Grove family

Thanks for all those prices, that has really helped us out.

I am boarding Pacific Aria next Friday with a group of friends, one of our group 

is wondering what P&O charge for alcoholic drinks.Anyone have current prices

or a rough estimate.

Bottles of beer

Spirits

Cocktails

Glasses of wine

Thanks Peter

No need to tip in Australia although if you really feel like your driver went beyond what was required feel free to tip.

Ovation Of The Seas-14 nights-26/3/18-9/4/18

Sydney-Singapore relocation

suite -guarantee-$1926 twin share

$137 per day for this cruise offer

RCI usually offer speciality dining packages which in the past I have found to be good value.

You upcoming cruise may not offer a dining package due to it being holiday season cruising, my recent cruise on ovation did not offer a speciality dining package.If the dining package is offered on your cruise planner buy it before thursday as they will probably close off online sales at that point-3 days prior to sailing.

regards Peter

Make sure you bring a wide angle lens as she is a big ship.:D

My better half is a keen photographer, might put some pressure on her & try to post some of her pics in a week or so.

Planning to go to OPT early on the 17/12 to photograph the ship & check out the location of our cabin prior to our 1st cruise on ovation 29/12.:D

Congrats on a great upgrade,I believe you are entitled to all the extra benefits under the Sky royal suite class which are quite comprehensive.Consult the FAQ-Royal suite class for more detail, but for about $180 a day it looks like a good deal to me.If you don't mind me asking what is your loyalty status with RCI.I am booked on ovation 2 cruises after yours & would love an upgrade,currently in an D4 balcony on deck 13.As I am only gold loyalty status I don't hold out much hope.10 cruises down, never a hint of an upgrade,

cheers Peter.

Radiance of the seas-easily #1

Emerald Princess-#2 equal

Pride of America-#2 equal

Pacific Dawn-#3

Sun Princess-#4

The only review online for this company was not very flattering.

Although i've found in researching products most reviews are either

really positive or negative.I only take notice when a definite pattern

emerges.

Rang princess today & was told very similar story to previous comments.

According to princess rep it can depend on the port as well but luckily for us

Melbourne is fairly easy to organise.We have to be upfront when making the

booking & enter the information on our paperwork,Princess will apparently inform

us if the booking has been accepted,if not we don't go.

It's very likely possible (although with no discount). However you need to contact and get agreement and approval from Princess in advance (you can do through your TA if using one). They need to set it up in the profile so that it is expected, and the ship and port agents are set up and expecting it.

Thanks for that,will call Princess today before booking,don't want any issues after paying a deposit.

Planning a domestic Princess cruise in December 16, but my wife cannot board till the ship gets to Melbourne. Is it possible for her to check-in & board from the second port?

I could be wrong but Dawn Princess hasn't had a name change since launch in 1997/1998.

Forgot to mention... golf outings were arranged through the Shore Excursion desk. The list in my previous post was transposed from a flyer that was available at the desk.

Cool,thanks for the info.

Have the golf shore excursions on hawaii been deleted or am I missing them somehow,if so any advice on how to manage a golf day off pride of america in hawaii,

regards peter.

put fish about tours into your search engine.

A group of us are booked on POA for september 2016.Booked early to take advantage of NCL promotion.

Will be using this cruise as a convenient way to move between islands optimising our port time.

Just one query at the moment-what time does tendering start in kona & do shore excursions or others receive priority.

regards peter.

Just came back from a cruise that included Melbourne & Hobart.We didn't organise any tours but easily managed to do our own thing .Below is a brief summary which may help you with planning.

HOBART

Prearranged the hire of a car from Harrington st which is a 15min walk from the pier,took my own gps unit which took the navigation stress out.In the 8 hours we had the car we managed to visit the cadbury factory,Richmond,cascade brewery where we joined an historial street play to the female convict factory.I don't think I can promote individual providers but if you look on trip advisor it's the #1 attraction in Hobart.Well worth the walk &2 hours it took up.After that we had about an hour looking around Battery point,Salamanca before returning the car.

MELBOURNE

We purchased a myki card from the pier area & spend the day using the tram network.A myki visitors pack is $14 which includes $8 credit but if you stick to the centre of melbourne there is a free tram zone,outside that zone you have to use the myki.In about 6-7 hours we visited St Kilda,Fitzroy gardens,cook's cottage,federation square,flinders st,Queen Victoria Markets.They seem to have plenty of city ambassadors & volunteers with help if needed,even the locals were helpful.Only issue was myki card needed extra credit added due to the amount of travelling we did.I think we finished the day with no credit.

Hope that helps regards peter.

Having just returned today off radiance according to several crew members she will leave after our 2016 summer season.

She is undergoing a drydock in the northern hemisphere spring 2016 after which she will be redeployed.I personally think the main reason may be the larger fuel cost running the gas turbines.

According to the captain radiance class ships use 1/3 more fuel than equivalent diesel powered ships.

Another reason may be australians reluctance to use specialty restaurants of which radiance has plenty.One night while dining at giovannis over a 2 hour period only 4 tables were occupied.The only time I noticed a full restaurant was during the murder/mystery theater dinner.

Does any one know if there is a USB outlet in the TV on the Radiance of the seas?

If so, is it on the side or at the back.

 

Thank you.

If you don't find out before next week i'll have a look as we are in a balcony cabin between 13-20th january.

Thanks Everyone i am getting excited now!

 

Peter we will look after your cabin, i am hoping to do a live review of our NZ cruise so i will post plenty of pics of "Our" Cabin :D

Great if you end up doing a review I'll keep an eye out for it.

Being forward facing, the balcony does catch the breeze when the ship is moving. On a hot day thats good but on a cold day can be chilly out there. That is about the only negative i can pick on everything else is great.

Cabin is Very handy to Centrum deck lounges where you can just take a peek over the railing to look down into the Centrum to see whats going on, or just sit and listen to the music wafting up from deck 4.

You cant hear any noise from Centrum with your door shut.

Hugh

Loved having a balcony cabin last time on radiance,our first balcony cabin.

Leaving the balcony door open at night hearing the ocean swell was so good with a bonus of fresh air.

The all access tour on radiance is well worth doing,cost when i went in 2013 was $150.In my opinion well worth the cost,visited the galley,crew area,laundry,garbage disposal,engine control room & finishing up on the bridge meeting the captain & bridge crew.By memory it was limited to 15 people,so best to sign up early.My tour only had approx 6 on it all middle aged males,going to see if the wife wants to come along this time.

Hi has anyone had this cabin? We have this cabin for our upcoming cruise and wondered if there was any noise due to being close to the elevators? Also any pics would be great. Thank you 😜

Enjoy your hump cabin but look after it as that's our cabin for our jan 15 cruise,would be interested in any comments as well.

Thanks Peter.