RenaeG

I've book E1 for 31 March 2019. I've always been loyal to Royal but as soon as I saw this ship I had to book it. I've not done a Western before so that will be different. My friend and I will be coming from Australia so we have also booked a cruise on Symphony of the Seas to make the 28 hour flight worth while!

Aussie Cruiser

A few years ago I stayed at Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World - great location as it's pretty much on the main strip, walking distance to the water and near the museums and major attractions. Reasonably priced too. As for getting to from the airport I actually can't remember so it can't have been too traumatic but I'd recommend a shuttle.

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I was thinking of booking one of these cabins on Symphony for something different - these Cabins are more expensive by $60 then a balcony cabin midship. What to do..... what to do..... although I think I know the answer.

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I was waiting for Ken Rush to come up. The reaction here seems LOVE & HATE him. Most of the haters seem to have had personal interaction with him. I thought his TV shows were good and full of good information as well as when he was MC of an event. I thought he ran a very good quest, possibly only matched by Ricky Williams. Ricky hasn't come up yet, I did like him 3 times on Majesty, haven't seen him since he left that ship.

I beyond loved Ken Rush!!!! I would cruise on any ship he was CD - gutted he's gone into the office more these days. Three cheers for Ken!

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Check out Guide to Iceland website - they list all operators and are good at making recommendations and putting something together for you. I'm off to Iceland in 7 weeks (not via a cruise) and they've been great to deal with.

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I would recheck with Qantas as usually on flights too and from the states you have have 2 checked bags that are 22kg each. That's what it's been with me previously but once you get to Australia you can only have 1 checked piece that is 22kg

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Absolutely!!!! I was on Anthem solo in January and I ate at all of the specialty restaurants on my own! Only downside was at wonderland as the dish sizes are for sharing and I wanted to try different things and I felt guilty about wasting food that I simply couldn't eat all of it but the waiters kept insisting of bringing more food!!!!

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Dining with the people next to me I should say.... Not eating the people next to me! lol

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Traditional dining definitely has shared tables! I was on Anthem on my own earlier in the year.... Personally I'd rather eat on my own then having to make meaningless conversation with strangers ..... But anyway I found that the tables are so close together that I always felt like I was eating the the people at the table next to me anyway. I'd always end up talking to the people next to me and then would see those people all over the ship. Met. A load of different people and they'd ask me to join them for trivia or pull me up to have drink with them if they saw me. You'll be fine!!!!

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It's all about Australian Consumer laws- so inflexible here

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Holy crap, cocaine is expensive there! That's about $333,333 ($243,465 US) a key.

That sounds right!!!! Everything is sooooo expensive here and we don't share a border with Mexico! A glass of wine out is US$9.50. I was in New York last Christmas and found it cheap in comparison to Australia!!! At least our wages are much higher to compensate though!

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On board arrest - Australia recently had 2 young Canadian girls smuggle in 90kgs of cocaine with street value of $30M as guest on a cruise ship that arrived into Sydney....biggest smuggling bust ever! Currently awaiting sentencing but highly likely it will be life in prison.

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I'm going to jump in. It's only for dinner. And I did it on Anthem (at the urging of Merion Mom) and thought it was by far the best specialty dining in the fleet. And I'm not a foodie. It's just an amazing experience. But you have to be willing to try stuff you may not be used to. Or that just sounds weird :)

I'm a foodie and didn't enjoy it at all. Each to their own I guess.

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I would definitely recommend staying at the Rocks over Darling Harbour!! I'm an Aussie and lived in Sydney for 10 years. I stayed at Shangri-la pre cruise earlier this year and loved it. They have an incredible bar at the top of the hotel. I think Darling Harbour is stuck in the 80's and very touristy! Please definitely don't eat there either - average overpriced food! Your plans for Sydney sound good - you can do a tour of the opera house too whilst you are there. Thought about a Harbour Bridge climb?

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I'm a foodie and didn't enjoy it at all!

Voyager goes out of Sydney too.

Hobart is a fantastic port in Australia - I think Ovation has an itinerary that is Syd - Hobart - Adelaide - Syd

My friend and I will be doing Norway north bound Hurtigruten cruise at end of March 2017. We arrive in Kirkenes on 30 March 2017 and the next day (31 March) we are going to do a transfer to Lake Inari, Finland. There doesn't seem to be any buses or trains so an expensive private transfer is our only option. The cost is 357 euro for 1-4 people, I was wondering if there is anyone out there that would be interested in doing the 3 hour road trip journey to split the cost? I look forward to hearing from you.

If you want to have lunch at Johnny Rockets head there for 11.30/12pm otherwise you'll have a very long wait!

I was on Anthem in a balcony stateroom, I got a super duper awesome solo cruiser deal and I got double points.

I did 4 day sampler on Explorer in March and there wasn't any formal night. The cruise was full of groups doing hens or birthday parties that drank and wouldn't have cared for formal night at all.

Well said! I was an Anthem 3 January for 12 days and absolutely loved it!!!! I thought the staff were outstanding and I really loved the new dining concept. She's a beautiful ship and I can't recommend her highly enough. You won't be disappointed...... Unless you are one that needs to find fault!

No price dopa for Australians as our consumer laws are different..... Even if you are cruising OS. You will need to cancel your booking and rebook! This early out you'll get all of your money etc back. That's the only way to work price drops as an Aussie up until full payment!

OP, What country are you from?

Australia doing a domestic ports only cruise so looks like DL will be fine!

From this webpage:

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/beforeyouboard/travelDocumentation.do?cS=NAVBAR&pnav=4&snav=5#nonusport

 

In case you get redirected, it says:

 

The following requirements are for sailings from a non-United States port to Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, Dubai/Emirates, Asia, and Alaska sailings from Vancouver.

 

 

• All travelers, including children, require a valid passport. For your protection, your passport should have at least 6 months validity from the end of your cruise expiration. For additional United States passport information, visit the United States Department of State travel information website or VisaCentral, a fast and easy solution for all your U.S. passport needs. VisaCentral can obtain passports in as little as one day. Visa Central is the passport and visa service that we recommend, should our guests need passport and visa assistance. You may contact Visa Central for all your passport needs. Visa Central can obtain passports in as little as one day. US Residents, please contact VisaCentral online at www.visacentral.com/royalcaribbean, email rci@visacentral.com or call 800-858-8579, and be sure to reference Royal Caribbean account 44988 for reduced service fees. Canada residents, please contact www.visacentral.ca/royalcaribbean, email rci@visacentral.com or call 8888-665-9956, and be sure to reference Royal Caribbean account 10026 for reduced service fees.
  

 

United States citizens carrying an official (maroon cover) passport must also present a valid diplomatic or personal (blue or green cover) passport.

Thanks for this - so as per what it says here..... An Australia citizen going on a cruise that stops at Australian Domestic ports only doesn't need a passport. Phew.......!!!!!!!