southerngoose

I couldn't find a way to email them and found that they offered a service. I did sign up, but oddly enough, it was Marriott booking via Viator. The actual operator did have good reviews, so I feel ok about the whole thing. But I wish there weren't so many "agents" between me and the actual provider. Someone told me about Welcome Pickups, which seems to be like Blacklane. So next time, I'll try them.

Can anyone recommend a private car pickup at the Quito Airport to the JW Marriott? I had tried to book with Blacklane and they didn't seem to offer service there. I asked my travel agent who wouldn't book it (long drama...first and last trip with her!)

If prices are dropping, it doesn't happen on my cruises. I booked my solo balcony cabin a year ago for a cruise in January. I got an 11day and b2b 12 day for approx $2500 each cruise (same room). I checked the prices today and an interior for one person is nearly $5000 for only 11 days. I don't think I would have paid $5000 for an interior room on that cruise (certainly not after seeing the air prices!). I ended up getting an award ticket for the airline ticket going and I'll buy the ticket for the return. I think that $4000-5000 for one person on a 12 day in a well located balcony could be reasonable (assuming it's not a repositioning/transatlantic/transpacific). But not an interior!

@81Zoomie thanks...I needed to know that you found it "fun" even though you didn't pay into it. I will try that. I've watched it on tv and have fun, even though I can't win. So I assume that it would be the same in this "live" version.

I happen to love Bingo on a cruise ship, but I think I need to limit myself. Luckily, it's not been a problem for me on other ships (I got into a "bad" habit of buying cards at every session). But I'm wondering if people enjoy going to Bingo and Deal/NoDeal without buying and just watching? I'm thinking I might try that (unless there's a better offering at that time...). I just don't want to be sucked into buying (which is controllable, by me, but you know...). I almost need a support group to enjoy watching, but not spending. Otherwise, I'll have to do what I have done before and just be a hermit in my room and watch a movie or work on my crafts.

@blackwing Not sure of their exact path, but when I looked it up, out of curiosity, it looked like this. So I think that this is close to what they did. I think it takes so long because not every flight runs every day or multiple times a day and I guess the connections aren't that good?

@rsato Hi...I want to go to the glow worm caves. Was it worth going? I get the feeling I signed up for a different cave because I'm going in Bay of Islands.

@luv2kroooz They should hire you to write the press release! I agree that they should have mentioned the risks of injury to reboard in that manner and the drama involved in setting up the tender after it was all put away. Seriously...how do you board the "less abled" members safely in the middle of the water? They would have to have everything set up with the gangway in order to even attempt that. I'm empathetic to the folks who were left, frankly. But I also understand why the captain might not want to pick them up in the water. I also liked your part where it said that the ship was ready to welcome them back on board - yes, they made a mistake, but they didn't do anything "wrong", please welcome them back on board.

Assuming that the indigenous people genuinely find crossing the falls to be disrespectful, I think we should not cross. I'd be thrilled to look and enjoy it that way. It also does sound dangerous if the boat gets pushed towards the rocks. I went to Ayers Rock when they allowed climbing and I'm sort of glad they don't allow it anymore. That was too dangerous (I was surprised that people in regular shoes with no equipment could just run on up to the top - that just wasn't for me). And I can see how the indigenous folks might find that to be disrespectful too. I enjoyed viewing it and am satisfied with the ability to visit and look, but not climb.

@kiwichick62 I think my goal is to just do a quick survey of what New Zealand has to offer and then decide if I want to come back. I've heard about train rides through the country etc. My travel agent is trying to get me on an excursion to see a sheep farm and sheep shearing. I spin wool into yarn and it would be cool to see where it came from. 🙂 She's also going to get me to the Zorb place where it was invented. I know it sounds crazy, but I'd like to try it once.

Hi...question - on Royal Caribbean, they would video tape the evening entertainment so that you could watch it on tv later. I'm curious if Celebrity does this. I find that 8:30pm is too late for me to go to a game show, if I need to be running off the ship the next morning. But I do enjoy watching. TV isn't as good as "live" but at least I can do everything I want to do without missing out. I thought that Royal Caribbean had tons of activities, but Celebrity seems to have even more, particularly on port days. I wonder if some activities would be repeated because it seems odd, to me, to skip a port to do the fun activities. Though, I may find that I only need 5-6 hrs on land and maybe I'll appreciate some activities being available on the ship. I just remember the Med where you were off the ship for maybe 7-8 hrs a day and it was so exhausting, yet, you didn't want to skip a port day. Not sure if New Zealand is at the same pace (more of the "attractions" seem to be closer to the port than it was in Europe so maybe it's not as bad?)

If you book a cruise to Africa to do these safari excursions, is it possible to know if the excursion is available prior to signing up for the cruise? I wouldn't want to book a cruise where everyone else goes on the excursion but me. 😞.

Forgive me if I missed this...any commentary on the quality of internet service? Do I "need" to upgrade? I have no need to stream video (I download in advance) but web browsing, email communication and sending a few photos to friends would be nice. PS...I'm in a low class cabin, obstructed view.

@81Zoomie I am taking the same cruise in 2025. Could you tell me whether you "need" New Zealand Dollars in New Zealand? I'm really hoping to do this by credit card. I'm going to Sydney for 2-3 days, then New Zealand and then Fiji and Samoa. Given the number of stops in New Zealand, I wouldn't mind exchanging money, but Samoa and Fiji will be painful because we're not there long. In Samoa I think I need like $20, max, but I hear that I'll need cash for that.

@jpalbny I'm sorry that his cruise is over! I've enjoyed it without even going on it.