MandaNShannon

So excited, been checking everyday and just now at 2am, I have realised that I have been upgraded.

From interior room 1185 (midship)

To Oceanview room 1117 (midship)

Should I call my TA tomorrow and tell them to take off the upgrade option?

Because I am really happy with this upgrade, sure it's still the lower deck, but it's midship and it's an oceanview!

Opinions please.

Sail away is March 2nd.

Thanks so much everyone for all your help.

I'm so worried that we are going to hit a cyclone.

I've had this cruise booked for almost 12 months. And have not been concerned until the cyclone that formed a few days ago off QLD

We are cruising to New Caledonia in a few days. (March 2nd) from Sydney.

I have looked on Google for weather forecast/warnings. With not much luck.

Each site says something different, I am wondering if anyone knows of a reliable site?

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Calm down, no need to get narky, it was not aimed at you personally, hence the smiley at the end!

 

 

 

Last cruise I was on we had balcony smokers either side of us, and overheard a group talking about how they were spending their next day using up all their duty free smokes before they disembarked...

Well I was the OP, and I am the one asking questions. So yes I took it as though this was directed at me.

Not every smoker is like that. I do not even know one smoker who is inconsiderate in any way.

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Just please if you need to chainskoke the rest of your cartton to avoid duty back in port, do it on the Smokers deck not your balcony :p

Is this a serious post?

I wouldn't ever smoke somewhere that wasn't permitted. And I wouldn't chain smoke to avoid taxs!!

Seriously what is wrong with some non smokers.

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Can you only buy malbro?

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For all the smokers out there

how much is a carton of smokes and what brands do they sell? And also how many cigarettes in a carton

My husband and I are both smokers and want to make sure we allocate enough funds for that!

Also, how many can we bring home per adult?

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Isle of pines

Lifou

Noumea

Mare Island

The cruise I am considering going on with Carnival, stops at those 4 Islands.

If you have visited these places, could you tell me about local shopping?

Like handmade goods, vases, bowls etc.

Quality, price, customs.

We will be sailing from and to Sydney.

Also anything else about this particular itinery would be appreciated.

And one last thing, what is the weather normally like there in feb?

Thank you.

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Isle of pines

Lifou

Noumea

Mare Island

The cruise I am considering going on with Carnival, stops at those 4 Islands.

If you have visited these places, could you tell me about local shopping?

Like handmade goods, vases, bowls etc.

Quality, price, customs.

We will be sailing from and to Sydney.

Also anything else about this particular itinery would be appreciated.

And one last thing, what is the weather normally like there in feb?

Thank you.

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Thanks so much for all the replies, I am just after some thoughts from all of you seasoned cruisers, so we can start looking at our 2nd cruise.

Already have our 1st booked in for feb.

We want to plan ahead for 2016, so just gathering info ATM. :-)

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When would be the cheapest month to cruise from sydney?

What would be the cheapest cruise line?

What would be the cheapest itinerary,

For a 9-12 night cruise?

Open to all cruise lines

Open to all itinerary's

Looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts.

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If you opt out you don't get a bill at the end. The only time you have to pre-pay grats is when you have MTD. If you opt out you can request envelopes and give tips at the end

That is great advise, thanks for that.

Because I will dine in the dining room two times, if I opt out of the prepaid gratuities, do I tip the waiter after each if the two meals? I haven't picked the dining option yet, what would be the best choice considering I only want to dine twice?

Also how much should I tip for each night? Is $60 Australian a good amount for three people per night?

Like I said it's new to me, so I am not sure.

Also for my room attendant after 10 nights, what would be a good amount for him? $250 Australian?

We wouldn't be requiring any extra things from him that they normally wouldn't do.

I still have not decided to prepay or tip as I go. I just feel better knowing the money is going straight to the workers who I deal with directly.

And if it costs me a bit extra i am happy to pay that, for good service.

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A lot of people don't understand that what is the norm for America, is not the norm in the majority of the rest of the world. Don't let the ney sayers spoil your holiday, have a wonderful time, like we all do.

Thank you, it's nice to see someone who understands where I am coming from.

And I am sure I will enjoy my holiday, I am very excited :-)

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And I would like to add, that until right at this moment in time, I didn't know that their income was from tipping, where I live, we are payed by the hour from our employer. Or paid a salery. A "tip" to us, might be from a customer paying a bill for $19.45 using a $20 note and saying jeep the change.

I have never cruised before, with any cruise line. This will be my 1st cruise.

Now after understanding that is how tips are used etc. I am happy to pay it. And also tip my room attendant and waiter extra.

I just think that a lot if you, need to learn some manners, not go flaming people, and verbally attacking them. And also just use a simple answer when a question is asked.

Other like myself, may be knew to the cruise industry. And have very little understanding of how it all works.

This is the reason I joined this forum in the 1st place.

For help and advice! Thanks for nothing.

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So you are telling is that if the cruise fare had been $5025.99 you would not have booked because $400 breaks the bank? Really?

 

Lets break it down. $376.20 /3 = $124.50 / 10 days = $12.45pppd. How much does a stubby cost or a glass of wine in a bar in Australia to put it into perspective.

 

 

 

As others have said, you are going to America and when in America you do what is expected in America......

Actually I am going to Australia.

My cruise is from Sydney to Tasmania.

In Aussie waters the whole time.

Yes on an American ship, but we have only picked this ship due to it's itinerary, we have no interest in going to America at this stage.

And with the nasty attacking comments just over tipping, who could blame us!!

I'm not sure what beer or wine costs in an Aussie bar, because I don't drink either of them.

And no the $400 won't break the bank, I would just prefer to tip the people as I go.

For a 10 night cruise I only expect to eat in the MDR twice.

The rest of the time will be in the buffet.

I would prefer to pay my room steward extra money, then see it divided up, and also pay the waiter for the two nights he will serve us.

Wow so many nasty comments.

Like I already said, we do not normally tip in Australia, it's not how I was raised, so it's very new to me.

A simple explanation of how it works would have been great, no need at all to attack me.

How on earth would I know what is expected in America if I have never been there, that is the reason for my question in the 1st place.

A little manners would not hurt you, and some of the others on here, that are just plain nasty!

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I've been told that if you opt out of auto gratuities.

Then you still get the bill at the end of your cruise.

For example, my upcoming cruise I have to prepay my gratuities,

We have three people and it's a 10 day cruise.

$4649.79 is the price of the cruise.

$376.20 is the gratuities amount.

In Australia we do not normally tip, it's just not what we do, so almost $400 is a lot for us to pay ontop of what we are already paying For the cruise.

I would love to know, if anyone has opted out of the gratuities, and what was the end result?

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Maybe they are trying to trick you by keeping the numbers the same but moving them around a little.

Lolz!!

After reading what you said a THIRD time, I finally got it.

Both prices have the exact same number's in them. Just mixed up a bit.

Geeeeez. I think I need to go to sleep. It's almost midnight here is Auz.

My brain isn't functioning normally 😳

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Maybe they are trying to trick you by keeping the numbers the same but moving them around a little.

You could be right

Bloody sneaky buggers!

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yes:eek:

 

After I did so much homework, and careful consideration. We chose Royal to be loyal to(to go up the ladder of C & A) But, with the prices I am seeing, its going to make it extremely hard to be only Loyal to Royal.... I am now finding myself scouring the competition and seeing what they are offering...

 

I am sure I am not alone.

 

 

 

 

 

.

You are not the only one!

I seriously could have written your post my self

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Yesterday our cruise was $2847

Today our cruise is $4287

I was generalising but please feel free to take my comments in whatever context you feel fit. As it happens I've been working for years to lose the unnecessary sophistication thrust upon me as a child and it finally appears to be paying dividends.

 

 

 

Miopyk

Congratulations 👏

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People online will say that no one dresses up, but I've never been the only one in a gown on formal night even on Carnival.

 

 

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Maybe these people are saying this, so that new cruisers like myself, get swayed and do not come prepared with the correct attire?

Therefor adding to the fading out of formal nights?

I just love the whole idea, of being on a ship, wearing beautiful clothes, it reminds me of the titanic. Yes a little cliche, but I love all that stuff.

I think I was born in the wrong era. Haha!

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I totally agree with this comment - and the others posted. Yes, there will be others that are not dressed up or only dressed up for dinner and then a quick run back to the room to change. But, the dresses are beautiful and I love how they match - you will make other people smile because you cared about your appearance. I expect that you will be getting many many compliments.

We really put thought into our outfits, my daughter and I have very similar tastes, and I agree, we will look like we match, without wearing the same thing. My husband will wear a black suit, white shirt, with a black, white & silver tie. My daughter didn't want a full length gown, I guess that age group do not think it's cool?

But I am very happy with the two dress's she has chosen.

I especially love the white dress, I wish I wasn't in my 30's, I would love to wear that dress sometime!

But I fell it's more for the younger age bracket. Haha ohh to be 20 something again :-)

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The dresses are beautiful, wear them.

 

Those that will be in jeans will be underdressed, not you!!!!!

You can never be "too" formal on formal night! If others wear jeans, it's they that will be "out of place"...not you!

Those dresses are beautiful! Who cares if everyone else is in jeans, your family will look fabulous!

Seems like, so many of you are saying I will not be the odd one out.

I had horrible visions, of my family being the only ones dressed up, and being stared at like freaks!

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Great dresses, and I love your son's outfit.

 

Have a great cruise.

I think he will look so smart, I really liked the plain black suit, but he insisted on the pinstripe :-)

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