BronteBlue
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Posts posted by BronteBlue
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I'd cancel too, plus there's usually lots of last minute deals available for cruises in November.
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We were on Radiance in Oct 2013 and Royal used Reef Magic which we thought were very good. http://www.reefmagiccruises.com/your-day/your-day-at-marine-world/ They picked you up direct from the ship at Yorkeys Knob in their large catamarans. You could phone Reef Magic to see if Royal still uses them.
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We booked a balcony guarantee on the Spirit and ended up getting a great cabin on deck 5 (a bit forward) with an extended balcony - no obstructions, no lifeboats.
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I can answer 3 of your Qs. The coffee machines on the Spirit are the best we've found on any ship, and a better cup than what you can buy onboard. There are two machines outside (one on each side) before entering the buffet and then there are two near the stairs inside. There are some woeful coffee machines as well so look for the good ones (pictured). We didn't take our passports onshore - just our D'Licences and Seapass. Maybe just take a photocopy of your passport? The Spirit docks at a shipping terminal and you'll have a free shuttle downtown. Where they drop you there is a park opposite (see pic) and at the far end there is a patisserie - we had a lovely picnic in the park after our morning tour.
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Pays to persevere. I phoned a couple of days ago and was told "You can't buy OBC until 90 days out from sailing" (we're cruising next year). Phoned again this morning and bought AUD$1,200 on cc and the agent confirmed twice it will be US$1,200 onboard - dollar for dollar rate. THANK YOU OP :D
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We've had an E3 before and a D2 aft. We loved the aft D2 because of the huge balcony (2 chairs, large table plus two long loungers) - and so very quiet back there too. But it all depends on how long your cruise is and whether you can justify spending another $278. :)
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Try http://www.insureandgo.com.au/ They have specific cruise insurance plus they cover up to age 100. We've used them 3 times but have never had to claim.
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I had that same message after I purchased a recent shore excursion too. So many problems with their website :(
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The 3 in the middle are 110v power outlets. There are two 3 prong outlets and then a recessed 2 prong outlet.
The third power outlet (recessed 2 prong) is a 220v European - which apparently is better suited to us (240v) - rather than using the US 110v outlets. I read it somewhere here on Cruise Critic.
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as far as the coffee goes, you may be pleasantly surprised. I believe there is a self service automatic push button type coffee machine ( using real coffee beans) located in the buffet area for all to use.
Agree, there are a few great coffee machines - buffet and just outside - make it how you like - espresso, cappucino, latte, froth, doubles etc. Much nicer than the coffee you can buy onboard (too weak). By the end of our cruise everyone was onto it and didn't mind queuing to get a good cup. It was the best single thing about Carnival... wish these machines were on ALL ships! :)
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Yes, you can pay with cash any time during your cruise - just go to Guest Services and pay whatever $ you want. They will print you a receipt with your onboard balance.
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Happy Birthday Andy - you are a fabulous host! :)
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We did Airlie Beach on Radiance last October. The tender time is approximately 15-20 minutes. If you are up and ready to go at 8am (not many will be) I cannot see a problem with you getting the first tender in. Yes, they do use the local, large cats for the tender process as well as a couple of their own tender boats. If you are being picked up at the pier then you should have plenty of time.
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Transpacifics are also excluded (Hawaii to Sydney/Sydney to Hawaii). 17 nights and aren't cheap.
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We were in 8672 which is at the stern in the middle - one floor down. Advantages: The room is quiet because there is no foot traffic (being at the end and you can use either corridor to get there); full view left, right and the wake; the balcony is huge with 2 loungers, 2 chairs and a table. Disadvantages: None, but if you don't like walking it's about one munute 40 seconds walk from the centrum. I think they're the best cabins on the radiance class ships.
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I am very pleased to advise you that I have received as very fulsome email from CEO's office and Celebrity will be looking very seriously at revising the timings!
Respect, Celebrity.
VERY happy for you that Celebrity is listening. I hope you have a wonderful, memorable trip to the GBR. If Celebrity does put on a ship's excursion I would advise you to take it as you'd save the hassle of a 25 minute tender into Yorkeys Knob (nothing there except a yacht club) then trying to get a shuttle or taxi into Cairns which takes another 20 minutes. A ship's excursion would pick you up from the ship.
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From Yorkeys Knob, you could only get as far as Green Island anyway on a daytrip from a ship, and that is certainly not the best of the Reef.
If you want to see the best of the Reef, you need to go to Port Douglas and spend a couple of days there
Or book a cruise that stops in Port Douglas.
Not quite right. You can certainly go out to the outer reef from Cairns - not just Green Island. We did a ship's tour off Radiance (anchored off Yorkeys Knob) which picked up directly from the ship and took us to the outer reef - the same part of the reef the tour operators go to out of Port Douglas. That was with Reef Magic who were surprisingly VERY good. Have previously gone with Quicksilver out of Port Douglas (mediocre) and Haba out of Port Douglas (good) - based on the quality of coral and fish we saw from each of their sites.
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I have already received a reply from the office with profuse apologies and blaming the tour operators which is a complete cop out on Celebrity's behalf.
I beleive you are correct. We did a ship's tour from Radiance OTS last October who picked us up directly from the ship (no tendering into Yorkeys Knob). Pick up was around 9 am and were back onboard around 4.30pm. Celebrity are arriving far too late for ANY operator to be able to take you out to the reef, as it's about a 2 hour trip by fast cat to get there and ALL tour operators leave the reef around 2.30 pm.
Reef Magic (fabulous btw) is available EVERY DAY in March 2015. It's not any tour operators' fault as Celebrity has said - it's Celebrity's late arrival! Doesn't make sense at all and I can see why you're so upset. I hope they do something about it.
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We have used or CC insurance cover for all our travel, cruising, European flights etc, and never made a claim. Unfortunately now that the big 80 has come up, we are no longer covered for medical, everything else is still covered, but we would be reluctant to travel without medical cover. Looking into the costs now, it is hard to find a company to cover us, and the premiums are very expensive, even without pre existing problems. :(
You might want to look here as they cover including medical up to age 100 http://www.insureandgo.com.au/travel-insurance/cruise-travel-insurance.html
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Ship - Radiance
Deck - 8
Stateroom # - 8672
Stateroom Category – D2
Starboard or Port Side - Aft
Quiet Stateroom? (With comments on problems) – Very quiet
Was stateroom a connecting stateroom? - No
Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. – No obstructions at all. Dead centre aft with 8172 and a perfect view,
Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - Oversized - 2 loungers, 2 chairs and a table
Was wind a problem? - No
If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? - No
Any specific problems with this cabin? - No
Any other comments? - Loved this cabin and would book it again (or 8172) as it's so quiet and the fabulous balcony. No foot traffic noise. 143 steps from Centrum - about 1 minute's walk.
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Hi, you have certainly picked some great stops. The only change I would make is skip Nowra and stop at Berry instead. Nowra isn't that nice and a long sprawl. Agree, Narooma is beautiful - you could also have a look at the inlet where you can hire a boat or eat fish & chips - after bridge turn right. About 20 mins south of Narooma is the historic town of Tilba which is worth a look. Then I'd take the Bermagui/Wallaga Lake turn-off from the highway just south of Tilba instead of going down the highway. Bermagui is beautiful and from there you can take the coast road down to Tathra which which takes you onto Merimbula/Eden. After Canberra I think your idea of going to the Blue Mountains is a good one. If you decide it's too much driving you could always stop in the Southern Highlands (Berrima/Bowral in particular) as it's very pretty - famous for historic towns, tulips (Sep/Oct) Bradman Oval, cafes, restaurants, wineries etc on your way back to Sydney. Hope you have a wonderful road trip. :) PS: (Batemans Bay is a lovely seaside town and worth a stop; Moruya hmmm not really)
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No charge when my husband and one daughter caught it on our first cruise with P&O. About 80 people on our cruise had it, and the sailing before ours had over 220 people ill.
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From Celebrity 10 hours ago on Facebook:
Celebrity Cruises Australia & NZ
In response to the report on Today Tonight we sincerely believe we have done our best for Mr and Mrs Arnold. We were very concerned about Mrs Arnold’s wellbeing. She was found upset and disorientated. She was alone and she was travelling in a cabin with a balcony. Our medical team and our Care Team did everything they could to help Mrs Arnold. They could not reach Mr Arnold who was not on the ship. We transferred her to hospital and our Care Team followed up with Mr Arnold. We are providing a refund for the remainder of their holiday with us. We are sorry their cruise holiday ended this way but we believe we acted in the best interests of Mrs Arnold.
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Another point, the main cruise line in Australia is P & O, which uses old hand me downs from Carnival. Next to those, the Voyager class seems like the Allure. Right Oz folk?
Recently on Radiance (in the auditorium for the ship's talk) someone asked the Captain "What happens to ships when they get too old and are no longer in service - do they go to scrap?" and he answered "Oh no, we sell them to Carnival" :p
GBR for non-swimmers - tour operator recommendations
in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
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We've been out with Quicksilver and Reef Magic. I wouldn't go out with Quicksilver again because there are just too many people. Reef Magic has a pontoon about the same size as Quicksilver's but with half the people - we'd happily go with them again.