-
Posts
3,009 -
Joined
Content Type
Forums
Store
Blogs
Downloads
Events
Gallery
Everything posted by SinbadThePorter
-
Gratuities on Princess
SinbadThePorter replied to resordanis's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
For Princess, grats are included for Asia bound cruises although not for US bound cruises. -
Gratuities on Princess
SinbadThePorter replied to resordanis's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
My understanding is that cruises bought in Australia and departing an Australian port will have gratuities included in the fare. They may be talking about grats on top of that being at your discretion. -
Just to update you all on the doings of the Coral Princess. We are in Wellington today and just like Dunedin and Christchurch we have warm sunny weather. The main problem is avoiding sunburn. Yesterday the indoor pool was drained painted and refurbished. It is currently empty but looking good. The fjords were very cold and foggy. But we did get into Milford without problems.
-
Non-stop at full speed a Citycat would take about an hour to go from the cruise terminal to the CBD. They would not be allowed to use the ferry terminals, so they would have to find a public jetty to tie up to. $8 seems optimistic as this is would not be public transport. There is the cost of hiring the Citycat, insurance, fuel, staff, etc. At the moment it's a daydream and we just have to put up with a lack of public transport. Just as we do with almost all cruise terminals around the country that were not lucky enough to be built next to Circular Quay.
-
It seems doubtful. For one thing there is nowhere to offload ferry passengers at the cruise terminal. They would need to build a wharf capable of handling the Citycats and safely offloading passengers. Before doing that, they would need to take account of the infrastructure already there. The structures just upstream of the terminal are used for unloading petroleum products to the storage tanks on Bulwer Island. There are obvious safety problems with allowing passenger vessels access to the area. Downstream you are encroaching on the sewage works and its outfall. It's a nice idea but I don't see it happening.
-
Taieri gorge railway excursion 2023
SinbadThePorter replied to CU64's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
I booked this excursion and then canceled it. It was close enough to $300 from the ship. Since it's $60 when not booked out by a cruise, that amounts to $240 for a return bus trip from Port Chalmers to Dunedin station and back. When I had a think about it, I decided I didn't want to be taken for a ride. 🤨 I'm a tourist, not an ATM for the cruise line (I wish!). -
Royal's ships 2023/24
SinbadThePorter replied to woodscruise's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
The Casino supermarket has a very impressive wine section. All French as far as I could see. -
Royal's ships 2023/24
SinbadThePorter replied to woodscruise's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
I hadn't heard that we are building wharves in Warragamba Dam. Or that Flannery is designing them. Sea levels have risen 8 inches since 1880 and the rise is accelerating. I don't see the sea level rise coming to a sudden stop or more intense storms going away, so I hope they keep building climate resilient wharves. -
Royal's ships 2023/24
SinbadThePorter replied to woodscruise's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
More like 12 inches by 2050 and probably twice that on top by 2100. -
Sydney Super Shuttle
SinbadThePorter replied to crewsin250's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
I always use the train to go from the airport to Circular Quay. But I always travel (relatively) light. -
Royal's ships 2023/24
SinbadThePorter replied to woodscruise's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
I don't understand how this is a difficult concept. They are wharves built to standards that take account of rising sea levels and greater storm intensities. -
Sydney Super Shuttle
SinbadThePorter replied to crewsin250's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
Never used them, but their Google reviews are not good. -
There are no hotels close to the new Brisbane cruise terminal. If you are coming in by air, it may be easier to stay in a hotel near the airport and catch a taxi from there to the ship. It's about 10 miles distance. Alternatively, there are a number of motels along Kingsford Smith Drive, the best of which is probably the Kingsford Smith Motel. I have no direct knowledge, but some cruisers have said that they run a shuttle bus out to the cruise terminal from there. It's about 8 miles distance.
-
Just off Majestic - my thoughts...
SinbadThePorter replied to Tripmode33's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
Got to agree with this. I really don't see the point of going to sea, if there is no sea to see. -
The best would be Antarctica in winter. 🙂 The aurora australis can sometimes be seen as far north as Hobart. In Australia the Cradle Mountain area has dark nights suitable for viewing. Near Dunedin in NZ or the southern tip of South America would be better places for viewing, but it is not a predictable phenomenon.