timtam2

Excellent news! I'll be booking a cruise on her. I would imagine she'll be coming down from Asia?

$22.95 on Mariner

"Sold off" is a bit harsh!I prefer the way they put it "leaving the fleet". I dont know if it was confirmed if she is moving to that French cruiseline (a division of RCI)?

Love the Century....I'm glad I have another cruise on her ♡

Mariner CD Gordon Watman stated several times (including at a CC meet and mingle) that the Explorer will be joining Mariner in Asia in the near future. He did not mention if that also included Australia

I also have not been credited with double points after my B2B cruise 10 days ago. Rather than waste my time with RCI in Sydney, I will email or call C&A in Miami within the next few days.

CD on Mariner this week confirmed that Explorer will join Mariner in Asia next year. He did not specify dates

Im actually going today! (not 14 March) only 4 hrs til I'm onboard :D:D

Kuranda is best done from Cairns and the Reef is best from Port Douglas if you intend to snorkel or dive. It is a lovely drive between the 2 - about 1 - 1.5 hrs if I recall correctly

If you think that Indy is bad, you should see Mariner's shops now. ...even worse- big $$$$$ boutiques catering primarily to the Asian clientele. No fashion boutique and the logo stuff relegated to a tiny kiosk

Im off on my next solo cruise this week. I have been cruising for 30 years now, a mix of solo and with family/ friends. I have only ever had one 'incident' and that was way back on the old Oriana. I feel completely safe at all times but its just the same as at home....be aware.

Definitely too hot for jeans in Singapore although the locals wear them. I would melt in denim jeans!

Both RCI and Celebrity were down for awhile - both back up now

Between this and the Captain's Club caste system, a first timer in a regular cabin will be little better than a galley slave.

 

Roy

LOL - time to start rowing for your passage! ;)

Have a wonderful time and get some sleep!:)

I use my hair flat iron on my clothes to iron out wrinkles. You just have to be careful....but it works!

Yes, I avoided the casino totally on Mariner - it was like an indoor smog cloud :mad: I can't recall there being a problem anywhere else inside though - I'll soon find out again in a few weeks.

However, I am considering using food handlers gloves when serving myself at the buffet. Saw a passenger doing this and it made total sense to me. That way, you minimize cross contamination from someone who used the tongs before you.

I am also seriously considering doing this - I don't care how it looks to other people if it increase my chances of not picking up some lurgy from the tongs.. I have seen too many grotty things at the buffet. I try to eat just after it opens to reduce the amount of people coughing all over the food. I really wish there were less self serve stations permanently - it may eventually come to this

I'm on Mariner of the Seas and we are due in Laem Chabang on 4 March and no word from RCI as yet. I would prefer Koh Samui anyway....

Mariner to Australia

I'm very glad to hear they are now enforcing the 'no kids' in the Solarium pool rule - .that was a big issue on my last Mariner cruise

hi - so glad to see this thread - I did a 4 night on Mariner out of Singapore last June and I have a 13 night B2B coming up in a few weeks time!

I am also happy to hear that the drink packages were no problem, as I have purchased the Royal Replenish on both cruises.

When I was last on board, they were still doing the renovations of the Royal Promenade with all the boards still up. I would love to see some photos of how it looks now -

Have they put back in a shop that sells resort wear, costume jewellery etc (not the designer brand stores)? During the refurb, they packed all that stuff away and only had a small kiosk selling souvenir clothing etc and only sold costume jewellery and hand bags on tables at certain times in the Royal Promenade - I have the feeling that they may not put the fashion boutique back in , in favour of the expensive jewellery stores. The cosmetics and perfume store was open then and it was very good, but I missed the usual range of 'sparkly' evening wear.

have the added any classes such as Zumba onboard? - Mariner was very new to the area when I was last onboard and there were some settling in issues regarding activities and entertainment.

I would love to hear more of your experience!

They always make sure they go far enough out to be able to open the casino...they're not going to miss out on that nice little earner!

1 day to go and Im back on Solstice! ! :D

Because many of us use our phones as a camera

Im waiting for the China Visa centre in Sydney to open right now - Im picking up my passport and visa for my Mariner cruise. Same ports as you - they wouldnt let me apply for a multiple entry one, only double or single entry (depending on the ship staying in Chinese waters). That seemed a risky gamble so I got the double entry one.

I have 2 reservations - one is fine but I'm locked out of the other one. The 'back door' method only works thru the online planner link for me (and not the countdown to cruise link - get the same error message)

I've already got the setsail pass, booked my shorex and drink package so I don't need to do anything in the online planner now . It is still another 2 weeks or so until the luggage tags will be released, and if the lock out continues, I will not be able to access them. When the time comes to print them, I think I will have to try to access the booking from a friend's computer and hopefully it will let me in.

I really don't want to call RCI here in Sydney because they have been useless - people have been complaining about this issue on the Australian RCI Facebook page and they are acting like they have never heard of such a problem and asking people to send screenshots.

I doubt they will ever get his fixed - it makes online booking pointless! :mad: