valantine80

We cruised last Sunday on Luminosa to South Pacific and had similar experience as willsaway but we did speak to one passenger whose paperwork was inspected and they were not happy with it. They tried contacting the insurer on normal contact number but that was only staffed Mon to Fri. They then contacted their daughter who was able to sort it out somehow. So it seems a bit hit and miss, a bit like Border Force today not even looking at incoming passenger cards and with cruise from South Pacific lots of people with wooden items etc.

We have taken out comprehensive cover with NRMA and they have actually provided a separate letter which states "our International travel insurance policy issued to .....for travel dates from.... to.... includes "Covid-19 Benefits". This letter was provided without us requesting it.

Am not sure of time frame in November but when we were upgraded were selling balconies for about the same price we had paid for interior. On our last sailing on 20th January the upgrade offer came in on 9th January. We were in a balcony so not interested in upgrading. Not sure about having to sign up for offers but probably so as last upgrade offer had the "unsubscribe" option.

Have received offers to bid for an upgrade on Royal twice this season. The first time we booked an interior with virtual balcony and bid minimal amount to upgrade to ocean view which was successful but we were then upgraded to balcony.

As a matter of fact by the end of the cruise we noticed fewer crew were wearing masks and believe that it was optional whether crew wanted to wear masks or not.

We got off on Quantum last Monday. No masks required on board but are supposed to be worn on tenders and shuttle buses. The fist day using tenders they were handing them out and most people wore them. The next day on tenders maybe ten percent wearing them and even fewer on shuttle buses in Noumea.

I think it is rather difficult to get those local currencies here but can access ATM's I guess. As suggested businesses are prepared to take AUD

Am trying to find this but am only coming up with Season 19 as most recent.

It does state in Passage Contract that OBC cannot be used for casino credit and medical expenses but as we know rules don't always apply.

Thank you for confirming what I thought, but he was so adamant that he made me doubt myself.

Not exactly on topic but we are having a discussion with a friend who is a long time cruiser re using OBC. He is telling us that on P&O and Princess you are not able to use OBC to pay for alcoholic drinks on board. Can anyone confirm if this is the case?

We were on Quantum in November and agree with these comments. I always find ships cool and 23 degrees in the stateroom too cool for me. A light jumper or pashmina definitely needed.

China currently requires all incoming passengers to present a negative covid test and has mandatory quarantine in hotel for 5 days and then 2 days at home. These conditions are in place until 8th January.

Thank you very much for this good information. Very helpful

Several years ago we boarded a ship in Southampton which was sailing to Australia so had a lot of international travellers with no easy means of attaching luggage tags and one handler particularly was not happy with the number of passengers turning up needing to have luggage tags attached.

Thank you all for your replies and information.

Will be interesting to know if you are successful in having a kettle provided. Enjoy your holiday.

Does anybody know if free wifi is available in Noumea or Vila?

We are doing a similar cruise to you later in January. Will be interested to hear about your experience with tendering.

My husband used Metamucil for years but has now switched to Coloxyl with Senna tablets, much easier to manage when travelling and is happy with results.

My sister who lives in Melbourne would often take visitors to St Kilda beach, which is quite close to cruise terminal, to see penguins but I think it may be closed at present. Maybe someone from Melbourne can confirm this.

Insure and Go do medical only travel insurance, might be called basic. Used this last month for cruise to Tasmania. I think Medibank might also do it.

When we called into Moreton Island on a cruise ship we were told by staff at Tangalooma Resort that, as we were off the cruise ship, we were unable to book tours through the resort. That was a few years ago so things may have changed but might be worthwhile clarifying this beforehand.

We have just been on Quantum and our Sea Pass cards came pre punched.

I was also on this cruise. We were one of the few who wore masks most of the time. Nearly all the crew were wearing cloth masks until Day 7, the second day in Hobart, when they changed to N95 masks so was obvious then that there were increasing numbers of covid cases onboard.