Wendylet

Thanks to everyone for this wonderful feedback. I will lean on my TA for covid requirement information as well. The ETA and Visa requirements seem quite clear now and, yes, I find the Viking information to be less than helpful and perhaps not even current!

I know Viking is dropping the Covid vaccination requirement as of Nov 1 so I assume no testing is required to board? Does anyone know if there is any vaccination or testing requirement for either Indonesia or Australia? I am finding conflicting information and I’m not sure if websites are really current or not. Including what Viking has on their website regarding testing. Help is most appreciated.

Thank you so much.

Thank so much for that. I will search out the app and proceed accordingly.

Ah I see. Thanks very much!

Much thanks to everyone for your assistance. So if I get the ETA how is it presented to the Australian authorities? Do I pass it along to Viking or am I presenting it in the first Australian port? Thank you again for all your help.

I am booked on the Nov 2023 sailing on the Orion from Bali to Sydney. I must say I am extremely confused about the Visa, ETA and covid testing requirements for both Indonesia and Australia. Waiting on my TA to get back to me but I thought I would ask the experts here. I find the information in my invoice and on the link supplied to be confusing. I did receive information from Viking saying that they do not require vaccinations as of Nov 1 so I assume no test either for embarkation? Can anyone confirm that for me and what the requirements are for entry into Indonesia as well as Australia? Your help here is most appreciated! (Also new to Viking and so excited)!

Thank you for all the input. I do think that perhaps May might be the safer choice for weather. I agree it can be very hot as we did wdw for 2 weeks in May last year and it was really hot. I understand that November weather can be slightly more unpredictable. May might be the better choice especially if the grandchildren want to swim while we are in wdw the week before. Thanks so much for the input.

We are still a few years out but I am a planner and looking for advice. I am taking my daughter and her family on our first cruise through Disney. I am hoping to take advantage of the Canadian Resident Special pricing. We are looking at the Fantasy out of Port Canaveral as we want to tack on some days at wdw prior. A couple questions though. Is the weather in the Caribbean better in May or November? These cruises tend to be the ones that go on the special pricing I was indicating. We do love Xmas (November) but it’s important to my daughter that we get to take advantage of the pools before and during the cruise, so warmer weather. Not sure about the weather in November. Anyone have experience with this? Also if I book the cruise as soon as the dates come out when would the CRS pricing come out? Would I be able to rebook the cruise with the lower pricing? Not sure about Disney protocols like final payment and rebooking? All help is most appreciated. Thanks!

Nothing wrong with 3 daughters!!!

Thanks that's very encouraging to hear!

Thank you to everyone for your input. Something I am considering, listening to all these wise words, is actually taking separate holidays. Still cruise with the one daughter whose family is so excited to do it and then a separate one with this other side to something that suits them better. Perhaps a land holiday at an all inclusive with lots of swimming and not many “lines”. Who knew it would be so difficult to give away a free trip!

Well said! I have been having this very same thought. The only thing stopping me from pushing for this is that it would be hard for my daughter to be the sole parent of 2 very active young boys. Might be more of a hardship for her and impact her ability to really enjoy the trip. Having said that having a grumpy husband around could do the exact same thing…..

Lol……

Thank you for that information. Since I have never cruised RCL before I am unsure about the “key” you mentioned. Sounds like something I should look into.

You are so very kind and I must say have hit the nail directly on the head with your description of me simply through my words. You are very astute. Yes I always want everyone to be happy and we planned on taking three extended family trips (gifted) after the passing of my father due to covid. I told my kids I want to see them enjoy the money as I know my father would have wished also. There definitely is history as he is an only child brought but by a very young mom so he tends to not really “think before he speaks” which has caused hurt feelings over many years now. Apologies as this is now turning into Dr Phil!!!

Thank you so much for that wonderful and thought out reply. You are so kind. In fact, I failed to mention, he has been in one cruise with us(only adults) about 8 years ago in the Mediterranean. It was a smaller ship and he seemed to enjoy it despite trudging around Ephesus when it was about 95 degrees. So he does have some understanding of the ship but on a much smaller scale. He says he enjoyed that because, you know, so many ports daily in Europe. I think he is worried without a lot of ports he will be stuck on this ship in all the “lines”. But he is a very fit and active person and loves to be doing things so with his two boys it seemed like there would be endless things to do here.

Yes Disney was a long haul but it was one of those “trip of a lifetime” situations. We stayed at a deluxe resort and that family had their own villa. We did a waterpark and they did pools every day. Some days they only came to a park for a few hours then left and did their own thing. It really was quite oppressively hot unfortunately. Since we are from western Canada it’s a chore to get there so you have to make it a lengthy trip. Anyway that was one and done and the purpose for me was to watch my grandkids have fun, which I did. Guess he was just collateral damage.

I’m really not trying to control anything. This attitude just came from a simple question about whether they would be interested in a free cruise. This had been discussed generally several times in the past so he knew it was in the works. I was just asking them to have a look at the ship and let me know their thoughts. I am not a controlling person, I am a giving person.

Thank you for that. Those were my thoughts exactly. If you can’t be thankful for a free trip at least thinking you are getting to travel and spend time with family, I’m not sure what to think about that. When he said he couldn’t “see the appeal” in the trip I told him the “appeal” was that it was free!!!! Honestly. Just really don’t want to upset my daughter with the whole thing so really trying to sort it out in my mind before speaking too much!

We actually did a big trip, again free to him, Disneyworld for two weeks last May. It was pretty hot so that didn’t help his mood at all. Somehow we managed, I think by just letting that family do as they pleased and met up for a meal or some park time each day. I think he doesn’t mind lines too much if it’s what HE wants to do. I just might have to tell him not to come if he thinks he won’t enjoy it. Don’t want my trip ruined with my wonderful grandkids!

Thinking about that one! Thanks for the info and suggestion of date. Much appreciated!

Planning a trip at some point on the Wonder and we are gifting this trip to our two daughters, their husbands and their children and ourselves. I have one unenthusiastic son in law who flat out says he has no interest in a cruise…..even though it is free for him. I want to rap him upside the head! I asked him to look at the Wonder to see how fantastic it looks but he simply says he is sure there will just be lines everywhere to do anything. He hates lines. Never having cruised a ship this size before can anyone tell me how bad the lines are for slides and other activities. Likely we will be cruising the Caribbean in either a January or April. I wish someone was giving ME a free trip!!

That is encouraging to hear for sure. I suppose with the balcony a couple people could be sitting outside while the others are getting ready and so forth. Using the outdoor space in that way would really be helpful. And yes we won’t be in the room that much anyway from the looks of this ship!

Now that sounds like my kind of holiday! I don’t think the parents would go for it as the kids are a bit too young to be on their own unfortunately. But that is creative for sure!