ShazM

I wonder if the transpacific is going to happen then

The bridge climb is actually very safe, you are harnessed on so you won't be falling anywhere and just have to follow the instructions. You aren't allowed to take cameras or phones up in case they were to fall onto traffic crossing the bridge below. You get a whole different view of the harbour from up there, it's amazing.

North Star won't be operating until the ship goes to dry dock in September or October this year.

Yes, 13 December, 2025 and the 2nd cruise is on 16 December.

Totally agree, it's just an excuse. Branson wanted more slots in Sydney and couldn't get them because they are booked so far in advance, plus Melbourne also put up port fees. He can't just expect to rock up and demand extra slots in Sydney Harbour which seems to be what has happened.

Yes they were on deck 9 but the exact same position. Even on deck 12 when you look towards the back of the ship you can see the lifeboats but the cabin 250 has no obstruction in front of it at all from deck 8 and up.

You will see lifeboats looking down towards the back of the ship but there is absolutely no obstruction. We have stayed in 12250 and it is in a great spot with a balcony that is a bit bigger than the usual balconies. The bed was near the bathroom and we actually preferred that in the end because we had the open space near the balcony door.

Also people here have been getting this notice as well. It sounds like Quantum will leave Brisbane and instead of heading to Tahiti and Honolulu it will be making a stop in Sydney and will be picking up passengers here and going to Honolulu via NZ and Tahiti, think it is 21 nights from a comment I saw from someone who was on Ovation and has been offered a place on Quantum.

Most of us still tip extra to our room attendant and bar staff/wait staff that look after us but all other gratuities are included in the cost of the cruise and can't be removed unlike in the US.

Good to hear you are word perfect. You can't be a part-time Aussie unless you know this song. On our transpacific from Honolulu home to Sydney there was a girl that played in the pub, Anna from Argentina. She actually went away and practiced this song and the Alice song and started playing it in the pub every night, even filmed it to send home to her mother in Argentina. The Americans onboard loved it.

Any cruise we book here in Australia on the AU website has gratuities included in the fare and drink packages also.

Doesn't matter if it was, the cat did not undergo the appropriate quarantine procedures before the passengers brought it onto the ship. If it was a therapy cat then why would they be sneaking it around, it also doesn't say much for security in Honolulu either.

Just also be aware that North Star won't be in operation. I believe it has a crack in one of the glass panes and didn't operate in the last part of the Alaskan season just gone. The ship is now down here in Australia and everyone has been told it won't be fixed until dry dock in late 2024.

I'm in Australia and got one of these emails on 9 June regarding our transpacific next April. It said the original payment schedule would be honored and no changes would be required. I then looked at my booking on the website and the date had changed from 5 January to 5 December so I called them up and they changed it back to 5 January. I have received this email again today and so far my date for final payment is 5 January but I will keep a close eye on it.

No, only grand suite and up get that

If you are intending to do this cruise then be aware that the North Star won't be working. It apparently has for a couple of months now had a crack in one of the panes of glass and won't be fixed until dry dock late next year. We are doing the transpacific from Brisbane to Honolulu in April and there are some that are very disappointed. Nothing official from Royal yet but others who are and have been on this Alaska season have all said that is what they have been told by the crew.

No, but Noumea requires everyone to have it. They mostly don't even check but brought this in years ago because that is where people usually get taken if there is a medical emergency in any of the islands. So many weren't paying their bill that they had to bring in an insurance requirement.

We had 12250 on Ovation for the transpacific last year and loved it. As it was just behind the hump the balcony was a bigger than the normal balconies and was on an angle so you could see the whole way down to the back of the ship, just not forward. It was also right near the midship lifts/elevators so a great position.

Doubt it, cruises to the islands and NZ last year were pretty full so I don't know why they would go up. To go out of Brisbane cruises get pretty heavily discounted anyway.

So you obviously can't for Greece as per the above. I don't know about Europe but doing the transpacific last October from Honolulu to Sydney we were told from probably 3 days before we got to New Zealand that no fresh food was allowed to be taken off the ship, no fruit, sandwiches or anything else that wasn't in a sealed packet like a snack bar or chips/crisps or chocolate bar and things like that. We were told numerous times and also told numerous times that there would be sniffer dogs at each NZ port and we were risking a $300 NZD fine. You would not believe the number of idiotic people that thought they could get away with it and were trying to take fruit, sandwiches and cold meats and cheeses off the ship and all were caught by the beagles.

The ship will let you know beforehand if you aren't allowed to take fresh food off. They will make announcements telling you not to do it and will also leave a printout in your cabin about the local biosecurity laws telling you what you can and can't take off the ship. You will just have to wait and see.

I know of someone who was in a junior suite on the hump, so a spa junior suite that was originally J4 and got recategorised to J3. They had access to coastal kitchen.

Yes, everything we buy here including the cruise itself has gratuities already added into the price

There are plenty of regular cruises from here who fly regularly to Singapore just to go on Spectrum and it is their favourite ship. From what they all say you will enjoy it.

For our transpacific next April it is on sale at the moment for $118 AUD, so roughly $80 USD per person per day.