Chiliburn

8 minutes ago, SinbadThePorter said:

 

What's going to affect the cruise industry first is various ports mandating on shore power. New York City has just done this, although the details are yet to be worked out.

 

In a few years, ships that don't have on shore power capability are going to be limited in their choice of ports.

The older ships will be going to the scrap yard.

The E.U. and California , I believe has said if one of your ships operates here ,your whole fleet must comply to our standards .

P&O Australia might be able to get around that as they don’t operate in the E.U. or California.

Like I said I’m not a greenie but this is what the cruise industry will have to deal with.

I believe it’s this month of March it’s now mandatory to cut emissions.

16 minutes ago, Ozwoody said:

 

In the video the commentator said the LNG ships were just as bad because they discharged a different greenhouse gas. Seems the cruise lines can't win.

The commentator said they should use energy cells, not sure what they are, (assume some type of batteries).

But batteries require huge amounts of rare earth minerals, can't see how that helps, humongous amounts of mining to obtain, isn't good either.

 

All this is well beyond me, every time they come up with a solution, there seems to be ramifications.

 

However it is great that RCL is looking at bucking the big ship trend.

I was on Celebrity Edge just recently and the captain had a seminar and one of the subjects was the incoming emissions.

He said LNG was just a temporary thing to reduce emissions but it’s not the answer.

A interesting thing he said was Egde class is 17% more efficient than Solstice class.

Thats fuel burn and carbon emissions.

I’m not a greenie   but I thought I would start a thread on cruise ship emissions.

Its something people don’t seem to be aware of and have it’s going to effect the cruise industry.

1 hour ago, springaussie said:

This is all I can find is this 

 

 

Apr 16 - Apr 21: Singapore to Hong Kong

 

Apr 21 - Apr 26: Hong Kong > Naha > Keelung > Hong Kong

 

Apr 26 - May 01: Hong Kong to Tianjin

•  

I suppose it will be released soon with our season.

@springaussie

Im looking at Ovation’s repo after next season. Apparently after Singapore it does a 5 night to Hong Kong. Have you seen any details of that cruise and where it stops?

4 hours ago, ceeceeDee said:

Sorry, I'm a bit confused. Monkey?..............

Mic likes hanging out at the monkey cage  on the weekends.

Feels secure and wanted.

3 hours ago, twangster said:

 

It's nothing really, think of the money they save by having old IT infrastructure.  

 

We all know what that means... much lower cruise fares!  Could you imagine what cruises would cost if they invested in IT?  

 

Their billing process seems to work efficiently.

36 minutes ago, ceeceeDee said:

Cruise wharf would be great.

 

Just slightly off topic............. If anyone likes murder mysteries, Matt Francis (Australian author) has written two books so far in the series Murder in the Pacific set in Vanuatu featuring police sergeant George Long (half Chinese, half Ni Vanuatu). The first, Ifira Point is set in Vila and the second, Mt Yasur, is set on Tanna. They're a light, engaging read with plenty of local colour and insights into local customs. I'm impatiently waiting for Matt to produce the third book.

Tanna supposed to quite nice ,probably a good place for a murder mystery.

I like a story with a monkey in it .

43 minutes ago, beatleman said:

How is Lelepa going Chilli is Big Gav  got any news/

I was just on Celebrity Edge Beatle and at the captain’s thingo . He was talking about carbon emissions and how Royal and Celebrity are trying to comply.

By the sounds of it they won’t be throwing much money around here until they get more efficient ships.

As for Lelepa, I haven’t heard anything and don’t expect to.

1 hour ago, bonsai3s said:

 

That's the smart thing to do.

 

I drove a bit over 4 hours to the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco. (My mistake.  * I did not want to mail and relinquish my passport to an agency.)  Arrived early and the queue was already around the block.

When I got in, there was no courtesy...people cutting lines and insisting they had priority (?)...when I finally made it to the window, they told me the photos I'm submitting were unacceptable.

 

To make a long story short, I asked for a supervisor who ultimately approved the photos. I was told to come back at 2pm.

 

When I came back, same scenario inside...long queue and chaos. At the end of the day, I did get our visas.

 

This was over 10 years ago...perhaps it's better now...perhaps not.  Most of the other countries we've visited, that required a visa, we can easily apply online. Curious if China allows U.S. citizens to apply online?

Apparently they have made it a lot easier for most western countries but that could change at the drop of a hat.

The biggest problem I’ve heard of is the scams when you get there .

That would be nice if it happens.

https://www.dailypost.vu/news/call-for-an-international-wharf-on-tanna/article_c9279db7-2984-5bc3-a9c2-bf1002c316d7.html

@NSWP

Cougar report Uncle Les 

Celebrity Edge had a mature clientele,I would say 95% of the people were over 50.

The entertainment was pretty sedate and it was quite safe for a couple of young fellows like us.

And there was a singles concierge!!

Steak and eggs every morning to keep the energy up .

3 hours ago, arxcards said:

There were some great deals going a couple of years ago. We booked Celebrity Edge - this very cruise. It was a good deal, attractive at a time that cruising was still paused. It needed to be that sweet a deal way to get passengers aboard. You can't compare it with current pricing.

 

However, we did not look for discounted packages. We could have booked an "upgrade" with a package, but it would have turned our refundable deposit into a non-refundable one. We had a couple too many cruises booked, and when the pricing of specialty restaurants and drinks was being announced as double+ that of pre-pandemic, we pulled the pin and had our deposit refunded.

 

We love Celebrity, having enjoyed a couple of great cruises on Solstice. You can compare cruises with land holidays for price, but you can also compare them with other cruise lines. That is the comparison that has us abandoning Celebrity for now. When it comes to booking something today for next year, there is much better value out there. I can afford it, but there is a principle to saying no if I think pricing is OTT.

My conclusion,Edge is a lovely ship. The food is way better than R.C and the cabins are larger with premium fittings .

 I had a interior cabin with a King bed and the cabin was huge.

 I paid $2,000 for it which was reasonable for 6 nights.

I would keep an eye out for a cheap cruise if I was you  Geoff.

Chili ,the last of the big spenders.

9 hours ago, icat2000 said:

What do they charge per day for the beverage packages ? And what do you get in them. I haven't cruised Celebrity since 2016 so bit out of the loop. Good deal is the key. I haven't really seen any good deals from Celebrity of late. 

I’m not sure what the drinks packages are but you would have get it.

Theres three I believe and most of the people had to upgrade to the more expensive one to get a fancy drink.

Not that I’m into it but they even charge for yoga sessions.A few of the gym sessions had charges also.

14 hours ago, springaussie said:

Does anyone know why Brilliance and Serenade are going to Yorkeys Knob and not Cairns?

They were originally on the Cairns list. 

The only reason I could think is the tide ?  They can get big tidal movements around there.

Or Royal is just to tight .

16 hours ago, arxcards said:

You need the XE app on your phone to do your conversions.

No additional tip?? 😉

I’m a bit of a cheap Charlie in the tip department but always tip the cabin attendant 

1 minute ago, onlyslightlymad said:

The coffee is awful.  The best I managed was to go to the pod machine in the Retreat lounge, choose doppio, do it twice, then add your own milk.

I bought a coffee plunger along and I m pretty popular .

I bought a couple of drinks last night out side of happy hours.

A coke was $US 6 and a bourbon and coke was $US18 ,that’s about $24 Australian.

Royal Caribbean for a bourbon and coke is $US11.

2 hours ago, arxcards said:

Indeed. Add us to the current list.

We used to love doing short cruises in Royal's suites. The high prices aboard have steered us away, and they have started jacking-up the suite prices in line with the drink and/or restaurant inclusions. Never say never, but they have lost us for now.

It’s a nice ship Geoff but you wouldn’t like it because your medallion won’t work .

But they are really out to fleece the punter . you just need to say .Do I really need that suite or that special restaurant where you eat to much.

2 hours ago, reeves35 said:

So, in addition to a drinks package you pay another AUD9 - AUD12 for a drink and then there will probably be an 18% service charge (AUD1.50 - AUD2.20) added on top of that.....you'd want it to be a nice wine!!!

I have never bought a drink package as I try not to drink so much but I believe there two tiers. The basic just covers the average drink,beer ,house wine,mixed drinks,coffee,juice.

I heard at the bar a couple times,someone order a cocktail or a fancy glass of wine.

The bar tender said your drink package doesn’t cover that it will be an extra $6 or $8 

The Tender area or gangway is really fancy. The side of the ship opens up to like a shop front with glass windows. Like the perfume area at Myer .I started to take a picture inside but security jumped on me.

33 minutes ago, resordanis said:

Chilli, the food in the buffet will be good on Celebrity. Anything is better than the Windjammer.I will be interested in your comparison seeing you are now Elite with Celebrity!

Elite doesn’t really give many benefits,90 minutes of internet and a open bar from 5-7 and the drinks are pretty limited.

The food is definitely better that windjammers,the Breads a as good as you get.

They have a lovely baked ham they are carving up in the buffet,heaps of smoked salmon and even pickled herrings . I just had ham and egg bagel,very tasty.

As you said, asked the cabin attendant for a kettle and he had one in half hour. I have my trusty coffee plunger so all good in the coffee department.