mainecruisefan

On this cruise with the restrictions on domestic luggage/carry on on my economy flight, I will be travelling light and washing my shirts in the sink to dry on the "clothesline" in the shower. I pack 8 days of shirts/underwear/socks plus a dress shirt for if I book specialty restaurants. 2 pairs of shorts should keep me going in this tropical paradise. The last two times I didn't wear socks very often but I always wished I had more clean shirts. In many of the island ports you can get cool hawaiian shirts for $10 that are handmade and don't have labels. I supplement with those. I'll wear a light jacket on the plane and hope I don't freeze when we get to seattle. Sneakers, sandals and water shoes... I've done this itinerary in reverse before twice. Life is good! The only time you will be cold is if the AC in your stateroom gets stuck on. If you get free laundry you are in better shape than me! Hope this helps.

I just did my ETA. I had to download an app and it had to read my passport chip. It did cost $20AUD. Hardest part was getting the phone to actually read the chip. It is a good way to waste at least 15 minutes of time. Although the website said it could take 3 to 4 weeks to get a reply (heads up to procrastinators out there), I received my approval almost instantly upon payment.

I agree that it is tough. I actually bought a new bag to check to meet the slightly smaller requirements. I also plan to wear multiple sets of clothes again to be sure i can meet the requirements. It is quite inconvenient.

I can only speak about virgin australia in 2019. I was a delta diamond which gave me status on VAu at that time. They checked extra checked bags for free. That said, they weighed my carry on which was over weight and over sized. I went into the bathroom and put on 3 sets of clothes. Now underweight and under max size, I was able to board the plane from SYD to Gold coast airport. This time I will be more careful as i should have shoved stuff in my checked bags last time.

Most cruises I have taken lately have had the option of a coffee maker in the room (NCL). Also, princess puts them on the Diamond Princess in Asia. Im hoping the Australia market is similar and that carnival has them. I know MSC does not have them. If you can still get coffee from room service for free this is a non issue. Does Carnival still have a limited free breakfast room service menu? I also foiund out the Luminosa does not have self laundry like other carnival ships. So no need to pack dryer sheets this time. That makes more room for snorkel and ukulele. I am excited for the cruise... the South Pacific can't be beat.

Is there anyone who has been on the luminosa recently? Is there a kettle in the stateroom or can you request one?

On the recent princess transpacific to Tokyo masks were required and they were handing out surgical masks to get into the theater etc and asking people to wear them constantly. So they may suggest KN95 but that was not what was passed out to passengers. In many cases these passengers used the mask to warm their chin most of the time. I really enjoyed my cruise and have cruised a lot in the last 3 years. If you have a cloth mask or something that is comfortable to you, they will not make you wear the KN95 masks. One thing that changed once we got to Hawaii going west was that they put people in the dining rooms asking people to wash their hands. I didn't notice this before Hawaii. So if I had to guess when the cruise becomes a US cruise, it would be Hawaii.

Rules change day by day. Currently on Diamond Princess in Japan and yes masks are required. We were given australia rules for vaccine and testing before the cruise

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=5090 Looking at google maps it appears to be pretty close. I guess we will take an uber (I really don't like taxi drivers)

I also cancelled my first hotel since i noticed the free hotel shuttle was in only one direction. Grabbed the hotel right at the airport. What are people using for transportation from the airport to the ship?

In browsing the shore excursions on the website, I see "Buy Shore Excursions, Save an Extra 10% on Wi-Fi!" Is that true? Has anyone receieved a discount on wifi by booking it after a shore excursion?

This is correct. I have done the pacific twice east to west and lost 2 days. This is the first time I will get an extra day.

Currently on the Diamond Princess and enjoying ukulele classes. Does anyone know if Carnival does ukulele classes on their South Pacific cruises? Thanks

Has anyone been on the Diamond Princess recently? I heard Princess was putting in machines that grind the beans at that the "free" coffee was pretty good these days. How is the "free" coffee in the Horizon Court these days? I am considering buying the Coffee card to get the unlimited free brewed coffee. Is this card worth it on the Diamond? Thanks

Can you post a picture of the room service menu?

I think it is in the next step where I see the other promotions.

Weird, I am still seeing $1538 for solo balcony.... and interior $968. Fare code is: Exclusive VIFP Club Member Offer (PRQ) The price you are seeing is for: Free Room Upgrade Great Rates Sale (PBP) Itinerary:22 Days Transpacific from Brisbane, Australia Thu Apr 13, 2023 - Thu May 4, 2023 Ship:Carnival Luminosa 1 Room 1 Guest Room 1: Interior Guest 1: $769.00 Taxes, fees & port expenses: $199.20 Room 1 Total:$968.20 Total :$968.20 oom 1: Balcony Guest 1: $1,339.00 Taxes, fees & port expenses: $199.20 Room 1 Total:$1,538.20 Total :$1,538.20 You need to switch to: Exclusive VIFP Club Member Offer (PRQ) Good luck!

If you have sailed with Carnival before, I just noticed this deal: Cruise Summary Itinerary:22 Days Transpacific from Brisbane, Australia Thu Apr 13, 2023 - Thu May 4, 2023 22 Days Transpacific from Brisbane, Australia from Thursday April 13, 2023 to Thursday May 04, 2023 Ship:Carnival Luminosa 1 Room 1 Guest Room 1: Balcony Guest 1: $1,339.00 Taxes, fees & port expenses: $199.20 Room 1 Total:$1,538.20 Total :$1,538.20 I believe gratuities are $319 at the moment. Less than $100 per day for a balcony for 22 days across the South Pacific can't be all bad!

You are most interested in Six and Jersey Boys which was earlier in the cruise. This was the first schedule. Hope it helps.

I should also mention that not all aili hosts are as good. In fact, I think he is the best solo host I have ever had. I hope this is a trend NCL continues.

I am disembarking from the Bliss today and can say Henry the solo host was amazing. He got us into Six, Jersey Boys, comedy shows etc. He had a schedule for us planned every night if we wanted it. I have attached a pic of the last schedule if it helps.

I didnt get my shareholder credit before the cruise on Bliss 1/7. I waited a couple days and went to customer service. A day later they sent a letter to my stateroom. They made me forward my email request to an email on board so they could print it out. The next day the credit was in my on board account. Im a happy customer although I was definitely a bit nervous.

It is really hit and miss. Some cruises and cruise lines are very active on this site. I am looking at a transpacific on Princess and there are many posts each day for the upcoming cruise. With NCL and MSC lately there have been fewer and fewer roll calls that I have noticed. I think it may have something to do with the target customers. On the Gem in May, the M&G was a CC and (other social media site) hybrid combination. The same organizer did both. I actually check this site before booking a cruise because it gives me a chance to hear what other passengers are planning. Some of the best excursions I have taken are with other CC members off the ship.

Thank you. I had never done a transatlantic on the jewel class ship before. Only a transpacific which was amazing on the jewel. That said, my transatlantic on the Epic in 2021 was great so I had higher expectations.

I read that post... which was very interesting. I had stopped reading it before someone posted a few days worth of Freestyle Daily Schedules which answered my question. Thank you for pointing it out. It seems they have added different entertainment (quality wasn't my question as it is dependent on the viewer) and they are back to two shows per day. I appreciate the quick feedback folks. It is why I read these forums.