Cruise_me_Crazy

Thanks for answering my question peeps :).

:D just leave the rug rats behind with their grandies, think of the money you'll save on pharmaceuticals as well as the additional per person charges!!! LOL :p

;) All this negative talk has convinced me to book a cruise on the Sun! Being the risk adverse aussie that I am, I thought I'd play it safe and book a 31 day-er on the other side of the pond travelling through a bunch of countries where english is not the national language :D Cannot wait! LOL!!!

wow. I am already so excited for our Nov TA but now I am beside myself :D!!!

Thanks for the great advice re Rome. We were only staying 2 nights and have extended that out to 6 but acknowledge it won't be enough! that annoying pastime named "work" has done it's magic!!!

We did not realise that the west bound gained an hour, but I truely think that extra hour each night will help enhance the chilax factor! :)

Too many porky pies in the one thread!!!!! You lot are going to stretch the OP's leg from all the action!!!:D Wonder how many lurkers are having a captain cook or a durrie but not game to post??!!! ;)

:eek: O M G !!! You guys know the bartenders' names????!!! That is hard core !!! :D

:) Thanks Babs & DMH. I am vearing towards a BC cabin, as I don't want to risk the soot (i think the health issues and potential muck will annoy me for 31 days. I will be devastated if I duck into the cabin and come out with soot floating in my wine :D, so I won't risk it!!!

We are going with a balcony, and 31 days repo cruise around the horn of Sth America will be brilliant regardless of the cabin category, so we are going to have a blast :-)

Cheers and thanks for being such a friendly & welcoming bunch!

We had the UDP on the Spirit and ate lobster in Le Bistro twice and were never charged for it.... the lobster was delicious both times.

:) mine was a genuine question. have only cruised Princess and they came out in the main dining room. our waiters brought us out 2nd's 3rd's and offered us 4ths. we had to refuse :( as we had gorged on the others. the joys of having a late sitting :D and brilliant waitstaff. so i have assumed they do that as standard on other ships. Clearly not!!! ;)

Ask yourself this ... Do you like to cruise or do you prefer Las Vegas on water ? Las Vegas on water She is not . A classic cruise ship She is ...

Enjoy Her while you can .. Good luck ;)

The Sun just keeps sounding better!

I said this on another recent Sun thread, of which the many comments were very positive, and I think I'll say it again here.

 

I think of the Sun like this. When you board, she says, "welcome aboard. Just relax, have a drink, lie back by the pool, read a book, eat a relaxing meal, sleep in late if you wish, just enjoy the relaxed, non busy atmosphere." I just don't consider the Sun as an "exciting, fun, fun, fun, lets do something" ship. And the Sun atmosphere for the two of us is perfect. We recently sailed on the Getaway. Wonderful ship, beautiful, great crew, and lots...lots...lots to do constantly. But it was too much for us. It might be what you are looking for however.

 

I'm like the other reply, NCL don't go big ship only. We like the smaller ones better....for what we enjoy about a cruise.

That's our kinda ship. Relax unwind and the cruise us the vacation, not doing "stuff"! ;)

I don't get it! Do you have to pay for them normally?? :(

Even with Compulsory or prepaid gratuities the idea of paying for a bloke 15% extra for turning around getting a cold beer out of fridge and putting it on the bar sticks in my craw just a little. I know that to avoid this I could pay the extremely ripping off prepaid drinks packages but I guess its just part of cruising on American owned shipping lines, not that many of the ships are registered in the USA

I agree about tipping for just doing your job. Don't see the point of that! Our steward was lovely, snuck us through the staff passageway to get us to the muster on time, and was lovely to us. I heard him get be reared from some cross old so-n-so about princess doing blah blah blah, and we thought his tone and patience was so respectful to her. We were tempted to go out into the hall & tell her to pull her head in.

Our waitstaff checked in on us if they were on at breaky shifts, recommended activities for ship days & "helped us" taste wine ;) during the wine tasting. We also received very healthy serves of our "nightly special" liquor ;).

And bottom line for us, it was over Christmas. :) Happy for them to get the bonus.

Very happy for you! Thanks for the update & what a great outcome! :)

We maybe had soot one or two days that I noticed. But of course one of those days was the day I sat out there in my white shorts. LOL! After that I just automatically put a towel on the chair before I sat down.

 

Enjoy your cruise whatever you decide.

Thank you. It is a 31 dayer so should be a bobby dazzler ;).

How did you go?

Just found this thread after being alerted to the new (ish) longer 7 and 11 day cruises available aboard REEF ENDEAVOUR out of Port Denaru near Nadi by a review in last weekend's Sydney Morning Herald.

 

Cruises in the Yasawas have been available for years. I did my first one in 1998 in the old Matthew Flinders and that is when I became hooked on Fiji as a cruising area. After I retired I cruised Fiji for a couple of years aboard my own yacht in 1984-85 and again in 1992, During these years I spent much time in Vanua Levu and the Lau Group away from the much more popular areas in Western Fiji. It is to these areas that these new cruises are going.

 

I have now looked at the CCC website at http://www.captaincook.com.fj/Default.htm and am most impressed with their itineraries. They certainly have chosen some of the best of Fiji where you will find pristine islands, beautiful anchorages and none of the commercialisation of the popular resorts. If you want to visit the "real" Fiji this is the way to do it.

 

I have not sailed aboard REEF ENDEAVOUR so cannot comment on the ship or the onboard experience but rest assured the areas you visit will be the highlight of any Fiji holiday.

 

I look forward to reading of any shipboard experiences that are posted on this forum.

Great to read. What fantastic memories! :) do you find the adjustment to land living difficult?

Just got back from the 3 day cruise and must say I enjoyed it immensely. It is not 5 star international cruising but it is fun, the crew are very friendly and provide exceptional service.

As someone pointed out it is a snorkelling cultural experience pretty much s they described. The market prices aren't jacked up and the village visit is very much a real experience and not forced by the islanders at all.

It isn't sailing all the time and spends quite some time at anchor.

Thanks for your update. Sounds fantastic. Glad you enjoyed it. :)

Now Qantas has joined the others, and said they'll no longer fly over Iraq. Iran is now their choice of flight route.

Pushka :D I was thinking similar! Imagine thinking Iran is a safe option :eek: never thought I'd hear that!

Anybody going on a cruise regardless of duration or destination without Full travel insurance must have the brains of a squashed watermelon.

Cruise itineraries change all the time and if you read your contract carefully you will see that they have the right to make changes without any compensation.

GET OVER IT and enjoy yourself.

:D you're on fire tonight!!! :p

Well said Cruise_me Crazy.:)

Thanks :)

I can't see why you couldn't have "open jaw" sectors.

 

Typically you have to fly in one direction though although some backtracking may be permitted if the airlines don't fly direct from one destination to the next. Many years ago we did a RTW Sydney - (Bangkok) - London - Vienna - (London) - San Francisco - (Los Angeles) - Sydney. () = transit only. We had to fly to Vienna via London as we couldn't fly direct from Sydney/Bangkok.

Thanks ozkiwijj. I think I am getting them (round world trips) & open jaw confused!:)

The first minute thirty is worth a look!

We'll I'm more keen than ever now!! :D

Can someone explain the round the world flight concept to me?? Is this where you have to travel in the one direction? Can you miss places, ie land in one country n flight out of another or does it have to be out of the same airport you landed in??:confused:

Do you mean on the hump?? If so they are normally sought after as they have a bigger balcony, but don't quote me on that!:)