cassamanda

Nope they both blamed each other I thought of legal action but at the end of the better to walk away. Will never use that agency again...what makes it worse it is a RACQ linked agency, tho since then I see they have divided the shop to distance themselves from ea other. And I will never cruise on that cruise line again, they were vaguely hinting well you should have dealt direct with us in the first place because you didn't we can't help you, it's up to your agent.

When you book through a TA you sign away all rights to that TA, therefore it is not fair to blame the cruise line when things go wrong. That is why i will always book direct unless there is a huge benefit such as the TA adding there own OBC plus that of the cruise line.

If your departure is at 0600, you will need to be at the terminal about 1 hour before departure if you are traveling with checked bags. Staying closer to the terminal could mean more time in bed, less travel on day of departure with a short shuttle or taxi ride to the terminal.

 

My choice is to stay near the Airport. ;)

 

Your decision. :)

As By the Bay says. OP has a 6AM flight. I would not want to be walking the streets of Sydney at 4.30am getting to a train station. Take a 20 minute taxi ride. You wont save much getting a airport hotel as the hotel shuttle will do multiple pickups. I weather is ok, you could walk from the Stamford (15 mins).

Need to allow plenty time as 6am can be busy at domestic.

We have stayed at Four Points by Sheraton at Darling Harbour. Lovely hotel some rooms have balcony overlooking the water at Darling Harbour. Plenty to do there and lots of restaurants. Also you are close enough to catch a ferry around to Circular Quay where you could widen your travels. Hope this helped.

Good hotel but Hotel is undergoing major renovations. Check when these finish. Higher Darling Harbour view rooms better. Quickest taxi access to White Bay cruise terminal.

Lots to do around hotel such as Aquarium and attached Wildlife park, National Maritime Museum, hundreds of restaurants at all levels, downtown shopping a short walk as is Queen Victoria Building. Nightly fireworks also at Darling Hbr.

Many harbour cruises also leave from Darling Harbour.

Unlikely to get a view from city central hotels.

Ovation prices will be top dollar being a new ship although they werent too bad when the cruises (deployments) were first released.

There are also some online agents that only charge very small deposits.

The same woukd apply to direct booking with RCI in that they may ask fir a new deposit but they credit your new reservation with the cancelled deposit within days.

Welcome to CC.

Unfortunately, when you book with a TA you are at their mercy. They have total proprietory over your booking, unlike when you book direct with RCI.

However, in answer, you can change your booking within the no cancelation period without loss. Just depends on your TA whether they have a no refund policy or not.

Mine did change the booking but we had to pay a new deposit and then waited 8 weeks for the refund:mad: Never again.

I agree, I think a tassie cruise is a much better option.

Have to agree with you,off to Tassie next month.

DW has declared South Pacific is off the agenda during summer.

Hope everyone is ok. Son got married there, so lots of memories.

I was hoping to do a nye cruise on her but a kitchen reno got in the way:rolleyes:

Yep just have to keep saving for the big ones whilst fitting in the little ones:)

Dont have a good pic but the old MS Albatros is at White Bay until the 21st. Now operated by the German agency Phoenix Reisen. 2nd all German ship at White Bay this week.

Only small at around 28,000 ton and launched in 1974.

Not forgetting the fish markets, Cicerellos, little creatures micro brewery all within easy reach of the Rydges Esplanade Hotel:)

Just keep dreaming - one day:)

Meant to say that Artania is the old Royal Princess christened by Princess Diana. Now owned by Phoenix and predominantly German passengers.

First ferry has just disembarked at the cruise terminal and pax are on the way to buses, limo's etc. New crew also just checking in.

Very strange to see an empty wharf at the terminal but with "Artania" berthed at the 2nd spot.

Crystal Serenity should debarking at White Bay in the morning.

Just go to the carnival Australia site and go to the deck plans or look up some of the online deck plans for your ship using mr google.

Generally speaking category 8 cabins are standard balcony cabins with A,B or C etc designating location with A being the lowest (cheapest) or least favoured, Category 7 are obstructed baconies and category 9 are Premium balconies.

Most A, B or C are on the lower decks with C being in the most favoured midhip location. Etc etc.

There will be some pretty horrendous taxi bills ...:eek::eek:

I reckon. Good reason to catch the train if you are cutting it fine.

Ship coach transfers also affected.

Transport minister says it is only a minor problem with a few traffic light phasing fixes. Yeah really:rolleyes:

To add. Entering traffic is delayed because traffic leaving the airport cant get out.

The management at Sydney's Kingsford Smith Domestic Airport has changed the road access causing absolute mayem.

The entrance is still the same ie O'Riordan street entry but whereas you used to exit via the same road, now you exit via Seventh Ave onto Qantas drive opposite Robey St to either turn left to International etc, right or straight on. The old system also had a separate exit to Qantas drive via 9th ave. this street is no longer accessible.

Although the design works in light traffic, it causes mayhem during busy times. The reason is that traffic exiting from the departures ramp enters onto the right turn lanes, requiring you to cross 5 lanes of traffic in a short distance if you need to turn left. Similarly the traffic frim the arrivals exit has to cross from the left to the right if wanting to go straight on or turn right😱:mad:

It is now 10.30 and the airport is still congested all the wAy to International.

Flights were cancelled today because the aircrew transfer bus could not get to the airport:eek:

Please allow lots of extra time to get to morning flights from the cruise terminals and from airport to city until this problem is addressed.

Should be able click on "cant see my reservation" in my cruises account then type in the reservation number and claim ownership of the reservation. This often happens when going from a held cabin.

Hugh

Have you created a My Cruises Account? You cant access the reservations until you do.

If you are interested in future price reductions doNOT pay off entire total before date when final payment is due.

You do not get price reductions in Australia...sometimes you can get a better price though by cancelling and then rebooking. Just do your sums.

You do sometimes get cabin upgrades.

I would book direct with RCI eithef on line or by phone. You then have control over your booking. If you go through a TA they have sole proprietory over your booking and if they do give deposit refunds, that can take up to 6 weeks. A refund booked direct is almost instant and the value can also be transferred to another cruise.

If you do wish to visit either Ayers Rock or the GBR then i suggest making Brisbane your arrival destination in Australia, at least you have shortened your flight times by an hour or two.

Then fly to Sydney at least 1-2 days before your cruise but it will only give you a very short visit to Sydney in which case i would do a harbour cruise and do a bridge climb.

Talk about "lines". How are we going to untie this mess:eek:

Soleal looking at Azamara.

Van Diemen's Land Company the property is Highfield House

Thats the one, thankyou for that and there us a restaurant accross the road from memory called Anthonys.

If you book with Avis, they bring the car to the shuttle bus drop off location as they do not have a office in Burnie.

 

I rent from Hertz who have a office in Burnie and is about 15 minutes walk from drop off.

 

We have driven to Cradle Mountain one time and on another visit we drove to take a ride on the Don River railway and checked out Devonport. Next visit we are considering going to Stanley and check out "the nut".

Great seafood restaurant at Stanley - at the end of the road. Also checkout the old convict homestead built for the Australian Agricultural company, now the subject of a takeover bid. Still a cattle property. Name escapes me at present but one of the locals will no doubt comment.