DrewAU

The convenience store that was next to the tram stop has indeed been demolished. If you have an android phone, you can load a myki directly onto your phone with Google Wallet. See instructions at https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki/mobile-myki/

There is a cafe right near the Pier (Mr Hobsons), or a few more if you walk the 10 minutes to Bay Street. Might find some suggestions here: https://www.portplanner.com.au/port/melbourne-au/explore?tag=Close to the dock&sort=new

On Ovation and captain just announced we are slowly heading back to Sydney early, arrival date and time TBC later today 

2 out of 4 in so far.

Hi DrewAU, Very interested to know a bit more about this service. Could you please tell me, do you just approach them once you have disembarked the ship or do you book before? Do they take your tickets you printed from online previously and they give you your boarding ticket there and then? As you said once you are at the airport you just go straight through customs and your baggage is taken care of. Sounds a bit scary handing your luggage over and not seeing it until the end of your flight but it's a great idea for five us. Thinking of using them on our next cruise. Thank you.

 

John.

Hi John,

They have a marque setup just before the OPT with the Virgin Australia stands/signs. Just walk up and they weight and check in your luggage. They will print you a proper boarding pass to get onto the aircraft once you are at the airport.

They said they are hoping to get more airlines signed on in the future - but at the moment it is just for Virgin Australia. I agree it felt odd leaving your bag there, knowing you won't see it til you arrive at your destination - but if you booked a later flight like I did, it is a hell of a lot easier than lugging your bag around Sydney while you kill time during the day.

You can find out more at their website at http://www.oacis.io/

Andrew

Used this service yesterday when disembarking from Ovation of the Seas. Was so fast and simple, it offloads your luggage and you get your boarding pass. Was surprised there was no queue at their little stand. We had 5.15pm flights, so was great to pass our luggage straight over, explore Sydney a bit, then headed to the airport and straight through security to the Virgin lounge.

The guy also mentioned if its a party of 4+, its only $20pp

I have my third Royal Cruise coming up this season - and have always bought the classic package. I have always tried to hold off and prebooked it when I thought the AUD was best against the USD.

I just purchased the package again the other week for my March cruise to take advantage of the 20% off special. Still hurts on the credit card - but when I have cruised without the package I got a case of bill shock at the end - so I just see the package as a way of removing any stress from the holiday!

Marine traffic has her heading to Bremerhaven. To pick up one last sculpture for the top deck you think?

So disappointed. Was booked on the repo cruise and so looking forward to it. Hopefully there will be some sort of kickback for putting up with a later repo cruise.. it may mean I'll have to do another cruise earlier in the season as well so the wait doesn't feel so long.

It's not confirmed. However, in the same way she's coming here for the first season, it is expected that she will return similarly for our next Summer.

There is a number of bookings for her at the OPT for the 2017/18 season... heaps more than just 4 visits - so looks like she may get comfortable here.

Stood waiting on the bridge for over an hour to see this.

Full size pic at https://flic.kr/p/Bxif5p

I'm travelling with RCI on Voyager in just a couple of weeks.

I am planning on taking my Camera Tripod on the trip - but for it to fit in my suitcase for the flight to Sydney pre/post cruise I have to take the head off the tripod.

For domestic travel in the past I just pack a screw driver in my checked baggage and reassemble the tripod when I get to my destination - but haven't done this on a cruise before.

Has anyone had issues with taking a screw driver before? I'm obviously going to take the smallest one I can find so it in no way resembles a weapon.

I'm in the same boat Elaine (boat... get it :p)

Anyways, going with 4 other friends in November on Voyager - and we are all on different decks. So I'm also interested to see what peoples experience here has been.

Andrew

Travelled to the gong for a non-cruise related gathering earlier this year - and hire car from the airport to Wollongong seemed to take forever - would hate to have to do it by train or taxi.

What ever happened to using Garden Island like they were talking about a year or so ago?

Hi Ellie,

My partner and I (ages 31 & 32) have travelled both P&O and Royal Caribbean. We are now Royal Caribbean all the way - good mixture in terms of ages, lots of different activities and places for all tastes on the ships, and didn't have that booze cruise feel that P&O had.

No matter what you choose - a cruise is what you make of it!

This news has made my day. Imagine being on the North Star in Milford Sound! No matter where she is sailing, I'll be booking as soon as booking open.

Sounds like a relaxing cruise Lilfrog79. I last went on Voyager pre-refurb and am sailing again on her later this year. Did you have any ports on your cruise that were by tender? If so, how well organised was the tender process?

Also a disappointment as it the area is less functional in cooler weather.

 

Glad to hear the mix of Greek & Roman statues have gone, they looked a bit B grade Hollywood movie prop to me & a clash of cultures to some degree.

 

Wonder why they removed the statues... the area looks a bit plain and boring now.

I did a NZ cruise on Voyager late last Feb, and the only time it was too cold to really use the pool etc in the Solarium was when we were going through the sounds. Otherwise the water was heated enough that I quite often enjoyed an evening swim.

We did a similar itinerary last February and didn't have any luck spotting whales. Lots of dolphins though.

I did a whale watching cruise as part of a weekend getaway to the gold coast last September, and it was fantastic, so if your heart is set on whales a cheeky little weekend at the gold coast could be worth investigating. I was able to get cheap whale watching tickets through a sale on the RACV website (got 50% off the normal price).

We did the Mystery Dinner Theatre recently on Voyager of the Seas.

I was a little disappointed in the show, and thought it could have been more interactive, as the 'characters' only came out a few times, whereas I thought they would have been going around for the whole evening.

The food in Portofino's was not the usual menu for the night, and in comparison to the main dining room, I would not judge the food worthy of the extra charge.

To me, its something you should do once as its something different to do on the ship, and it is an experience, however I wouldn't do it again next cruise.