Predict when cruising will start again post-Coronavirus

[OzKiwiJJ]

9 minutes ago, Snoopkat said:

Have you done a SIN-SYD cruise? That's something I'm considering for my next trip, fly in to Singapore, spend a week-10 days visiting family and friends and then cruise back. The only itinerary I've seen that does SIN-SYD is on Cunard and that's a bit too fancy schmancy for me right now.

No, the only repositioning cruises we've done were Sydney to HK, and Sydney to Yokohama. We did have a Singapore - Adelaide cruise booked on Sea Princess which may have been after a dry dock for that ship but, of course, Covid knocked that one out. I think the only time you'd get a one way cruise to or from Singapore would be if a ship was repositioning from Europe and the cruise line offered it as a sector.

[MicCanberra]

P&O have one for Jan 2023..

[By The Bay]

1 minute ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

No, the only repositioning cruises we've done were Sydney to HK, and Sydney to Yokohama. We did have a Singapore - Adelaide cruise booked on Sea Princess which may have been after a dry dock for that ship but, of course, Covid knocked that one out. I think the only time you'd get a one way cruise to or from Singapore would be if a ship was repositioning from Europe and the cruise line offered it as a sector.

I have done 3 cruises from Australia to Singapore return, 2 P&O, and one Carnival. They have all been when a ship is sent to Singapore for a 2 week dry dock. We have used the two weeks to explore around SE Asia before sailing back. We have always enjoyed these cruises. Our last cruise turned out to be one way when Covid struck. P&O picked up the bill for our flights back and incidentals.

[Chiliburn]

1 hour ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Aren't the cruises out of Singapore very short ones? As much as I want to cruise again, and as much as I like visiting Singapore and catching up with friends there, no way would I bother with all the hassle of international flights just for a four day cruise to nowhere.

I think they are having port calls earlier next year,some as far as Japan.

They are still shorter cruises,about a week.

Back to back would be a plan, with different destinations.

[OzKiwiJJ]

8 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

I think they are having port calls earlier next year,some as far as Japan.

They are still shorter cruises,about a week.

Back to back would be a plan, with different destinations.

Yes, B2B would make it worthwhile doing. 

 

I'd rather just do cruises out of Australia for the next year or so. Less hassle, especially if they are Sydney return. 

[possum52]

50 minutes ago, Snoopkat said:

Have you done a SIN-SYD cruise? That's something I'm considering for my next trip, fly in to Singapore, spend a week-10 days visiting family and friends and then cruise back. The only itinerary I've seen that does SIN-SYD is on Cunard and that's a bit too fancy schmancy for me right now.

We did one from Sydney to Singapore but not the reverse. It was on the Diamond Princess a few years ago and the Diamond was repositioning to South East Asia for our winter. It was a cruise we absolutely loved and we probably would do another if we have the opportunity. Either from Singapore or the reverse.

[Chiliburn]

5 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Yes, B2B would make it worthwhile doing. 

 

I'd rather just do cruises out of Australia for the next year or so. Less hassle, especially if they are Sydney return. 

Me too but might get sick of the east coast milk run.

Singapore is a safe option for the next couple of years.

They are going to streamline the Covid protocols and there will probably be ship shore excursions only.

I don’t think we will be back to normal for a while,if ever.

[OzKiwiJJ]

31 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

Me too but might get sick of the east coast milk run.

Singapore is a safe option for the next couple of years.

They are going to streamline the Covid protocols and there will probably be ship shore excursions only.

I don’t think we will be back to normal for a while,if ever.

We're often happy with the ship as a destination. Ports are nice, especially Aus/NZ ones where we can get decent coffee ashore, but I'd happily head off somewhere warm and just cruise around for a couple of weeks. Yes, it is great to sometimes do cruises to new places but until the world stabilises I'd be happier staying local.

[Chiliburn]

Something is going on?

 

I just got a email about our cruise in the first week of February on Ovation.

It said Royal Caribbean requires full payment in 28 days.

Royal Caribbean has had a policy of final payment one month before cruise but has now bought it forward to the usual 3 months.

It also said deposits are no longer refundable and if final payment isn’t made on time the cruise will be forfeited.

[OzKiwiJJ]

6 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

Something is going on?

 

I just got a email about our cruise in the first week of February on Ovation.

It said Royal Caribbean requires full payment in 28 days.

Royal Caribbean has had a policy of final payment one month before cruise but has now bought it forward to the usual 3 months.

It also said deposits are no longer refundable and if final payment isn’t made on time the cruise will be forfeited.

Interesting!

 

But a bit annoying of them to change the final payment policy like that after accepting bookings at a time when there is no certainty of the cruise taking place.

[OzKiwiJJ]

They are still advertising their "Cruise with Confidence" policy on their website.

[Chiliburn]

4 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Interesting!

 

But a bit annoying of them to change the final payment policy like that after accepting bookings at a time when there is no certainty of the cruise taking place.

I’ve always had a good relationship with this agent and they are upfront and flexible.
 

 

But I think I’m going on a cruise in February.

Edited October 8, 2021 by Chiliburn

[Snoopkat]

7 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

I’ve always had a good relationship with this agent and they are upfront and flexible.
 

 

But I think I’m going on a cruise in February.

I hope you get to go on your Feb cruise because it means there's a good chance I'll get to go to mine in March.

[MicCanberra]

I think you guys are being extremely optimistic. Hope it it true. 

[NSWP]

2 hours ago, Snoopkat said:

Have you done a SIN-SYD cruise? That's something I'm considering for my next trip, fly in to Singapore, spend a week-10 days visiting family and friends and then cruise back. The only itinerary I've seen that does SIN-SYD is on Cunard and that's a bit too fancy schmancy for me right now.

We did half world cruise on P&O UK 'Arcadia in 2012. Sydney to Southampton. So we we had Sydney - Singapore in that. P&O UK are very good, so as an alternative to Cunard, look at doing a sector with P&O UK one day. I love Singapore, on several flights to and from Europe have often had 4 night stopovers in ye olde Singa.

[NSWP]

3 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

I agree,family based gambling ship.

Get the kids out of mum and dads hair
get them into the casino ,

get them drunk and get their money.

As you would know, Asians are right into Gambling, walk into any Casino.  Few years ago in HK we went over to Macau, I kid you not 46 Casinos there. The big ferries from HK to Macau are Choc a Bloc with gamblers.

[Snoopkat]

SYD - SIN seems to be a more common route for some reason. Spending time with my parents can be....intense. So a long slow cruise back could be a good way to unwind. Not until quarantine is no longer a requirement though. 

[Snoopkat]

6 minutes ago, NSWP said:

As you would know, Asians are right into Gambling, walk into any Casino.  Few years ago in HK we went over to Macau, I kid you not 46 Casinos there. The big ferries from HK to Macau are Choc a Bloc with gamblers.

I think it might have something to do with how strict China is around gambling. Gambling seems to be a thing with the Americans too, I've read threads on how some people get their cruises for free as part of a reciprocal deal with their casinos.  

 

It's sad to read about the situation in HK. I went there as a kid and have always wanted to visit again but doesn't seem like such a good idea anymore. 

[OzKiwiJJ]

5 minutes ago, Snoopkat said:

I think it might have something to do with how strict China is around gambling. Gambling seems to be a thing with the Americans too, I've read threads on how some people get their cruises for free as part of a reciprocal deal with their casinos.  

 

It's sad to read about the situation in HK. I went there as a kid and have always wanted to visit again but doesn't seem like such a good idea anymore. 

No. Even before the Chinese cracked down there it had changed from a really interesting place to visit to an overcrowded, expensive and boring city. We were last there on a port stop in 2018 and although we had a pleasant day catching up with a friend for lunch it wasn't the HK that it used to be. 

[Chiliburn]

59 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

I think you guys are being extremely optimistic. Hope it it true. 

You are probably right mic but I think it’s a better punt than powerball.

[MicCanberra]

And no cruising  in NZ until October 2022 according to an article  on cruise passenger.

[NSWP]

44 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

No. Even before the Chinese cracked down there it had changed from a really interesting place to visit to an overcrowded, expensive and boring city. We were last there on a port stop in 2018 and although we had a pleasant day catching up with a friend for lunch it wasn't the HK that it used to be. 

We were in HK in March 2017, 4 nights post QM2 - Syd to HK. It was fine, stayed in Kowloon, Holiday Inn on Nathan Rd,  the normal bustling HK. Maybe it has gone down hill since then.😬

 

Qantas does not fly to and from Syd - HK any longer. I have been pricing flights, Syd-HK for August 2022, around $800 on Cathay Pacific, flown with them a few times, they are ok.

Edited October 8, 2021 by NSWP

[stki]

8 minutes ago, NSWP said:

We were in HK in March 2017, 4 nights post QM2 - Syd to HK. It was fine, stayed in Kowloon, Holiday Inn on Nathan Rd,  the normal bustling HK. Maybe it has gone down hill since then.😬

 

Qantas does not fly to and from Syd - HK any longer. I have been pricing flights, Syd-HK for August 2022, around $800 on Cathay Pacific, flown with them a few times, they are ok.

I believe Qantas will fly to HK from Sydney, once International borders open up. They are staggering the start ups over the months.

 

We have also stayed in Kowloon and used the Star ferry to cross to the other side. From memory it was 20c 🙂  The train system is also excellent

[OzKiwiJJ]

20 minutes ago, NSWP said:

We were in HK in March 2017, 4 nights post QM2 - Syd to HK. It was fine, stayed in Kowloon, Holiday Inn on Nathan Rd,  the normal bustling HK. Maybe it has gone down hill since then.😬

 

Qantas does not fly to and from Syd - HK any longer. I have been pricing flights, Syd-HK for August 2022, around $800 on Cathay Pacific, flown with them a few times, they are ok.

We stayed there in 2016, in Kowloon, and it was OK. We still had an enjoyable stay despite the high pollution levels but was starting to lose that magic then. It's a shame.

 

We stayed at the Salisbury which is the YMCA hotel. Fantastic location, right next to The Peninsula, small but comfy rooms and great breakfasts. No bar though but we were cocktailed out after the cruise so that didn't matter. 

 

[Chiliburn]

@woodscruise 

did you get a email about your Christmas cruise?