laceytreigh

Aus Traveller,

You wouldn't be able to tell me the ASX code would you please? I did a search and several different possibilities came up. Carnival Group, Carnival Corp and Carnival PLC.

Is it CCL:US? Thanks.

Tracey.

Hi Aus Traveller,

Thanks for your reply. Good news on both fronts!!

Tracey.

Wala Island is a gem.

Hi, I'm interested in buying some Carnival shares, but as they're a US company, did you guys need to purchase through a broker or is there a way to do it yourself? Thanks.

Tracey.

I've often wondered about buying CCL shares as we too are cruising more (located in Australia). It seems the main perk to having these shares is the OBC. My question is, is the OBC due to having CCL shares over and above what you get in an advertised deal, either through the cruise line or a TA? Thanks in advance.

Tracey.

I'm going on Explorer in a few weeks and I'm struggling to get information on exactly what's included in the $19 per day package. The website says soft drinks (blah, blah, blah) 600ml bottled water, juice, mocktails, espresso coffee drinks and T2 beverages. Doesn't specify hot chocolates or mochas, which is what I like to drink. Espresso coffee drinks - does that include hot and cold? The bottled water and mocktails would be nice to have but I'd like to know for sure about the others before I purchase, as it's dearer to buy once on board. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for sharing this information with us, and enjoy your cruise. Please leave things tidy, we're boarding in Sydney on 22nd! Ha ha!!

Tracey.

We might give the Captain Cook ferry a try.

Hi, just wondering if anyone has any more recent experiences of getting to White Bay now that P&O run a shuttle bus and Captain Cook Cruises run a ferry.

We've got a cruise next month and I'm trying to figure out the best way to get to White Bay. At the moment the Captain Cook idea quite literally floats my boat.

A taxi from Town Hall is probably the next favoured option.

I'd be interested to hear of other's experiences. Thanks.

Tracey.

I hope you enjoyed your cruise windsor26. How was the ferry to White Bay? And was it far to walk to the terminal?

Thanks for the update Metalhorse. I came here looking for info on getting to White Bay.

Hi,

I'm looking for information re the Gemini cruising out of Singapore. I hope this is the right place to look, I can't find a specific thread for either Star Cruises or the Gemini.

We sailed on the previous Gemini (May 2007) on a B2B Singapore/Hong Kong/Singapore over nearly 3 weeks and had a ball, but something tells me it's not going to be like that now.

In February 2016 we have a family event to attend in Pattaya, Thailand and thought 7 nights cruising the Western coast of the Malay Peninsula might be nice. It's 3 B2B cruises which makes me think their main passengers are going to be Asian gamblers, which may not be a bad thing, as we'd have the most of the rest of the ship to ourselves.

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has any current info or could point me in the right direction. Many thanks.

Tracey.

Hi everyone,

My husband and I cruised on the original Gemini back in May 2007 Singapore to Hong Kong and back. It took best part of 3 weeks and the majority of the passengers were Westeners. It was our first real taste of Asia and we loved it.

All this talk of the Virgo and reminiscing of Star cruises in general got me thinking about the current Gemini and what their demographic is.

We're interested in cruising the western coast of the Malay peninsula and it seems the Gemini is the only one to travel this exact area.

I know that if it's full of gamblers we'll pretty much have the run of the ship, but I just feel uneasy about it as we'd be booking 3 B2B covering 7 nights.

The ultimate goal is a family event in Pattaya in February so there's plenty of time to get this sorted but I can't find any current reviews of the Gemini. CC doesn't even list Star cruises in their roll calls or other pages. The alternative is an overland journey from Singapore to Pattaya over a couple of weeks.

I'm thinking I might have to start a thread to ask. I'd appreciate your thoughts. Thanks.

Tracey.

Any news or reviews about the new incarnation of the Gemini? All I know is that it's an NCL ship but I can't find much info about it. I don't want to go if it's just another gambling ship.

Tracey.

Hi Paul and Marie, and anyone else out there! We're looking at going on the (new and improved) Gemini next year, 2016 but are struggling to find much information. There is nothing here either.

Can anyone help? Thanks.

Tracey.

Hi Paul and Marie,

Hope you are both well and still sailing the high seas. Thanks for the links, I'll have a look.

I think I've lost your email address, do you still have mine? We took nearly 1000 photos on our Gemini cruise, got some good ones. If you want a copy of yourselves at Victoria Peak let me know.

Stay well,

Tracey. ( & Trevor)

Hi,

Does anyone know where the Gemini is these days?? Who she sails for or under what name? Would love to sail on her again.......

Tracey.

glgolfer, hi! I read your review and looked at your photos. I thought both were great. I would love to visit Norway, hopefully seeing the Northern Lights. One day.......

Hi all,

When we cruised on the Gemini in May/June 07, Singapore - HK - Singapore, we went to the Orang Utan shore excursion in Kuching, as it was the only one that anyone had put their name down for. Originally disappointed, but there wasn't any interest from anyone else in the cave excursion we wanted to do. We had a great time, the OrangUtans were amazing. Then a 'City Highlights' which was a good orientation.

In KK, we teamed up with 2 others, and jumped in a cab to do our own tour. Negotiate the price, duration, where you want to go etc before you set off. It lasted about an hour and 3/4 and was very cheap. We ended up in town, at the waterfront and planned to walk back to the ship, but an afternoon downpour prevented that.

In Nha Trang, we caught the ship's shuttle bus to the markets, then armed with a map and a general sense of direction, headed off the find the studio of renowned photographer Long Thanh, which was worth finding. You could walk into town but it would take about 45 min and it was very hot, but the walk was along the shore of the beautiful beach.

Those were the days..................

Hi mimigigi,

We ate in the same restaurants for 21 nights and I can tell you....... we did not get bored with any of it!! The food is terrific. I felt safer in the restaurant as opposed to the buffet, as there was a rampant bug on board and I thought table service would be more hygenic.

Hi chris1950,

I think in the past pax board no earlier than 3 hours prior to departure, but I know pax were waiting on the dock when we arrived in HK, so I'm not sure on that one.

Vaccs depend on what you plan to do ashore... in addition to the usual ones that should be up to date anyway, even if you never go anywhere eg: tetanus, hep b, we had typhoid shot, ... having trouble remembering here.... check out smarttraveller.gov.au. You need to be sure if you want to eat at the hawker stalls etc. If your GP is a bit of a traveller they will know what you need.

Mozzies can carry disease, even at home, so it always pays to avoid being bitten. I think malaria is only a problem in the more jungle-fied areas.

There are hairdryers in the cabins. Maybe not as good as the one at home, but they do the job.

You'll have a great time, the Gemini is a wonderful ship and the staff really make it what it is. Wish it was me.

Tracey.

Well, Sydney was jumping this weekend! What with the A-League soccer grand final, the cricket, and a Mardi Gras event, the visit by the Queen Victoria and QE2 sent the city into overdrive!!

As you know, we opted for the harbour and the visiting ships........ what a sight!! We caught the train to Circular Quay for our first glimpse of the Queen Vic. First thoughts...... overwhelmingly big!! Tied up to the overseas passenger terminal, she dwarfed the Museum of Contemporary Art and almost the Bridge as well.

We walked around to the Opera House, thru the Botanical Gardens, over to Woolloomooloo Bay to see the QE2 tied up at Garden Island. From the forecourt of the Opera House we could see the funnel of the QE2. We then walked back to the Quay, caught the lift up onto the Cahill Walk which took us around to the Bridge, ducking off briefly for a well deserved refreshment before the Bridge proper. We staked our claim to a piece of bridge rail and had a fabulous view of the 'Royal Rendezvous'. 11 helicopters buzzed overhead and the harbour was covered with boats of all sizes. The Q. Vic manouvred effortlessly under her own steam, whereas the poor old QE2, was rather 'manhandled' around by at least 4 tugs. What a difference with modern technology.

Anyway, returned home fairly late and very footsore, the Tevas that served me so well on the Gemini throughtout Asia, let me down badly. Will post a few pics when I pick out the best ones.

Tracey.

Hi Vera,

Good to hear from you, hope you are well. I have been following everyone's comments with interest. Linda has left Singapore and is now living back in Oz. Up near Nelson Bay, close to the rest of my family. Ken had applied for 2 jobs back here and left tocome to Oz for the interviews just after we returned from the cruise. A few weeks later they got the good news and they were home by August, or maybe it was Sept..?? Though not all good, his dad has a terminal cancer..............

No cruise in the wind just yet. Next hol is land based to Victoria for the Great Ocean Road. Leave 9th March, so creeping up on us. Home for Easter.

To 'thepairofus', I wish......... would actually like to do HK to HK next time......Love to have more time in HK.

Kuldalai, sorry to hear you missed some ports, but I guess there's never really a bad day on the good ship Gemini!! Would have been nice to have some of that motion on the South China Sea. Was easy to forget you were on a ship there. More rock'n'roll on HK Harbour Ferry!!

Anyone planning to be in Sydney this weekend for the 'Royal Rendezvous' of QEII and Queen Victoria?

I'm thinking the view from the Bridge might be ok. Not keen to be in the main throng on the foreshores. Any thoughts?

Tracey.

Hi everyone, yes I am still about and following your cruising with interest.

So Sparkers, I guess some time soon you'll be telling us you've booked!

We did the Sing - HK - Sing, May last year, it certainly is a popular itinerary.... we loved it, apart from the little brush with gastro. I take it that's been sorted well and truly.

Chris1950, doing the HK to Singapore leg, the ship's tours are a good idea, unless you are accustomed to the craziness which is Vietnam!! I wasn't well in Halong Bay, so we just took the ship organised shuttle bus into town, which is over the hill from the dock (there is nothing at the dock) It's a lovely little town and the people are quite laid back in their attitude to tourists, I guess because they see so many boarding the Halong Bay cruises, and also many, many Chinese who holiday there too. Apparently the Bay cruise arranged by the ship came complete with touts, so they had a captive audience, but don't let that deter you, the Bay is magnificent!

Next port, Nha Trang, we got the ship's bus transfer into town, but is possible to walk (about45 min, but damn hot and steamy). Nha Trang is a beautiful bay and beach, which it is renowned for. We dodged the throng where the bus lets you off, (Dam Market) and we walked to find the photographic studio of a fellow who has pics in a series of books, balck and white shots, the books are "Milk", "friendship", can't remember the others. We were very proud of ourselves for finding it. If you're interested I can prob drag out the address. Favourable reports from those who did the City Tour. $1 US is the going rate for a can of beer, or 2 cans soft drink at the markets. The cable car across to the Vin Pearl resort looked interesting, aparently impinges on the dock, so limits the ships that can call there now. The Gemini should have had the clearance to sail under, but the Captain told us he didn't trust the Vn to measure accurately, so he wouldn't chance it. Be interested to know if that's still the case.

By this time my husband had bought a 'beer bucket' on board and our cabin steward kept the ice up to it every day, so he would restock on shore. Never had a can of beer taken from him upon reboarding. Another interesting tip, there is a webcam channel on the TV in the cabin, which is meant for staff only, but when I was sick our steward tuned it in for me, cause we had an inside cabin. (Wouldn't do that again for 3 weeks, but it was ok, got to have the full round trip.) Keep that one to yourself.......... LOL.

Kota Kinabalu, we hired a cab with 2 others we had met and asked him to drive us around town and show us the sights for an hour. Agreed beforehand to 100 ringgits. Ended up being 40 min and 40 ringgits more. Still good. There are nice eateries along the waterfront and the Fillipino markets are cramped but worth a look. Signal Hill Observatory is the local lookout, and you can see the Atkinson Clock Tower from there. Torrential afternoon rain that day, regular occurence.

Kuching. The ship offers a couple of tours, but the most popular was the Orang Utan tour, which was just brilliant. The best place to see them out of KK and Kuching. Chinese food for lunch was the big disappointment, thought we might get something a little more exotic!! We can eat Chinese at home!! The tour we originally booked, which was to the Fairy and Wind cave up near Bau town, was cancelled due to lack of numbers. Just gives us a reason to go back!

Would go back to any of these ports in a flash!! Loved it!! I'm sure you'll have a great time.

Tracey.

There weren't many kids on the Gemini when we went, but those that were there were in the pool, under parental supervision. Where did you read that they weren't allowed?

Bit rough that you've been charged full price for under 12's. Although school holidays, they've got a captive audience. :mad:

We cruised with P & O with 2 x under 12's back in 1998 in holiday time, and we were only charged half price as they were the 3rd and 4th pax in our cabin.