cheznandy

Have a great trip Geoff and Barb. Done a few short cruises and yes they are always different, but always fun!! The worst was a 3 nighter on Celebrity Solstice when it arrived for the first time, full of TA's and youngsters up all night!!

Thanks for posting Stu....I am just catching up. Love a good Equator Ceremony, Princess do it well. Majestic not my fav Princess ship but we did like the Hollywood pool area. Is that forward area still free? I think it is the only Royal class that you don't have to pay for it.

I am going to print out the booking info in my email where it states they are included as we board in Singapore. Been caught out before with gratuities and OBC so always have that hard copy!

We loved Carnival Splendor, did Singapore to Sydney before the shut down. We loved the quality and choice of free food available. A few extras for you to look out for......the BBQ grill above the buffet area, you can get to from the deck above or walk the stairs inside the buffet area. Not many people know about it, there is a lift also so easier to carry other food from the buffet area. A huge variety of meats, sausages and salads. The adults only area which is aft is a lovely place but gets really busy.....if you walk forward on Spa deck 12, there are sun lounges, cane lounges and chairs. It goes all the way around the front of the ship (although the deck plan looks like it is part of the spa) there is also a bar on the Starboard side. I believe this used to be the adult only area when the ship was permanently in the USA and they left all the lounges there!! We spent most of our time there until after a week everyone else found it haha!! The Oceanview cabins on decks 1 and 2 (Main and Riviera) are huge. Nice big windows and they are the size of a balcony cabin including the balcony. Up a couple of decks and you have the restaurants and bars, so very handy. If looking for a inside cabin, look at decks 6 and 7 forward(Upper and Empress) You can access the forward decks on 6 and 7, great for fresh air and coming into ports, your own private balcony!! The Spa area on Splendor is huge, so for our next short cruise we have booked an inside Spa cabin. Same as a regular inside but you have free access to the facilities, steam rooms etc They are situated forward on deck 10 and 11 (Panorama and Spa) and Panorama deck has another of the forward public decks. Spa balcony cabins are available also. Not sure if a Spa cabin would be worth it for us on a longer warmer weather cruise when we like to be outside, but for a short winter cruise I think we will make use of it. Enjoy your cruise, once you get past the pink and bling, spend some time finding your way around. It's not like any other cruise ship in layout, especially getting to the restaurants and The Red frog pub but it had lots of plusses for us.

I didn't do the walk but hubby did. the Museum was great and the walk to the beach look out from there. We have come through Winton etc when coming back from Darwin to home, a great drive. Last year we did 3 weeks from Mid North Coast, Iluka through to Lightening Ridge, hot springs were great! then down to Mudgee and home through the Hunter Valley. We mix it up with free camps, donation showgrounds and footy fields, back of pubs, National Parks and very rarely caravan parks!

Thanks you guys, Geoff I just found a photo of you and me back in 2007/8 at the CC Hawaiian Xmas party in Parramatta......I had a mumu on and you had your safari suit on😂

Not pre '88 Les, but I'm retired, but Andy isn't, he is 7 years younger so have to wait for him to catch up haha!! I am 58 today.....shhh😀

Hi Eileen, nice to see you here again. So sorry your business plans did not work out, but looks like you have some great adventures ahead. Might see out there on the road sometime, we are not retired but try to get out to see this amazing country in our van when we can. Just did 3 weeks up to Seventeen Seventy, Bundaburg, Hervey Bay, Bribie Island and Yamba. Just beautiful!! Take care and safe travels

Ozwoody, we have hired a car a couple of times in Fiji, once from Suva for the day and drove to the Coral Coast and back the same way. Also hired from Nadi on a land holiday. These hotsprings are a great day trip from Nadi, Denaru or Lautoka. https://saikahotspringmudpool.com/

Hi there, I just booked a Celebrity cruise, booked in AUD direct with Celebrity. My invoice states "A service charge for your dining and stateroom attendant are included in your cruise fare. A service charge for additional onboard services purchased will be incurred and reflect on your Onboard Expense Account." Hope that answers your question. They were fabulous to deal with, honoured a very old Next cruise deposit and included OBC.

I was on that too....June 2008? Rarotonga was beautiful, we hired a car and lapped the island a couple of times. Called there again in 2010 on the Dawn Princess, couldn't anchor due to the moving sand so we circled the island for a drive by. We would love to go back some day.

Hey Subaru94, Have a look at the definition of overseas in the PDF booklet "overseas means outside of Australia and its territories other than when you are aboard a foreign registered cruise vessel in Australian territorial waters." I would take that to mean yes!! ANZ has similar wording..."outside of Australia and its territories, and includes when you are aboard a foreign registered cruise vessel in Australian territorial waters." Both are underwritten by Allianz. The NAB has different coverage for under 76 with unlimited Medical and no cover for 76 - 91, so you would be fine in regards to your ages. I did notice that NAB has unlimited cancellation which ANZ is only $20000. Will look into NAB as ANZ has taken away our Breakfree investment package and its "perks" which included our ANZ Qantas black card, so will have to pay $400 year to keep it!!

I remember the Rhapsody RFDS cruise, when we heard the gossip that they were selling duty free we were straight down there😇.......as it was domestic walked off with about 8 bottles of spirits, yep they stopped that quick.

Go the Penrith Blues😁

Hope he is ok, hopefully away on an amazing trip, or like me and goes on a CC holiday now and then.

Please don't go out of your way. We too look for cabins in different locations.

Well that's a shame if it is☹️ We sometimes book an inside with access to the aft pool. Which reminds me of another question.....Baja, Caribe, Dolphin and Emerald aft all have access to outside decks. Do they have chairs or sunlounges on them? Are they used or busy? Probably for sailaway!

A question re the aft pool, is that for everyone's use, or just those that have booked the Sanctuary? It looks as though the Sanctuary is above it. Thanks for all your info😀

With all respect guys, can we keep this to a "Live from the Coral." Plenty of other threads for the who's has what and who hasn't. I know as someone who has posted updates from cruises how hard it is to find peoples questions amongst the chat😀

Royal not coming to Aus Geoff? Hopefully they will replace with a Grand class, come on over Sapphire😉

Have a wonderful cruise both of you😀

Barry Splendor is worse haha!! Pink everywhere, but we got over it quick and really enjoy Carnival.

Have a fabulous time Bob, so happy for you to be back on a ship. Stay safe and healthy🥰

Great news Bob, and for you now you are in Brisbane area😁 And also great for those of us that like a cruise from Australia to Hawaii. (hoping it does the Sydney/Hawaii sectors like the Legend did) From what I read it is only here October to April then sails across for the Alaska season.

Sounds lovely, I have done a 28 night return on Pacific Dawn to Tahiti/Samoa/Tonga/Cook Islands etc and a one way Sydney to Hawaii on the Dawn Princess. I really like the one ways but Princess doesn't do them anymore. Spent a week in Hawaii then flew home. Hard to believe it's nearly 20 years since we met on the Pac Sky😱