Melbourne Cup Cruises 2014

[jessica3152]

Interesting to see that Carnival Corp is competing with itself on the Melbourne Cup cruises next year with P&O offering 2 cruises (Jewel and Pearl) and Carnival offering 1 (Spirit). It'll be a great sight at Station Pier seeing all 3 ships there along with Spirit of Tasmania.

 

Interestingly the Spirit cruise is 7 days whilst the P&O cruises are 6 days. Spirit has 2 sea days on the way back to Sydney. I assume this is because of limited available wharves in Sydney.

 

Pricing is also interesting. A 6 night cruise on Jewel in a balcony cabin is currently shown as $2350.00 whilst a balcony can be had on the 7 night Spirit cruise from $2329.00. Outside cabins are $1800 on either P&O ship and $1900 on Spirit. A suite can be had on Spirit for about $100 less than what P&O is offering. I think at these prices, I'd be going with Spirit!!! Obviously there will be lots of specials along the way with P&O already offering a fly/cruise package for Brisbane and Gold Coast customers.

Edited November 14, 2013 by jessica3152

[NSWP]

Thanks Jessica, we might Carnival Spirit a go for the Cup, was on her in 2005, Hawaii to Alaska. Nice ship..then.

[Paulzoom]

Hi Jessica

 

My wife Denise and I have booked on the Spirit and are keen to hook up with other travelers in order to book a table at Flemington sooner rather than later as we believe it books out quick.

 

Paul and Denise from Perth

[NSWP]

Any of you mob who been on the Melbourne Cup cruises, is the ship full of drunken bogans? I don't particularly want to book a Cup cruise if that is the case. A bit of decorum in the forum.

 

Would the cruise include transport and entry into Flemington Racecourse?

 

We were on Carnival Spirit in 2005, 'Fire & Ice' - Hawaii and Alaska. She was a nice ship then, but I fear she has been Australian Boganised, reading some recent reviews, if there is such a word. LOL.

Edited November 21, 2013 by NSWP

[Mum81]

The only thing has has stopped hubby and I booking a Melbourne Cup cruise is the general lack of information available. I had made several calls to Carnival, but as the calls get routed to the US a lot of the time, they don't even know what the Melbourne Cup is and my questions are greeted with "that hasn't been decided yet".

 

I got this email from P & O:

 

 

There is also a list of "optional extras" that wouldn't copy and paste here but says:

 

*VRC Oaks club luncheon

*Behind the scenes tour of Flemington racecourse

*Upgrade to a swankier tent including The Precint, The Lawn Stand and more....

 

 

So I called them to get more information. They knew nothing of this and after speaking to a supervisor I was advised that there should be more information available in another 6 months time. With a seat in a restaurant that has a view of the track and lunch costing on average $1200 per person (just for cup day), this would be a once in a lifetime thing for us and we want to know exactly what we are getting for exactly what price prior to booking. Is this too much to ask???

[MicCanberra]

The only thing has has stopped hubby and I booking a Melbourne Cup cruise is the general lack of information available.

Pardon the Pun but we are in the same boat in regards to Melbourne cup cruises.:D

[The_Big_M]

The only thing has has stopped hubby and I booking a Melbourne Cup cruise is the general lack of information available. I had made several calls to Carnival, but as the calls get routed to the US a lot of the time, they don't even know what the Melbourne Cup is and my questions are greeted with "that hasn't been decided yet".

 

I got this email from P & O:

 

 

There is also a list of "optional extras" that wouldn't copy and paste here but says:

 

*VRC Oaks club luncheon

*Behind the scenes tour of Flemington racecourse

*Upgrade to a swankier tent including The Precint, The Lawn Stand and more....

 

 

So I called them to get more information. They knew nothing of this and after speaking to a supervisor I was advised that there should be more information available in another 6 months time. With a seat in a restaurant that has a view of the track and lunch costing on average $1200 per person (just for cup day), this would be a once in a lifetime thing for us and we want to know exactly what we are getting for exactly what price prior to booking. Is this too much to ask???

 

I think you'll find this link useful. It gives details of how some of these extras worked for this year's cruise.

 

You'll then be in a better position to decide whether this is worthwhile, or other options...

 

http://www.carnivalaustralia.com/media-releases/2013/october/and-they%E2%80%99re-off!-%E2%80%93-po-cruises-offers-exclusive-melbourne-cup-experiences.aspx

[MicCanberra]

I think you'll find this link useful. It gives details of how some of these extras worked for this year's cruise.

 

You'll then be in a better position to decide whether this is worthwhile, or other options...

 

http://www.carnivalaustralia.com/media-releases/2013/october/and-they%E2%80%99re-off!-%E2%80%93-po-cruises-offers-exclusive-melbourne-cup-experiences.aspx

Cheers for the link.:D

[Deneez]

Hi Mum81.

My husband (PaulZoom - above) & I are booked on the Carnival Spirit for this year's Melbourne Cup cruise and want to book a table at the Rose Room for $1350 per person. The hitch is that bookings must be for a minimum of 4 people. The website states "group of 4, 8, 10 or 12".

Bookings are open from 11 March, so I guess if we don't have another couple wanting to book we'll just make bookings for 4 and hope to sell the remaining 2 on board! (A bit risky, but surely there will be others wanting a prime spot for the once-in-a-lifetime event?)

Edited February 22, 2014 by Deneez

[CruisinCat31]

Any of you mob who been on the Melbourne Cup cruises, is the ship full of drunken bogans? I don't particularly want to book a Cup cruise if that is the case. A bit of decorum in the forum.

 

Would the cruise include transport and entry into Flemington Racecourse?

 

We were on Carnival Spirit in 2005, 'Fire & Ice' - Hawaii and Alaska. She was a nice ship then, but I fear she has been Australian Boganised, reading some recent reviews, if there is such a word. LOL.

 

I haven't been, but speaking to a couple I know just this weekend they were pleasantly surprised at last years Melbourne cup cruise on P & O, they are usually Princess/Cunard cruisers. They wanted to do a Melbourne Cup cruise but had the same concerns as you (as would I). However, they took the punt, and they had a ball with no boganish drunken behaviour identified:)

[cruisin-m]

I would LOVE to do a Melbourne Cup cruise but they are extremely expensive cruises, can find two week balcony cruises for the same price as a 6 night inside room on a Melb Cup cruise.

 

Might wait last minute and see if anything comes out better value, if it's sold out so be it, I'll try again next year :)

[Xcitdcruiser]

Just wondering, with these cruises, are the transfers / entry to the track included? Or are they considered optional extras?

[The_Big_M]

Just wondering, with these cruises, are the transfers / entry to the track included? Or are they considered optional extras?

 

Yes, part of the reason for the cost is that transfers and entry are included.