noosa_blue150

DT1304 - May I ask ? If royal carribean have allowed you to,cancel , did you have travel insurance as well? Will you try and amend dates on that or have you lost the travel ,insurance monies altogether ? 
im due to,sail out of Sydney on 27th March 2020 and am beginning to think I may want to take up royal,Caribbean’s cancellation offer .Wondering about the travel,insurance part of the equation 

Update - pulled out the paperwork and read up on criteria behind missed port (disembarkation)

I now think it won’t cover missed ports due to bad weather , but would,cover if we get back to Sydney for example late and miss ongoing transport home if delay significant and you did allow ample time with initial,booking. The cabin confinement still handy clause as well tho in a travel insurance  for cruising. My apologies if I’ve misled anyone - one should always check fine print closely 

In March 19 our  radiance of the seas cruise had to cancel Dunedin port and south to the sounds. Hoping for better luck in March 2020. However , tucked away in my covermore insurance this time as a clause whereby cancelled port will,give us refund of $1000. has to be a port ( so if we miss sounds again, won’t kick in ) . I’m not saying it’s the cheapest insurance around but I use it as my partner has two pre-existing conditions we have to register and I have found them good value ( used it last year to refund my medical,costs on board after getting influenza A)

there’s also a missed shore excursion refund -valid for,those,non refundable bookings ?

In March 19 our  radiance of the seas cruise had to cancel Dunedin port and south to the sounds. Hoping for better luck in March 2020. However , tucked away in my covermore insurance this time as a clause whereby cancelled port will,give us refund of $1000. has to be a port ( so if we miss sounds again, won’t kick in ) . I’m not saying it’s the cheapest insurance around but I use it as my partner has two pre-existing conditions we have to register and I have found them good value ( used it last year to refund my medical,costs on board after getting influenza A)

there’s also a missed shore excursion refund -valid for,those,non refundable bookings ?

Partners name is on the card.

its has the two Cirrus circles on it. 
I think I’ll,log my credit card on line before we go, then see Concierge as soon as it’s feasible to arrange payment with Travelex card, although I may get my travel agent to check before hand as well ( no reply has come back from royal,Caribbean email I’ve sent ). 
‘thanks for everyone’s input 

Partner has a travelex card, and it has MasterCard logo on it. It’s preloaded with US dollars .( I believe in this way it’s a debit card)

However when we try to enter it as credit card for our upcoming cruise on radiance of the seas, the Royal Caribbean site says it’s not recognised.

Really want to,use the US dollars for,our cruise . I will contact royal Caribbean to clarify but wondering what others have done ?

on Travelex site one can cash in the card . That could,be our last resort.

That’s good. However not all do hence my warning 

Choice magazine article I read recently  also says to check that the travel insurance with credit card will,cover you from date of when  cruise taken out with travel agent vs date of departure 

We normally fly and get duty free alcohol that way ( leave at airport and pick up,on way back in) . Agree that locally in Oz often Dan murphys and other outlets often have good buys but we often find duty free sell non local spirits ( eg contreau) at a good price. I have a few weeks to ponder. Thanks to all who replied 

Just trying to puzzle out how to purchase duty free alcohol, we leave from Sydney in march

know no duty free stores at terminal when we leave 

A) do we  scout duty free stores in Auckland ( understand we’d have to hand into boat on reboarding and take as we leave when we get back to,Sydney ) 

or B)  we purchase on board radiance ? I figure it too would be given back as we depart in Sydney after cruise

im not concerned about drinking it whilst on board, I understand that’s not a possibility 

Am wondering about prices duty free on board ROTS too

thanka for any info 

That’s for adults- cheaper for kids and concessions . Still a bargain considering the bridge climb has to be booked usually a month or two in advance and isn’t cheap .

A cheaper and easier option than climbing the Harbour Bridge may be the Harbour bridge pylon tour- $15, less than 200 steps , 360 degree views almost as high s harbour bridge climb proper. 

PylonLookoutEbrochure2017.pdf

Yes not many realise that’s its available. I went as a kid ( in those days you had to go from the very bottom, no lift) and we saw the white cats that lived at the top. Great option for those who can’t afford the huge climb fee , or who worry about heights 

Look up Sydney pylon lookout climb- less than 200 steps, off the harbour bridge itself.

website clearly shows you how to get there ( via rocks area) 

360 degree views around Sydney harbour , and no need to book or pay more than $15 

great pictures of the history of the bridge - well worth the visit 

climbing the bridge often requires booking ahead months before and then some not good with heights.

PylonLookoutEbrochure2017.pdf

We did the POA cruise aug 17 -also spent a week in Oahau at Kailua, a week in Maui afterwards, then 4 days in Waikiki before coming home. We have not been on other cruises so can't compare that aspect. I'm happy with our cruise option as we had a lot of time off the boat on land to explore the islands we visited. Yes you can hire own car and do own exploring to reduce costs . As Australians we are lucky in that we have 4 weeks recreation leave each year so could do both. I'd still recommend cruise as it gives you a taste offallthe islands .

Thanks for the blog on your trip.we go on our first ever cruise in august and have noted some of your tips for our trip