Please recommend a cruise for me?

[Scottishmum40]

Hi folks,

 

Can anyone give a recommendation for a good cruise line/itinerary?

 

We are looking to fly to Australia for Christmas 2018. Ideally I'd like to do an Australian cruise taking in perhaps some of the Gold or Sunshine Coast. My bucket list tick would be Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays, but I don't even know if that's possible.

 

I can't seem to find itineraries, but perhaps they've not been released yet.

 

Failing that I've identified a 12 night New Zealand itinerary from Sydney on Ovation of The Seas. We have a friend who lives in Sydney and we've also cruised on her sister ship Anthem, which is our favourite ship so far!

 

All our cruises have been with Royal Caribbean but I'm not averse to another cruise line for the right itinerary.

 

 

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[VK3DQ]

Hi folks,

 

Can anyone give a recommendation for a good cruise line/itinerary?

 

We are looking to fly to Australia for Christmas 2018. Ideally I'd like to do an Australian cruise taking in perhaps some of the Gold or Sunshine Coast. My bucket list tick would be Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays, but I don't even know if that's possible.

 

I can't seem to find itineraries, but perhaps they've not been released yet.

 

Failing that I've identified a 12 night New Zealand itinerary from Sydney on Ovation of The Seas. We have a friend who lives in Sydney and we've also cruised on her sister ship Anthem, which is our favourite ship so far!

 

All our cruises have been with Royal Caribbean but I'm not averse to another cruise line for the right itinerary.

 

 

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Hi Folks

 

Please keep in mind that Christmas time is our main school holiday break , also the climate on the north Queensland coast can / will be very hot and humid.

Prices at this time of the year will reflect the holiday period.

 

If you can delay until march you will find it better ,,,,,,:evilsmile:

 

However if you must go at Christmas time I suggest that a cruise to New Zealand might suit , check out the 13night sailing of Golden Princess Ex Melbourne

You might find its a better deal

 

Regards

John

 

Ships: Golden Princess

Ports: Melbourne, Australia |Fiordland National Park (Scenic Cruising) |Dunedin (Port Chalmers), New Zealand |Akaroa, New Zealand | Wellington, New Zealand |Gisborne, New Zealand | Tauranga, New Zealand |Auckland, New Zealand | Melbourne, Australia

[OzKiwiJJ]

There isn't much that goes up the Queensland coast to the Whitsundays in December/January. There are a couple of P&O Australia cruises, one departing 4th December 2018 and the other departing 8th January, both from Brisbane.

 

You could do the January one after a NZ cruise over Christmas/New Year. As well as the Ovation of the Seas cruise you've already found there are these options:

- Celebrity Solstice departs Sydney 23rd December and returns 4th January.

- Golden Princess departs Melbourne 22nd December and returns 4th January.

- Majestic Princess departs Auckland 18th December and arrives in Sydney 30th December - note accommodation in Sydney for NYE is ridiculously expensive.

 

We've cruised on both Celebrity Solstice (around NZ twice) and Golden Princess and they are both lovely ships. Both these cruises would allow some sightseeing before going to Brisbane for the Whitsundays cruise.

[sherri3802]

If you're from Scotland, you might find far north Queensland pretty fierce in January.

I'm from Melbourne, did a cruise up there in Sept/Oct a few years back & although early mornings were fine, I was done with long distance walking and exploring by noon. It was too hot and humid. I found it hard to deal with.

 

The Gold Coast is fine, been there a couple of times in January, but more to stay in accommodation on the beach.

 

For a cruise, I would think New Zealand would be lovely. We cruised there in March a year or so back & it is such a beautiful country.

 

But if you would love to see the Whitsundays etc, then I agree with someone earlier who suggested touring in March. Even the more southern states are lovely in March.

 

As for cruises. RCL & Princess are fine but P&O Aust may disappoint if you're used to RCL.

[Scottishmum40]

Thank you so much guys, I really appreciate your input and will go have a nosy into to your suggestions.

 

Yeah it really needs to be Christmas, I'm a diet consultant so that is about the only time of year I can take 3 weeks off [emoji23]

My son is also school age so best for him too.

 

Ah the heat, we have did a few holidays in Turkey in mid July at over 40 degrees so hopefully be ok. No choice really, we'll just need to cope if we want to do it [emoji15]

 

I quite like the sound of the one from Auckland, that could work out well as we can stay with our friend in Sydney afterwards, rather than in a hotel.

 

 

Thanks again so much!

 

 

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[Aus Traveller]

You won't get 40 degrees in coastal North Queensland in summer. It would probably be mid 30s, but humid and maybe wet. :)

[SinbadThePorter]

Ah the heat, we have did a few holidays in Turkey in mid July at over 40 degrees so hopefully be ok. No choice really, we'll just need to cope if we want to do it [emoji15]

 

There's an old saying, "It's not the heat it's the humidity".

 

I suspect Turkey is a dry heat, like inland Australia. The wet heat of the tropics is entirely different. You get drenched in sweat just standing around and it doesn't evaporate away.

 

Not saying this to put you off, just to let you be prepared.

 

Four rules for the tropics:

 

1. Always wear a hat.

2. Use plenty of good sunscreen lotion.

3. Bring insect repellent.

4. Don't feed the crocs.

[Scottishmum40]

Yeah I've had the (dis)pleasure of experiencing it in Hong Kong [emoji85]

 

Thanks for those tips, they will definitely be adhered to, especially the crocs [emoji33][emoji23]

 

 

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[MicCanberra]

There's an old saying, "It's not the heat it's the humidity".

 

I suspect Turkey is a dry heat, like inland Australia. The wet heat of the tropics is entirely different. You get drenched in sweat just standing around and it doesn't evaporate away.

 

Not saying this to put you off, just to let you be prepared.

 

Four rules for the tropics:

 

1. Always wear a hat.

2. Use plenty of good sunscreen lotion.

3. Bring insect repellent.

4. Don't feed the crocs.

5. (or should be number 1) Drink lots of fluids.

[Scottishmum40]

Hi guys, just to say thanks for your help. We've just booked Ovation of the Seas from Sydney on 22nd Dec 2018 cruising New Zealand for 12 nights.

Helped by winning USD4500 in the casino on Navigator of the Seas last night! [emoji33][emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji51][emoji51][emoji51]

 

 

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[PJOZ]

Wow congratulations! Perfect way to spend the winnings that will be an awesome cruise.

 

 

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