geoff2802

If their plan was to send Anthem to an established western market, surely the sleuths here would have found evidence in port schedules. Can’t see them deploying to China with the recent introduction by some countries for a negative test before returning. Some possibilities… Japan/Korea, South America and Middle East. I favour the first.

I hope we find out soon as I’m planning a cruise around Cape Horn.

Hey Chilli, Thx for sharing. Are there any concrete announcements? I did a quick search but didn’t turn up anything.

Perhaps they will use the same hull and superstructure as Edge class - they're about 130kt. Of course the facilities, activities and interiors would differ.

Southwest also service LGB. It's cattle class but provides another option and they're usually cheap. They have nonstop flights to Austin, TX if you want some excellent BBQ and TexMex. 😀

It’s gotta be better than LAX 😉

We rented a car from Avis LAX and drove to Palm Springs a few days before the cruise. On embarkation day we drove back and dropped the car at their depot in downtown Long Beach. Taxi from there to the pier was about USD 25 with tip. We also hired a car from Long Beach on debarkation day and had a drive along the coast, lunch at Malibu on the pier and then dropped the car back at LAX before the evening flight home. All worked well.

At our call in November they used contracted tenders. Service was ok.

Unfortunately you’re right. Gav Smith seems to have given up on a Sydney solution for the foreseeable future and is planning to grow capacity in Brisbane. He’ll need the cost of airfares to come down to make it work. The other cruise lines will have to do the same if they want to grow capacity.

Interesting.. did that info come from an official source?

Perhaps he was referring to the big resort project which is of course delayed. I was thinking of just a tender whart and seafood, beer and souvenirs available from the locals, like Mystery Is.

Maybe all those overnight stays in Vila will become a day in Vila and a day in Lelepa. It’s not far between the two. How long would it take to build a small shore dock and wharf for tenders?

Yep. We also spent a few days in Palm Springs before the first cruise Very nice.

Nothing out of the ordinary. All port calls carried out as per itinerary. We didn’t see any security issues. There are some Mexican Marines on guard around the ports.

Ship, crew and ports have all been good. Recommended. Nav would do well in Australia.

Hey Chilli, To LA by what route? BTW, Navigator is much better than Voyager was when she was in Australia. I have been on board for 10 days.

Thanks for posting - appreciated. There will be a ship change as Splendida is going to South Africa for 2023/24. https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ship-operations/msc-splendida-be-deployed-south-africa-202324-season

Yeah, Royal doesn’t seem to understand seasons very well. Would have thought Spring cherry blossoms would make more sense for the Japan end.

I can't see that stacking up on a revenue basis unless Brilliance was replaced by another ship. Anthem is available for Alaska in 2024 if replaced by Odyssey in NJ (h/t Jumping Cruiser) , but surely a mid season swap is unlikely. Utopia's deployment and any trickle down might provide a clue.

Maybe. Competition for MSC.

A circle Pacific itinerary from Sydney/Brisbane?

Just saw this - thanks.

Was Ovation’s last drydock April 2019? Due for dry dock early 2024?

It’s likely Quantum of the Seas will cruise from Singapore to Brisbane in November 2024. She is due for dry dock and the work will probably be done in Singapore. There is an entry in Darwin port calendar for Nov 24, 2024. Quantum’s first entry in Brisbane’s port calendar for that season is Dec 1, 2024. Ovation is also due for dry dock in 2024 but I don’t know what theur plan is.

Springaussie mentioned one of the Vision class ships cruised PNG though.