jspitz1

I've been waiting for Japan cruises to be released for 2025/2026 but there still doesnt seem to be any. Do you think MSC is pulling out of Japan?? 

Thanks for all your replies.  I looked at the Hawaii option, as you used to be able to fly direct from Hawaii to Orlando but that looks gone now.  We were only in Hawaii a few years ago and the kids really want to see the Hollywood sign and Walk of Fame (I haven't been to L.A. for over 20yrs either).  What's really frustrating is-why are they putting out these flights so far in advance and then cancelling them a few days later (has now happened with Qantas and United).  And then when you look for other flight options, they have already gone up from what you could have got them in the first place!  It's so painful to be doing connecting flights all over the place with kids, and especially when you're backtracking from San Francisco to Los Angeles-I'm so frustrated!!!!.  

Yes, I might look at Air NZ again-had ruled them out as you had to go through Auckland both ways, but now United putting us on a flight through San Francisco, so Auckland might be better to break up the long flight.  

We have a RCCL cruise September 2023 from Port Canaveral.  I booked flights with Qantas 12 months in advance and 3 days later our flights were cancelled and moved to flights we didn't want to do, so I got a refund on these flights.  Soon after, I booked all our flights on United, and now I get notified all four flights have been cancelled and moved to horrible times/connecting flights.  So I had four great times/direct flights from Melb to L.A. to Orlando and back.  Now I've been put on seven terrible times/non direct flights.  I'm so frustrated!!!!!  So I can cancel the United flights, but there isn't many alternatives.  Anyone else going through this, trying to fly from Australia, booking 9-12 months in advance???.  

We are a family of four wanting to visit Sapphire beach while in St Thomas.  I'd love to take a quick photo at the Charlotte Amalie overlook on the way.  Can we get on a shared taxi and ask to do this or do I need to book a private taxi?  Would it be a lot more than the ?$12pp to go to Sapphire beach if we stopped at the overlook?  Or are we better to book the 2hr island taxi tour option for ?$25pp and just have a quick snorkel at Sapphire beach?  Thanks for any info you can provide.  

Hi, I've heard lobster night is the 2nd formal night, but not sure if that falls on night 5 or 6???  Thanks. 

Thanks so much for your replies-I feel a bit less stressed about visiting this strip again. 

Hi, we are hoping to do a couple of days in L.A. before flying to Orlando for our Caribbean cruise (will be flying from Australia).  My son wants to see the "Walk of Fame".  I went there 20+ years ago and it felt fairly safe, but looking at recent reviews of the area and a lot of comments how many drug affected/homeless/people begging there are in the area and may not be safe for kids.  We were hoping to get a photo of the Hollywood sign from Hollywood & Highland and see the Dolby theatre too.  Anyone had recent experience in the area-are we best just to do a quick stop at the Walk of Fame to get a couple of photos and then move on to the other places?  Thanks for any info you can provide.  

Thanks for your comprehensive comparison.  We have an Oasis class ship and Virgin ship booked over the next 2yrs and both look great in different ways.  

Yes, we're planning to spend a few days in Orlando/Cocoa beach before the cruise as I have never been to Florida.  Late September was about the only time of the year when the price for Wonder of the Seas wasn't too crazy and my kids were on school holidays in Australia-thanks so much for all your wonderful replies!!!

Thanks everyone for your very helpful replies.  Fingers crossed for this cruise to not be too disrupted if at all.  This is school holidays for Australia, so is a great time for us to travel to the U.S. when you are back in school.  

Hi, we have just booked Wonder of the Seas for September next year as the price was pretty good for a new ship.  Just wondering if it's quite risky to be going to the Caribbean during the middle of hurricane season.  Is there anyone who has travelled this part of the world late September and had great weather?  

Thanks so much for your replies.  I called back as suggested and got a completely different answer.  The original customer service person said I was only entitled to change it to a fully priced fare, but the 2nd one I spoke to said there was no problem changing our cruise to next year (at today's sale price).  So frustrating!!!

Sorry i mean our original cruise was booked for October 2022 so not covered by CWC unfortunately.  RccL telling me I can,t get todays sale price even if i pay the $100pp change fee-surely this is not correct.

I have a RCCL Caribbean booking for September this year but want to change it to next year when I'm hoping there will be no pre-cruise testing (as we live in Australia).  I understand I have to pay the $100/pp change fee, but when I called today, RCCL says I can't access the current sale (I can only change it to the full price amount).  So, in other words, they are telling me I have to lose my $800NRD and start a new booking to access the current sale-this is so frustrating!

I booked the 2 night cruise from Melbourne to Burnie straight away.  Looks like an interesting cruiseline to try once, in case it never does another season in Australia.  We live in Melbourne and there is hardly anything sailing from here, so will be great to do a cruise where we can drive half an hour and hop on a ship.  Super excited.  

We have a RCCL Caribbean cruise booked for in a few months time.  We are still 50/50 whether to keep this cruise or change it to 2023.  We are travelling with two kids and we are worried that there are still a lot of hurdles for us Australians to travel to the Northern hemisphere (and the huge expense involved), for something to go wrong related to COVID.  We realise things can always go wrong on a holiday but we are not sure if there are still too many hoops to go through for us to do this "once on a lifetime" cruise for us.  Any Aussie's travelled with kids on a cruise yet?  Would you mind sharing your experiences?  

I'm really enjoying reading and seeing the photos of your adventure.  It's giving me good memories of our previous cruise on Ovation of the seas, which looks similar.  We are booked on Wonder of Seas that is meant to leave Hong Kong in a year's time (to go to Japan).  Have you heard when Hong Kong could be opening their borders for cruises for internationals?  We are from Australia and cruise ships are still banned from entering Australian waters.  I wish Australia could have done a similar cruise concept as Hong Kong have done, and Singapore did successfully too.  Enjoy the last bit of your cruise.  

I looked at cabins about 2 weeks ago on Wonder of the Seas for Asia season 2022/2023 and there were still plenty of cabins available.  Today almost every cabin has "Sold Out" for every cruise/category over this period.  I have managed to put a hold on the last non-suite cabin (one I would not normally book) just to secure something.  Could it be possible RCCL have not released all cabins as this is so far in advance and there is still a lot of uncertainty with everything???  I spoke to RCCL today and they were unsure.  I am hoping if a better cabin becomes available,  I will cancel this refundable cabin and re-book.

We have a Caribbean cruise booked next year but we will be flying from Australia, so I'm starting to think that if this program gets extended I might change my cruise to 2023 when hopefully there will be a lot less potential issues with quarantine, testing, travel insurance etc etc.  I know a lot could change between now and 2022 but it's going to be a huge outlay financially for us to do this trip, so want to go when there is less potential problems along the way.  

Sorry forgot to say, the cruise is within Australia (where we live).  We have Harmony of the Seas booked for the Caribbean October 2022 but I'm feeling like even by then it's not going to be easy for us to do a U.S. trip with all the ongoing uncertainty with our border restrictons, insurance, kids not vaccinated, testing and quarantine on return.  So I'm looking at an alternative cruise with RCLL if I need to.  As we live in Australia it wouldn't be as much about the destination as the ship and not sure if Radiance would be interesting enough for them.  The only other RCLL ships that are coming to Australia in 2022/23 are Ovation and Quantum.  They loved Ovation but I'd prefer to try something different and Quantum is essentially the same as Ovation.  

Hi, I'm looking at booking a cruise in January 2023 on Radiance of seas as it will be in school holidays.  My kids are 8 and 10.  I've looked at various reviews and a few people are saying this ship is more geared for the retired age group, ship is ageing and not a lot for kids to do.  We have been on Ovation of the seas which they loved due to the variety of activities but it looks like Radiance just has the rock climbing wall, kids club, mini golf and sports court.  This may be enough for them but wondered if anyone with kids similar age, found there was enough for them to do and they enjoyed it?  From what I can tell the refubishment was delayed so not sure if anyone knows when the ship will now get updated.  Thanks.  

Thanks so much for all your replies-looks like it should have enough to keep them occupied.  

We had a Royal Princess cruise in Australian booked for this year and another next year, but one has been cancelled and the other got changed to another ship which I was less keen on.  So I now have to decide whether to do the replacement cruise in 2023 or just get a refund.  I had been keen to go on this ship (as I love large ships),  but after reading a few reviews, it is mentioned there is not a lot for kids (mine are 8 and 10) to do.  The kids club looks great but apart from that it looks like there is just the pools/spa/sport court/mini golf.  This may be enough but wondering if there is anyone who has kids around this age that could write about their experience.  We have only cruised with Princess before kids and since kids have been cruising on RCC and NCL which they loved.  

We are booked on Royal Princess for January 2022, after our Wedding anniversary November 2021 one was cancelled.  We live in Melbourne (Australia) and are praying this one will run, but it's probably a long shot.  Every time I ring Princess cruises they say it's still scheduled to run.  Have heard rumours that if these cruises sail it will only be for Australians/NZ's.  I've heard there is maybe a chance of sailing as Princess has changed the routes recently to only include Australian/NZ ports.  But in Melbourne we are still in full lockdown, so will be a miracle for this cruise to happen as it's only 4 months away.  Victoria is only just about to hit 70% first vaccination and 42% double vaccinated.  Our issue is also going to be if vaccination is mandatory for all passengers when we have kids that are not eligible yet.  "Ebeluga"-I'm also nervous about the testing situaton but in the opposite way for us-we have a Caribbean cruise booked for October 2022 and I'm also wondering how you are supposed to get tested when you are flying from so far away-hopefully the protocols will change before then.