SinbadThePorter

I've got an Explorer cruise on Sunday, but that's not winter.

I find that winter in the islands or Cairns tend to be a bit tepid and just doesn't have that tropical feel. I'm saving my pennies for summer cruises.

4 hours ago, woodscruise said:

Travellers will be able to explore the South Pacific in greater depth, with Sun to offer three islandhopping itineraries between Fiji and Tahiti which also call in Aitutaki in the Cook Islands.

This sounds interesting.

Edit: Just looked at the pricing. $300/p/n for an Inside cabin makes it much less interesting.

On 4/18/2024 at 8:44 PM, OzKiwiJJ said:

I think the original quote is "lies, damn lies and statistics". Attributed to Mark Twain. 

It was said by Mark Twain, but he himself attributed it to Benjamin Disraeli.

But Disraeli is not known to have ever said it.

It seems to one of those sayings that appear out of nowhere that everyone thinks was said by someone famous.

We're onboard Explorer in two and a bit weeks. It's good to know the old girl is still floating. 😁

Last time on was in 2017, just after the move from Princess. So my expectations are being very well managed.

That pool in the "Sanctuary" is only ankle deep. I'm not sure it's deep enough for the kiddies.

It used to be that Princess cruises to and from Asia were in $A and included grats and cruises to and from North America were not.

That was pre-covid. I don't know the current rules.

On 4/14/2024 at 1:30 PM, icat2000 said:

Still overpriced. Cannot convince me to cruise either RCL or Celebrity out of Australian waters. There zero incentive. I've been watching the fares for months. 

I think RCL believe that they have hit the motherload in the form of three to four day cruises for young families out of Florida ports on gigantic ships going to their private islands.

The demand seems to be there, so they are charging what this market will bear. At the moment that's a lot.

There seems to be a flow through to all their markets, including ours. At this rate all that COVID debt is going to get paid off pretty damn quick. 🤑

30 minutes ago, SeaDays4Us said:

When checking in for my cruise from Perth up the west coast and back I’m only given the choice of a passport number, as ID 

My adult daughter doesn’t have a passport. How does she complete the check in on the app.

Usually you can put your Drivers Licence number in there. There is no reason any cruise should require a passport for a domestic only cruise. If there is a problem with entering it, give them a call. At check-in they may ask for a passport, but they will accept a drivers licence.

33 minutes ago, resordanis said:

Morning all,

For all that know a lot more than me, I am told Crown Princess will dock in Cairns? What do you think?. Thanks

She is 290m long. Many ships that length have already docked in Cairns.

On 4/5/2024 at 9:29 PM, buchhalm said:

"I won't belong to a club that accepts me as a member " (Oscar Wilde)

Groucho Marx resigning from the Hollywood Friar's Club.

29 minutes ago, arxcards said:

Fingers crossed for Lelepa

We can hope for the best, but the outrageous pricing at Coco Cay is not encouraging.

3 minutes ago, resordanis said:

I don’t want to tender in Yorkeys

Did Yorkey's last month on Quantum. Completely hopeless getting 4000 people off and on by tender. Never again.

6 minutes ago, resordanis said:

If Voyager can avoid tendering at places like Cairns

I can't see that any ship over 290m length has gotten onto Cairns wharf.

Voyager is 311m.

1 hour ago, lorri111 said:

Boarding on Royal tomorrow, hoping it is still mill pond then! Mind you, might be a fun flight from Perth tonight!

There is a hazardous surf warning from BOM for the Hunter coast south on Friday and Saturday.

Diamond.

2 hours ago, cruiser3775 said:

I always take my medications in their original packaging.

So do I now. I was once stopped and searched in customs on returning and to save space I had my medications in the foil strips they come in, but not in their original prescription boxes. I was told in no uncertain terms that this was inadequate and was asked to explain what each and every different pill was for. I was then told not to do it again.

2 hours ago, gbenjo said:

Xcel to be launched in  November 2025,  is to built to operate on methanol. 

That's appropriate since the passengers operate on ethanol.

10 hours ago, colourbird said:

 

Good, then they can run the service.

Queensland Rail is not likely to setup a bus service just for the BICT. The buses are for use during track closures, stoppages and linking country towns. It would be impractical to have them unavailable for their actual purpose on cruise days.

I don't understand this insistence that the BICT has to be another OPT, with the facilities that the OPT has. It would be much fairer to compare it to the White Bay Cruise Terminal. Or even more appropriately to the Grain Terminal wharf across the river.

The OPT happens to be sited next to Circular Quay, the best public transport nexus in Sydney. Which was not built in order to service the OPT or even with the OPT in mind.

The BICT is not and never will be the OPT. If someone wants to run a bus shuttle service to there, I'm sure that Port of Brisbane would oblige. In the meantime if I want to catch the public bus, I'll walk to it.

7 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

Its something people don’t seem to be aware of and have it’s going to effect the cruise industry.

What's going to affect the cruise industry first is various ports mandating on shore power. New York City has just done this, although the details are yet to be worked out.

In a few years, ships that don't have on shore power capability are going to be limited in their choice of ports.

18 hours ago, colourbird said:

 

Brisbane is getting 200 new train replacement buses. I'm sure some of them could be used for cruise ship passengers.

The Brisbane bus and ferry network is owned and run by Brisbane City Council, not the rail service which is state owned.

1 hour ago, cruiser3775 said:

I've seen people doing that walk. There is no paved footpath, so you have to drag your luggage along uneven ground, which is painful.

I've done that walk. It's not particularly difficult.

On 3/12/2024 at 9:52 PM, bbfgator said:

We enjoy outdoors/scenery, hikes in the 3miles and under variety and wildlife.

If you didn't mind a flight back to Sydney, four days would be just enough for a drive to Brisbane up the Pacific Highway.

I'd recommend Myall Lakes, Southwest Rocks, Dorrigo, Bundjalung National Park or Byron Bay as stops along the way, but there are a host of places along the coast worth a visit.

On 3/14/2024 at 6:30 AM, GandM-nq said:

Can't understand why the city hasn't provided some sort of public transport link to the BICT for days when ships are in port...  bit pathetic

Because that would take buses away from scheduled services at very irregular intervals. But the main reason that there is no public transport is that nobody thought to built a Circular Quay right next to it.

There actually is a bus, the 303. Which goes from the corner of Main Beach Road and Marine Road (which is the road that leads to the Cruise Terminal) to Doomben train station via Portside. It takes about 30 minutes.

It leaves Myrtletown (the suburb of the Cruise Terminal) at 6:50am, 7:19am, 7:57am and 8:27am Monday to Friday. It's about a 20 min walk from the Cruise Terminal to the bus stop. You aren't actually supposed to walk out, but nobody seems to care. I've done it several times.

Getting back is trickier as the bus only starts afternoon runs from about 3pm.

4 hours ago, CDaze71 said:

I never get these offers and I'm PLATINUM. Ggrrgghh. I check spam folder and my offers almost daily. 

Maybe you didn't see it because you're Platinum. Nowadays rewards go to new passengers not loyal ones. 🤑

4 hours ago, Pvscott said:

Anyone have any ideas where we might find some magnetic hooks for the cabin in Sydney?

Woolworths do sell magnetic hooks, but in the CBD they only have cut down Metro stores which may or may not have stock.

If they don't have any, Officeworks in Hunter St and Pitt St are sure to.

3 hours ago, Sacruiser62 said:

Wow thanks, I'll keep looking

If you want it, always book the price in hand rather than the one around the corner. You can always cancel and rebook later if you see it cheaper.