Would you book Australia for May 2021...Free Interior

[cruisinthemed]

I'm really looking to book Australia for May 31, 2021 for 11 days

Shows I could get a free interior, but yet shows $215 + port fees= $672.74  

(There is a walkway interior, which I've had once before...kind of like your own area) 

Make a non refundable $300pp AUD Deposit and get $600 AUD on board Shows total deposit due $429.42

Drinks 

$250 AUD in Fun Play??  Is that only for Casino?

 

I have a deposit of $150 from Cancelled 10/31/20 and should have $300 FCC since it was a 5 day.

However, as of now there is a 14 day quarantine for anyone entering...

 

[OzKiwiJJ]

It's unlikely that any cruises will be operating in Australia by then. Even if they are they would be restricted to Australian and NZ passengers only. Our Prime Minister has stated that  Australian borders will remain closed to international arrivals through to end of June 2021 except for the possibility of those in specific travel bubbles. 

 

At present only Australian residents returning from overseas are permitted into the country, with a mandatory 14 day hotel quarantine on arrival, which may be at own cost.

[Roger88]

On 8/10/2020 at 11:47 PM, cruisinthemed said:

I'm really looking to book Australia for May 31, 2021 for 11 days

Shows I could get a free interior, but yet shows $215 + port fees= $672.74  

(There is a walkway interior, which I've had once before...kind of like your own area) 

Make a non refundable $300pp AUD Deposit and get $600 AUD on board Shows total deposit due $429.42

Drinks 

$250 AUD in Fun Play??  Is that only for Casino?

 

I have a deposit of $150 from Cancelled 10/31/20 and should have $300 FCC since it was a 5 day.

However, as of now there is a 14 day quarantine for anyone entering...

 

Well, 11 day cruise in May 2021 sounds like a good idea. Even if you forget about the current state of things with Covid, I would still suggest you hold on to it cause I believe that there shoudlnt be any obstacles by May 2021. Also the cruise does not seem to be that expensive which means that even if you get it canceled, it wont take forever to refund and you wont go broke because of it. Stick to it, it should be great 

[Moviela]

I booked a June 2021 Cruise to Australia. Paid USD 430. deposit for AUD 600. OBC. Plus casino perks of priority boarding, fun play credit, welcome party, free drinks, and a swag bag. I owe port fees of some odd USD 450.

The "Fun Play" credits are on your casino account, and can only be played in the casino. Any amount you win from that can go in your pocket and spent however you desire.  Carnival Australia does not have auto gratuities, which will save most people a couple of hundred. Excursions and drink packages are sold once aboard.

 

On Board Credit can be spent on the ship. Food, drinks, merchandise, shore excursions, spa treatments, and sometimes in the casino. I have never been denied using OBC in the casino, though.

 

Australia is a fabulous country. The scenery, the very unique animals. the cordial and relaxed people along with their contributions to the richness of the English language adds up to one great vacation.

 

While Australia is currently closed to Americans, most worldwide "drawbridges" will be lowered when the vaccines enter stage 4 (doses available to everyone.) I have that on my calendar for January 2021.

 

If I cannot go, well the good Lord has other plans, but at least I made the effort to continue my life.

 

[sanger727]

Do I think that this cruise will sail? Eh, 50/50 maybe. I don’t think that there’s any chance that Covid will ‘be gone’ by then and very doubtful a vaccine will be distributed enough to make a difference.  However, if phase 3 trials go badly, we may just get to a point where countries accept Covid is and choose to deal with it rather than banning anyone who may possibly be carrying it.

 

Is this a good enough deal to be worth booking just in case it does? Yes. The only issue for me would be airfare. Certainly go into this skeptical about whether or not the cruise will sail and hold off on buying airfare until cruises are sailing again and Australia is open to tourists

[jerseyjjs]

I have the same offer.   Add in at LEAST one night hotel stay and airfare?.........lol  no thanks.

[Moviela]

Round trip from LAX to SYD on those dates are $784 via Nadi on Fiji Air, Y class 2 free bags. This is aboard an Airbus A350-900, a very comfortable long haul aircraft. Couple this with an American or United ticket BIS to LAX and you are paying $1080 RT all in. A travel agent might be able to price the two tickets together and bring the price to below $1,000. 

 

Hotels in Sydney in June are inexpensive. In Circular Quay where Carnival docks a 5 star hotel is US$120/night if you don't mind knowing the exact hotel until you pay to get the hot rate.  In the same area, called The Rocks, 2 and 3 star hotels are US$50 if your mindset is to save a few bucks.

 

Carnival Splendor is nice. You will enjoy it.

 

 

[Djptcp]

I wouldn't book an interior cabin for any cruise, but especially now during the pandemic in case the ship gets quarantined. Wouldn't want to be stuck in an interior cabin for a possible long time.

[CruizinKittie40]

On 8/14/2020 at 2:58 AM, OzKiwiJJ said:

It's unlikely that any cruises will be operating in Australia by then. Even if they are they would be restricted to Australian and NZ passengers only. Our Prime Minister has stated that  Australian borders will remain closed to international arrivals through to end of June 2021 except for the possibility of those in specific travel bubbles. 

 

At present only Australian residents returning from overseas are permitted into the country, with a mandatory 14 day hotel quarantine on arrival, which may be at own cost.

Oh no!! Is this for cruise ship passengers only?! My son has friends in Perth and he wanted us to visit them for his 18th birthday in February.  We were planning on booking flights in January

[mark316]

Book it you won’t regret it!

[HaveWeMetYet]

3 hours ago, mark316 said:

Book it you won’t regret it!

If you are a US citizen and planning to cruise out of Australia between now and June of 2021 you are living in the land of make believe in Ultra High Definition.

[rch3]

Received the same offer. Multiple dates. Picked Dec. 27, 2021 to sail over NYE, and booked up to OS made affordable by credit for free ocean view. If this Covid 19 hysteria persists until then, won’t be any cruise line left to sail!

[xDisconnections]

On 8/17/2020 at 7:19 PM, mark316 said:

Book it you won’t regret it!

 

On 8/17/2020 at 11:06 PM, HaveWeMetYet said:

If you are a US citizen and planning to cruise out of Australia between now and June of 2021 you are living in the land of make believe in Ultra High Definition.

You’ll regret it when you can’t enter the country 😉 

[john91498]

On 8/17/2020 at 8:06 PM, HaveWeMetYet said:

If you are a US citizen and planning to cruise out of Australia between now and June of 2021 you are living in the land of make believe in Ultra High Definition.

 

We're on to 8k in the land of make believe...:)

[pjhootch]

The offer is also good for sailings out of Australia into 2022.  I think the premier offer has sailings until March 2022, and the all in Australia offer has sailings into June of 2022.   We put down a deposit on a balcony room for May, 2022.  That gives me plenty of time to save for airfare and hopefully enough time for the virus to be brought under control to allow unfettered international travel.    I would not pull the trigger on anything before July 2021 based on travel restrictions from Australia.

 

[silvercrikhix]

Can you book 2022?  
We booked a similar Aussie Offer for March of 2022. Ext balcony upgrade. About $500/person  for 7 day. +Fees. 
 We thought that was a great deal so we made it our first back to back cruise. Still contemplating adding a third cruise because of the rates. Price of airfare was about $1,000 pre-COVID-19. It will probably go up for sure. If it’s too awful we'll cancel. 
in our opinion that is far enough out to book. We are not worried about Carnival shutting its doors, at least at this point. 
A month in Australia would check off a big bucket list #1. —- Scram already, COVID-19.  
 

[MMDown Under]

No, I wouldn't book any cruises in Australia until cruising has recommenced in Australia.

Suggest you don't book any flights to Australia until you know that you will be able to fly here.  My friend is still waiting for refunds on business class flights from Brisbane to Vancouver, with Air Canada, for a cancelled Alaska cruise.

Qantas has mothballed its A380s in California until mid 2021.

We are all dreaming of cruising again, but I think, in Australia, late 2021 or 2022 would be more realistic. 

 

[Chiliburn]

I’ll second late 21-22 .

Our government is different to the US ,they won’t be taking any chances.

[By The Bay]

Our borders are effectively closed both ways with very strict exemptions.  Our Prime Minister Scott Morrison signaled that Australia’s borders may remain closed to most international visitors until the middle of next year as the coronavirus crisis escalates across the world. Qantas, Australia’s biggest airline, has said it does not expect to fly any international routes until – wait for it – July 2021. Caveat emptor. 😷

[Aus Traveller]

On 8/11/2020 at 6:47 AM, cruisinthemed said:

I'm really looking to book Australia for May 31, 2021 for 11 days

Shows I could get a free interior, but yet shows $215 + port fees= $672.74  

(There is a walkway interior, which I've had once before...kind of like your own area) 

Make a non refundable $300pp AUD Deposit and get $600 AUD on board Shows total deposit due $429.42

Drinks 

$250 AUD in Fun Play??  Is that only for Casino?

 

I have a deposit of $150 from Cancelled 10/31/20 and should have $300 FCC since it was a 5 day.

However, as of now there is a 14 day quarantine for anyone entering...

 

I think it would be quite a gamble for an international visitor to book a cruise from an Australian port in May 2021. Even if the cruise does go ahead, the Aust Prime Minister has announced that international visitors will not be allowed into Australia until June 2021. That could be extended - it is unlikely to be shortened. It is also possible that when visitors are allowed in June 2021, they will only be allowed from countries where COVID is under control. When a vaccine has been widely distributed (not just produced), borders will open up. 

 

Besides the fact that the Aussies who have posted on here don't believe you will be able to enter the country to go on this cruise, I don't think it is a fantastic deal. Firstly, Aussies have the gratuities included in the fare, but people from other countries have to pay grats. You quote the price that is offered as $672.74. I assume that is US$ - AUD$940. Add US$110 gratuities to the $672.74 you mentioned making a total of $782 (AUD1,100). I can book an inside cabin on the cruise you mention for a total of $836 AUD (including gratuities) (US$600) but with no on board credit included. The only part that sweetens the deal offered is the $600 AUD (US$420) that you indicate is on board credit. However, a major downside is a non refundable $300 pp deposit on a cruise that it is unlikely you will be able to take. If the same deal is offered for a departure at the end of 2021, then maybe it is worth booking.

 

Deals are available at the moment. I was looking at booking a 7-day P&O cruise in April for AUD$799 for a balcony, but it is quite possible that cruise will not go ahead. I would only book if it was a low deposit (like $100 FCD with Princess), or a refundable deposit - refundable in cash or FCC.

Edited August 26, 2020 by Aus Traveller

[NSWP]

How can people be getting free cabins?  Are the cruise lines just after the port charges and commissions from any air tickets, hotels etc?  Strange.

[Aus Traveller]

6 minutes ago, NSWP said:

How can people be getting free cabins?  Are the cruise lines just after the port charges and commissions from any air tickets, hotels etc?  Strange.

It isn't actually free when you look carefully at the deal - US$672 for an inside cabin (plus gratuities) that the OP indicated was offset by AUD$600 OBC. You would pay US$ and get OBC in AUD😁. Straight away there is a deficit - a total cost of AUD$1,100 (including gratuities) to get OBC of $600. Sounds reasonable - AUD$500 for an 11 night cruise, but $250 of the OBC can only be used in the casino. Consider that a donation. Therefore the OBC is effectively $350 making a cost for the cruise of $750. I can book the same cruise on the Carnival website for $836 including gratuities.

 

I don't think the OP would to book airfares or hotel through the cruise line.

[NSWP]

42 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

It isn't actually free when you look carefully at the deal - US$672 for an inside cabin (plus gratuities) that the OP indicated was offset by AUD$600 OBC. You would pay US$ and get OBC in AUD😁. Straight away there is a deficit - a total cost of AUD$1,100 (including gratuities) to get OBC of $600. Sounds reasonable - AUD$500 for an 11 night cruise, but $250 of the OBC can only be used in the casino. Consider that a donation. Therefore the OBC is effectively $350 making a cost for the cruise of $750. I can book the same cruise on the Carnival website for $836 including gratuities.

 

I don't think the OP would to book airfares or hotel through the cruise line.

Sounds like they are trying to suck gullible people in, thanks for outlining it all, as you can say you can basically the same price yourself booking direct with Carnival.

[benjoon]

On 8/18/2020 at 12:16 AM, CruizinKittie40 said:

Oh no!! Is this for cruise ship passengers only?! My son has friends in Perth and he wanted us to visit them for his 18th birthday in February.  We were planning on booking flights in January

We are in Perth and currently we are doubting if we can get our daughter home from Canberra for Christmas. It's her 21st in December which we don't think we have a chance of seeing her for. The latest I have heard for the opening of Fortress WA is March 2021(🤞 that's not true). That also kills our Feb cruise from Sydney to Perth.

[Docker123]

On 8/18/2020 at 2:16 AM, CruizinKittie40 said:

Oh no!! Is this for cruise ship passengers only?! My son has friends in Perth and he wanted us to visit them for his 18th birthday in February.  We were planning on booking flights in January

The Australian external borders are closed. The govt is saying until mid next year. Then it will be a country by country decision about who will be allowed in, based on Covid levels. 

 

There are various closures of state borders. Western Australia is currently very closed. I can’t go to Perth for my mother’s 90th birthday in November. The premier said perhaps  until next March.

 

From my state, Victoria, we have been closed off by everyone else because of a spike in Covid levels.