Carnival Luminosa Sept 14, 2023 Transpacific Seattle to Brisbane

[PSRCPA]

sfjakey - Good for you two.....going strong!  You have my admiration 😃 We are 66 and my husband is 70. 

 

We are 24 miles / 30 min from Port Canaveral.

 

Enjoy your Princess Royal cruise!

 

 

[sfjakey]

PSRCPA - Mike and Pam:   If both our plans remain the same, we can plan on sharing the transport to the hotel in Brisbane and to the train the next morning.   

 Flight schedules will be available in mid-November  (less than 330 days)   In November we will plan our return flight and if we need to wait a day or so to make our flight.  What are your plans for Sidney, if any so early?  Safe travels. Frank and Sarah

[2ashevillesailors]

On 9/14/2022 at 8:26 PM, sfjakey said:

I think we have of 3 -4 couples who are doing B2B ( TP and Great Barrier Reef) .   I would like to suggest we form a small group and look together to develop  private tours at the different ports, especially for Japan.  There could be some duplication on our parts, but with many eyes and different ideas we should come up with some good ideas/tours. ` We have a year  --  Any comments are welcome.

 

If you are interested add your name and email:

1. Frank and Sarah (SF) sfjakey  - cheerytrekker@yahoo.com   (Shopping is a low priority)

 

Note: You can add what type of tour you prefer and if there are any mobility issues,  so we can find tours that work for the whole group.  Thanks - Safe travels, Frank and Sarah

I might look at Trip Advisor, thinking maybe there will be some tours with them in Japan. Mary and Jim

[jstrutton]

Well we booked this cruise as well. We were originally going to do a B2B2B this March/April to include Australia, New Zealand and pacific islands. But we’re now going to cancel those and more than likely add on the 7 night after the luminosa docks in Australia like some are doing here.  
 

Definitely be interested in hearing about potential tours at the various ports since we’ve never been to many of these except for Alaska ports.  
 

But this gives us some planning to do for the next year.  
 

jay & Senay

[2ashevillesailors]

On 9/26/2022 at 11:46 AM, jstrutton said:

Well we booked this cruise as well. We were originally going to do a B2B2B this March/April to include Australia, New Zealand and pacific islands. But we’re now going to cancel those and more than likely add on the 7 night after the luminosa docks in Australia like some are doing here.  
 

Definitely be interested in hearing about potential tours at the various ports since we’ve never been to many of these except for Alaska ports.  
 

But this gives us some planning to do for the next year.  
 

jay & Senay

We are also interested in private tours. Looking forward to sharing information. So far we have not discovered anything, will continue searching, Mary and Jim

[PAMMYwa]

My daughter and I booked this cruise and the Great Barrier Reef after.  We've been on quite a few cruises but this will be our longest.  Looking forward to getting to know you all.

[PAMMYwa]

Has anyone looked at the Tracy Arm Fjord excursion listed on Carnival?  Is this listed in error?  I know we are going to Icy Point Strait and cruising Hubbard.  No where is it listed about Tracy Arm Fjord.  Any thoughts?

[sfjakey]

Since we are there we are thinking of adding a third leg Oct. 22-Oct. 29(7 Days South Pacific from Brisbane, Australia).  Anyone else think of doing the same? Safe travels

[sfjakey]

PSRCPA-  Mike and Pam:   We just added a third cruise Oct. 22 to Oct. 29.  We are there and I don't think we will be going back, so why not.  The cost was very reasonable.  Have the same cabin for the 3 legs. Safe travels,  Frank

[sfjakey]

Any suggestion for pre-cruise hotel in Seattle and best way to port from the airport (SEA)? Thanks, Frank

[belkin]

10 hours ago, sfjakey said:

Any suggestion for pre-cruise hotel in Seattle and best way to port from the airport (SEA)? Thanks, Frank

We are most likely going to stay at the Crown Plaza at the airport which I already have booked. We are planning on taking a taxi to port.  I have spent several months working in Seattle over the last couple of years and don't have much desire to see the downtown area as it has really gone downhill in my opinion.

[Smq123]

Hello soon to be friends. We are Bobby & Susie from Long Island, New York. We booked this cruise a few weeks ago & I just looked to see if there was a roll call and was pleasantly surprised to find all of you! I’m excited that all of you seem to be experienced cruisers with fantastic ideas, and are opened to sharing private tours if the ones offered aren’t appealing. We are also considering adding the 7 day Great Barrier Reef cruise and now I’m thinking maybe we should do a 3rd one & add on the South Pacific! We’re also of like mind that we should capitalize on seeing as much as we can when we are in this part of the world. 

 

This cruise will be the longest we’ve ever been on a ship and only our second Carnival cruise. We loved the itinerary and I have a 1st cousin that lives in Brisbane with his family & I’ve been promising for years that I’d visit one day! This cruise seemed like a fantastic way to make that happen. 

We were just on a B2B NCL cruise to Alaska in September and for those of you who haven’t even considered this we had 2 nights of spectacular views of the Northern Lights while we were on the ship! It was magical! September is also a great month for seeing bears who are feasting on salmon before hibernation. 
 

We’re excited to meet all of you & to keep in touch sharing ideas for excursions and any research we find to enhance our trip to the other side of the world. I love that we have this forum to discuss our ideas & to get to know each other before our journey together begins. 

Susie & Bobby. 
 

 

[MMDown Under]

On 9/8/2022 at 3:33 PM, sfjakey said:

Thanks for info regarding Carnival Luminosa ---I have spend 2-4 hours looking at the ports for tours and have found nothing yet -- will continue looking.  We are considering doing the next cruise(B2B) - 7 day - Brisbane RT because it goes to the Great Barrier Reef.  We were planning to go there on own but it might be easier to take the cruise.  Then take a train to Sidney and fly home.  Safe travels, Frank and Sarah  (Cheerytrekker@yahoo.com)

Happy to answer any questions Brisbane GBR return, as I'm hoping to do that cruise in December 2022. 

[sfjakey]

MMDown Under - We are starting on Lominosa in Seattle on Sept. 14 and ending  our cruise on Oct. 29.  We are considering taking the 0530 train on Monday (Oct. 30)from Brisbane to Sidney.  What can you tell about the train itself and the scenery along the Gold Coast?  The train arrives in Sidney around 2000hrs, that night.  Any suggestions for a hotel in Brisbane near the train and in Sidney.  Thanks for your help.  Safe travels, Frank and Sarah  

[MMDown Under]

11 hours ago, sfjakey said:

MMDown Under - We are starting on Lominosa in Seattle on Sept. 14 and ending  our cruise on Oct. 29.  We are considering taking the 0530 train on Monday (Oct. 30)from Brisbane to Sidney.  What can you tell about the train itself and the scenery along the Gold Coast?  The train arrives in Sidney around 2000hrs, that night.  Any suggestions for a hotel in Brisbane near the train and in Sidney.  Thanks for your help.  Safe travels, Frank and Sarah  

I have travelled by train from Brisbane to Sydney in  the past and it is a scenic rail journey.  However I can't comment on what the train journey is like now.  You can stay in a hotel at or near the Brisbane Roma Street Railway Station.  Being a local, I haven't stayed at any but you could google reviews.  There are a lot of hotel choices near Central Station, Sydney.  

[VA_Gym_Guy]

Hotel recommendation for Sydney is the Harbour Rocks Hotel.  Stayed there on my last trip to Sydney and it was a great hotel in the Rocks a couple of blocks from the cruise terminal. Perfect location for food and shops before your cruise.  Staff was incredible.  

 

https://www.harbourrocks.com.au/

 

If you are looking for an interesting tour of the Rocks and Sydney, check out https://www.imfree.com.au/sydney/

[EngIceDave]

I came here expecting to be alone!

I mean, what kind of crazy lunatic people would sign up to be cooped up on a ship for 30 days! 

Have to be CRaZY!

 

Hi, I'm Dave and I am incredibly insane. Wife, Zoe, just ignores it and goes along for the ride.

This is something there is NO WAY we would ever do, but there is a treat at the end of the cruise, my wife's Brother in Law lives in Perth. So for a nice cut rate casino rate, we got a balcony cabin in the spa level, we've done that before, for our ride Down Under. It's nice.

So, we see places we've never been and a cheap trip to Australia, only have to pay a million to fly back, instead of 2 million for return. Haha.

 

We are both retired Floridians (I'm a rare native Floridian) living in Daytona Beach (Hurricane Nicole was FUN!!)

We've done a bunch of cruises, all Caribbean, east, west and south. This 30 day cruise will up us to platinum, Sweet! 

 

Looking forward to all the stops, well need to figure out excursions.

I am looking forward to the "Journey's" aspect of it, especially the more educational....Like I said, insane,,,,,,stupid, whatever.  What they do extra to keep us happy...... https://help.goccl.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3936

 

Pack a set of all white for a white night and go to the costume shop for retro 80's stuff. I am just clipping on a rat tail, some super short shorts and a cut off T shirt. Looks so awesome on my 6 foot 160 lb frame....dig up some old Nike track shoes. Think weed will be ok to really set the look?

 

Oh well, in a good mood and excited for this trip. Been in a stuck place after a knee replacement that went bad and has had me kind of jacked up bad for over a year, but I seem to now be on the good side to recovery.

 

Oh yeah, the scar is on my right knee, so you can ID me....haha

Edited November 13, 2022 by EngIceDave

[EngIceDave]

Oh, I have a question.

 

How do you pack for a 30 day cruise that will go literally from one end of the earth to the other?

I'm a Floridian, I am going to need HEAVY warm clothes....

 

Plan to wash a few times?

Plan for cold? Sun?

 

[MMDown Under]

7 hours ago, EngIceDave said:

Oh, I have a question.

 

How do you pack for a 30 day cruise that will go literally from one end of the earth to the other?

I'm a Floridian, I am going to need HEAVY warm clothes....

 

Plan to wash a few times?

Plan for cold? Sun?

 

What is your route? Heavy warm clothes will not be required in South Pacific or Queensland. from end of September, 2023. 

[EngIceDave]

Thank you, but we start in Alaska

 

 

[Smq123]

On 11/14/2022 at 7:54 AM, EngIceDave said:

Thank you, but we start in Alaska

 

 

 

[Smq123]

We were just in Alaska last September, same time. We had days of 70 degrees and sun, and  miserable windy rainy cold days. You really have to pack for 4 seasons, and just for the couple days in Alaska, it kinda stinks.

[sfjakey]

FYI - Carnival is now offering transfers ($34.99) airport to port in Seattle and flights.

[sfjakey]

We have finalized our return plans back to San Francisco.  We will be getting off the Luminosa on October 29, 2023 (44 days) and staying in Brisbane for 2 nights.  (Need to find a hotel) On Oct. 31 we have booked a direct non-stop flight from Brisbane to San Francisco  - 13 hours on UAL.  Any suggestion for hotel and tours or things to do qnd see?  Thanks, Safe travels, Frank and Sarah

[2ashevillesailors]

On 10/19/2022 at 2:27 PM, sfjakey said:

Any suggestion for pre-cruise hotel in Seattle and best way to port from the airport (SEA)? Thanks, Frank

I am thinking a taxi is a good way to get to the port.  Maybe there is a shuttle?

Edited December 14, 2022 by 2ashevillesailors