Dizziedi

They are phasing out the DVD players - it will be all Movies on Demand. We are "allowed" two free movies per day in a suite (quite a few so-so movies). The movies are all available in all cabins but unless you are in a GS or up, you will have to pay - all about the $.

If you bring your own portable hard drive with movies or a USB, you will also need to bring a Samsung remote with a "source" button because their remotes don't have a source button and without it, your portables won't work;).

Cheers

Di

Hi folks

 

I am just wandering through some cruise sites looking at possible last minute bookings.

 

There are some inside cabins left on this one

https://www.princess.com/find/displayItineraryPopup.do?voyageCode=5601&tourCode=

 

Does anyone have an opinion or feedback on Auckland on Xmas day and Tauranga on Boxing Day - ie will anything actually be open, tours operating? Would it be a waste of a destination in that case ?

 

Part of me would actually dread a cruise at that time of year as I have a severe (mental) allergy to tinsel and xmas decorations and everything xmas related! But I love being at sea on NYE. My office is closed that whole time so it means I am on leave anyway so its a waste not to use that time.

Do you particularly want to do a NZ cruise? (Not knocking NZ - I am a Kiwi and it's a great cruise:)

We do a NYE cruise every year when generally all the Christmas Decorations have been taken down. There has been the odd year when the decorations remain for the first couple of days but then they're taken down and all the balloons go up in readiness for NYE. This year we are doing the South Pacific on the Radiance which leaves on the 26th. There are cabins left.

Cheers

Di

Yes, you're right - two days in Noumea:(

Unfortunately the weather has been so awful we have skipped both Mystery Island and Mare so they have brought us to Noumea for an overnighter and yes, it's pouring and nothing is open.

I know they can't do anything about the weather and there really was no other choice of Port available, it's just a shame it wasn't somewhere nicer.

Let's hope the Weather Gods are kind for our last few days and for the sake of the newbie cruisers.

The good news is I got to see the All Blacks smash France live with a perfect picture - thank you Princess:)

Cheers

Di

We're seriously considering doing the 75 nighter. We will (probably) book it whilst on board the Diamond next week:) It will be good to have a decent ship here full time.

Maybe Royal could take a leaf out of their book and give us some real choice throughout the winter months.

Cheers

Di

Thanks, I thought so, we will stay with our GS - DH really likes that perk and as we normally cruise on the smaller ships, the perk isn't normally available.

I appreciate your replies.

Cheers

Di

Hi there, we are currently booked in a GS on the Explorer but are seriously considering changing to a JS due to worries of noise above.

When we were on the Voyager, we were in an OS and were Diamond Plus and able to dine in a "side" restaurant (can't remember the name of it) for lunch which was adjacent to Windjammers (think breakfast was in another "private" restaurant).

My question is; if we downgrade to a JS, are we able to dine there as Diamond Plus or was that a perk for full suites and Pinnacles only?

Cheers

Di

We are booked on a b2b cruise on RCCL.

1. 8 night Queensland cruise from April 10 - 18 leaving from Sydney.

2. 18 night TP cruise April 18 leaving from Sydney going to Hawaii.

 

I am assuming that there will be more kids on the 8 day cruise, but what about the 18 day? This is not until 2017, but it is still during the kids holiday.

Having done the Transpacific on the Radiance three times, there will be kids and yes there will be unruly ones. Our last Transpacific on the Radiance in April had fewer and more well behaved (parent controlled) kids on board which was a pleasant change. Coming back on the Legend there were hardly any kids. We have also done it on Princess and Regent with only a few kids and they all seemed to be confined to Kids Club - far more enjoyable for the majority of cruisers.

We will be doing another Transpacific on the Explorer in April and I am expecting less kids due to it being a 24 night cruise.

I don't dislike kids at all; I dislike parents who think the other cruisers are their babysitters.:rolleyes:

Cheers

Di

There's some really good deals going at the moment for cruises in the Jan & April school hols.

Six of us teachers just booked Jan 17th on Legend for $1200 each for a balcony. (3 balconies, two to a room). SUPER cheap and there's so many cabins left!

My husband and I booked in for the April school hols too and got a suite because the prices are so good. Usually it's REALLY expensive, but I think with the US dollar being so high, Aussies are choosing Australian cruise ships... But if you can score US credit in RCCI, then it's ok.

Obviously lots of kids and young families are on the ships then, but we get the late dining and usually the kids are pretty well behaved.

I don't understand why (young) kids are allowed to be at the late sitting. I am even more appalled at the amount of toddlers allowed to be up well after late sitting at dinner:(

Cheers

Di

In all honest I don't think it makes much difference, they move the ship around so both sides get plenty of views.

I was referring to being on the Portside for going "up" the Coast - the land will be on their Portside:)

You are correct in respect to the Sounds but this time we have taken an aft-facer on our NZ Princess cruise for the outstanding views.

If the ship is starting at the Bay of Islands and working its way down the Coast, then obviously Starboard is the side to be on.

It is amazing how close to land they go.

Cheers

Di

I will assume you are going through the Sounds first which means you should get a Portside balcony or an aft-facer for the best views.

We have cruised NZ many times on many ships but mainly Royal Caribbean. We have also done the cruise on the Voyager. It sounds like your husband will be okay but there is Bonine on board for purchase if those seas upset the Explorer. I was the kid who couldn't spin around without throwing up and I find ships like the Voyager to be friendly and when those seas have been up on smaller ships, the Bonine does the trick.

Have a wonderful cruise.

Cheers

Di

As we do things a little differently in Australia and it is not customary to tip on top of your bill, I was wondering what the protocol is for ships doing Australian cruises - we are on the Diamond Princess? As the daily gratuities is not added to the onboard account do we still need to tip?

The main one I am interested in is room service. Would it be required that we give a tip each time the steward brings us an item? Would it differ for drinks vs food? I think I remember reading something about a $5 charge for a whole pizza which is fine, but wondering what the etiquette is considering I wouldn't normally tip someone bringing me room service in a hotel.

Thanks.

Hi RayWitt - we are on the same cruise - have you joined our roll call http://boards.cruisecritic.com.au/showthread.php?t=2144937

We always tip - unless of course the service rendered isn't good and on a cruise that very rarely happens.

As Gut said - some do, some don't. It's up to you.

Cheers

Di

Cool.

 

And it looks like you'll be boarding as we disembark too.

And you will be boarding as we disembark but at least we get back on a few weeks later:D

Thirteen more sleeps:)

Cheers

Di

I've been through this for our cruise in November and you can take on as many bottles of wine as you like. You pay corkage on every bottle after the first two whether you drink them in your cabin or public areas. The corkage is paid when boarding and a sticker is affixed to each bottle. Now you're going to ask how much is the corkage. I can't remember now but it is either $15 or $18.

 

We'll be packing more that two bottles of our favorite wines in November. :):)

Corkage is $15 per bottle. We have a case ready to go:)

When we come back from NZ we bring back 6 bottles of wine between us. If you pack them in your checked in luggage in wine skins which you can buy at most wineries in NZ or from a good bottle shop, you wine should make it safely. We have never had a problem. Otherwise just buy it Duty Free when you get off the plane and carry it on.

Actually just read the person asking the question is from Arizona but by memory we have bought wine skins in the USA.

The other storage option is of course, Rum Runners;)

Cheers

Di

Hi Di

That sounds great we will look at whether we can do May.On a cruise is the best way to celebrate a birthday. We just got to check with our 24 yr old daughter.She never wants to cruise but wants to come on this one with us. So we are looking at when she can best get time off work.Our 2 girls then want to get their own cabin together so they can go off and do their own thing.

Thanks about the information on the wine . Enjoy your Diamond cruise

Cheers Trish

Hi Trish, hope you can join us. We are cruising to Seattle on the Explorer and then will board the Ruby on the 22nd May.

Email me (at my usual address not the allblacks one) if you can make it.

Cheers

Di

Hi Trish, why don't you join us? We are doing Alaska on the Ruby in May. We have booked an OS - a big birthday:eek:

Yes you can change the spirits for a bottle of wine (I think to the value of $40). We will be doing that in a couple of weeks on the Diamond - we aren't spirit drinkers.

Cheers

Di

Hi Di,

The Marlborough cooler bag did the trick again at our stop in Phuket:):cool::p

Hugh

YAY - we're getting good at this:).

Hi to Chris (wife not Concierge;)).

Cheers

Di

We were docked in Ketchikan on the Solstice and the Legend of the Seas was docked behind us.

Legend of the Seas is Royal Caribbean, not Carnival. Please don't confuse the two:eek:

Cheers

Di

Never take our Passports ashore but always have our Driver's Licence. Our Passports are scanned to our email in the need we should require our details - which is hopefully never.

we have been to Noumea no less than 10 times:( and have never bothered with our Passports - just Licence. Mostly don't get off the ship though.

Cruise card is all you need - except for NZ. NZ you will need photo ID for most Ports but Licence will suffice.

Cheers

Di

I am currently on Legend of the Seas at Broome.

 

Whilst on board, looked at booking Radiance in Oct 16. The itinerary drops Newcastle and inserts Wollongong on the return from Tassie on its 7 dayer.

 

Nice, but guess what, price is $700 dearer for same balcony cabin compared to its other Tassie trips. Next cruise staff say it is because of the new homeport situation.

Interesting.

Hugh

What are you doing posting? Isn't the CL open:p

Enjoy the Legend - I love it.

Cheers

Di

I didn't pay too much attention as it didn't apply to us that time, but we are doing another cruise with Royal early next year and will probably want to take 4 bottles (for 2 cabins) with us - either in carry on or checked luggage.

 

Thanks for any information.

Don't put it in your checked in luggage. You must take it in your carry on. You will be called to the Naughty Room if you check it in and leave yourself open to it being confiscated (handed back to you on the last night).

I am looking forward to our upcoming Princess cruises where we intend to take on a case of wine and just pay the corkage. This way we at least have the option of drinking wine we like. We will then revert back to Royal and just cop the rubbish they serve at ridiculous prices:rolleyes:.

I look forward to the day they go the same ways as Regent, Silverseas, etc and just include the alcohol and gratuities in the price of the ticket. It is bliss not having to hand over your card every time you want a drink. I also kind of like the bottles of Baileys and Kahlua at the ice-cream stand to pour over one's rather large ice-cream - all complimentary:)

Enjoy your cruise.

Cheers

Di

This set of photos shows the 'dreaded' beam which is a total non-issue. Book and enjoy! :)

 

Thank you. We have it's mate on the other corner - D739 on our next two cruises:)

Cheers

Di

I will be cruising to Dunedin, Picton, Wellington, Tauranga and Auckland in February and would appreciate suggestions on tours and or sights to see. This will be my first time to this beautiful country and want to make certain that I see as much as possible with the limited time that I have while in port.

Thank you

Can I suggest you join your roll call for this cruise. I am sure there will be some great independent tours on offer.

Cheers

Di

even at that price its a bargain

We have always paid about $96 for Caymus and every time we buy it; they "suggest" the $160 bottle:rolleyes: We also think Sequoia Grove at $68(?) is good value and drink a "lot" of that:)

Cheers

Di

I would put it in my carry on and explain. The thought of having to wait for my checked in luggage not arriving and then having to go to the Naughty Room outweighs it. They are going to confiscate it, so get it over and done with. They will give it back to you at the end of the cruise.

Cheers

Di

At least on Explorer, the table tennis table on deck 12 is directly above the Windjammer and the two tables on deck 13 would be roughly above the arcades and below and aft of the Viking Crown. The closest cabins I can think of would be on deck 10.

Many thanks. I will read your review:). We are on Deck 10 in 1270. According to the Deck Plans we should be under the dive shop heading aft. We usually book early and get hump area but missed out this time - well so far; you never know what is going to become available.

Thanks for your input.

Cheers

Di