willsaway

@martincathhi there, Sue @willsawayhere. Do you have any words of wisdom for the following side2side scenario. Disembarking Eclipse on 24 September (which is a Sunday), at 7.00 am. Assuming we drag it out until the last possible minute, say 9.00 ish, down the gangplank and back up an adjoining gangplank (so to speak) to board Brilliance on her transpacific to Sydney, Australia via Hawaii. I'm not game to find out if there's a 3rd ship in this mix. Reading this post, I'm having visions of 1000's of people tripping over each other. Cheers.

We have recently embarked to the South Pacific, specifically last Sunday 12 Feb, on Carnival Luminosa. At the check-in counter, we were asked "have you done a covid test, and were you negative". Answered yes test done and started to show screenshot proof. "No, don't need to see it, thanks. Do you have suitable travel insurance which covers covid and cruising?" Answered yes, and prepared to show the printed cover letter. "No, don't need to see it, just need your response." Bit flabbergasted to say the least. Said to the check-in person that I had fully expected to provide proof, but no, just our positive response was required. So off we went, as easy as that. After all the horror stories on this forum and the other major social media page, the reality of the actual procedure was the complete opposite.

Chateau Yaldara was also a favourite of ours. So pleased the company survived.

Apparently Royal is tendering from Schute Harbour this season. My travel agent, who is indeed a treasure, bemoans the fact that Royal don't seem to find it necessary to inform the agent network of these changes. A quick 10 minute walk from Coral Sea Marina is vastly different from a 15 minute bus shuttle from Schute Harbour. Bit like Airlie being vastly different to Sydney and Eden!

On our 2020 circumnavigation cruise, I arranged a private tour for 10 from Taste The Barrosa. They picked us all up at the cruise terminal and we had an excellent day. Dropped back in plenty of time to board. The owner is a lass named Nicki. I can highly recommend her company. Is it still operating post Covid? I have no idea but I would hope so.

I have my answer. My truly amazing t.a. has a response from Royal to the effect that they have changed tender ports this season, due to the refurbishment of Shute Harbour. What Carnival and Princess do may well involve tender porting into Coral Sea or Port of Airlie.

That's apparently changed. I'm being told Quantum tenders into Shute Harbour. Hence my appeal to C.C members for current accurate info.

That's apparently changed. I'm being told Quantum tenders into Shute Harbour. Hence my appeal to C.C members for current accurate info.

This season Carnival, Royal and Princess have included Airlie Beach as one of their main stops in FNQ. Trying to find where each ship actually drops anchor, and then tenders, is giving me gray(er) hair. Those of you intrepid cruisers who have actually experienced the tender process this season, please tell me where they come in. I particularly require Quantum info. Cheers.

Interesting, hadn't picked up on that. Itinerary has 7.00 a.m to 12.00 pm. So I suppose that is noon. Could it possibly be midnight? There is always some dispute as to whether 12.00 should say specifically midnight or noon.

Due to the El Cheapo cruise thread, and some positive posts about Luminosa's cruises out of Brisbane, we've now got a terrific deal on Carnival Luminosa, Feb 2023, 7 nighter to Noumea (no problems), Mystery Island (maybe yes, maybe no) and Lifou. Brains Trust on these threads would indicate Lifou, Mare, IOP, are still closed to cruise ships from Oz. So question to the Cruise Table of Knowledge. Is Lifou a goer or not? Normally Royal cruisers, but price too good to pass up even for Carnival.

We are currently on Ovation, 11 days New Zealand. Husband has covid and confined to our cabin, and I'm keeping him company. In his documentation the subject of smoking is addressed. Smoking is permitted in the bathroom only, not in the cabin, not on the balcony. I don't know for a fact, but I would assume an ashtray would be provided. The cabin/bathroom remains unserviced during quarantine so arrangements would have to be made to dispose of ash/butts. We don't smoke by the way.

16th for us as well, and then b2b for 26th. Have changed ships so often, I have finally accepted this cruise is finally going to happen. Great Ovation is here, soon to be followed by Quantum in Brisvegas.

If we're ever on the same cruise, allow me to shout you a drink. What a ripper of a suggestion, thank you. Car is now booked for the two days, I've sussed out the resort, sussed out the ferry from Shute Harbour, and even have another possible contention for lunch on day 2 at Northerlies Bar and Grill. Truly appreciate your suggestion.

Thank you so much, @martincath. Agree a cab is the way to go, more getting a feel for which hotel might be the more convenient for the early "Coach Trip Day" start, and the late arrival back to town. I received no such confirmation from Stroll Buddy, and nothing in the Junk folder either, so will use the link you have provided. If you recommend Lynn Canyon Park in lieu of the suspension bridge, will certainly have a look see. There's actually going to be 7 Aussies in this little group (it grew somewhat) so there's no hope of pleasing everyone. Saw a previous suggestion of yours which I have cut and paste in a note to my friends - check out Trip Advisor or Viator and see what suits you - and put them all in the hat. There was the odd muttering about the gardens in Victoria but equally, I have a previous comment that it simply doesnt work. But there may be a daytime ferry that we could take, out on the water, to get a feel of the harbour? Perhaps A to B, with lunch somewhere nice, then back to A.

Just delighted that CC alerted you to my post. And you answered. Great stuff, thank you. We'll be flying in on Saturday night the 9th September, getting in latish about 5.30. I'm supposing it will still be daylight but depending on how long it takes to clear customs, will no doubt cab it to either Rosedale (yes, you are correct. Early senior's moment) or the Y, depending on our eventual decision. Rosedale have been very helpful indeed with information, and no doubt the Y will get back to me shortly. What might sway our decision, and here I would appreciate your imput, is the fact our coach trip leaves at 8.15 a.m. on Wed 13th from Hyatt Hotel, Melville Street Entrance, at Burrard Sky Train station. We will all probably take a smallish bag, and leave the remaining luggage with whichever hotel. We get back into Vancouver quite late on Saturday night, 16th, and will need to then get back to our accommodation. Is the Sky Train doable from either? Safe in that area at 8.00 p.m. Or we cab it, assuming cabs would hang around a hotel like the Hyatt. BH is out of contention, just that little bit too expensive for struggling seniors. Rosedale and Y allow us the option to make a sandwich. Last time we didnt get to see much at all, we only had the one day and we hoho'd all day. This time we will have one day to recover, and two full days to sightsee. Would love to visit the Capilano Bridge and I have emailed Stroll Buddy (after reading one of your comments). Then off to do the inside passage for 7 days, before bringing the Brilliance back to Oz. Cheers

Good evening. Hoping CC alerts you to my post. The time has come (the Walrus said) to ask away. A group of friends is flying into YVR on Saturday night, via Qantas, 10th September 2023. I'm hoping you might be kind enough to suggest a clean budget hotel (Aussie dollar conversion is absolutely woeful). Previously we have stayed at the YWCA. Looking at that again, or Hotel on Robson, or Blue Horizon. What I was really hoping to have insight on can wait until I hopefully hear from you. We are staying in YVR for 4 nights, then doing a 4 day/3night Rocky Coach Tour with a company you have mentioned previously, then another night in YVR, then onto Eclipse for Alaska. We will be using public transport when in town, are all in our 70's but still able to walk. Cheers from Oz.

Regarding the concierge lounge question, I have a screen shot from Royal saying that certain perks have now been returned to Diamond Plus and Pinnacle cruisers for cruises after March of this year. One of them was renewed access to the concierge lounge. So we're pleased as we'll be on Ovation on 26 Nov. However, chatter on this subject on book of faces indicates that currently it is hit and miss, depending on numbers and depending on the concierge him/herself. Admittedly the chatter relates to overseas trips so will be very interesting to find out personally. I can't add the screenshot though.

True, their timing most unfortunate. Our b2b on Ovation 16 November was very touch and go until this announcement yesterday.

Looks like its all systems go. The Pacific Tourism Association announced today the Vanuatu government welcomed back Royal Caribbean with its first cruise at Mystery Island, 12 November on Ovation, with further sailings thru the month with Ovation and Quantum. So great news.

https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailypost.vu%2Fnews%2Ftrial-return-of-cruise-ships-in-vanuatu-to-start-on-november-9%2Farticle_2aeaa851-56a3-5345-ba2a-bb8798df08e9.html&data=05|01||fa28aa1b77224a6d38d008da9e091f5c|84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa|1|0|637996059293054061|Unknown|TWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D|3000|||&sdata=7kLS7%2BvsFdK%2B0Hxhmr7QxWWWpc2zWc1K2611SOC%2FsVM%3D&reserved=0 Hopefully this link will allow you to read the newspaper article. We're on ovation on 16 November supposedly heading to Niumea, Port Vila, Mystery Island. If this article is accurate, and unless RCI pull a rabbit out of a hat, a cruise to nowhere is on the cards.

gbenjo, we also saw the Port schedule. Definitely leaves Brisbane 26 Feb. Sea day 27th, Eden 28th, and Sydney 1st March. Is it possible it might anchor at 5 minutes to midnight, on the 28th?

I did mean to type Buoy, adaptive text strikes again.

Question for the Sydney knowledge trust. We're considering a little 5 nighter out of BICP next year, Eden and Sydney. The itinerary has Quantum tendering at Athol Bay, 6.00 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. Having little experience of tendering in the harbour, where will the tenders drop off/pick up? Time spent in Sydney is a bit stingy, so Circular Quay is doable, but White Bay is ridiculous. Lots of passengers leaving it to the last minute to get a return tender is a scary thought. Over to the brains trust.

Popping onto this post from Australia in May 2022. I'm tickled pink @martincathis posting. You were an absolute wealth of information when we travelled to Vancouver in September 2019, from a reasonable hotel in Seattle, to the Amtrak train to Vancouver, to the "Y", to a good brekkie spot up Robson St. Such great advice. We've been locked away in Oz, free now to travel and trying again to see Alaska but not until SEPT 17 2023 on Eclipse, then transferring to Enchantment-of-the-seas back to Sydney. Will be absolutely trolling this site for your words of wisdom. Cheers, and regards from Australia.