cassamanda

Viator is simply a go between booking agency. You will probably end up on the same tours as others booked directly.

We have booked tours overseas through Viator but never in Australia.

A little research using Mr Google or as suggested, book through your hotel.

Lots to do in and around Sydney and the top one would be the harbour bridge climb (which is guided). You can book direct.

As all the above have said. Diamond is way too large to fit under the bridge so White Bay is out of the question.

Definitely at the main terminal at Circular Quay (pronounced key) in the heart of the city. If there are several large ships in harbour you may have to share a bouy for a time but i am sure your itinerary will show docked.

Try town cars. Often recommended on this site.

Be good to know for us as well. Legend had unlimited drinks during happy hours plus the 3 free on the card.

New DL layout would be similar to Radiance then? When they extend into the Viking Lounge.

We've booked a private market tour and Thai cooking class through Easy Day. I haven't used them before, but am impressed with their communication so far and with their TA reviews.

 

However, we're returning to Phuket for a week post-cruise and will be doing the bulk of our sightseeing then. Having been many years ago, I'm keen to see Phang Nga Bay again by boat, and maybe some snorkelling around Phi Phi Island. Both can get very crowded though, and the latter is a very long day, so choose your operator carefully.

 

On Phuket itself there isn't a great deal to do during the day other than shop or hang at the beach. Or if you're a foodie, Blue Elephant restaurant is pretty amazing, would be great for lunch.

We did a fantastic roll call private tour by high speec boat to phang nga bay including a sail past James Bond island, canoeing through caves and grottos (very busy here) and lunch at a village on stilts. Everything supplied. Went by 4 mini buses. All the ship tours were cancelled except ours due to weather. Got wet on the way home but added to the fun.

Ship was late but tour operators waited for us.

Most ships now use Deep Water as Patong wharf was destroyed by storm.

Will have to search my files for the operator if you would like same.

P&Os muster drills are a debacle and there is no way of them knowing who has attended or not. They need to get with the times and move them inside as well as scanning all attendees.

Thats interesting. Royal had inside muster in 2012. We were allocated the schooner bar - didnt have to move far:D. However, on more recent cruises Royal have had the normal outdoor muster on the promenade deck. They do scan your card though.

Does anyone know what the two small cruise ships were at White Bay yesterday? Are they the same ones?

Just caught a glimpse of them when i was going over the Anzac bridge.

I agree with having the"standard " inoculations up to date, but do be wary of malaria tablets. I was told they can give you wild dreams. Bushman repellent spray with DEET is very good .

Oh no. My son was conceived and born in Malaysia, AND i was on Malaria tablets. :):D:eek:

Couple of snaps i took yesterday of Solstice backing out of the OPT and framed by the Harbour Bridge. On her way back to NZ.

If you arrive at Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay, then train to Airport DOMESTIC (NOT Mascot) is the go.

 

If you arrive at White Bay Cruise Terminal then taxi to Central Station then train to Airport DOMESTIC (NOT Mascot.)

OP will be on Radiance of the Seas, so will dock at the OPT in the city. Either taxi or train. If busy week day then catch the train purely on cost savings. 10 minute walk to train plus 20 minute ride directly to Domestic Airport.

Anyway the OP is out of luck cruising NZ in May or September - no ships and too cold. Best woukd be early March followed by a circumnav of Australia with either Royal, Celebrity or Princess.

Then why did they post it on the AUS/NZ forum? ;)

Dont know but just looked at the tense in which the question was posed. Eg ".....dont want to travel in their summer"

Lamb with bacon washed down with a nice CabSav.:)

Looks like the OP was actually posing the question to American cruisers.

Tip for declaring your meds. Write on the card next to the box what you are declaring eg personal prescription meds only. Customs are only looking for illegal drugs.

When you are in that long line after collecting your bags, an agent now usually goes up and down the line filtering out the baddies and most passengers are let out thru the express non declare line.

Agree that in your case Melbourne would be the easier airport in particular for connecting to domestic flights as they wil most likely be in the same or nearby complex. Sydney domestic is on the other side of the airport.

Btw. 2018 deployments for Australia probably wont be out until after March, sometimes even May.

My understand is that yes you can still buy a paper ticket to the airport.

 

Less than ten minute walk from the OPT to Circular Quay Station, probably only 5 for most people.

 

But more like a 30 min trp to the airport depending on domestic or international terminal, then allow a 10 min walk from the station to check in.

Only 18 to 21 minutes by train to Domestic/International according to the website.

http://www.airportlink.com.au/trip-information/trip-times/

We stay at the Carlton Singapore City (not the Rex) on Bras Basah right behind the Singapore Raffles. Reasonable prices and very handy to buses and trains as well as shopping complexes. Easy Walking distance to waterfront.

They have medium size rooms. Many Singapore hotels have tiny rooms of 28sqm or less. The Club rooms are very nice and entitles you to free brekky and free cocktails etc in the evening.

Many people on cc also swear by the Royal Plaza on Scots Rd at the top of Orchard Rd.

International policy (South West Pacific/NZ region) with "domestic cruise" chosen as the specific destination.

Can see the above optiobs but keep getting a "no product" response:mad:

Be very careful to check that the insurance states "Australian/domestic cruising".

 

We use our credit card insurance for most cruises, and with NAB we need to spend $500 each on the travel costs, and we get lots of things in our cover.

 

HOWEVER! If we travel to Tassie, we are NOT covered by our NAB credit card travel insurance. I have checked the PDS, and I have rung them. Not covered for domestic cruising.

 

So then we will buy the Post Office insurance, $6 each per day and it lists on the countries covered - domestic cruising.

However, I think it is to age 70, so your 81 year old mother will need to get a different type of policy. A fall can happen so easily at any age. Being older just makes it more likely that there will be more damage in my experience from seeing very healthy old people in my town have any kind of fall.

 

If you can't afford the insurance, you can't afford to travel.

I usually get TID and fir our upcoming Tassie cruise the quote is $102. Will check out the Post Office tomorrow:)

We have paid around $55 but it can vary according to traffic. If keeping the cost down is important and you have plenty of time, ask the driver not to take the tunnels because of course you have to pay the toll. I think it makes an $8 difference. That figure is from memory, but I don't make a big deal of it so I could be 'off' a little bit.:)

Going to the airport you only pay the one toll for the cross city tunnel. No tolls southbound on M1 (eastern distributor). Slow traffic across Anzac bridge until 10 on week days in morning can add to taxi fare. A smart local taxi driver could avoid this by going through Glebe (Johnston St).

As others have said, i would leave pre-paid gratuities as they are and use the USD to pay your bill at the end of the cruise. No doubt you will chalk up a few drinks that need to be paid for.

Still on The RCL calendar for Mar next year. I'm booking that so they better not bypass the port:eek:

Buses generally have to clear the ship by about 9.30 to 10. Taxis are readily available from the upper deck.

Train is very close by and easy provided you just have 1 suitcase each to drag around.

I must be immune because I haven't.;)

Yet :D

Price can vary per cruise and can go up and down on same cruise.

Your cruise planner usually shows AUD if purchasing on Aussie website.