are useless - I just popped down to the Cafe Promenade & helped myself to a plastic cup full of milk.

 

Just note that the fridge is none too cold and my wine only just fitted crosswise. So I asked my cabin steward for an ice bucket and ice. He kept that topped up for me each day and the ice lasted well into the evening. :D

[jozzee72]

Funny you say that about the water. I didn't like the coffee so I started drinking liptons tea which I have at home. I thought it was the plastic cups that made the difference or the long life milk. Either way, it wasn't the same!

[Docker123]

I've heard that only one type of "champagne" (sparkling wine) is included with the new premium drinks package. That they do not count champagne as a "wine" in the dollar limit and only offer their house champagne. Did you have any experience with this?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

If this is the case, what happens with using the package in the Champagne Bar?

 

Going on a celebratory cruise, and would like some real champagne to celebrate.

[SydSailor]

If this is the case, what happens with using the package in the Champagne Bar?

 

Going on a celebratory cruise, and would like some real champagne to celebrate.

 

Champagne is not excluded from the package per se, but there is only one available by the glass for less than $14, which is the Domaine Chandon from California which I think was $10 or $12 per glass. I didn't try it as we took a couple of bottles of Moët under the 2 bottle rule.

[OzKiwiJJ]

Funny you say that about the water. I didn't like the coffee so I started drinking liptons tea which I have at home. I thought it was the plastic cups that made the difference or the long life milk. Either way, it wasn't the same!

 

Some brands of long life milk can definitely make a difference to the taste of both tea and coffee.

 

I almost never drink tea or cafe latte in Italy as most places use UHT milk and it tastes horrible, I drink espresso instead. Milk for tea in Asia can be a problem. When travelling I usually take enough teabags and enough of those Anchor single serve UHT milks (for some reason they don't taste awful) to have one decent cup of tea a day. If I have that first thing in the morning I'm happy to have espresso for the rest of the day.

[moonlight_path]

I was standing in the queue at the cafe to buy a "real" coffee & the woman behind me was aghast when she saw the long life milk boxes. I chuckled to myself wondering if she thought the ship had a cow below decks in order to get her fresh milk.

 

I have photos of the Champagne bar (VOS) menu if anyone is interested in seeing them.

Edited January 15, 2014 by moonlight_path

[Cruising Our Way]

Hi tassie cruiser, I have a lot of questions too, and would love any help you can provide!

 

 

 

- When did this change? The only reason I ask is because my friends (who are actually the ones going on the cruise) were led to believe that it is still the case that all passengers in the same cabin are required to get the drinks package. Or do you mean that both passengers need to get a drinks package (as opposed to one who does and one who opts out), but the type of drinks package can vary?

 

- Did you have dinner in the MDR at the early or late sitting? If it was the late sitting, did you find that it cut into time when shows or other activities on-board are happening?

we had late seating - 8-15 you could go to the early or late shows

 

- Did you have any outbreaks of norovirus on-board?

No, not at all, they were great with making people wash their hands..... There was this georgeous lady at the buffet and as you were walking in she would say...washy, washy, woop woop.....lol there were hand sanitisers at every entrance

 

- Did you bring a powerboard (I've read posts here that some people have, others have but they were confiscated, etc.)? No problem with power boards, but this time I took on 2 x double adaptors as there were 3 x outlets in cabin (European adaptors needed)

- With dining in the MDR, do you know if you have to stick with your early/late sitting, or can you ever just turn up and still manage to get a seat? If you are allocated late seating for example, you have to go to late or you may chose the buffet or portofinos or johnny rockets... Anytime dining is to be chosen at time of booking (so you can go anytime you want) that's at a different level of the dining room but if you chose this you have to pay grats and cannot remove them

- How was the ice skating show organised? How did you know which night to go?

We were allocated days/times, depending on your dining (late,early or anytime) and our muster number... example, our muster number was B13 (your muster number is printed on your card) and we were late dining so they would say ::: late seating and odd number muster at such and such a time, and late seating with even number at such and such,, if that makes sense.. If you wanted to go again you could just turn up and stand in the "stand by line" and once the people were in then the stand by line went in, no one ever missed out if they were in the stand by line

 

- When do you find out which nights in the MDR are formal or casual nights?

they don't have a lot of.... think we had 3??? with our 14 night cruise..

There was a few theme nights as well but not many people participated in.. One was the island night which they had on the top deck as we left Wellington duhhhhhh, bit cold lol, then there was a 70's night which hardly anyone joined in and there was a white night, which again, wasn't a hit

 

- Any tips/advice you can provide for first-timers to cruising, and any VOS-specific info would be most appreciated!

 

No laundry on RCCL, so if you have a balcony, can wash out in bathroom and hang on balcony. They have $30 wash bags for just underwear, shorts, tshirts etc... they come back clean but soooooo wrinkly and not folded what so ever..

Remember its all US onboard so if the dollar gets better go and get cash..... If you put credit card on for your account make sure you tick " my bank will convert" not RCCL, they are shockers and rate very low

 

Hi,

Just want to check something you said (European adaptors needed) are they the same as USA adaptors?

[tassie cruiser]

No. In our cabin was 3 x outlets, 2 were European and 1 US. THE Europen work heaps better. I can't quite remember the voltage, someone else may be better at explaining it, but I think (I will check) but From memory the European is like 240v and good for things like hair dryers, straighteners etc. and the US 110v so is ok for charging phones etc, if you put your dryer in the US it was very very sluggish (wrong word sorry) but not a lot of oomph. Does that make sense? Fiona

[keagle]

 

Hi,

Just want to check something you said (European adaptors needed) are they the same as USA adaptors?

 

They are different. This is from the Rhapsody but it does show the difference. European are 220 volts.

 

 

Hope the attachments works.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Docker123]

I was standing in the queue at the cafe to buy a "real" coffee & the woman behind me was aghast when she saw the long life milk boxes. I chuckled to myself wondering if she thought the ship had a cow below decks in order to get her fresh milk.

 

I have photos of the Champagne bar (VOS) menu if anyone is interested in seeing them.

 

Yes please, post the photo of the menu.

[aussielozzie18]

Been looking at this cruise for NYE this year. Would love to cruise the Voyager over NYE but not sure about the itinerary.

What did you do in the 3 NZ ports and Lautoka, Fiji?

[moonlight_path]

You can find my photos of the Champagne Bar menu from VOS here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/114567688@N06/sets/

[tassie cruiser]

We loved Voyager so much and after their big refurb in Oct we cant wait to see it so we all booked this same cruise again yesterday :p This time we booked a PR inside (opposite pig and whistle) so I will miss my JS and balcony and bath, that's for sure but at the end of the day we are really only in cabin to sleep, shower etc... and it was heaps cheaper, not as much to save throughout the year....:D

[Docker123]

You can find my photos of the Champagne Bar menu from VOS here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/114567688@N06/sets/

 

 

thank you ... now if my office only had waiter service!

[Jarrah-cruise]

Thanks to everyone for answering my questions! You guys are truly amazing! :)

 

This time we booked a PR inside (opposite pig and whistle) so I will miss my JS and balcony and bath, that's for sure but at the end of the day we are really only in cabin to sleep, shower etc... and it was heaps cheaper, not as much to save throughout the year....:D

 

Do you think it is pretty quiet in that area at night time? I think my friends are above the general and souvenir shop. Or will it be a case of needing to bring earplugs (I hope not!)? I've tried reading up on reviews, but, the ones I've found are very old (some written 10 years ago!).

[mtn_couple]

There is kettles in every stateroom onboard VOS. Our friends had an inside and they certainly had it. We have been on Rhapsody and was in an inside cabin and had kettle, strange that radiance didn't. So, I can confirm that yes, kettles in ALL staterooms and coffee machines (that no one uses) in suites and above. Fiona

 

We are in an aft JS, deck 10 in a few weeks..... I am a bit of a coffee nut and will be using the coffee machine. Are you able to tell me if it's coffee grounds or pods? Do they supply coffee for the machine or should I bring my own?

 

The "real" coffee you can purchase, are there several outlets or is it just in Cafe Promenade? Ie, with the drinks package that includes coffee, would I need to go to Cafe Promenade every time or can I get specialty coffee in other locations?