Carole2313

We have a B2B in April going down under Auckland to Sydney and TP Sydney to Honolulu going through French Polynesia and we’re prepared.  Make sure you bring wipes for the plane and your cabin.  That, avoid touching nose or mouth and good hand washing should help.  Just prepare and don’t worry, you’ll have a great cruise

On 2/16/2020 at 11:06 AM, sydbarrett said:

 I just learned that you can order from the main dining menu through room service so I'm considering packing ONLY pj's!!!! 🤣

Oh gosh, thanks for the laugh!  I needed it.  Sitting here breaking in a new pair of shoes.

Yes, lots of hand washing and we’re also bringing wipes for the plane and the Cabin.  I'm not going stress about it anymore.  We could just as easily have the norovirus on the Solstice, just kidding.  We’ll be ready.

Everyone says the same thing about this tour!  Luckily one of the roll call members knew about Patrick’s tour and set up a boat for just us.  Then it exploded, don’t know how many boats in total.  I can’t wait!

2 hours ago, Aus Traveller said:

 

 

What are you planning to do in Bora Bora?  It is soooooo beautiful. My mother said she felt it was the most beautiful place in the world. 🙂 (Memories of my lovely Mum.)

We’re booked for Patrick’s tour with other members of our roll call.  When the rest of the members researched the tour, they bought him out.  He even got extra boats and sold them out, too. There are 2 snorkeling stops, swimming with sharks and stingrays, and a traditional feast on the beach.  I think we’re served in shallow water just off the beach.  Sounds like Heaven.

Thanks so much for your responses, OzKiwiJJ and Aus Traveller.  I am very excited about seeing your part of the world, first time for us.   We booked the cruise when it first came out in Dec2017 for our anniversary and I have read up on all our ports.  What beautiful country you live in!  Can’t wait to see the fiords and Sydney.  Hubby is excited about Bora Bora.  I just need to calm down about the virus

We’re flying New Zealand Air Chicago to Auckland for a B2B Auckland-Sydney and a TP Sydney-Honolulu in April/May.  It’s past final payment and we have paid for several excursions so I guess we’re going.  Should we wear masks on the plane?  Do they really help?  We will be on the plane for 16+ hours in the SkyCouch section. Should we bring Tamiflu to kill the virus, and will it work?  This is our 50th anniversary bucket list cruise and I’m very worried. So far no virus in New Zealand or French Polynesia.

We’re sailing a B2B on the Solstice this April in a Sky Suite.  Unfortunately it’s not scheduled to be revolutionized till next year.  To the Suite people, on which S-class ship would you prefer to book your next Suite?  Not sure where we want to go, we just love cruising, and we love the Suite Life.

I got the Upwaker Lite which allows you to stand erect.  It takes the pain off my back by using the arms to maneuver the Upwalker at shoulder level.  You can get it at Amazon.  It’s pricey at $550 but my back loves it.  It has a seat with back rest, a storage tote and beverage holder.

So I think I have it straight now.  Even though we will be in New Zealand and Australian waters, the ship is on USD so the tips should be in USD, right?  We also pay the auto grats, this is in addition for great service.  Please post if I’m wrong.  I don’t want to offend anyone.  Down Under they don’t like tipping, but the ship’s employees aren’t Aussie or Kiwi.

Next April we are flying Chicago to Auckland, New Zealand staying 3 days in the CBD to site see before boarding for our B2B.  We disembark in Hawaii and we’ll stay 3 days before flying home.  Never been to any of these ports so we are really excited.

We have used Samantha Brown’s luggage for years and they still look new.  Very sturdy hard sided luggage in many colors and sizes, 4 wheeled suitcases.  Best suitcases we have ever had.  We’ve done over 25 cruises with them and we still get comments from other flyers/cruisers on how beautiful they are.

We alway cruise in Suites, and George C is correct about never wanting to book a lower class cabin.  My husband was hooked the first time we he saw the suite and met the Butler.  We love our Butlers and the services they provide. Have a wonderful experience in your suite and a great cruise!

We picked Apex because a free cruise on her would be the only way we would cruise on a “E” class ship.  7 days cruises are too short for us, and the prices are ridiculous.  We do like having a pool and bar on the retreat deck, but would refuse the deal if we got stuck in a SS3 with that magic carpet in our face unless we could upgrade.

You’re welcome, Clo.  A SkyCouch is all 3 seats across in economy.  Footrests comeup to form a flat surface and a cushion lays on top.  Both can sleep together, or one can sit if they want.  Basically you get the middle seat for half price.

Our cruise will start when the taxi comes to take us to the airport for our 16+ hour trip to Auckland, NZ.  I’m so excited!  We have a SkyCouch so hopefully we will get some sleep.

My answer Yes Yes Yes!  My husband and I started with inside cabins, moved to balcony’s and now only cruise in Suites.  We paid for and love our Butlers, the Retreat Decks and Luminae but we don’t walk around with crowns on our heads.  In the public areas everyone is the same.  Nobody knows where anyone else sleeps.  Why are you starting this trouble?

When you get to the terminal there’s a separate lines for Suites.  When you get to the counter, depending on what Suite you have, you will either be personally escorted onto the ship, or sent upstairs to the Suites waiting area.  We board first when boarding begins.  Go to Michael’s Club and leave your carry ons with the Concierge.  Luminae is open until 1:30.

We have 10 sea days on our transpacific cruise next Apr/May.  Our roll call has scheduled a slotpull, cabin crawl, bar crawl and other activities like meetups for different card games and on sea days, in addition to what the ship has to offer.  

We have never tried a Carnival cruise.  From what I have read about Carnival Cruises, we would never book one.  We have sailed Freedom of the Seas many times when our kids were younger.  It’s a quality line with great entertainment and much better food than Carnival from what I’ve read on this forum. Maybe a Carnival cruiser can give you more information, but all I keep hearing about is the drunks peeing and throwing up the pools, etc.

A quality hard sided bag has fewer access points for bed bugs compared to a fabric bag.  You can also enclose your bag in a clear Glad trash bag for protection while flying. I use a Glad 2 gallon bag to protect my under the seat bag from the gross floor in planes, too. Maybe I’m an over doer but I check for bed bugs in my stateroom and sleep in yoga pants and long sleeve tops just in case.

Bizmark’s Mom, I envy you!  My DH wants to bring 2 large suitcases .plus a carryon for our 28 day B2B in New Zealand/French Polynesia cruise, just for him!

I use Samantha Brown hard sided luggage.  The bags fit into each other for storage under the bed in a cabin.  The problem I have with soft sided luggage is other people’s creepy crawlers can get into your luggage when checked in, or stacked at the embarkation of the cruise.  

3 hours ago, calicakes said:

For all you B2B people, do you have pets?  

 

 

We’re doing a 5 week B2B next April.  We have 1 dog and 2 cats that we’ll board at a great kennel that has doggie daycare and kitty playtime.  They get a vacation, too!  I’m sure other B2B cruisers make similar arrangements.

Maybe try SEPT10.  I got a email a few days ago with that promo code for 10% off excursions.