downundermatt

Looking at a Transatlantic (on Royal) and the ship is going into a five yearly Dry Dock for a month immediately after the cruise. 
 
Just wondering of I should have any concerns - thinking maybe they will run down supplies or services or staff could be winding down - on the upside their could be benefits ?

thanks for any insight 

Look forward to meeting you both too 🙂 

Safe Travels to Lisbon 

I knew nothing about pineapples - til

last cruise I was wearing a shirt covered in pineapples and a straight couple tried to pick me up …..

We are Matt and Juan from Australia looking forward to a new route and a new line for the crossing - been a few years since we last cruised  Norwegian 

New to Princess, so forgive the question.

Looking into the Princess Plus package and just wondering if cans of soda can be taken back to the cabin. On Celebrity we can still get cans, don’t know about Princess as saw it could be fountain drinks ? (Not a fan of post mix drinks).

Read another thread saying it was ok to bring unopened cans of beer back to the cabin.

Doubt I can survive  sixteen drinks a day, even with the odd coffee and water, 

I have seen on many threads  Amex Card holders overseas boasting of getting Bonus OBC by booking with their Amex Card.
As a Aussie Amex Card Holder just wondering if anyone has received these offers Downunder because I certainly have not seen such an offer 

If you are missing points what's the best email address to get things rectified ??

Usually we cruise Celebrity/Royal but are returning to Carnival after over a decade away.

We have four B2B cruises booked on Pride starting May 19th in Barcelona.

Hoping to meet some other family on board.

Matt and Juan (from Australia)

Returning to Carnival after a few years, just wondering if they offer any perks for back to backers. 

Have a total of four booked and have heard mention  of champagne/photo/fruit or a drink ?

Just wondering what I should expect .... if anything

We’re on board - final leg of our B2B2B.

Can’t really comment on check in as we were back to back  - masks recommended in ports and not really required on board - maybe 10% of people wearing them: (Port talk recommended masks in busy places)

Today we just arrived in our second port Santorini.
 

For those Elite and above last cruise we had the PM Happy Hour snacks and buffet breakfast in Tuscan and suddenly they are gone (much less Eites on board this cruise is the reason)

We are Matt and Juan from Sydney, Australia !

Looking forward to being back on X after our forced hiatus of over two years, so plan on making up for lost time !

09 APR Caribbean 

18 APR Transatlantic 

02 MAY Europe 

Given Flora is probably their most expensive ship I am surprised it is not eligible for the Power Points new booking promotion (the ship is not in the dropdown)

My understanding is it’s a minimum of eight points a night and yes the Hotel in Quito is included as part of the Celebrity Land package.

After many cruises on Celebrity and Royal looking forward to 54 nights on Diamond Princess next year.

This is part of a much bigger (round the world trip celebrating retirement).

How strict is the formal night dress code, I don't really want to cart around a suit or tux for the longer trip ?

Coming from Celebrity I know they have relaxed the dress to 'Evening Chic'

Just enquiring what would be the minimum required on Princess.

What other dining options are available if I can't go to the Main Dining ?

Gonna miss my Celebrity Perks - anything I can look forward to on Princess ?

Hubby and I have done virtually all our cruises on Celebrity  (and a few on Royal)

and been happy with the quality and mix of people.

Am thinking of a 31 day South America itinerary in March next year on either Princess

or Holland, and I know quite likely not to be happening due to the virus.

Celebrity have already cancelled the 2021/22 season down there.

But as a Gay Celebrity cruiser - how are Holland and America  ?

Are these cruise lines Gay Friendly,  haven't been on either.

I read Holland could well be an older crowd, and quieter at night ??

Appreciate any advice.

As an Aussie I can't see Celebrity coming down under this season at all - to come mid season as currently announced seems most unlikely. As others have pointed out with constant lockdowns and sadly the lowest vaccination rate in the developed world, I think it will be well into next year before cruising restarts and the border opens sadly.

So I got an email from Celebrity this week celebrating the "travel bubble" and pushing Cruises for this year.

Personally I can't see this happening, but maybe Celebrity still think it all go ahead (unless of course its a grab for needed cash ?)

We're in Australia, and thankfully have been relatively unscathed by the virus. (death toll hit 100 today)

Personally I think our remoteness helped, and probably our major bushfires at the start of the year deterred

many international tourists this year.

The country is slowly opening up, but Im unlikely to work this year (working for our Major International Airline)

I'm thankful for the Government we have have at a State and International Level, their decisive acts have saved lives

and they are supporting many financially in a equitable manner.

We were booked on Azamara in March, A CC tour companion passed away tragically - puts everything into perspective.

I don't expect our two upcoming Celebrity Cruise will be happening (Vancouver/Hawaii in September and South America  next February)

Also am so sad to hear of the crew still in board, can't believe they are not being paid, but thats a whole new thread.

Like hundreds of thousands I am waiting on a refund for my (March) cruise.

Problem is I paid the initial payment one one card (which I have since cancelled.

And the final payment on a different new card - Obviously I had no idea this virus would leave to any cancellation.

I live in Australia, and my agent is in the US - I called him to ask if the whole deposit can go to the new card.

He advised no, and I will have to ask for a cheque.

This has been a nightmare, as we have both lost our jobs, and the amount is close to USD2000.

I was thinking it would be better to have the money go direct to my card that is open and I don't want it

going to a cancelled card as I guess it would take months to retrieve.

And I guess Azamara Australia won't talk to me as its a US booking, Azamara US won't talk to me as the booking

is made through a travel agent..

Help and advice most appreciated, especially if someone has had a similar issue resolved.

Aside from the virus, sometimes its simply supply and demand that can see prices drop.

We often book late and have got some amazing deals, just need to be flexible and have a plan B.

And of course the later you book, you are more likely to pay more for the airfare.

Looking forward to our upcoming Azamara Cruise and hoping someone can recommend A SIM Card that would work in Dubai, Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Israel  and Greece.

Dont know if such a card exists, but I mainly want it for internet, Instagram and Facebook.

Appreciate any help from someone who may have done a similar itinerary 

Thanks for the info - hoping we can stay the final day as we have done Athens before and have a late departure.

We will have OBC left from the Essentials Package, which I believe  can only be used for tours - can we use this credit to stay on board the last day - it's still not available in the cruise planner and the trip is just four weeks away .... Otherwise assume I can use it for an airport transfer if we can't stay on board ?

Forgive this question from a Newbie - I was unable to find an answer on the boards.

I know in some ports (mainly Europe) Celebrity and Royal give you the opportunity to stay on board longer and check out after lunch.

on your final day - The program is called Stay a While and you pay for a fee via your cruise planner.

Just wondering and hoping Azamara offer such a deal when our cruise finishes in Athens next April.

We are cruising from Vancouver to Hawaii in September, and due to dock at 7am. Would a flight after Midday be safe ?

There first port in the US is Hilo so I assume we clear Immigration there and do our final Customs In Honolulu.

Thanks for any info

We are looking forward to our first Azamara cruise next March which stops in Israel, Egypt and Jordan. I have read on Cruise Critic the ship will obtain the necessary visas for us at a small fee.

Have any Australians cruised in this area and the ship got the visas  ?, I know in Vietnam And Russia Celebrity obtained our visas, just a bit nervous about these ports.