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. 

6 hours ago, katlew said:

On our New Zealand to Australia trip we had to show Viking we had all the appropriate ETAs when we were boarding in New Zealand. It's was all on our phones & very easy. We did not have to show it again, even at Australia passport control since it is connected to your passport number.

Thank you so much. 

8 hours ago, auntieS said:

The Australia ETA application is phone app based (at least for US), so you'll have your approved ETA on your phone, but they also recommend printing a copy.  It was $20 USD and good for a year, so add some time in Sydney/Australia after your cruise if you can!  Bon Voyage!

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

Just now, Mich3554 said:

On the world cruise, we had to present hard copies of all our visas to Viking’s Explorer desk.  

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!

On 3/27/2023 at 2:54 PM, GetToLivin said:

Maybe you can drop him off at Adventure Ocean with the rest of the kids 🙄

 

You are incredibly generous and it is your business who you choose to spend your money on. However, your son-in-law sounds like an entitled brat that should either be left behind or told that if he IS coming, he will act like a respectful adult and not ruin the trip for the other family members who know how to show an ounce of gratitude. I know you're just trying to create memories with your daughter and grandkids, but your SIL is being ridiculous, acting inconvenienced by a luxury cruise vacation. Also, if you're adopting I'm a load of fun and would be happy to replace him 😉😆

Nothing wrong with 3 daughters!!!

5 hours ago, Subman738 said:

My son and daughter in law did a Central Park balcony with 2 kids aged 4 and 9 with no issues. 

They actually liked the balcony as they could sit out there and listen to the music coming up from central park while the kids slept.

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!

2 hours ago, LobsterStalker said:

I have not read any comments on this and chiming in a bit late so apologies if I am being repetitive but here it is....

I am currently in the pre planning stages of a trip which would bring my 2 adult children and significant others on an all expense paid cruise/family get together in the near future. If I had a son in law that wanted to com[plain about that I would tell him to keep his entitled A$$ home and we will go without him... and that's enough said !!

 

Cheers

 

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…..

4 hours ago, snoozer of the seas said:

 

Sign them up for a cruise critic account instead 😉

Lol……

4 hours ago, mickeygirl78 said:

Perhaps if you’re buying the cruise, he can purchase the key for his family? That’ll help with lines as I believe there are some dedicated times for certain things, embarking line is faster and also reserved section seating for shows so he won’t feel as rushed to get to them. 
 

I think there’s a lot to do on oasis class ships, if you don’t want to be in lines there are ways to avoid it - ie skip my time dining, don’t be at the gangway at all clear time, etc…

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. 

48 minutes ago, JeffT237 said:

You're welcome and I'll add one more thought, rather than take our opinions on how to make him happy on the cruise and try to accommodate his feelings at the expense of the group I would suggest that for you as the host make it clear on what your offer is and what your intentions and expectations are.  You seem like a planner and possibly a worrier, that's OK I am too. But will you be able to enjoy the vacation you paid for and plan if the concern is always your SIL and his feelings?  That would be a shame.  I don't think it's appropriate to tell you do this or that, leave him home etc as we all have family drama.  Just trying to offer some suggestions, reading your posts it seems there is some history there with him and he's hard to please.  I don't think you're trying to control the situation, just trying to please others can often lead to unhappiness for you. 

They'll have a great time.

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!!!

1 hour ago, DustFSU said:

What does he do as vacations?  I have found on a cruise even with the size of an Oasis class ship you can avoid lines for the most part.  Here are some tips I can give you and these are for if he truly wants to avoid lines.  If he is waiting to eat at the Windjammer for breakfast, they best way to avoid the lines I have found is to go when they first open, usually 7am. I am an earlier riser on a cruise even staying up late.  I usually go have a light or mid size breakfast. Then a hour or so later the rest of the people I will cruise with will start getting up and want to go to breakfast at like 830/9 ish.  I will go again and it's a little busier but not bad. If he is not an earlier riser he could always go to the dinning room and eat breakfast on the sea days.  You might have to just wait for a table (just like a restaurant back home). 

 

Next for lunch do the same thing if he is looking at eating in the Windjammer, get there when it first opens. But being the Wonder you have many other options for lunch, El Loco Fresh, Park Cafe, Sorrentos, or even a specialty restaurant that he can pay for since you are gifting a cruise.

 

Dinner I am guessing you guys will do the main dining room or specialty dinning.

 

Even if he hates lines for other things, like the elevator there are small ways around that.  One big one is after a show.  Most of the time people like to go back to their cabin for something or to a different part of the ship.  Well the way I found around that but it takes some walking, but HEY im not in a rush im on vacation.  Walk to the other end of the ship from where the show was and take those elevators.  Or just simply take the stairs if you don't mind that.

 

I tell people that taking a cruise is like a hotel on water.  The best part one day you are in the middle of the ocean and then the next day you are in a port with amazing views with water that looks like a swimming pool.

 

The time frame that you are looking at going could be good, but from the trend of what I've seen the Wonder being the newest ship they have, has been sold out each sailing.  I am actually going on her for the first time on the April 30th sailing and can report back on what I thought.  I have been on the Allure 2 times and the Symphony and never EVER felt like I do when I have been to Disney, Universal, Bush Gardens, etc being in those lines, going on a cruise is a cake walk!!!!

 

Last, if he doesn't want to go I can act as your son-in-law for a week, I don't mind at all. Hopefully you can show him these post so he can understand that cruising is so much fun.  I would also tell him, just go this ONE time and see. We are all going and if you TRULY don't like it then we will understand, but just go with an open mind about it. I think once he sees how amazing the Caribbean is he will like it.

 

 

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. 

2 hours ago, ZoeyVictoria said:

With all due respect, two weeks is a very long time at Disney and that might be a large part of his reluctance.  I would point out the differences between Disney and a ship:  not outdoors constantly in the heat, not as hot at sea as in central Florida, the ability to return to the cabin within minutes, use of kids’ clubs for adult time, shows and activities that appeal to adults. He would be able to easily take some time for himself in a quiet place (cabin, solarium) if the number of people becomes irritating or overwhelming. 
 

A cruise ship is my absolute favorite place in the world, but Disney is pure punishment for me, even for a day.  I also find more than a few days to be too much “extended family time”.  He might have similar personality traits and find that he loves cruising for the same reason I do. 

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. 

3 hours ago, deepcman said:

Why all the drama. You simply ask who wants to go and those that say "no" stay home.

It sounds like, because it's free for them, they must come. Stop trying to control the situation. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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. 

56 minutes ago, JeffT237 said:

Was just on the Wonder for the March 5th sailing and had a great time.  Yes there will be a lot of people, I didn't find the lines too crazy but there will be crowds at the popular attractions from time to time.  The Wonder is a beautiful ship with lots to offer, but from the way you describe your son in law and how he doesn't want to cruise it may be hard to please him on any ship on any line.  I would think the appeal of a free cruise and the time to spend with extended family would be interest enough and something to be excited about.  Don't know your family dynamic but 1 complaining family member can potentially put a damper on a vacation. Best of luck!

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!

31 minutes ago, ReneeFLL said:

I would leave him at home. Sounds like he won’t be happy anyway. Has he never been in lines for theme parks, concerts, sports games, etc?

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!

1 hour ago, crzndeb said:

January would probably be better. April will be Spring Break crowds and more lines. I sailed the Wonder TA in Oct. and didn’t really find any long wait times. I had a great time on the ship. If your SIL is going to be a Grumpasaurus Rex, maybe leave him home 😉

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!!

2 hours ago, TheBucketLister said:

It will be tight, but not unbearable.  I used to cruise with four in an inside stateroom, which is smaller and never regretted it while we were there.  Heck, I have even done 5 in an inside stateroom with Carnival (3 teenagers) and it was still doable and those staterooms are even tinier than RC! How much time are you going to spend in the room other than sleeping?  The biggest issue I found was for getting ready throughout the day (showers, etc.)  Because of the one small bathroom, it does add a lot of additional time to that aspect of your day.

 

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!

2 hours ago, SG65CB said:

Three balconies for the adults, one interior across the hall for the four kids. 

 

Possibly lower price than two Junior Suites and a balcony cabin. Would have to price it out on your specific cruise. 

 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!