Repositioning cruises

[Ozwoody]

11 hours ago, arxcards said:

I guess the other point is how long you are travelling before coming home. If you are flying just for the cruise, I think it is much more relaxing to be cruising home. If you are doing some land travel between the flight and the cruise, it is a choice between arriving jetlagged for your holiday or returning home with it. 

 

On our first US/Alaska trip, our arrival into the US was LAX and connecting to Vegas. That city would have been much more fun without being preceded by a long-haul flight. Spending the next afternoon walking around the Grand Canyon wasn't as comfortable as it could have been.

I think it may depend a little on the length of stay too.

2016 we flew to Birmingham and stay in a place called Farndon Cheshire just near the welsh boarder,

We stayed there four days and adjusted our body clocks by just taking walks around the village for the first two days.

We spent the next six weeks taking our time working our way down to South Hampton, stopping for two to three days here and there was we zig zagged down.

Caught the Emerald back as it repositioned back to Australia.

It was one of the best holidays we have had.

Really want to do that again, but will try to extend it two to three month if we can.

England is amazing so much to see and do.

 

[Johhno]

Doing a repo cruise on the Grand Princess next month. Flying into US 8 days prior to the cruise then boarding in San Fran and cruising back to Syd.

[yes!yes!yes!]

10 hours ago, Johhno said:

Doing a repo cruise on the Grand Princess next month. Flying into US 8 days prior to the cruise then boarding in San Fran and cruising back to Syd.

Let us know what the cruise director is like.

[cruiser3775]

10 hours ago, Johhno said:

Doing a repo cruise on the Grand Princess next month. Flying into US 8 days prior to the cruise then boarding in San Fran and cruising back to Syd.

I'm on the same cruise Johhno, starting in Vancouver.  There's a Roll Call for it on CC.

[Kaylacool]

On 8/15/2023 at 10:22 PM, JohnGc said:

Thats great I was favouring Singapore to Brisbane. Flight cost and Insurance seems to be the biggest expense. Don't fancy it but Jet star seems to be a lot cheaper than the others, just wondering if I can stand the cramped conditions for the long flight. I suppose I could recover on the cruise back 🙂  I like the overweight luggage idea on the return or should I say the wife would like it.

Jetstar are well known for cancellation so would be advisable to fly in the day before at least just to give you some leave way and take the pressure off missing embarkation.

 

[LittleFish1976]

19 hours ago, Ozwoody said:

I think it may depend a little on the length of stay too.

2016 we flew to Birmingham and stay in a place called Farndon Cheshire just near the welsh boarder,

We stayed there four days and adjusted our body clocks by just taking walks around the village for the first two days.

We spent the next six weeks taking our time working our way down to South Hampton, stopping for two to three days here and there was we zig zagged down.

Caught the Emerald back as it repositioned back to Australia.

It was one of the best holidays we have had.

Really want to do that again, but will try to extend it two to three month if we can.

England is amazing so much to see and do.

 

Did you have a car or take trains as you were on your journey south? Sounds lovely.

[Ozwoody]

25 minutes ago, LittleFish1976 said:

Did you have a car or take trains as you were on your journey south? Sounds lovely.

We hired a car, not sure of the make. but suspected if I could have looked underneath it would have said "Dinky".🤣

In all seriousness it was a great little car, and ideal for our trip, as we as we set our satnav to avoid all major roads, and kept to all the little country roads and lanes.

You just don't get to see the real England if you keep to the highways.

The small villages and their pubs, are just unreal.

We were in no hurry so it was a perfect way to travel.

 

[OzKiwiJJ]

3 hours ago, Ozwoody said:

We hired a car, not sure of the make. but suspected if I could have looked underneath it would have said "Dinky".🤣

In all seriousness it was a great little car, and ideal for our trip, as we as we set our satnav to avoid all major roads, and kept to all the little country roads and lanes.

You just don't get to see the real England if you keep to the highways.

The small villages and their pubs, are just unreal.

We were in no hurry so it was a perfect way to travel.

 

When we did a big land trip around Ireland and the UK in 2013 our satnav insisted on taking us down little country roads whether we wanted it or not. It didn't matter what setting we used there was always a section down a country road, sometimes leaving a major road then rejoining it further along! It was very strange but a lot of fun although the Y intersection of three narrow lanes where we encountered a tractor on one arm and three horses (with riders) on the other arm was a bit nerve-wracking. Luckily they sorted themselves out and gave us a clear path through. Phew! 

Edited August 18, 2023 by OzKiwiJJ

[JohnGc]

5 hours ago, Kaylacool said:

Jetstar are well known for cancellation so would be advisable to fly in the day before at least just to give you some leave way and take the pressure off missing embarkation.

 

Thank you for the advice. We have actually decided to fly with Quantas and rather than fly in the day before we are going 5 days earlier than the cruise.We can have a nice holiday in Singapore. Might as well make it a good holiday and relax on the cruise to Brisbane.That will take out any stress of flight cancelations. 🙂

 

Cheers John.

[sayaguru]

Cruising homer is very nice. We cruised home from Honolulu to Sydney. 

We've done Sydney to Vancouver too. That can be timed with an Alaskan cruise. 

And Singapore to Southampton.

All good.  

[JohnGc]

14 hours ago, sayaguru said:

Cruising homer is very nice. We cruised home from Honolulu to Sydney. 

We've done Sydney to Vancouver too. That can be timed with an Alaskan cruise. 

And Singapore to Southampton.

All good.  

Would really like to do the one from Honolulu to Brisbane, maybe in 2025 as we have already booked two cruises for 2024. Did you enjoy all the sea days? As the wife and I are into our 80s I feel the sea days would suit us fine.🙂 

[Tripmode33]

10 hours ago, JohnGc said:

Would really like to do the one from Honolulu to Brisbane, maybe in 2025 as we have already booked two cruises for 2024. Did you enjoy all the sea days? As the wife and I are into our 80s I feel the sea days would suit us fine.🙂 

We did a Transatlantic and loved the sea days.  A chance to relax.

[Sand$!]

As others have said and I echo. Fly out and cruise back is excellent way ….. I call it flat bed home!!!

 

all being said though itinerary is our most important factor and did a repositioning years ago Brazil to Barcelona which was 14 days transatlantic cheaper than a flight at that time. 
 

Research Singapore well for accommodation and think about cost of drinks and food. We did three days before a reposition back to Sydney and spent more in those three days than the whole cruise cost back. Though we did stay at Marina Bay Sands!!

 

Have loads of fun!

 

 

[OzKiwiJJ]

50 minutes ago, Sand$! said:

As others have said and I echo. Fly out and cruise back is excellent way ….. I call it flat bed home!!!

 

all being said though itinerary is our most important factor and did a repositioning years ago Brazil to Barcelona which was 14 days transatlantic cheaper than a flight at that time. 
 

Research Singapore well for accommodation and think about cost of drinks and food. We did three days before a reposition back to Sydney and spent more in those three days than the whole cruise cost back. Though we did stay at Marina Bay Sands!!

 

Have loads of fun!

 

 

In Singapore you can eat very cheaply, and very well, at the hawker stalls and food courts but there are also some very expensive restaurants there. 

[JohnGc]

1 hour ago, Sand$! said:

As others have said and I echo. Fly out and cruise back is excellent way ….. I call it flat bed home!!!

 

all being said though itinerary is our most important factor and did a repositioning years ago Brazil to Barcelona which was 14 days transatlantic cheaper than a flight at that time. 
 

Research Singapore well for accommodation and think about cost of drinks and food. We did three days before a reposition back to Sydney and spent more in those three days than the whole cruise cost back. Though we did stay at Marina Bay Sands!!

 

Have loads of fun!

 

 

Thanks Sand$,  Just finding out about the cost in Singapore. Seeing there are three of us we need  2 bedroom accomodation. It certainly does not come cheap.Most hotel rooms are only for two people which means we need 2 rooms.  I started looking at 2 bedroomed serviced apartments and they are expensive as well. Marina Bay Sands looks a lovely area. As we are staying in Singapore for 5 days I have no doubt that it will cost more than the cruise back. We may have to accept that it is the way it is. Time to tighten the belt and start saving and make sure we really enjoy the holiday with decent accommodation. Sure looking forward to it all. @ OzzKiwiJJ,   That's great, at least we will be able to eat at a reasonable cost and not have to wait until we embark.😊 

 

Cheers John.

Edited August 26, 2023 by JohnGc

[OzKiwiJJ]

See if there is anything suitable in the Chinatown area, or even just back from Orchard Rd. The Marina Bay area tends to be expensive. Look for somewhere near an MRT station. 

 

When are you going there? 

[JohnGc]

4 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

See if there is anything suitable in the Chinatown area, or even just back from Orchard Rd. The Marina Bay area tends to be expensive. Look for somewhere near an MRT station. 

 

When are you going there? 

Thank you, Long way off as we have a cruise booked for early 2024 and the Singapore cruise is late 2024. Doing research now to keep me amused. Of course it is really too early to get correct cost for accommodation and flights etc as the dates we need are not available yet, Near the MRT would be ideal and around that area is probably where we will end up.

[OzKiwiJJ]

3 minutes ago, JohnGc said:

Thank you, Long way off as we have a cruise booked for early 2024 and the Singapore cruise is late 2024. Doing research now to keep me amused. Of course it is really too early to get correct cost for accommodation and flights etc as the dates we need are not available yet, Near the MRT would be ideal and around that area is probably where we will end up.

The Singapore MRT network is quite extensive these days so it should be easy to find somewhere near a station. It's definitely the best way to get around Singapore  - cool and comfortable. But taxis are quite cheap there too but sometimes in the evenings it can be hard to get one.

[Tranquility Base]

14 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

. But taxis are quite cheap there too but sometimes in the evenings it can be hard to get one.

Indeed.

$11 from Marina Bay Cruise Terminal to Kampong Glam / Little India area. ( 6km).

[JohnGc]

1 hour ago, Tranquility Base said:

Indeed.

$11 from Marina Bay Cruise Terminal to Kampong Glam / Little India area. ( 6km).

All good information thanks. What is best from the airport to the city area taxi or shuttles? We would have three peoples luggage so I don't know if the taxis would be able to fit it all in.

[Tranquility Base]

42 minutes ago, JohnGc said:

All good information thanks. What is best from the airport to the city area taxi or shuttles? We would have three peoples luggage so I don't know if the taxis would be able to fit it all in.

Hard to say.

I have taken the shuttle once, but only because I was solo, had arrived via a short haul flight and was in no hurry.

It took a while as there were a couple of prior stops, but I enjoyed the scenic tour.

 

Arrival from a long haul flight with 2 people we always use taxi.

Personally I would join the taxi queue and then have one person go and ask the person in charge of directing people to taxis.

 

The shuttle counter was close by ( I think ) so if a single taxi won’t work you could perhaps check their next departure whilst still in the queue.

 

Re hawker food centres.

We have eaten in the Maxwell Rd Food Centre a couple of times.

Not touristy and close to Chinatown.

What dishes to try ?
I wander, see what people are eating and ask.

Have someone also locate the beer stall as they are likely to be separate.

Small pack of tissues on the table in front of your seats will reserve your seats while you order.

Edited August 26, 2023 by Tranquility Base

[JohnGc]

7 minutes ago, Tranquility Base said:

Hard to say.

I have taken the shuttle once, but only because I was solo, had arrived via a short haul flight and was in no hurry.

It took a while as there were a couple of prior stops, but I enjoyed the scenic tour.

 

Arrival from a long haul flight with 2 people we always use taxi.

Personally I would join the taxi queue and then have one person go and ask the person in charge of directing people to taxis.

 

The shuttle counter was close by ( I think ) so if a single taxi won’t work you could perhaps check their next departure whilst still in the queue.

 

Re hawker food centres.

We have eaten in the Maxwell Rd Food Centre a couple of times.

Not touristy and close to Chinatown.

Thank you, good to hear from someone who has been to Singapore and as I said a big help. Nice to have advice before taking a trip to some where for the first time. I have noted the Maxwell food centre.

[cruiser3775]

Another vote for staying in the Chinatown area, or around Clarke Quay or Little India. All better for the budget than Orchard Road and around, and fascinating areas. Yes, close to an MTR station is best. You really don't want to walk around much, as Singapore is always hot and humid.  But that means it has beautiful tropical vegetation.

Another great place to eat is Lau Pa Sat,  an amazing Victorian era hexagonal building which is a food court specialising in satays.

 

Edited August 27, 2023 by cruiser3775

[JohnGc]

2 hours ago, cruiser3775 said:

Another vote for staying in the Chinatown area, or around Clarke Quay or Little India. All better for the budget than Orchard Road and around, and fascinating areas. Yes, close to an MTR station is best. You really don't want to walk around much, as Singapore is always hot and humid.  But that means it has beautiful tropical vegetation.

Another great place to eat is Lau Pa Sat,  an amazing Victorian era hexagonal building which is a food court specialising in satays.

 

Sounds great. I was just doing a bit of research and found that the MTR goes to south pier cruise terminal, I think that is where Royal Caribbean dock, I was wondering how far to walk to the terminal from the station ? Would be great if we stayed near a MTR station where you suggested and could use the railway.

[sayaguru]

On 8/24/2023 at 9:57 AM, JohnGc said:

Would really like to do the one from Honolulu to Brisbane, maybe in 2025 as we have already booked two cruises for 2024. Did you enjoy all the sea days? As the wife and I are into our 80s I feel the sea days would suit us fine.🙂 

Yes. We liked the sea days. I do the exercise classes, and trivia, lectures etc. And we like reading, playing games. Its quite relaxing.