Codster

Can I please get info on the dress code for the MDR aboard RCI for men - Pacific Island Cruise leaving from Australia. Do dress shorts, collared shirts and shoes pass muster or do men have to wear long pants. TIA

Yep, we've got a Google Doc with a page dedicated to each island and have been researching for a while so we know what things we're doing independently coz they tours thru RCI are so expensive

 

E.g. Duck island water taxi on Noumea etc.

Good job boys - have an awesome time

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Shore tours - if you decide you want to do shore tours its way cheaper to book them once you get on shore with local operators , if you book through RCI you will pay a premium. The only issue with this could be that if you are late back to the ship they will leave without you so try and go in the morning

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Try and do a bit more research, my husband can buy the batteries for his hearing aids from most big pharmacies and Bunnings hardware

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This happened to us for an upcoming cruise we originally had booked for March 2017. With the sale of Legend of the Seas they had to cancel I think her last 3 sails. We were offered very similar options but lucky for us we ended up with a better cruise, we just had to cruise 6 weeks earlier. It wasn't a massive issue, we just had to reorganise leave but we had plenty of time to do that.

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Most vendors in Fiji happily accept AU $

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RCI out of Australia now charge $69 PP PD for their one and only drink package (with alcohol) even the most seasoned drinker would struggle to make that worth while - unless they didnt leave the ship at all and just stayed on drinking.

So I am having a hard time with this. It seems to me until the drink package gets higher than what I usually purchase it's still a good deal.

 

 

 

So the drink you like is $1.00 more than the $13 max of the deluxe package. Is it still worth it to cancel the package and pay ala carte? I am not sure.

 

 

 

My thinking is it's not just the alcohol, but the waters, soda, etc that might still make it a reasonable deal.

 

 

 

In November even at the higher per drink price I doubt it would have cost me more than $5 per day to pay the up charge.

 

 

 

I am feeling until the deluxe package hits $50 per day, factoring in what I might pay in $1 - $2 up charges, it's still not a bad deal.

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You are correct, OBC accounts are settled in USD and do not convert to AUS however, be aware that any $$ over and above what cash you have will be charged to your nominated card and your Aus bank will more than

likely charge you an OS transaction fee

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I participated in a discussion on here recently on this very discussion. I have since organised a 28 degrees CC and a Citibank Plus Card, neither of which attract OS transaction fees/charges

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Yep, unless you were aware that there was an earlier discount offer (and we weren't ) the alcohol package is $69 per day per person and over a 12 day cruise . . . . . . .

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Not a bother to us as we don't bother with formal night. We are on holiday to relax and to be casual and comfortable. We have the rest of the year to be "dressed appropriately" for work etc . Although I do love the idea of wearing a bow tie with shorts

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Is it just us or are there others the can't see the value in the new drink package prices. We both drink but just can't see us consuming over $1600 worth, that's more than the total OBC amount I ever had in total. Considering also that we have 4 shore days, so that's several hours off ship.

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A friend of ours is a Captain and I can tell you he is just an ordinary person like you and I. Has a family, a house in suburbia etc etc He will get a good giggle out some of these comments [emoji846]

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Agreed, we certainly will not be purchasing the delux. We both drink, me spirits and my husband beer, if we each bought the deluxe package it works out that our alcohol spend alone would be in excess of $1500 for a 12 night cruise. Ridiculous

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Thanks for your reply, you have given me somewhere to start. I spent some time in Denarau a few years ago and would be happy to go back, also went to Suva over 20 years ago, wasn't a huge fan then so hopefully it's improved a bit

Hi all,

I'm looking for advise - we will be on Legend of the Seas visiting Champage Bay, Vila, Suva, Loutoka and Mare. Can anyone offer advise on the best ports to snorkel and the ports we are better of taking a tour, we would prefer that any tours were with local operators rather than booked through RCI.

Thank you

You should post more when your sleep deprived GurlzCruisinRTW its a good giggle. You know I'm not a fan of fishing but I think even I would give it a go if it meant sitting "fishing with the crew off the back of a ship

A Friend - Id be bored I think - you cant fish from a cruise ship

I haven't cruised in the winter but I have been to Fiji in June, it was great weather and we swam the whole time. I would agree with other posters in that I would hesitate to be on a cruise ship in Flu season although it probably depends on if you are susceptible to colds and flu and if you get an annual flu shot

Gee that was a bit rough Stingau I can fully understand why you would only book direct now. Did you ever get any satisfaction with your refund

Hi Judy , last cruise I booked P&O I paid direct with credit card a wasn't charged a fee. This time I have gone through a TA again because we got a better deal but they charge the same as your to pay with a cc. This time is RCI, I can't find anything to say they charge a fee if you book direct but that might just mean I'm not looking hard enough. :D

Yes as stated I think its because such a small number actually use this site. I know with P&O there a FB pages dedicated to individual cruises, makes it very easy

I have booked both direct and through a TA. The only issue I have with a TA is that if you plan on paying with a credit card some agents will charge you a % fee to pay that way and whilst it's not a huge amount in the whole grand scheme of things it could equal a days worth of drinks or a shore excursion.

Thank you everyone, another PNG cruise is the front runner at the moment and so is Princess :)