grozzy1

If they produced Muriel's Wedding I'm sure it would be just as popular. The musical version of the movie debuted in Australia 4-5 years ago.

https://www.portauthoritynsw.com.au/cruise/cruising-faq/overseas-passenger-terminal/

Someone more knowledgeable might correct me, but I don't think pick up is possible in the immediate vicinity of the OPT.

Suggestion 1 is to get them to park a couple of hours in one of the Rocks carports and return to the car together.

Suggestion 2 is depending on where you are returning to meet up at a suburban rail station.

One issue is it may be hard to predict when you will leave the terminal. And the weekend markets may make it harder to navigate.

I'd like to think I'm reasonably good at maths, but this is doing my head in.

My Spirit cruise departs Sydney 15th January. I'd like to know when Sydney time the 21 day online check in opens.

Roughly in my head I'm getting sometime in the evening Christmas Day. Is this correct?

FWIW Sydney is GMT+10, then add or subtract for DST

Cheers

I've just booked this excursion for NCL Spirit in January. What happens if there's 2 ships in Port? Do they use 2 trains or share one?

49 minutes ago, Ozwoody said:

Sorry not a Sydney sider, but we have done the trip, and yes its easy to get lost, really plan your trip, you won't regret it.

 

The worst part of it is, Barangaroo was supposed to have been the cruise port, until James Packer convinced the NSW government to allow him to build he's casino there.

We did a couple of cruises from there before he stuffed it up, just wheeled our our cases down the hill from Napoleon on Kent hotel about a 5 to 8 minute walk to the cruise dock, oh how I wish money didn't talk.

I actually won a night at the casino,  which I'm using pre-cruise.

The hotel is 6 stars with 6 star prices. The casino is finally open but only for "VIPs"

I'm hoping someone who has recently departed from White Bay can confirm how to get there.

In mid January I'm embarking on an NCL cruise. Most likely I'll be taking an Uber from my hotel at Barangaroo.

From what I hear, relying on Google maps will get you lost because you need to go via James Craig Rd. Is this correct? Looks like I may have to do the navigating.

I'll be sailing Norwegian Spirit in January, and I believe they're not reliant on phones. In fact I don't think there's much to pre-book, just turn up. The newer NCL ships may be different.

My unprofessional view in this is there's 3 factors in play here.

The gangway appears to be close to 10m in length. That's a long span to be unsupported.

Which leads to the engineering and construction needs to be spot on

Which leads to the safe load weight needs to be known and properly supervised.

IMO the people that need to answer questions are whoever built the gangway and the people monitoring the number of passengers on it.

I'm not an engineer, but that gangway looks awfully long if it's only supported at the ends. It would only take a weak joint and a bit of overloading for failure to occur

The government ferries run from circular quay roughly every 30 minutes usually from wharf 4.

There are other private operators like Captain Cook and Manly fast ferries who visit Taronga but they're less regular and not direct.

Assuming you arriving at Circular Quay, I'd just take a regular ferry to the zoo. Just tap on and off with your credit  card.

Re entry to the zoo, I'm not sure if pre purchasing tickets is still necessary but have a look on the website.

Another tip, if you have time after the zoo, walk from Taronga wharf to Bradley's Head to get your million dollar tourist photos 

4 minutes ago, grozzy1 said:

Can anyone work out why Ovation skipped Lyttelton today? I can't see any obvious weather problems, unless it was too windy

Found the answer, high winds

https://i.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/130361705/high-winds-stop-biggest-cruise-ship-destined-for-lyttleton-berthing

Can anyone work out why Ovation skipped Lyttelton today? I can't see any obvious weather problems, unless it was too windy

50 minutes ago, NSWP said:

Nice pic from the water, I wonder how check in/embarkation is progressing. She takes 4000 pax?

My parents had a 1:30 check in time, but I encouraged them to drop their bags off at 11 then go for a walk. When I walked past just after 1pm the queue of passengers with bags stretched almost to the police station.

My parents are boarding her today

2 hours ago, DAVECHIPP1974 said:

You wouldn't let your airline book your cruise, why let your cruise book your flights? I hear countless horror stories of cruise line arranged flights, I personally think its not worth the "deal" you get, arrange flights as a secondary step and not all in one. JMHO   

I think the same. The number of horror stories I hear, there must be some huge $ savings before I relinquish control of my flights.

Finland, Finland, Finland

The country where I want to be

A ship's first visit to Sydney traditionally gets the water salute

I consider it courtesy to use cash for small purchases at small businesses. Some businesses may have a minimum amount for card purchases or a credit card surcharge. This is because banks tend to screw small businesses with transaction fees.

$50 in small notes would be more than enough to last you until you get to an ATM.

Any left over cash can be donated to charity or a young relative.

AFAIK, it's the other way around. Splash academy was removed and new cabins put in during refurbishment

I wonder if it's as effective to give everyone just a temperature check, then use that to determine who needs an additional RAT/PCR test?

Here's a photo I took in Sydney recently which gives a good overview of the different balconies

20 hours ago, bundtkate said:

I noticed some folks showed an interest in whether you get an email about upgrades or an in-app notification so I figured it was worth noting that as of today I have both. I got an email forever ago (over 120 days out) and started getting a notice when I sign in to my account online today (55 days out). So far as I can tell, none of my minimum bids have changed, but if I had to guess, some of the max bids have gone down? Not sure what they're after with that change, but there you have it. Anyway, it's a data point, for whatever it might be worth.

I got an upgrade email roughly 110 days out. Though the suites appear to be sold out (or unbookable).

I did put in what I would consider "modest" bids but I would have to be very lucky.

I can vaguely remember getting 2x points for my upcoming NZ cruise. Must be the AUNZLAT code