CountessCookie

"Free" functional branded items (stationery, bags, etc), is a type of advertisement I'm happy to support.

I love that there are some "not duck ducks," too. The cow is my favourite.

I'm much the same. I'm not interested in finding or hiding ducks. But it makes me happy to know other people are enjoying it and I do like hearing the stories of those who hiding and hunt for them.

I understand wishing for a more sustainable alternative. But seeing as cruises come from all over the world, it would also be important to make sure they don't pose a bio-hazard risk. Which would rule out seeds, or people will be getting their finds confiscated by boarder control on the trip home.

I've booked my first cruise and I'm thinking of combining this cruise with my hobby of decorative planning. I'm thinking of setting up a pretty Traveller's Notebook which I can use to plan my cruise, journal during my cruise and then be able it of a scrapbook/memory keeper after the cruise. I was wondering if anyone has done something similar and have some tips or inspection they could share? I have a some idea of what I want to do, but currently a little overwhelmed by too many abstract ideas and nowhere to start.

I have read a few things about that, but at least this cruise should go ahead. And I get a balcony for the same price as the solo insider I had with Virgin. Hopefully the APP doesn't give me too many dramas.

I ended up booking that cruise with Princess as an alternative to the cancelled Virgin cruise. I booked with Princess, but transferred the booking to a local TA this morning. I told her that I had originally had a Virgin cruise booked. I could just tell by her face that she had a hard week due to those cancellations.

For me, it is less about why they are doing this, than how they are going about that. If Vorgin was being honest about under preforming this season having a role in thwse cancellation, I would be more forgiving. They are a buisness and need to make profits. However, it seems they are solely blaming the issues in the RedSea for the cancellation, which seems to be false and, I feel, in bad taste. The email they sent even said, "Virgin Voyages was embraced by Aussies with such a warm welcome, and together, we celebrated an extremely successful inaugural season — and that love was very much mutual." From what we are hearing, that season wasn't "extremely successful."

I happy with all spirits, though gin is my go to. I'll have to note those down in my things to try list.

So any particular recommendations of the cocktail and Martini lists?

There really is a good choice which ate covered by Plus. Big thanks for these lists Geoff.

I almost get the feeling they are happy to have an excuse to pull out. The whole place holder thing dor Brilliant does seem like a load of BS. Would have been better to if they could have been more transparent and honest from the get go.

It all seems a bit ironic that this big island country is a bad place for cruising.

I must admit that I find it a bit iffy when they use that flippant sounding greeting for emails like this. I felt the same when I emailed them before the before the change in the current repositioning cruise. The reply where they couldn't tell me what was going to happen with the cruise I booked, but I should sign up to their news letter if I wanted to be kept up to date in any changed itineraries. This was about a cruise I had paid for. I sure hope we get an official email notification and not just expected to follow the newsletter as implied in the reply I got. I said it over in the Virgin board and will say it here. I am very grateful to the members of this form who have been keeping us up-to-date. I made the, apparent mistake, of booking without a TA. I would have no idea what was going on if it wasn't for this Cruise Critic members.

This is quite disappointing news. I'm just glad for the members of this forum keeping us updated with what is going on. Otherwise I would not have had a clue what has been happening. I was able to book a similar itinerary with a different cruise line while it was on sale, but probably wouldn't have been able to if I left it untill they officially tell us.

That last paragraph. They know it is summer here during the cancelled season, right? 🤣

This is disappointing to hear, but I'm not surprised. I've been expecting to here this since they removed listings. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of Aussies who were booked feel the same way you do. If they do decide to comeback in a few years, it might not go well for them. I would personally give Vorgin Voyages another chance (I see the fully diffrent from the airline), but not for a couple years and it would have to be an area they are established it. No more booking before they do their first season in an area.

It has been mentioned in a few other threads that Resiliant Lady shows up on St Maarten Cruise Ship Bookings website between Dec 2024 and March 2025. At the time it was suggested that the bookings where place holders for Brilliant Lady, but maybe that isn't the case.

This is so true. After this I think I'm going to give them a miss, untill they are a bit more "stable." I really feel for those who have now been twice cancelled.

I would say B. Since someone found that port booked for Resiliant Lady. Given what we have seen, I really doubt they will come back to Aus next season. I'm booked on Resiliant Lady for Jan 2025 and I've started making alternative plans.

As someone who just booked 4 night cruise, I would be happy with just the 1. I think that would be plenty pre-fixe, particularly on Crow Princess which seems to have less options for them. I'm not even 100% sure I'll be using both.

I might do that. When the do officially cancel Virgin, many will be looking for an alternative. My back up leaves from the same port 4 days after the Virgin would finish. Worst case, I can try and fit both in (my wallet doesn't like this idea)

Did she give any indication on whether they would be coming back to AU or not? I'm guessing they aren't supposed to (if they even know), but sometimes you can get an idea from the way people say things.

This is so true. I just wish they would hurry up and make the announcement. Meanwhile, watching my back up cruise choice sell out is getting frustrating.

That is what I believe too. I've even chosen a Jan 2025 Princess Cruise I'll be booking instead. Just waiting for the final confirmation from Virgin.