Amhere219 Posted January 10, 2018 #76 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Hi Mahdnc: I'll be going on this cruise in March/April of this year and was thinking of booking the "Overnight on the Great Barrier Reef" excursion while we're in Cairns. I'm unable to find any reviews for it and was curious if you know of anyone who went on it and what their opinions were. Great job on blogging your cruise, I enjoy reading about it. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barwick Cruiser Posted January 10, 2018 #77 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Tonight is Evening Chic, so I will look. Here is the MDR menu during last week's Evening Chic night: Wow, looks like they changed up the "timeless entrees"...I like the new offerings! Keep up the great work and enjoy the cruise! Cathy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the mice Posted January 10, 2018 #78 Share Posted January 10, 2018 (edited) Hi Mahdnc, thanks so much for this blog. We are doing this cruise B2B with New Zealand in October 2019. This will help me not only prepare, but give me info (or ammo?;p) to keep my DH, who is reluctant to go this far or be away so long, onboard with this trip. He loves to snorkel, so will really enjoy that part. Me - I will have to learn to swim and snorkel.... Enjoy your cruise!! Marilyn Edited January 10, 2018 by the mice cut off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muffinz Posted January 10, 2018 #79 Share Posted January 10, 2018 thanks for the menu - looks very nice.... is the normal MDR menu just as good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted January 10, 2018 Author #80 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Hi Mahdnc, thanks so much for this blog. We are doing this cruise B2B with New Zealand in October 2019. This will help me not only prepare, but give me info (or ammo?;p) to keep my DH, who is reluctant to go this far or be away so long, onboard with this trip. He loves to snorkel, so will really enjoy that part. Me - I will have to learn to swim and snorkel.... Enjoy your cruise!! Marilyn Wow. That is going to be some cruise. The snorkeling and scuba diving at the GBR is amazing. We have done this many times in the Caribbean where the snorkeling and diving is great. But I was blown away by what I saw at the GBR. At times it felt like I was swimming in an aquarium. We saw beautiful Giant Clams which live only in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans. Your husband will have to tolerate the time and distance of being away. And you have to learn how to swim and snorkel! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the mice Posted January 10, 2018 #81 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Thanks for that great photo. Yes, this will be to celebrate my 70th. I figure we will be gone 31 days (retirement is good...). Hoping to fly to Melbourne and do a day trip to the Great Ocean Road, then fly to Sydney for a couple of days prior to the start of the GBR cruise. Celebrity does a 5 day RT to Melbourne prior to our GBR, but doesn't allow for doing the GBR and anything in Melbourne, plus then I'd have to add more days to see Sydney. Of course, this is MY plan.... I have wanted to go to Oz for almost as long as I have been married (currently 32 happy years). In addition to learning to swim and snorkel, I will probably have to learn hypnosis to use on Pete to get him to fly that distance - LOL. Piling up the frequent flier miles right now. I know he's going to love it. Good thing there are a number of sea days to give him some R&R. And I love the Corning Hot Glass shows, it's all good. Keep on posting. I am loving this. Happy cruising. Marilyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted January 11, 2018 Author #82 Share Posted January 11, 2018 Family time at sea: we are currently working the ship's daily crossword puzzle out on our balcony on this lazy sea day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted January 11, 2018 Author #83 Share Posted January 11, 2018 We (blue dot) are currently sailing south and will dock at Brisbane tomorrow. Seas are smooth and weather is sunny. Ahhhhhhh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted January 11, 2018 Author #84 Share Posted January 11, 2018 We are far enough outside of Australian territorial waters that the casino and shops are open on this sea day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muffinz Posted January 11, 2018 #85 Share Posted January 11, 2018 We are far enough outside of Australian territorial waters that the casino and shops are open on this sea day. do you know why the casino and shops were shut for most of the cruise? Australia has casinos in Gold Coast, Brisbane and Cairns, so I don't know why the one on Solstice hasn't been open the weather looks great - have you had any rainy days? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted January 11, 2018 Author #86 Share Posted January 11, 2018 Muffinz, I posted earlier about the ship's casino and retail shops having to be closed when the ship is inside the 12 mile limit which defines Australia's territorial waters. I posted a photo of the bulletin that was sent to all the staterooms which explained this. Sometimes the rules which prohibit operating a casino within territorial waters is aimed at protecting the land based casinos. The weather so far has been good. I remembered it raining in the morning at Airlie Beach and on Day 2 at Cairns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted January 11, 2018 Author #87 Share Posted January 11, 2018 stephycpd, I have not run into anyone on the ship so far) that booked the GBR overnight shore ex. I do know that this expensive but limited tour sold out before the cruise. I certainly can see the attraction of it as we strolled the outside deck last night and observed a bright meteor shoot across the sky and we saw the Milky Way and the famous Southern Cross! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DominicAUS Posted January 11, 2018 #88 Share Posted January 11, 2018 Great review and thanks for all the pictures and info. We are going on her to NZ in just over a week. Were the chic bits dressy? Us aussies aren’t renowned for dressing up, just don’t want to over do it or under dress. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted January 11, 2018 Author #89 Share Posted January 11, 2018 So I was wrong in yesterday's post. Tonight is Evening Chic (not yesterday). I will let you know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted January 11, 2018 Author #90 Share Posted January 11, 2018 Glad to see Nigel Smyth, the Staff Captain, will be on board, hopefully, when we embark on 17 February. He is wonderful, personable, and my wife says, her favorite Irishman after than Rory McIlroy. ;) We've sailed with him on Summit out of Bayonne on a few occasions. He's a great guy. Can you check to see if he will be on board in February/March? I did not speak to Staff Captain Smyth, but one of the officers told me today that Capt Smyth will be rotating out when we return to Sydney on a few days. The replacement Staff Captain is already on board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted January 11, 2018 Author #91 Share Posted January 11, 2018 Lots of great information! Thank you. Could you please tell us who is the Captain and Cruise Director? Do you know whether they are scheduled to switch soon? If it is still Captain Tasos who I hear is excellent as well as entertaining , I am hoping he will still be there on the Feb 17 th sailing. ! The Cruise Director, Liam, will be on board Solstice for the Feb 17 sailing. I am not sure about Captain Kafetzis who is due for a break and will rotate out right around that time when I asked one of the officers. It wasn't clear to me what the exact date would be. I met the Captain yesterday up in the Sky Lounge. I forgot to ask him. I'm sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mahdnc Posted January 11, 2018 Author #92 Share Posted January 11, 2018 Can you let us know what the food is like on the formal / chic nights? and do many passengers make an effort and wear something nice? many thanks Here is the menu for tonight's Evening Chic: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wine-O Posted January 11, 2018 #93 Share Posted January 11, 2018 I did not speak to Staff Captain Smyth, but one of the officers told me today that Capt Smyth will be rotating out when we return to Sydney on a few days. The replacement Staff Captain is already on board. Sorry we'll miss him -- thanks for checking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jascal Posted January 11, 2018 #94 Share Posted January 11, 2018 The Cruise Director, Liam, will be on board Solstice for the Feb 17 sailing. I am not sure about Captain Kafetzis who is due for a break and will rotate out right around that time when I asked one of the officers. It wasn't clear to me what the exact date would be. I met the Captain yesterday up in the Sky Lounge. I forgot to ask him. I'm sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jascal Posted January 11, 2018 #95 Share Posted January 11, 2018 The Cruise Director, Liam, will be on board Solstice for the Feb 17 sailing. I am not sure about Captain Kafetzis who is due for a break and will rotate out right around that time when I asked one of the officers. It wasn't clear to me what the exact date would be. I met the Captain yesterday up in the Sky Lounge. I forgot to ask him. I'm sorry Thanks for checking , if you do happen to see him again please ask when he is leaving! We have heard so many positive comments about him Your pictures and information have been great and we enjoy your updates. Enjoy the rest of your cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h20cruzer Posted January 11, 2018 #96 Share Posted January 11, 2018 love your review, especially the pics of the GBR. Norma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davekathy Posted January 11, 2018 #97 Share Posted January 11, 2018 mahdnc...thanks for taking us along on your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holly2 Posted January 11, 2018 #98 Share Posted January 11, 2018 Do they have different menus for Australua cruises? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TFLG Posted January 11, 2018 #99 Share Posted January 11, 2018 Do they have different menus for Australua cruises? It certainly looks like it, especially the Timeless entrees. Those are Salmon, chicken and steak on every US based cruise I've been on (and even the med cruise I did) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmaanne7 Posted January 11, 2018 #100 Share Posted January 11, 2018 Really enjoying this. Thanks for sharing your time with us! Sent from my HUAWEI KII-L05 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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