timtam2

Interesting (the emphasis is mine)

 

Passengers told News Corp the woman had gone outside to vomit and was thrown overboard when a wave hit the ship, with one saying her husband saw the whole thing. P&O said there was nothing to support that version of events

I have heard this as well from a P&O source - there is more to this than they can obviously disclose at present

I can't help thinking the RCI made the wrong decision to go into Airlie beach and tender. This mistake would have cost them millions of dollars. I know mistakes happen.

I agree. I don't understand why they changed their mind and went in. Most of the tours were cancelled or changed and I doubt anyone really enjoyed the torrential rain. Our tour was changed so.much we received a 50% refund. Perhaps the issue would not have happened if we had stayed away

The ship will leave today at about 4pm and go back to Newcastle. New wiring was being flown in from Germany plus a crew of technicians to fit it. The job should take 7 days and they will also inspect the port azipod to be sure. Captain seemed to be very confident that the job would be successful with no impact on the 17 April sailing. However, he did say if there are any unforseen issues ( unlikely he said) they would obviously need to decide what the next course of action would be.

We are safely in Newcastle and everything is fine. A tug helped with the manoeuvring on the starboard side. Just a normal day and shorex are about to depart. Only people disembarking today are those that were already booked to do so and some of the entertainers.

There has been no mention of the ship running aground or any extensive damage to the ship at all. I doubt that is correct.

The Captain explained that the issue was that some of the wiring in the motor that drives the starboard propeller overheated and burnt out. It seems this occurred in the manoeuvring into the Airlie Beach anchorage against a very strong current due to the wind.

The ship does not need to be drydocked but just needs to be alongside for 7 days - no space in Sydney to do this.

New wiring is enroute from Germany and so are a bunch of technicians to fit it.when that job is complete they will also inspect the port motor as well just to be sure.

The crew will remain onboard and do a deep clean and maintenance.

The ship will make Newcastle as scheduled tomorrow.

To go ahead with the next cruise would have meant the cancellation of at least 2 ports and they did mot want to undertake the trans pac with just one propeller working

The Captain has his usual Q&A session this afternoon so we may learn a bit more detail then. And even though I was prepared to have the cruise end tomorrow in Newcastle, there has been no talk of that.

While that would be no big issue for Sydney people, many people have flown in from elsewhere and the costs and problems of rearranging those on top of costs for the pax on the cancelled cruise may have made then to decide to continue to Sydney then turnaround and come back to Newcastle on Friday.

But who knows, they could still chuck as all off tomorrow 🤔 so I'm packing today.

I am onboard Radiance now. The issue only came to our notice yesterday when we were leaving Airlie Beach. The weather yesterday was hideous..tail end of a cyclone. The call had actually been cancelled the night before according to the tour operators then the Captain changed his mind on the morning and went in.This had the town on the hop as all extra staff in the shops etc had been told they weren't needed I would have been happy if it had been cancelled, it was so awful..most of the tours including the Barrier Reef were cancelled or changed.

It is not clear if the issue was a result of yesterday's weather or if some damage was done on arrival (the onboard rumor mill).

At departure the captain announced we would move out then drop anchor again to see if they could get it working. Over the next few hoursyou could hear and feel it starting up, then lots of a loud clunking noise and then it would stop again.

Apparently we stayed offshore from Airlie for quite a few hours.

Captain has said no impact on this cruise and we will still visit our last port Newcastle on Thursday and back to Sydney on Friday

I feel sad for everyone who has had their cruise cancelled at such short notice

I'm on Radiance at the moment.There are approx 190 U.S. and Canadian pax already onboard doing B2B2B to Hawaii and Vancouver. Not sure what the arrangements are for them yet for the 11 days.

I am doing Jewel Yokohama to Singapore in October - it also has the overnight stay in Laem chabang.

Did NCL have any overnight tours and what arrangements if any, did you have to make with the ship for your overnight stay on your private tour.

Enjoying your thread very much

I was on the 2 night sampler when the Solstice first came here a few years ago. No tote bag etc in CC and when I asked, I was told it 'didn't apply to short cruises". I was able to get them to see my point of view :mad: and I got them....begrudgingly

Whether it's 2 or 20 nights, you pay a premium for CC so you should receive all the inclusions

I have had an upgrade from inside to Concierge on Solstice, inside to balcony on Ovation and inside to outside on Voyager and Explorer

I did Sydney to Seattle this year and it was fabulous. Thanks to Australian law as the cruise originated in Australia - no indoor smoking!

The steward may be of a religion that does not celebrate Christmas so a Christmas trinket would have no meaning.

Bircher muesli?

I've been to both resorts and neither is that great. The Uprising is more of a backpacker place but the beach was better than the Pearl. It's certainly not a tropical picture perfect beach though. The pool is slightly better at the Pearl. But it's a boring drive out to both of them in uncomfortable buses.

I've just done the Sydney Seattle transpacific and yes, people did dress up. There were 4 formal nights and the 1st and 3rd nights were the dressiest ones. The Americans in particular dressed up and as there will most likely be more Americans on the Seattle-Sydney cruise, take your formal gear if that's what you like.

We’re on next April, expecting the cruise of a lifetime!

May I ask how the US immigration procedures was handled at Hawaii? Did the officers enter the ship before arriving Honolulu?

Or were you processed as you disembarked? Reason I’m asking is because of excursion planning, and fear that a possible lengthy process could delay our private excursion.

Thank you :)

The immigration formalities were completed in the MDR ( our first port was in Kona). It was a lengthy process with the last pax not cleared until approx 11am. Priority was given to those with shorex booked Royal and also non Royal which ruffled a few feathers...

We are onboard for next April's Sydney to Seattle voyage :) So far we have four children on our rollcall. Do you recall about how many kiddos were onboard your voyage?

Did you have a "cross the equator" function?

We will have a P&O cruise prior to hopping on RCCL EOS - super excited!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

There were approx 70 children onboard and yes, we had a Crossing of the Equator ceremony :)

Another yes for later hours. And I wish they opened earlier for full breakfast (Voyager, Explorer in Australia). 7am is way too late for early risers

Early every meal - before the food has been touched and coughed on 1000 times 😒

There are still some good solo rates around - mainly on slower sellers. I was able to get 125% inside gtee for my upcoming Explorer cruise.

That is adorable! Thankyou for the afternoon smile 😊

Just off the Ovation.

I was impressed at the entry to the Windjammer they have on each entrance a room to pass through with a bank of around a dozen basins, soap dispensers and paper towels. As well as the usual gel dispensers outside.

No washy washy, no entry to Windjammer.

Great innovation and the way to go - everyone had to use the facility.

I also take along wetones.

I was on Ovation a few weeks ago and unfortunately, I still saw people REFUSING to use the basins and wash their hands and just push past staff :mad:

RCCL Explorer OTS 24 night Syd - Seattle $1998p/p:)

I booked this one last week and was able to get a single inside gtee for $2467 (thanks to the 'Captain.'...)

It's always sad when a ship leaves for the final time...I've been on the Pearl twice in the past 6 months and although she certainly is nowhere near the best ship I've ever sailed on, I thought it wasn't too bad.

Farewell Pacific Pearl.