Ondine

I've found that hitting the escape button it disappears straight away but I have to do it for every screen change.  Not happy Jan

I tried to click the "Learn More" bit to see if the ad would disappear like when you are watching muster videos on ships but this came up.  So back to square 1.  I will just have to give up on cc if it does not go away it's driving me crazy.

Prices at the moment are the all inclusive prices of Free at Sea plus discounted fares and some  OBC.  Not too bad if you like a drink plus $50 toward shore trips, internet, some speciality dining etc.  You can also purchase the coupon for $250 which gives you $500 off your fare "whatever they call it".

I booked Melb - Auk and Auk - Melb when I first saw these sailings last January.  Living in Melbourne I was desperate to sail somewhere when all others were deserting us.

I am hoping to re-fare when they release the Sailaway prices (basic) which I believe will be around 6 months or less prior to the sailings.

Compared to what I have to pay for the 2025/26 circumnavigation standard fares on Princess out of Melb they are not that much dearer but include far more.  

Why does the name Titanic come to mind???

20 hours ago, Aus Traveller said:

If we don't have to provide an up-dated statement of the shareholding, how does Stockperks know that we still own the shares? With the account number blanked out I don't see how they could easily check this, and why should they.

I am assuming that that Stockperks have access to Carnival's list of shareholders which should give your name and address and number of shares.  I believe that this would be public property as I worked in the stockbroking business.

When I look at the app it lists all of the Carnival ship brands as being eligible for "redemption".  Aida, Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, P&O UK, P&O Au, Princess and Seabourn.  It does make it easier to apply not having to provide an updated certificate.

Wonder if any other lines will follow suite.

There are other varied companies listed which obviously give shareholder benefits.

I registered with Stockperks when it started (sometime late last year??) and received OBC for the cruises I had booked up until last month.  I just attached a copy of my last holding statement.  No bank details or anything else.  I am with Comsec so people will probably know the problems we have with getting an up to date statement.

On Thursday I decided to see if I could get OBC for my next cruise so just went in to the app and clicked on redeem and put in my next booking number and date etc.  I didn't have to attach any proof so I assume they can run a check on the share registry since they are in the business.

I applied on Thursday 11th and it was granted yesterday Friday 12th even though the cruise is 6 months away and it is a Princess cruise.  So simple compared to the old way which applied the 3 month rule and always wanted an updated statement.

7 hours ago, ozdevil said:

i noticed  this morning that Pacific Adventure is not heading to Eden as sheduled and looks like its going back to back  moreton island and some of the guest  on the last cruise was looking forward to going south  and now finding they are going north again to tangalooma

i was speaking with a couple last night saying they are unsure where they are heading now as their cruise has changed  i think they said they were doing pacific islands but now may be heading south to tassie tommorow  instead they was not happy  little vegemites

Just saw this.  Looks like someone who couldn't make up their mind.

On 4/4/2024 at 5:38 PM, Aus Traveller said:

I have heard that they access the passenger's safe and give the passports to the Port Agent, but I haven't heard that they pack their belongings as well. I have never seen that happen. Keep in mind it would take at least an extra hour to pack up everything.

We watched the suitcases being taken ashore.  Because of their thoughtlessness we were nearly 3 hours late leaving port by the time we got the pilot and tugs back and found another slot in the queue.  No idea if they intended to skip ship or couldn't care less about consequences.

...

Early Feb on Pacific Explorer in Auckland, our last port of call before returning to Melb.  We were minus 7 passengers at 3.30pm final boarding time.  After 15 minutes 3 sauntered aboard.  Another 15 minutes and 2 people had phoned ahead to say their taxi had trouble and was late and eventually they arrived. So still missing two.

By now we had lost our place in the departure line, the pilot who was onboard had gone elsewhere to another job and the tugs also departed leaving us to sort out the mess.

After another hour the call went out to get security to open their cabin and ascertain that these people had their passports with them and pack up their belongings.  Their suitcases were duly deposited onshore with information for the ships agent.  We were now about 2 hours late with a full speed trip back to Melbourne ahead of us.

The captain announced that they had contacted police and hospitals trying to find them and also contacted their family back in Melbourne to tell them what had happened and we were leaving them behind.

On arrival in Melbourne Border Force came aboard and wanted a report on why we had left these people behind (now illegal immigrants to NZ) and this delayed our disembarkation by well over an hour which affected other peoples ongoing travel plans.

The consequences to the ship are immense with all the extra paperwork, extra costs for the pilot and tugs.  The ship is responsible for leaving with the number of passengers it brings in.

I have no sympathy for them.  We all know the rules.  You contact the agents if you are delayed.

Try getting an aircraft to wait for you if you are late.  I don't think so.  It is the same thing.

eeeee Is this some new rule for getting on in Melbourne?  When I sailed in Jan and early Feb we were still allowed to drive onto the pier.  When boarding Virgin late Feb we dropped off our luggage at the gate but put this down to a Virgin thing since they do everything different to other cruise lines!  I know that there have been hassles with frustrated lines of motorists when the "traffic cops" favour one line over another leading to very loud horn honking.

You have my sympathy boarding in yesterday's heat.  That's a long walk to get onboard.  No shade either if you have to queue prior to getting through the gate.  I join on Sunday for the Qld trip.

I see that the blue lounges have been replaced by white/cream ones on the back pool deck.  What was that passenger thinking sunbaking in 38 deg heat.

Enjoy your cruise.  Like following the posts.

Re my posting 12 months ago re the condition of Grand Princess.

I was pleased to see when cruising on her this season that they have completely renovated the Vista lounge and it looks lovely now.  All chairs have been reupholstered/replaced .

The low chairs in Explorers appear to be re-sprung and although they are still low you are now at shoulder height not chin height.  It is still a race to get the higher chairs when looking for a table.

On 2/20/2024 at 12:47 AM, arxcards said:

24/25 Australian itineraries have now been on hold for 3 weeks.

 

Gonski for sure.

In light of the fact that Brilliant Lady is now not expected to sail until at least May 2025 (originally forecast late 2023) perhaps Virgin might use Resilient Lady to do Brilliant's cancelled expected itineraries.  Depending how much interest they had had in Brilliant it would make sense.

20 hours ago, SinbadThePorter said:

 

It is an absolutely ridiculous setup. In that picture the bed vertical to the wall has the head next to the feet of the person in the bed parallel to the wall. If that person has their feet out from under the covers, it's a bit confronting to turn over in the middle of the night to have someone's toes in your face.

 

The original singles configuration was for the heads to be next to each other, but that puts heads even closer together than the double bed setup, so what's the point?

 

The best option I think is to have the feet end of both beds next to each other. The downside of that is that there is no headrest on either bed to stop your pillows from falling to the floor in the middle of the night.

 

It's a fine example of Virgin doing boneheaded stupid things because they desperately want to be seen as outre. When it comes to beds, give me function over form any day of the week.

Son and I were on the inaugural voyage in December and "rearranged" the set up.  He didn't quite fit in the bed along the wall and I didn't want his feet in my face and I wasn't about to give up the other single because one has a spring base while the other doesn't and is harder.  They are both hard actually.

We put the "U shaped table" at the end of the bed near the window then we put the chair in backwards so the back of the chair would act as a wedge.  We put all the extra pillows on the "table" which brought it approximately to the height of the mattress.  He grumbled a bit but it worked.  We then brought one of the balcony chairs inside to replace the one we had used to make the bed.  The metal chairs are awful and I spent most of my outside time in the hammock anyway. 

We are sailing again tomorrow using credits we got when they cancelled my 20 night b2b NZ cruises.  And they wonder what went wrong.  They can't seem to make up their minds what they want to do. How can you book in advance when you can't be sure what will happen?

I will try to take a photo and upload it when I get back.  We find that the cabin not being squared also plays tricks with your mind.  It is around a foot narrower at one end.

I was told years ago by P&O to book a double and have the other person a no show.  If it is a coastal then you wouldn't need many particulars for that person so no passport details etc.  Use a friend or family details.  There is usually no difference in pricing.

 A year ago one of my grandchildren was a no show on our NY cruise and much to my surprise a few months later  I received the port fees (more than $400) in my bank account.

20 hours ago, onlyslightlymad said:

But you are called Ondine?  You must be a mermaid

mmmm I wish.  In fact I am a Pom who never learned to swim much to my dismay.  Think I've left it too late.  When I registered on CC it asked for a name and in my haste I chose Ondine meaning water sprite which sounded appropriate.  I had just been watching a rerun of Margot Fonteyn as Ondine on YouTube.

I did not mean to disparage the islands which I have been to many times.  I love IOP, Mare, Santo etc.  Love the people there.  However I usually just go for walks around the place and then queue for 2 hours to get back on the tender in the heat!!  I do wish I was a mermaid then.  Mystery Island is still a mystery for me.  Sick the first time we called, rained like hell the next, couldn't tender the next due to weather and the final time completely missed due to shutting down cruises in March 2020.  The flip side was that we went to Santo instead which was still open and is usually too far from Melb.

Not fussed about Fiji although I have done a few shore tours which were ok except that the bus drivers always take you back to their mate's shop and leave you there for 2 hours captive.  Bit too commercial.

Just happen to love NZ.

13 hours ago, Drumbeat16 said:

The cruise to NZ on Nov 27th has been cancelled also, and apparently changed to 7 day Tasmania cruises.

We just did the QE Christmas/NY cruise to NZ.  We visited the Sounds then up the west coast to Wellington, then inaugural call into New Plymouth, Bay of Islands and overnight New Year's Eve in Auckland and back home to Melb. 

While in Wellington one of the guides told us that the City Council did not want cruise shuttles going into town and so there was now only one stop on the edge near the Beehive.  Too bad for the retailers and folks at Te Papa museum where most of the cruisers wanted to go.

Two weeks later on the Grand Princess we were told that we could not dock in Wellington due to the pilots say so.  Weather related????  Was calm enough to us as we went past the entrance to Cooks Strait.

A further two weeks later onboard Pacific Explorer we were again refused entry into Wellington at the pilots say so.  We overnighted in Lyttleton and then went slowly up to Napier.  Again saw no bad weather!

While having breakfast one morning, can't remember where - maybe Napier - the pilot was sitting at the next table after taking us into port and talking with a friend.  He was discussing the problems with the powers that be about pilot scheduling and was not painting a happy picture.

Is New Zealand becoming too difficult to schedule with one thing and another?  Greenies/irate Councillors and now pilots.

I know 3 cruises to NZ in 7 weeks is a lot but I love NZ and am making the most of it while ships are still sailing from Melbourne, especially if I get a bargain.  I go where the ships go!!!!

I would much prefer NZ to the islands as I am not a scuba diver or mermaid.

Lovely day in Melb today, perhaps too cold for some.

Hi yes!yes!yes!    Son and I will be on the cruise departing Melb 8th Jan so maybe we will catch up with you.  Hope you get the SA portion sorted.

Hope you  enjoyed your cruise Juls.  One day we will meet.

Son and I are on QE dep Friday for NZ.  Christmas in Fiordland and New Year in Auckland o'night.  First time and probably last on Cunard since they are deserting us.

On 12/14/2023 at 11:23 AM, singleflyer said:

 

I don't have Facebook.  Care to share what went so wrong??

We were there.  Our check in time was 1.45 (originally 1.30) and we arrived at 1.40pm.  There was no access to the pier as per usual to drop off luggage etc because they were having "technical difficulties" so everyone was told to just drive around and come back later or join the queue.  We parked and waited for 20 minutes in the car and then decided to join the queue which was growing and snaking around the street and along the beach front.  Probably around 500 in the queue by then.  After about 30 minutes we had moved around 50 ft/15mts with little or no information being given out. After 2 hours and still not reaching the port gate officials came along calling out for passengers with 1.30 or 1.45 boarding times to go to the front of the queue and check in their luggage.  We then progressed onto the pier and crawled or stood for another 2 hours before reaching the lifts/elevators leading upstairs to the check in lounge.  Finally Richard came along apologising for the debacle which was caused by their systems going down in the terminal and the back up systems in Miami being very slow and dropping out all the time.  By then I think there were about 1,800 people in the queue.  People loved getting selfies with Richard so some were happy.  When we finally reached the lifts people were allowed to go to check in in groups of 10 because there was mayhem at the check in counters.  We had DBE and saw the line for Rock Stars so we joined that.  There was no one in it.  The officials were channeling people into the snake without asking if they had priority boarding and so many people were not aware of it. We got on board in about 10 minutes after that.

After all that there was confusion with disembarking because people were not told to select a disembarkation time via the app. Most passengers are used to the cruise line issuing papers with times and coloured tags.  They kept sending out messages to ask you to select a time under excursions but many people especially older passengers, and yes there were quite a lot of over 50/60/70/80s onboard (including me), did not read their messages.  I had to ask at sailor services how to handle disembarking.  I did find the absence of announcements and general how-to info confusing.  I know better for next time (February) now.  It was a learning curve.

So all in all it took us 4 hours to board.

Just off Resilient and yes we had small washcloths.  They were toweling with a plain strip through the centre.  I have had better.  Bar of soap but we just put our hands under the pump in the shower.

3 hours ago, arxcards said:

As far as I am aware, you cannot get an "in case" script for covid anti-virals in Australia. You need to test positive to be eligible for PBS supply. There was mention a month or so back that these are around $750 per course on Princess (no PBS), but may be covered by your travel insurance.

https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19/treatments/eligibility

Went to my doctor for a regular check up last week and mentioned I was going on a cruise next week and she gave me a box of anti-virals to take with me.  Think she was breaking the law but obviously doctors get supplies to have in their surgeries.  She knows I hate taking medications of any kind and having vaccines (yes I have had 5 covid needles and caught covid 3 times on cruises since they restarted in Aus) but wanted me to be prepared.  I know she has knocked back other travellers who have asked for prescriptions and tablets but told me I am special!!!!!  We get along well.

Son and I have booked separate gty cabins on QE for Christmas cruise, 22nd Dec.  They stopped selling cabins several weeks ago so fully booked.  Mine (balcony) came through around 4 weeks ago (just showed up in personaliser) but his is yet to be assigned (inside).  Just over 2 weeks to go so fingers crossed.  Have been getting emails re dinner bookings for Christmas so everything seems to be in order.

Just been talking to friend who came in yesterday on QE repositioning cruise.  They boarded in Barcelona and 3 of the group didn't get their luggage.  Lost in transit with aircraft somewhere.  It eventually caught up with them some ports later but it was a matter of scrounging what clothing they could put together at the beginning of cruise.  Not a great start to a Cunard cruise.  He also said it was riddled with covid but there was no checking or protocols to follow from company.  If they don't know they don't have to report it.