MrsWaldo

Positive for my flight options,,,,

Exactly what I would have booked, but they have me arriving a day later than my SS precruise hotel is booked for.

Well they have 10 months to fix it.

3 minutes ago, canderson said:

That sporting event didn't used to include an American fellow by the name Akebono, did it? 😁

I was there when he made yokozuna back in early '93.  Poor guy is in pretty rough shape these days.

 

Nope...

Seasoned Japan by land traveller here... Mr Waldo used to go each year for a sporting event.

If you have only 2 nights pre cruise in Tokyo and nothing post then send those 2 nights in Tokyo.

It will be during Cherry Blossom (Hanami) so it will be very busy.  A tour of the Imperial Palace is actually well with it, you usually need to book as soon as tour bookings open.  Not too far away is Ueno Park.  It houses an art gallery and museum. There is also the Zoo, but I would give it a miss.  The little market nearby can be interesting.

You also need to see the district around Shibuya Crossing.  This is where you find  Harajuku Girls, some of the anime/cos play dressed people.  Nearby on Ometesando there are some good souvenir shops, Kiddieland etc.  Meiji shrine is right behind.  If you plan to do a number of temples on your trip, buy a little book that the monks will do a calligraphy on a page at each.  It isnt cheap, ranges in price from 700Y up, but it makes a cool and unique souvenir. 

https://www.tokyoweekender.com/art_and_culture/japanese-culture/a-beginners-guide-to-goshuincho-how-to-get-one-and-how-to-use-it/

As a foodie, I also like the area around Kappabashi.  

If you want to day trip, go down to Kamakura

The Osaka stop is ideal for your Kyoto visit and why most cruises stop there. 10 mins by Shinkansen.

A day in Kyoto.  Do the Philosophers Path, and have lunch on one of the bamboo platforms that are suspended over the river.

Kagoshima/Fukuoka  are  all about The Volcanoes and Hot Springs.  Fukuoka is good to walk around and look at the old town etc.  We tend to stay out in Kitakyushu.

Hiroshima is al about the Peace Park, although going down to Miyajima Island can also be worthwhile.  Check the tides though.  The floating tori are the big attraction and if the tide is wrong.  

Cant help with Nagasaki.  Not been on my radar.

Looks like I have a new place to try.  😁😁

I tend not to do Asian unless in Asia or at home.  I live near major Chinese, Vietnamese, Nepali, Malaysian, Indian subcontinent and Arabic communities, so I am often left going meh.  The one really good Japanese I had as a go to was a victim of the pandemic 

Many are Asian fusion in Cairns, eg Paper Crane.  It can be hit and miss.  The wine list is dire.

Golden Boat is supposedly good Chinese, but I haven’t eaten there.  

14 minutes ago, CruzinFeraBruzin said:

Thanks MrsWaldo for feedback on your experience.  We were leaning toward deck 5, as deck 6 is completely full except for the two suites adjacent to the Future Cruise Desk area.  

Thats one of the reasons I have avoid Deck 6...  for some reason the mid ship seems to get more foot traffic.

We had Deck 5 (539) for a North Atlantic.   Our sea day was 13-15 foot waves.   No issue with leakage into the suite at all.  The waves were crashing onto the windows at points through the day. 
 

I thought it was a perfect location and booked my second Cloud cruise in the same room… and the one opposite as there were 3 of us.

6 minutes ago, turtlemichael said:

 In my view the best is Tha Fish. Unsurprisingly, it is a fish restaurant! Well worth a try.

Just now, 5waldos said:

\ Cairns for 3 days so we have time to try several restaurants.

 Regular visitor to Cairns. Don't be tempted by Ochre or Dundees.  Both of them are tourist traps. Tamarind in the Casino is a much better option for local cuisine.  

Salt House is good for afternoon cocktail but it can be hit and miss on the meals.

If you have booked a club room, be aware the lounge is quite small, and dining options are very much snack only, unless they have done a massive upgrade from November

If you plan to do a reef trip. go with Seastar.   If doing Kuranda, train up and cable down, its a love it or hate to place so that will give you flexibility.   

I tried at 6am Aus time as I am waiting for flight details 

I really want to be Lyndall….

or Michelle…

But sometimes I went back to being me

it was already mentioned elsewhere so I let it slide…

a little bit of me was like teeeee heeeee I could change all their pre books…

and no.  I would not do that, but hey, if you were on the same cruise and you were a wait list…
 

45 minutes ago, Gourmet Gal said:

I thought Vistas have shared balconies?

Vista doesn't have a balcony.  Nor does Panorama.  

Have you looked on my silversea?

16 hours ago, Port Power said:

I think that company has been copying Django & Juliette.  

They have been making those style of heel and sole decorations for over 10 years, although the current shoes look quite plain by comparison.

Kate Spade has had " out there" shoes like that since the 90s... more likely to be the other way around

4 hours ago, Stumblefoot said:

 

8 hours ago, rojaan19 said:

Note to  self ... if cruising with Daveywavey  pack  the Jimmy Choos  and leave the crocs at home  🤭

LOL  

Miss W (now I guess Dr W) and her hubby wore matching/complementary crocs on their wedding night for the reception.  Being Surgeons, crocs are kind of de riguer... and under a long dress no one actually sees them

For the ceremony she actually had Kate Spade Valencia  and he wore Salvatore Ferragamo..

https://zula.sg/kate-spade-summer-shoe-collection/

Don't expect the food in Indochina to be anything like the locals we have here.   It is my favourite no reservation restaurant on Muse though.

As suggested Kaiseki does amazing lunches and if you let them know ahead they will be able to get things like agedashi tofu ready. (It wasn't on the menu last time I was onboard)

Your biggest issue is likely to be the no kid snobs. (yes they exist) ...  just ignore them, it's American Summer... and if your kid behaves they will be fine.  She sounds like my 2...  one of the joys with having good local restaurants rather than chains means kids have a wider range and are exposed to more foods.  

You may want to be careful with the oysters though..... mine got to like them a little too much 😉

They will set up a kids club in the Card room IME id she wants to meet others.

You may be surprised with her desire to hike, its a new place with different things.  My 2 used to go nah.. through the Royal National Park, but once we got into a new terrain, eg Austria, they were all systems go. Most 5yo who don't want to walk at all will be too heavy to be carried IME (ie over the 22kg weight) or they have been the ones in a pram/pushchair/stroller until they started school.

You will have a great time... enjoy

21 hours ago, Catlover54 said:

 

 

( despite no obvious disability, also manage to insinuate themselves into the front seats).

 

 

 

And there are people who make assumptions about those with no obvious disability not needing a seat near the front....  

My daughter suffers  from severe car sickness, which is even worse after being on the ship,  and no matter what she takes it doesn't help, so a view out the front window makes it more pleasant for all around her. 

As a solo I also rarely book private tours.  SS excursions in the first few days are actually good for getting to know your fellow pax.

Mine went up by AUD$3000...  (actually more because all the offers included bar one are gone)

Swings and roundabouts

I like it and loathe it.

Could they not put a few copies in somewhere like arts cafe (in multiple languages)  if the supply gets low print some extras?

1 hour ago, Stumblefoot said:

Probably a stupid question, but I love learning from others, so why did you take OBC rather than the $3,000 lower price since SS has a Fare Guarantee program?  
 

I realize SS doesn’t make it easy as it’s up to the passenger to notify SS of the reduced fare and file a claim prior to sailing.  But, IMHO, I’d much rather have the cash to do with as I please versus an OBC that has to be used on board and only during the voyage. 

I thought I would get the difference too.  I wasn't given the option of refund or OBC.  I suspect as I was gty and i got a massive upgrade that was their "fare" justification.  Trying to communicate with there particular agent, especially over the Australian Christmas break was nigh on impossible and TBH due to other side issues I didnt have the staying power at the time to push the point.

 When I was onboard the were a lot of SS Australian based staff..........  who had never cruised with SS before

28 minutes ago, Port Power said:

Prices always go up after release date.  I booked an Antarctica cruise for only 25% single supplement.  That is no longer the case and the solo price is now about 80% more.  After booking,  I check occasionally in case the price drops. Otherwise I just congratulate myself on booking at the right time and don’t care what the current price might be. Having a cruise deferred for two years but the price remaining the same is win, win!   I really don’t know what you are trying to do here if you are not actually making another booking?

Always check...

My 2020 one dropped $3000 a few weeks out...  so I got extra OBC.  If I hadn't checked I would not have known and well....

Unfortunately IMHO a few times the price has dropped on release because demand was low

Its like toilet paper, eggs, tissues or any of those other special commodities

Should add the price only rose in the last few weeks, so quite some time after release

19 hours ago, les37b said:

I think they said cheaper then the now current advertised price, not the fare from 2019.

 

The agent I have in the UK gives 10% off the advertised cruise fare for SS which also includes bookings made onboard and transferred.

Cheaper than the website shows...

There is a huge price differential

I'm paying 11,600 solo.  Website tells me it is 20,400!  Maybe it is just the bonus of booking in the deepest depth of Covid... I just wonder if the website is actually logging in the fact that I am 1 despite the changing of pax numbers.  I know the solo discount is gone.  But...

I'm sorry I wasn't totally clear...the book online all the way through was there in 2019.  At that point in time, going to SS, Virtuoso or a private TA had an overall saving of $500 on the website quote irrespective .  

This was the cruise I did GTY for Jan 2020 for 2 pax and able to add the third at a later date if required.

1 hour ago, Port Power said:

This drone light show is the work of the local indigenous people who manage that area.  It hasn't officially started yet.  The display will be conducted during "dinner in the desert".

Unfortunately it isnt.

they commissioned a light artist from Melbourne  

https://www.ramus.com.au/artist/

Its not Dinner in the Desert (aka SOS)

Just as Field of Light was done by a British artist....

34 minutes ago, mysty said:

 

Mrs Waldo,  I am thinking I didn't understand the source of your sadness relating to my post.   I'm sorry!  What I should have asked is.....what is the source of your sadness on this issue.   You are closer to the nature of this than I am and your insights would be appreciated!

I think it’s the fact that it is a spectacular location in its own right.  
A few years ago they added a light walk for night time.

Now they are adding another light display feature 

One of the most spectacular parts is the viewing of the night sky.  By adding more and more light based things then that aspect slowly begins to fade, literally.

I also worry about the impact on the nocturnal animals as the lights increase 

I think the cultural aspect and story telling is exceptionally important. I’m glad the traditional owners are involved.  

There are several dinner events at Uluru

TBH I was a little sad when I saw this.  It seems it is becoming more theme park than indigenous land.  
 

They seem to be continually adding “attractions “

And until recently it was only us that could book online…..

ya never know 😜

2 hours ago, Mr Luxury said:

It doesn't work that way for bookings in the UK.

 

Maybe we were Guinea pigs….

Definitely could do it in late 2019

I plugged my cruise for next year through and using the exact same parameters for booking, my cruise now costs  more than 2x what if did when I booked.  
 

I have to wonder if an agent would make it cheaper……