woodyren

I've been told that the Fares basically are break even, the profit is in the on board spending.

I have also read and been told this many times.

Part of the reason there are discounts late when cabins are unsold.

From reading multiple forums on here I strongly believe that there appears to be a distinct co-relation between someone wearing shorts in the MDR and the food not tasting great.

Where is the list of rules that are made to be broken? I missed getting the memo on this. I imagine the chair hogs feel that rule is made to be broken, too.

 

If anybody can pick any rule, imagine the chaos.

If I can choose one to break I am not wasting that sucker on the "no shorts in MDR". Far better value in breaking the "no sharing drinks package" rule.

Flow riders, activities staff, the best loyalty program at sea and the laid back (but respectful) attitude of most on board.

At the time of year you wish to cruise Voyager, Ovation, Quantum, and I think Mariner will all be in Asia. Quantum sails generally on short 4,5,6 day cruises out of Shanghai and Ovation will do similar from Tianjin (Beijing). These are normally quite expensive and the on board product is gear towards the local market which makes up the majority of passengers. That is fine by us but others have reported not enjoying the cruise because things are not the same (food, entertainment, passenger manners in particular) as they are in western countries. Cruises are to Korea, Japan, Taiwan etc.

Voyager will probably do longer (8-10 days) itineraries out of Hong Kong and Singapore visiting Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam etc. The on board product on Voyager will be more closely aligned to what people experience on local or US cruises.

Celebrity Millennium also does longer cruises in Asia. Similar product to Royal Caribbean and longer cruises visiting more places.

You can get local P&O and Carnival cruises out of Sydney during winter I believe.

I have an upcoming 24 night Explorer cruise and have no TA OBC or cruise line OBC, nor do I have free grats.

We plan to take an Ovation cruise next year from Sydney to Beijing that is really a B2B2B. We wish to book in AUD as they have been cheaper than in USD generally of late and fares booked in AUD now include grats (service charge as they call them). I predict based on past performance that prices will come down.

My plan is to book three similar length cruises but further out, take the booking on board OBC to cover some of our grats on our Explorer cruise and then move the pre booked cruises to our preferred Sydney-Beijing B2B2B when(if) prices are better .

As I would have had to pay the amount as my deposits towards grats on the cruise I am booking on board on anyway, even if I cancelled I am no worse off and if the prices drop I have got the booking on board OBC.

I am on the right track here?

Thanks all. We are lucky not to be restricted with holidays. Then only concern is that the price of the one way flight we need might increase.

 

 

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After watching price trends for both flights and repositioning cruises I have booked flights (and other cruises or travel associated with the repo cruise) well before our last two repo cruises.

Sydney to Singapore last year and our upcoming Sydney Seattle.

It has worked out well both times and will do it again for Ovation Sydney to Beijing next year. At worst you may pay a little extra for the cruise but I like the odds that I wont.

That's what it is at present but it may drop closer to departure time. Repo cruises generally do.

If it was me I would sit tight but we can get away last minute if required and can also not cruise if price stays high.

Will be keeping an eye on prices ourselves.

Love the "jammer" too although of late we do get a little disappointed on formal nights as there are always a few who come in for a snack in their tuxes and gowns and destroy it's ambience.

I have watched a few episodes and didn't care much for the show, but rather just interested in seeing the locations.

I did think that the young couple were pretty objective and just enjoyed what came their way and so I found that I only really showed much interest in what they had to say.

I am Australian and book regularly (whenever the deal is better) with USA travel agents. I would transfer the booking to a USA TA as they will give you added perks on top of what you already have and then deal with any issues.

Well over $200 pp per night for an inside....next

We are staying at the Hyatt Place Seattle Downtown. Is there any public transport that will get us from Pier 91 to that area?

Have you considered catching the high speed train. By the time you factor in the times you will spend in the airport and getting to and from it is not that much quicker to fly. The train trip lets you see a bit of the countryside on the way. They even have business seats if you wish.

Sensational way to travel.

Thanks, but those of us who actually have dinner in the Windjammer have noticed a trend for it to be becoming more and more crowded for dinner than it used to be. We don't need the MDR sending more people up there.;)

I have noticed this as well. In itself it's not a big deal but at times those extra folk come all dressed up and destroy that special jammer ambience. ;p

I always try to do the progressive triva and any other trivia that fit in with whatever we have planned when we cruise.

I have met so many great people and always have a great time. The prizes are meaningless and while its nice to get a W its not even close to the main reason people play IMO.

I particularly enjoyed the rock quiz trivia that they had on Radiance when it was in Australia this year. It was a mixture of scrambled star caricatures, finish the lyric, songs played backwards, album covers etc. Great fun.

I'm in Australia and have just booked with a US Travel Agent. It's the 4th time I've booked with her since our trip in 2007. I think now I would struggle to find someone as efficient and helpful. And the prices are so much better.

 

 

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Not entirely correct from my ocd checking of cruise prices. Many are cheaper booking through the USA but many a far dearer going that route. Normally most local Aussie cruises are cheaper booking local. The trick is to understand each countries booking conditions, factor in the forex and perks and the see which system works out being the best overall value. Even then you will make some bad calls because prices fluctuate so much.

Research does put the odds if getting it right much more in your favour though.

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If the prices are better in USD book with a USA TA, even check the prices in Australia and book in AUD with an Aussie TA. All these options are open to us.

Of course one should only do so after weighing up the different T&C's in each market.

Thanks for the good thoughts, sorry to miss you but thanks for your info (and all the others here as well, everyone has been generous with their knowledge).

 

If you are ever in Albuquerque, NM, USA, post and we can meet up :-)

 

ML

 

PS: Same for any of you very helpful posters. You know where to find me!

 

PPS: I am about to start one last thread--about heat/temps in Sydney :D

Enjoy your stay in our great city. I work in rail and am (when not cruising) often wandering around the inner city tracks keeping an eye on them. If you want any quick info on Sydney you can always drop me an email at woody3155atgmaildotcom

If you have an opal card I suggest a day train trip down to the Sth Coast. You can get of at a number of beaches and smaller towns and end up at Kiama for either lunch or dinner. The train travels through the Royal National Park and along the coast at various locations.

It is a relatively short (10 minute) walk from Austinmer, Thirroul, Bulli, Woonona, Kiama stations to the beach. If there is swell the blowhole at Kiama is great to see.

G'day ML,

 

The train service actually starts just over an hour earlier at a place called Macarthur near Cambeltown. You will be joining it in the last 15 minutes of the service so there will be people on it. The airport stations are just "stops" on a longer journey.

 

cya

bl262000

I live near a station on the airport line and use this train regularly. We always catch it when we cruise and as a result sit(or stand) in the vestibule area with a two suitcases.

While it will be relatively crowded with commuters from the many earlier stations most of those commuters will have found a seat on the upper or lower sections. The vestibules will have many people who are going to the airport with their baggage.

So there is normally space as there will generally be as many people getting off as getting on. It still can be a little tight but it is certainly doable (but hey we dragged our bags around the Shanghai metro at peak hour) and the advice on going to the end carriage is good. The far end carriage will be better so turn to your right once you hit the platform at the airport.

Because I don't really need to be anywhere specifically apart from just being on a ship as often as possible I just pick the bargains as they arise.

Off the top of my head I doubt that I would have spent over a $100 AUD pp per night (that's about $73 USD and our prices also include all taxes and port charges) when averaged across our RCL cruises in the last year. This would include a mixture of insides balconies and even two junior suites.

So personally I haven't really seen price rises adding to our expense.

Still great value from my POV.

There has been one agency advertising/posting on social media for local RCI cruises who (seem) to be posting a price without the now compulsory service charge added despite the fact that it must be included. Their prices then appear lower than others and whenever I post a reply asking if their price includes the above I don't get an answer.

I am encouraged by the last minute Ovation price. Looking good for next year when I have time to pick a last minute one up.

.

 

My first choice would have been to take Amtrak from Vancouver to Seattle, but the trains only run in the early morning and evening. That meant finding something to do all day after we got off the ship AND deal with our luggage or spend the night and take the train the next morning. Since you are spending a couple of days after your cruise anyway, this might be a good option for you. The train station is in downtown Seattle so you will still have to find a way to get to the airport. We used East Side For Hire, a flat-rate car service to get between SEA and the train station on our last cruise when we did the opposite (fly into Seattle and take train to Vancouver.) I loved the experience! The train ride was very relaxing and the views were great as we went along the coastline. Here is a link to a blog post I did about our train travel...CLICK HERE.

 

Sorry to jump in on the OP's thread but we are spending a few days in Seattle and then need to get to Vancouver to board a cruise. We would prefer to catch the train.

May I ask how long do you need to be at the station to check in your luggage before the 7.40am train departs from Seattle.

Thanks for the review. I enjoy reading all the differing opinions and having sailed on Quantum for 39 days in 2015 we will be looking to book a few cruises on Ovation (when the price comes down to that of the other RCL ships here).

I have always been given sea sick medication at guest services on request on every RCL ship I have sailed on.

What type of band played in Music Hall? The venue was originally expected to be a rock venue but not sure what it has evolved into now. Unfortunately they changed its usage on Quantum once it left the USA as the ship was transformed to suit the Chinese market.

Johnny Rockets was changed to Kung Fu Panda when we were on the Singapore to Shanghai leg of our cruise and despite large numbers of locals coming aboard it was pretty much empty from memory.

This place is not in the Mountains but comes with good reports.

You can easily get there by train from central Sydney or any suburban station.

Featherdale Wildlife Park

http://www.featherdale.com.au/