fvandewouwer Posted January 7, 2018 #1 Share Posted January 7, 2018 Happy New year everyone this is Belgium calling hope someone can help me make our decision : will cruise from Sydney to New Zealand next year (2019) cruise has been booked ( from March 8 till March 21 Ovation / Seas RCI ) as we live in Belgium and flying to Sydney will be a long long long ...:eek: one we would like to add another cruise at this time we have 2 options ( one has been booked but can be changed ) first option fly to Sydney and board the Explorer / Seas which goes to South Pacific and Fiji ( has been booked but can be changed at this moment ) itinerary is after this one we have 7 days we can spend in Sydney ( or near ) then board the ovation of the Seas for New Zealand if we do this combination we will fly to Singapore acclimate and fly to Sydney. after New Zealand we will do probably the same. or we do New Zealand first with the Ovation ( so from March 8 till March 21 ) have 8 days we can spend near or in Sydney and sail to Singapore with the Explorer/ Seas and fly home directly after this cruise without having a stop ) I am trying to compare both cruises and figure out that they have both their values ( ship is the same for both cruises that is ok for us ) option one : islands we will probably never visit again in our lives ( Vanuatu / Fiji .... ) we love to snorkel we love nature and adore wildlife option two : would make flying a lot more comfortable as we only have to take one flight back to Amsterdam and we also get the chance of visit the North of Australia in case we come back we can take time to visit south. ( snorkel the Great Barrier reef and visit some cool cities ) I hope to get as much as your thoughts as I can, need to decide quickly as prices are changing and need to consider booking flights. thanks from the other side of the ocean from grey grey"I do miss the sun Belgium" Frieda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted January 7, 2018 #2 Share Posted January 7, 2018 Really either option. It would depend on what you want to see. The Singapore option as second cruise would give a shorter flight home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell21 Posted January 7, 2018 #3 Share Posted January 7, 2018 See the Islands, they used to be the cannibals that you read about in books. :) You can do Singapore cruises next time. BTW your English is fine, much better than my French or Flemish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzbluz Posted January 8, 2018 #4 Share Posted January 8, 2018 I prefer option 1, see the islands as a once in a lifetime thing. Sounds like you might come back and could see northern Australia then. I think you see more variety with Australia/NZ and Islands option. there is some really lovely snorkelling to be done on the islands. there is on the GB reef too but I don't think a day long stop is the best way to see that part of australia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esilef Posted January 8, 2018 #5 Share Posted January 8, 2018 I like option 2. I have done the cruise from Sydney to Singapore and it is one of my favourites. The Australian Coast is beautiful. Any chance that you could do 3 cruises? At that time of year you maybe able to get a bargain cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banzaii Posted January 8, 2018 #6 Share Posted January 8, 2018 To me it really depends if you will ever find yourself back in Australia again. If not go for option 3 - all of these. If snorkelling is a true passion then definately option 1 as the south pacific offers more than the Asian itinerary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aus Traveller Posted January 8, 2018 #7 Share Posted January 8, 2018 If you want to do the cruise to the Pacific Islands, could you do that after the NZ cruise? NZ gets very cold, so it is better to go there as close to summer as you can. Conversely, the islands are hot and humid in the summer, so a cruise there is better a little bit later in the summer. There are plenty of cruises going to the islands and it is easy to get a good deal out of school holidays as your cruise would be.:) Whatever you choose, have a great time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagtail_syd Posted January 8, 2018 #8 Share Posted January 8, 2018 A very hard decision! I love the pacific islands but would ideally have picked a cruise that visited Isle of Pines, Mare and and maybe Santo for good snorkeling rather than going to Fiji. If those stops were an option then pacific would win hands down. There are some other cruises leaving that month. Would you consider Carnival Legend 25 March Sydney, Noumea, Mare, Isle Of Pines, Sydney? We've done this exact cruise and it was so good for snorkeling. Gives you 4 days in Sydney between cruises to look around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted January 8, 2018 #9 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Personally I think I would recommend the first option as you will get to do your snorkelling at all the islands Cruise Schedule: Sydney, Australia (15 Feb d1845); Newcastle, Australia (16 Feb 0800-1700); Lifou, New Caledonia (19 Feb 0800-1700); Suva, Fiji (21 Feb 0800-1700); Lautoka, Fiji (22 Feb 0800-1700); Vila, Vanuatu (24 Feb 0800-1700); Mystery Island, Vanuatu (25 Feb 0800-1700); Noumea, New Caledonia (26 Feb 0800-1700); Sydney, Australia (01 Mar a0630). where as the second one gets you the Great Barrier Reef at both Airlie Beach and out of Cairns, possibly Darwin as well. Cruise Schedule: Sydney, Australia (29 Mar d1700); Brisbane, Australia (31 Mar 0800-1700); Airlie Beach, Australia (02 Apr 0700-1800); Yorky's, Australia (04 Apr 0700-1800); Darwin, Australia (07 Apr 1000(+1)1600); Singapore (13 Apr a0800) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fvandewouwer Posted January 8, 2018 Author #10 Share Posted January 8, 2018 (edited) to all of you, thank you so much for your answers and tips. if we could do them all 3 I would, but, I still work and I guess my boss will never let me go for more then 2 months ( I still need to tell him that I will be gone for more than 6 weeks ) changing the NZ cruise is not an option, I had it booked in the very beginning when it came out and had a really good deal on this one. we originally booked Australia top end and bottom end for 2019 ( bottom end was going to NZ ) but RCI changed the itinerary ( no more top and bottom ) and we needed to change our both cruises. Wagtail : I will take a look at the carnival cruise you mentioned we do adore snorkeling are very experienced ( have done diving many years ago ) so that is why we choose the islands when we needed to change our cruise but ..... if we think about the flights pffffff ( and no we cannot afford business class :) ) so we saw a flight directly ( from Amsterdam which is easy to do for us ) to Singapore and back and if I could add a one way flight from Singapore to Sydney ( Scoot ) we would not have a tremendous jet lag while coming back (which we will be having anyway) also the cruise to Singapore is relaxing ( we also like sea days ) but .... not sure if we make it again to those islands ( or similar Islands ) and yes we probably cruise again from Singapore now that I know there is a direct flight from Holland we also do not mind sailing Carnival / NCL or even Celebrity but searching the internet this would be the only 2 options I have adding to my NZ cruise I will smile to my boss a little more often ..... (husband would not like that ) Edited January 8, 2018 by fvandewouwer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted January 8, 2018 #11 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Sounds like you are leaning towards the 2nd option, this itinerary will allow you two chances to get to the GBR, so and have the better flights. Perhaps you should go with that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aus Traveller Posted January 8, 2018 #12 Share Posted January 8, 2018 The OP's NZ cruise ends on 21st March, 2019. There are a few Pacific island cruises that would fit in after that: 25th March, Carnival Legend 8 nights 27th March, Carnival Spirit 11 nights 4th April, Radiance of the Seas, 10 nights ) These two probably leave too much spare time after the NZ cruise ends. 5th April, 2019 , Pacific Explorer, 8 nights ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fvandewouwer Posted January 8, 2018 Author #13 Share Posted January 8, 2018 it would be wonderful if we could do the NZ cruise add a Pacific Island cruise from Sydney and do the cruise from Sydney to Singapore so we have time from March 21 to March 29 May I ask of anyone can take a look if there are cruises to the best snorkel islands between this time frame the website I use from Belgium does not give me all options ( I never had the Carnival Pacific cruise ) thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fvandewouwer Posted January 8, 2018 Author #14 Share Posted January 8, 2018 yes I am leaning to this cruise but I would love to see at least a few of those Islands we love nature and adore snorkeling so if we could match a cruise in between that would be the max :) Sounds like you are leaning towards the 2nd option, this itinerary will allow you two chances to get to the GBR, so and have the better flights. Perhaps you should go with that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fvandewouwer Posted January 8, 2018 Author #15 Share Posted January 8, 2018 thank you ( I really cannot find them in my system ) anything from March 21 to March 29 ? that would be awesome The OP's NZ cruise ends on 21st March, 2019. There are a few Pacific island cruises that would fit in after that:25th March, Carnival Legend 8 nights 27th March, Carnival Spirit 11 nights 4th April, Radiance of the Seas, 10 nights ) These two probably leave too much spare time after the NZ cruise ends. 5th April, 2019 , Pacific Explorer, 8 nights ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fvandewouwer Posted January 8, 2018 Author #16 Share Posted January 8, 2018 I found one that goes only to Isle of Pines ( Carnival Spirit feb 27 ) ( also Noumea and Lifou ) any good for snorkeling ? A very hard decision! I love the pacific islands but would ideally have picked a cruise that visited Isle of Pines, Mare and and maybe Santo for good snorkeling rather than going to Fiji. If those stops were an option then pacific would win hands down. There are some other cruises leaving that month. Would you consider Carnival Legend 25 March Sydney, Noumea, Mare, Isle Of Pines, Sydney? We've done this exact cruise and it was so good for snorkeling. Gives you 4 days in Sydney between cruises to look around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SinbadThePorter Posted January 8, 2018 #17 Share Posted January 8, 2018 I found one that goes only to Isle of Pines ( Carnival Spirit feb 27 )( also Noumea and Lifou ) any good for snorkeling ? Isle of Pines - Excellent Lifou - Excellent Noumea - Excellent at Amedee Island, otherwise ordinary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fvandewouwer Posted January 8, 2018 Author #18 Share Posted January 8, 2018 sorry wrong itinerary Isle of Pines - ExcellentLifou - Excellent Noumea - Excellent at Amedee Island, otherwise ordinary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fvandewouwer Posted January 8, 2018 Author #19 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Pls cancel previous post Thank u Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-A520F met Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fvandewouwer Posted January 8, 2018 Author #20 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Ok so we have 3 cruises now Room for one more What about Tasmanië? We could add in between March 7 Carnival Spirit Visiting Port Arthur and Hobart Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-A520F met Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted January 8, 2018 #21 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Ok so we have 3 cruises now Room for one more What about Tasmanië? We could add in between March 7 Carnival Spirit Visiting Port Arthur and Hobart Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-A520F met Tapatalk Sounds like a great plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fvandewouwer Posted January 9, 2018 Author #22 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Hi you all, I normally book our cruises with a travelagent in the US not in Europe ( better deal in the US) but I do check prices on the usual website from Carnival or RCI I do not see the Pacific cruises from Carnival and when I go to the Australian website I cannot apply my customer number ( to calculate price in AUD ) does this make it impossible for me to book this cruise with my "usual" travel agent ? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MMDown Under Posted January 9, 2018 #23 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Hi you all, I normally book our cruises with a travelagent in the US not in Europe ( better deal in the US)but I do check prices on the usual website from Carnival or RCI I do not see the Pacific cruises from Carnival and when I go to the Australian website I cannot apply my customer number ( to calculate price in AUD ) does this make it impossible for me to book this cruise with my "usual" travel agent ? Thanks Contact your usual US TA to see whether you can book Carnival Pacific cruises through him. I book my cruises through a US TA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted January 9, 2018 #24 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Not sure why it isn't showing, check with your TA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fvandewouwer Posted January 11, 2018 Author #25 Share Posted January 11, 2018 I thank you again for one last advise at this point we have arriving Sydney and board Carnival Spirit on february 27 to visit Noumea Lifou Isle of Pines arrive back March 7 one night hotel near the cruise terminal ( visit Sydney for a day ) board the Ovation of the Seas on March 8 for NZ arrive Sydney March 21 ..... leave Sydney to Singapore with the Explorer of the Seas on March 29 fly home we have to decide whether we stay in Australia / Sydney for 8 days and explore the neighbourhood or we take the cruise on March 22 ( carnival Legend ) to Tasmanië and visit Port of Arthur and Hobart ( arrive back March 27 so we have 2 days in Sydney before we leave to Singapore ) advise on the Tasmanië cruise ( I find so little information ) and suppose we stay in/around Sydney for 8 days what would you suggest us to do trying to fix this long holiday well before we book it all thanks again Frieda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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