Muffinz

thanks for all the replies - I think we will be ok, as we have chargers and the cables and a NZ to US adapter

One thing I hadn't thought of is synching our fitbits upon our arrival into Australia - as they will still be on NZ time

I'll have to ask at the Hotel we are staying at if they have a computer lobby that we can use to sync our fitbits to Australian time

Go to the X website and look at the beverage packages. There is a list of the liquors and beers covered by both the premium & classic packages.

thanks for that.... wife will be happy there is Absolut vodka and Black Heart Rum.... I'm happy there is Jim Beam, Corona and Heineken :D

Hi Muffinz - a fellow Kiwi cruiser here. I take my usual chargers etc , and a regular NZ power board (Warehouse model is fine ha ha). I then use my US pronged plug to plug in the board, and charge everything off that. Have a great cruise

 

 

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thanks for that - we bought a US / NZ Adapter, so we will use that with a power board or double adaptor

thanks - yes I'm not a huge drinker and I try to avoid buffets..... but I'm going to have to do a lot of walking on the ship and on shore to burn off those extra calories that I will be consuming!

we will definitely be taking our fitbits with us

thanks - I'm thinking of getting omething like this

https://www.wish.com/search/usb%20charger%20plug#cid=591531a02205947f0bb34538

would this work ok?

that's great thank you very much!

Don’t they still have the drink package “menus” at each bar which clearly state what is included in the Classic package?

if that's the case then great, but it would be nice to have a heads up before going to the bar and trying to read the list

thanks for that

would it be easier to buy an american or european USB charger from Amazon.com or similar?

last thing I want is to plug in the US / NZ adaptor and find out it doesn't work

Sorry, no USB ports for charging. I ordered a USB charger that has 5 USB charging slots from Amazon made by Lumsing. It has no surge protector so I have had no problem taking it onboard. It uses a regular plug (US) so we can both charge our phones, tablets and a Kindle. It is too strong to charge our Fitbits, so we do have to bring that dongle and plug it in by itself. (Sometimes we're really decadent and just eat, drink and be merry and leave the Fitbits home;p)

thanks for that - we've got chargers and cables for our phones / fitbits

we bought a US / NZ adaptor - but NZ is 240v and US is 110v?

so I'm confused if our USB chargers will actually work....

My wife & I are doing a cruise on Celebrity Solstice March 2018

I believe they have 2 American and 1 European electrical connectors in the cabins, but do they have USB ports for charging mobile phones / fitbits in the cabins?

Or do we need to buy a New Zealand - American adaptor and bring our chargers with us?

My wife & I are doing a cruise on Celebrity Solstice March 2018

I believe they have 2 American and 1 European electrical connectors in the cabins, but do they have USB ports for charging mobile phones / fitbits in the cabins?

Or do we need to buy a New Zealand - American adaptor and bring our chargers with us?

we've got the classic beverage included with our cruise in March 2018... I'm really looking forward to it.... the cruise - not the drinking!

I'm just trying to find exactly what beers / wines / spirits are included on the classic package

Don't waste time looking for a beverage package brochure in your stateroom. Celebrity doesn't do that.

so how do I find out what is and isn't included in the classic beverage package?

My wife & I are going on Celebrity Solstice March 30 next year and we have also got the 'classic' drinks package

does anyone have a copy of the classic drinks package so we know what drinks are included?

I know they will probably leave the drinks package menu in the cabin when we board the ship, but I'd like to know what type of beer / wine / spirits are included in the package

many thanks

thanks for that list... there's no NZ wines.... but that gives us a chance to taste wines from USA / France...etc...

are any wines available on the classic drinks package? wife likes white (pinot gris) and I'm partial to the odd Merlot or Can Sav

Thanks - we're looking at the Rendezvous hotel but wife can't make up her mind if she just wants to stay there just for the night before the cruise of if she wants to stay there after the cruise as well.... we probably won't take any alcohol on board - we have a classic drinks package so will make use of that

Thanks for the replies.... wife said I am getting too excited, and she's right..... I can't wait to go on the cruise, but have to wait til March next year!

We've booked the airfares Auckland / Sydney return - just need to book a hotel for the night before the cruise and for 4 nights after the cruise - as we are goung to stay on in Sydney until Sunday 15th April.

The travel agent got us a cabin on 9th deck somewhere in the middle of the ship (balcony view) - the price we paid includes classic beverage package , gratuities and taxes / fees.... and wife said 'gratuities' is tips and we don't need to tip anyone on top of what we've paid....

But I think it would be nice to tip the cabin attendant at the end of the cruise

does anyone know what ports the ship actually docks at, because from what I've heard at Cairns, Airlie Beach, Port Douglas the ship docks out to sea and passangers get tendered into shore on smaller boats?

Sorry if it looks like I am bombarding the message board, but I've got some more questions that some of you seasoned cruisers might be able to answer

1) Does it get cold on the boat? The cruise is in March / April (Sydney - Queensland) and temperatures will probably still be 25 + degree Celsius but would it be cooler on the boat? We need to know if we need to pack warm jackets or similar for the late afternoons / evenings.

2) Are the power outlets in the cabins US connections or Australian? – we need to know what adapters to buy so we can charge up our phones / camera batteries…etc…

3) If we get to a port like Newcastle and we go shopping and buy a bottle of wine or some chocolates or a cheese platter – could we bring then back on board the ship?

4) Are the cabins pretty well sound proofed? – we’re worried in case the people in the cabin next to us have a big party or make a lot of noise it will keep us up at night

5) The cabins look nice and well appointed, but if my wife & I have a large suitcase each, there doesn't appear to be anywhere to store them in the room - has this been a problem with anyone else?

Thanks for your help :)

Thanks - the Marriot is one of the hotels we are looking at.

Wife read somewhere last night that you are not allowed alcohol in the cruise terminal - is this correct?

Cruise will most definitely leave from Circulat Quay.... Solstice way too large to go under the bridge to White Bay.

 

Cheers

Belinda

thanks for that - that's what I thought, but wanted to check to make sure :D

thanks for all the replies - it is all good advice that I am putting into a word document so we can remember everones advice!

just 1 other question, does the cruise leave from Circular Quay in Sydney or from White Bay?

I asked on tripadvisor for advice on a good hotel close to the ferry terminal and someone asked if the cruise leaves from circular quay or white bay....

Can someone let me know so I know where to be looking for a hotel

Many thanks

First cruise' date=' eh? Welcome aboard. Here are a couple of things to be aware of:

 

1. Have fun!!!! Itzavacation!

 

2. Bring your patience. This is especially important on embarkation and disembarkation day.

 

3. DON'T FLY IN ON THE SAME DAY AS EMBARKATION DAY! You are better off flying in a day or two early and seeing the port city.

 

4. As for drinks, you are better off getting a drinks package rather than budgeting on a per-drink basis. (See Is a Cruise Drink Package Right for You?) Cruise lines do NOT appreciate "rum runners" who sneak their own alcohol on board. You can bring on two bottles of wine, but other alcohol is held until the end of the cruise.

 

5. Did you purchase travel insurance? (See Travel Insurance Primer for Cruise Travelers) I purchased mine for the medical evacuation and overseas medical treatment part. Just don't purchase the travel insurance through the cruise line. Also, the waiver for pre-existing conditions is around

 

6. Make sure your passports are up to date and ready.

 

7. Bring a highlighter pen to highlight items in the program.

 

8. Internet is a extra cost item.

 

9. Before thinking about the speciality restaurents, please give the Master Dining Room a try. You would be surprised at the variety of meals. Try some things you ordinarily would not have.

 

10. Check the articles on the Cruise Critic main page.

thanks for that - we are getting our passports done in the next couple of weeks so they will be up to date

Our agent has got the classic drinks package for us to that's good

My wife works for a Travel insurance company so she will be able to get us a great rate through her work

also we will be flying in the day before the cruise and spending the night in Sydney before the cruise - just to be safe

thank you for all the advice... this is all new to us and very exciting being our 1st cruise

I've seen plenty of clips on youtube about the solstice, some of the rooms, restaurants and other facilities on the ship and it's just making me more excited!

Wife is paying the deposit for the cruise tomorrow. :p

we are looking at taking a boat ride out to the Great Barrier reef - probably from Port Douglas? Wife seems to think there is a glass bottom boat there where you go out to the reef and see the sealife from the glass boat - I'll look into that.

Apart from that we like shopping, well mainly her, but hey someone has to carry the bags and general sightseeing... although that train ride through the daintree forrest looks good

I read somewhere that someone washed out their undies / bra and hung them over the shower to dry, so we may try that with our smalls

If you go to the pier around 10:30-11 you should be able to check in and be on the ship by 11-11-30. The cabins won't be available until about 1 so any carry-on luggage you will have to keep with you. You can get lunch at the Oceanview Cafe (buffet), the Mast Grill near the pool- great hamburgers, fries & hot dogs or at the Aqua Spa Cafe - by the Solarium.

 

Have a great time.

Thanks for the advice :-)