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Cbtours

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Posts posted by Cbtours

  1. 6 minutes ago, Evange said:

    Hi All. We are too nervous to book another cruise until we find insurance that will cover us. We used Cover More NZ last time. Many are not aware that insurance has to be bought in the country of residence. Please correct me if I’m wrong. I’ve looked through many of the posts and can’t seem to find much advice for old NZ residents. Across the ditch you have better options. 
     

    Ideally would like to buy annual insurance but doubt that’s available at our ages. Is there an overseas company that sells to NZ residents? 
     

    Appreciate any insights on this and am sure others also have this issue thus the long label because I didn’t have much luck in search results which was more for younger travellers. I guess there are not so many that are tech savvy enough to post at that age so less results. 
     

    Thanks for any help and advice. 
     

     

    We used Qantas annual insurance for my husband 2023. Though we are Aussies, I wonder if it’s worth asking as they trigger to the country you’re in whenever I ask about flight in another country??? Might just work? They were excellent btw paying a claim promptly when we had to change travel dates due to daughters medical condition.

  2. 3 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

    That's a shame. Travel insurance is getting ridiculously expensive. We were so lucky that we have a Citibank Premier credit card and they changed their criteria for the free travel insurance the card offers when NAB got involved. It only cost us $150, $75 each, to have our existing conditions approved and covered for the world cruise. We just gave to get all the big cruises/travel out of the way before Rolf turns 80!

    I use my credit card insurance but don’t cover over 80 years. I’m going to look at round Aus though it’s a way off 😁 I’d like my front dob

  3. 5 minutes ago, arxcards said:

    All the more joy for being pre-armed and talking to your PVP at 9am next Thursday. This is where I like having our T/A - as all of our new bookings will be emailed early next week, ready for him to punch in to the booking system when they become available.

     

    We have looked at the circle, but are giving it a miss. Just going to be too tight for leave. We are considering an around Oz, and are pretty much set on the PNG cruise and a couple of shorties. 

    We’d be very happy to do round OZ again. Loved it.

    • Like 1
  4. 2 minutes ago, arxcards said:

    They are doable, but connecting with the US doesn't help the price either. If you are looking for an annual policy that allows for over 60 days, they are few and far and expensive.

    Covermore does as long as you want for single trip. We had Qantas annual policy for Frank 2023. Any days over the 45 day stipulation for them in annual policy you just had take a an add on single policy for those days.

  5. 2 minutes ago, arxcards said:

    Yes, they have changed it from a 1 day elite preview to a 7 day Captains Circle preview. Much of a muchness I guess. If you can get in on day 1, you should get what you want.

    After trying the deluxe obstructed balcony right at front of ship for only couple hundred more than inside, it would be what I go for every time now. I’m positive you’d have to get in first day or so

  6. 7 minutes ago, Womble99 said:

    That is an interesting point, who does insurance for longer cruises? We haven't done any of the longer ones so the 60 day limit on most policies we have looked at has never really been an issue.

    We currently have insurance for two trips we’re doing Dec 24 and Mar 25, no cruise with first trip but b2b 21 days Mediterranean after March family visit. 
    so cruise is not listed in the quote I triggered (all with covermore).

     

  7. 3 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

    I've already emailed my planner about the Circle Pacific. Bugger the price, we're doing it! It's the only way we'll get to Alaska without flights, and since we aren't getting any younger time is running out.

    Congrats 😁 I did a brief look! Cos going to Alaska via cruise (no flights) would be awesome. Then initial look at insurance for Frank!!!! $9975!!!

    I don’t think it’s going to happen 😣

  8. 44 minutes ago, Ozwoody said:

    The Next Instalment

     

    We’re on our way

     

    We have arrived at the airport, and yes it was a smooth 15min drive (long sigh) but I did not get that “roll of the eyes and why are we early look”, just a long-suffering resigned look.

     

    We’re going cattle class, as it’s only a 1.5-hour flight to Sydney I should be able to handle it.

    I’m not a keen flyer, indeed to put it plainly, “I Don’t Like Flying”.

    But I’m a big boy and I will grit my teeth and look happy for Hilary.

    She won’t be fooled of course, and casually tells me you’re not good company flying you know.

     

    We Are Here

    We’re here in Sydney, its sunny and pleasant, picked up a taxi at the airport as we walked out of the doors, and he whizzed us over to our hotel, “The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel” Est in 1841, its delightful character pub of three stories, Ground floor is the Pub, Second floor the Restaurant, and the Third floor the hotel accommodation.

    There is no lift, but they have great staff and our two large bags and two smaller ones appeared in our room nearly as soon as we arrived. The rooms are the original rooms but spruced up and very comfortable.

    All in all, we felt reasonably good for $250/night, smack middle of the Rocks Area. They have advised staff will take our bags down again tomorrow.

     

    We had lunch here in the Pub area, before venturing out, the food was very good, provided quite quickly. Would definitely rate the staff here as excellent, young, enthusiastic, energetic, and eager to help you. Full marks to the management.

     

    We took a walk around the local area and down to the OPT, as always, the Rocks area of Sydney is a bustle of energy, visual beauty, hard to knock it in any way. After the walk we adjourned back to our room for a rest and to let our bodies catch up to our enthusiasm.

     

    Dinner tonight in the Restaurant down one level, then to bed, for tomorrows is:  THE DAY.

     

    I identify to many portions of your report!

    I arrive at airport 3 hrs ahead for international flights, we live 45 mins from airport (Melbourne) so I don’t trust traffic at all so allow excessive time lol.

    id rather sit three hrs at airport with a coffee than stress in traffic 😁

    • Like 9
  9. 5 minutes ago, arxcards said:

    Some of this discussion has been triggered on the Cruise Addict thread, but it needs its own thread.

    The 26/27 Australian season will be announced on 31st October, one week away. To get an idea of the season, I have been trawling through port entries around the country, and piecing that with Princess usually offer for cruises of the lengths between those dates.

     

    Crown Princess

    The current schedule ends on 7th October 2026. It looks like she will only be adding one more cruise to that schedule, then departs our shores. The 2026 World Cruise on Crown currently remains per schedule, but Princess has two bob each way with port bookings in Brisbane and an in-case one in Fremantle. There is some speculation it could be broken into Circle cruises, but I can't find any port bookings to support that. To be added to Crown's schedule:

     

    7th October 2026 - 28 nights, clockwise around Australia (bookings in several Australian ports)

    4th November 2026 - A relocation to somewhere else. I would presume across the Pacific, as there are no bookings via Fremantle or Darwin.

     

    Grand Princess

    The day before Crown Princess departs, Grand Princess arrives into Sydney. This relocation would appear to be across the Pacific, as Sydney is her first port entry. There is a 45-day gap in her schedule between her final Vancouver date and Sydney, so perhaps a drydock in Portland before departing. The port schedules around the country all point to Grand becoming our year-round Princess. Some itineraries could vary, but others have enough port bookings to be confident about them. Tassie & NZ schedules aren't available that far ahead, so I have marked those as being just educated guesses. Some may also be some dual port offerings between Sydney & Brisbane.

     

    3rd November 2026, Sydney 15 Nights - NZ or Islands, hard to tell.

    18th November, Sydney, 12N - Southern Australia (Melbourne, KI, Adelaide, Port Lincoln, +Tassie?)

    30th November, Sydney, 9N - QLD Coastal (Bris, Airlie, Cairns)

    9th December, Sydney, 2N relocation to Brisbane

    11th December, Brisbane, 12N Tassie? (Newcastle, Sydney, Eden, +Tassie?)

    23rd December, Brisbane, 14N NZ (probable)

    6th January 2027. Brisbane, 14N NZ (probable)

    20th January, Brisbane, 12N Tassie? (Newcastle, Sydney, Eden, (+Tassie?)

    1st February, Brisbane, 14N Islands (probable)

    15th February, Brisbane, 14N Islands (probable)

    1st March, Brisbane, 7N QLD Coastal (Townsville, Cairns, Airlie)

    8th March, Brisbane, 7N QLD Coastal (Townsville, Cairns, Port Douglas)

    15th March, Brisbane, 4N relocation to Sydney (Newcastle) - likely to be available as an 11N combo with the previous cruise

    26th March, Sydney, 13N Fiji (probable)

    2nd April, Sydney, 28N Around Australia (clockwise)

    30th April, Sydney, 17N to Fremantle (anti - over the top)

    17th May, Fremantle, 17N to Sydney (clockwise - over the top)

    3rd June, Sydney, 14 nights PNG? (Airlie, Cairns, Port Douglas, (2 x PNG ports?), Brisbane)

    ** 17th June, Sydney, 79N - everything points to an anticlockwise Pacific Circle, returning via Darwin & Brisbane.

    Last date in Port schedules is 2nd September for Brisbane. I am presuming this would continue to Sydney on 4th September, but the schedule doesn't extend that far.

     

    Royal Princess

    After a season of Discovery Princess, Royal Princess returns for 26/27. The final date of her current schedule is 12th September in Seattle, at the end of her Alaskan season. She first shows in Darwin 65 days later on 16th November. This fits with a similar relocation via Singapore that is being done with Discovery Princess in 2025/26. She then arrives via Cairns & Brisbane to Sydney on 25th November. All departures listed are for Sydney

     

    25th November 2026, 10N QLD Coastal (Airlie, Cairns, Port Douglas, Brisbane)

    5th December, 13N Islands/Fiji?

    18th December, 4N Hobart & back?

    22nd December, 13N Islands/Fiji?

    4th January 2027, 12N Islands?

    16th January, 14N New Zealand

    30th January, 8N Tassie? (Hobart?, Melbourne, Eden)

    7th February, 13N Islands/Fiji?

    20th February, 14N New Zealand

    6th March, 13N, Islands/Fiji?

    19th March, 6N, Tassie? (Eden, Hobart?)

    25th March, 3N Eden (Eden)

    28th March, Final Aussie port booking - likely Pacific relocation

     

    On your marks, save the date for any that are of interest. It would pay to be ready to jump if you have been waiting years for a Pacific Circle cruise to return.

    Wow that’s an enormous amount of work! Thank you. Looking into them 🥰 and of course will be watching if anything is sailing back from capetown to Australia 😁

    • Like 3
  10. Just now, ceeceeDee said:

    I do the same thing when it comes to stalking a cruise. And yes, it does pay. Saved $1080 on our upcoming cruise in December. Still stalking our cruise just out of curiosity now. For the same category cabin and add ons, the price is now nearly two and a half thousand dollars more than we paid! That's eye watering.

    That’s great 😀 

    • Like 1
  11. 13 minutes ago, John Bull said:

     

    Yes, it's very simple & most of us Brits understand Australian.

    Start a word in English, & when you're too lazy to finish it just say "o" instead.

    Hence rel'o, bottl'o, def'o, alc'o, hosp'o, garb'o, salv'o,  veg'o etc.

     

    You won't find us Brits using such lazy language

     

    JB 🙂

    ps please excuse any typo's.

    Righto!

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