cheznandy

10 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

He keeps blocking me .

It’s looking that way ,voyager and Anthem but if Quantum goes to L.A where does that leave Navigator?

Navigator would be better that Voyager ,Navigator has been Californicated with some nice bars.

There still a port booking for Voyager in Darwin for 7th Dec 2025, first port booking for Voyager in Brisbane is 13th Dec 2025.

I think whatever ports in Sydney will come from the US, it's still marked  "unknown" and over the years they usually do that for an announcement/new ship. (new to us) or maybe they don't know yet haha!

I'll be happy with a Voyager class in Brissy or Sydney, looking for an Asia repositioning late 2025.

I remember we thought Navigator was coming years ago, think we ended up with Explorer and Voyager, same same!!

Looks like the Pacific/Hawaii Ovation cruises have been officially cancelled, including the South Pacific one 3rd April 2025 prior to the repositioning, which lines up with the Darwin booking for Ovation on the 10th April, giving 7 days to get there.

Anyone for a cruise to Singapore??

3 hours ago, beatleman said:

Wife and daughter on the Quantum at present time stayed pre cruise at the Kingsford Smith Motel and will spend 2 nights there post cruise, both raved about it over the phone. Fantastic room close to facilities and the staff could not be more helpful.

Great to hear, I am there again in September and have a Family suite booked as with daughter and 3 grandsons. 

We had a swim in the little pool, and a fab dinner across the road. Seagrill cafe, It's advertised as a seafood restaurant, but out the back it is Vietnamese, so glad we found that little gem, felt like we were back in Viet Nam. Hubby wants to stay at the hotel again just to eat there haha!!

10 hours ago, mum and son said:

Hi crew, 

 

I've booked a DW - Deluxe Balcony Obstructed on my upcoming Royal Princess cruise. Strangely it was a "Drop and Go" deal for next month, which are always guarantee category, but I was able to choose my cabin and was lucky to book a DW midship with no real obstruction (the only obstruction is that the promenade deck is below, but no obstruction by tenders etc).

 

 

The DW cat are great, there are a few with very large balconies and the only obstruction is the deck below. These are midship and sounds like what you have.

Difference between a Deluxe Obstructed Balcony and Obstructed Balcony is they are about a foot longer and have a sofa.

If you have one of these, I would keep it if you have 3 in the cabin and have the larger balcony.

31 minutes ago, cheznandy said:

I think it is an Accent hotel not Accor.

 

My bad, it's Ascend not Accent😃

3 minutes ago, arxcards said:

 The Kingsford Smith and the Kingsford Brisbane (mentioned above) are two different hotels, but both have been reno'd s

I know,  but very confusing for some as they are all called Kingsford something.

Aerolodge looks the same as when we stayed there back in 2009/10

17 minutes ago, arxcards said:

We used to stay at a few of the hotels along Kingsford Smith Drive. Yes, it does get consistently good reviews. They are very much 80's style, and the price reflects that. For a good feed nearby, I can recommend the Hamilton Hotel just under a block away. Woolies isn't as close as it would appear on the map - seven lanes of a busy main road with a skinny median strip and no access into the shopping complex from Kingsford Smith drive.

Have to disagree with the 80's bit Geoff, some maybe, but the Kingsford Smith Motel has been beautifully redone, is more modern and cleaner than some hotels we have stayed at recently.

We found it really easy to cross the road and walk to Woolies etc.

The area it a lot quieter than once was when we used to cruise from Portside.

We are  only staying at Novotel Airport in a couple of weeks time as I got it for $140 and we are flying in otherwise we would have booked Kingsford Smith again.

59 minutes ago, sweetp12 said:

We are booked into the Kingsford Brisbane Airport by Accor in March.  They offer a shuttle to the new cruise terminal and have given us a late check-out at our shuttle time.  That and the $15 breakfast + right across the road from Woolworths was the reason we decided to stay there. It seems to have good reviews, but I can let you know in a month! 

I think it is an Accent hotel not Accor.

We stayed at the Kingsford Smith Motel just up the road last year and were really happy with it, staying again at the end of the year, agree it's a great location for Woolies, IGA, liquor and pubs, bars and restaurants.

Be interested to hear how your stay is there!

22 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

I doubt it would be China,their economy is pretty bad.

Singapore ?

Japan , possibly?

Home ported in Honolulu ,could be ?

 

 I still think Ovation is going to Ravenna Italy , Royal Caribbean has just spent a fortune building a new cruise terminal and they will have to increase capacity to pay for it.

Not sure where Chilli, just noticed the Port bookings tonight.

Quantum will come from Brisbane to Sydney then pacific crossing.

Looks like Ovation will go from Sydney and will take one of Quantums Brisbane bookings, strange though as it's an overnighter then head north.

On 2/1/2024 at 3:44 PM, resordanis said:

So what direction do you think? I could be interested!

There is now a port booking for Ovation in Darwin April 10th 2025, and a booking for Quantum in Sydney 8th April 2025, so Quantum to Hawaii and looks like Ovation to Asia.

Great reading Julie, been catching up as we have been away. We did an unposh cruise on the QM2 (inside cabin) over 10 years ago and loved the experience and the beautiful ship. Can't recall seeing our cabin steward either way back then.

Re accents, I lived in NZ when younger and picked up an accent then moved to South Australia and picked up the South Aussie drawl and pronunciation of vowels, when back in NSW everyone thought i was South African haha!

John, we didn't use it on Luminosa last year as it was just hubby and I and we are always together🥰

We did use it on Splendor last June as we cruised with daughter and grandsons.

It worked fine for us.......when daughter looked at her phone! I recall it doesn't give you a prompt that there is a message, so need to keep checking.

Was good for us re picking the kids up from kids club etc.

We are back on Luminosa (yay) in a couple of weeks but prob won't use it as it's just us again.

2 minutes ago, resordanis said:

Thanks Chez, Great  list. We are in Singapore again end of April. This list has refreshed my mind and given me some new ideas. Kranji War Memorial is somewhere that may be of interest also.. Probably one of the most somber experiences I have had, but one I am glad we went to, more than once. We are staying on Sentosa this time, for a different outlook on Singapore.

Yes Cheryle, Kranji Cemetry/Memorial is on the do list, thanks for reminding me of it!!

Always run out of days and as that and the Botanic Gardens are further away we just haven't got there.

We had a lovely day using the shuttle bus around Sentosa, a swim at a beach and lunch. You can do it cheap without cable cars and tours and going to the theme parks etc.

The Botanic Gardens have always seemed to allude us due to weather or just lack of time and tiredness, but it is on the list for next trip.

Some things we have done:

Fort Canning Park, we did a tour of the Battle Box WW11 history.

We walked over to Sentosa Island and made our way to Fort Siloso...more WW11 history.

Visited the Pinnacle @Duxton, a residential complex where you can take the lift to the skybridge for $6 and walk around for great views.

Singapore flyer

We have had cocktails at the top of Marina Bay Sands.

Sunset at Gardens by the Bay

Had a Fish Foot massage!

Visited Changi museum.....prior to The Jewel opening, we disembarked a cruise, dropped luggage at airport and spent the afternoon at the museum, which is close to the airport.

Done a couple of river cruises

We love to eat at Lau Pa sat, Satay by the Bay at Gardens by the Bay, and all the little Asian restaurants around Bugis.

We are not shoppers, but have walked around Orchard road area, Suntec Mall, Vivo city and Gardens by the Bay Shoppes.

Have also seen the Light show at Gardens and light and water show on the bay.

If you like Whiskey we went to the Auld Alliance Whisky bar, where they do tasting type paddles.

So many areas still to visit, the Zoo, Botanic Gardens, I wanted to go to Singapore Turf club for a race day but it is closing in October so will miss that, and there are loads of islands to visit nearby too.

6 minutes ago, arxcards said:

I am a bit puzzled by the delayed announcements. If they already know, surely they want to get to get them into the market and competing with the other brands. We booked a cruise for March '26 a couple of months back. and it would be a shame if Whatsy of the Seas had something comparable that we might have booked instead.

I knowwww.....we cancelled our Discovery Princess in 2025 to do Whatsy of the Seas repositioning from somewhere to somewhere, just like to know where haha!

We booked Discovery 3 nighter in March, think it's the one you are on, to check it out.

2 hours ago, JohnGc said:

Presently looking at the Voco Orchard rd. Looks nice reviews are good. Used to be the Hilton. States it has refurbished rooms. 5 minutes from MRT and amongst all the shopping ( not sure thats a good thing,I hate shopping ) but I am sure the wife & daughter would love it. 😁

John, if you like high end shops that's the place to be. Not an area we would book, but like everyone has said, the MRT can take you anywhere and once in your hotel room you could be anywhere.

1 hour ago, JohnGc said:

Thanks Guys, all a great help. Has anyone stayed at the Mercure on Stevens owned by Accor if so I would be interested to know what that is like. Cost seems very reasonable but that makes me wonder. I will have a look at the  V Lavender hotel, thanks.

Yes, as stated the Mercure on Stevens is a fair walk from MRT. I have looked at it often but too far away for a short stay for us.

Last two visits to Singapore we have stayed at Ibis Bencoolen, basic, clean and great reviews. Three MRT lines close and we love that area. Walk to Little India and Kampong Glam, Orchard Rd if you want. 

We use Accor and have booked the Mercure Bugis for the next stay, but have a flexible booking  and keep checking the price. Only reason we chose this over Ibis Bencoolen is it has a pool.

Also looking out for a new Mercure opening April possibly, Mercure Icon, near Chinatown, lots of MRT options and right near Telok Ayer, where Lau Pau Sat food market is. It will be brand new, pool but can't find much info at the moment.

1 hour ago, Chiliburn said:

I’m on that cruise,just booked airfares and just about to book the hotel.

Are you on the fb thingo?

No, don't do fb.

Have booked airfares also, Qantas from Sydney, 3 nights in Singapore.

21 minutes ago, icat2000 said:

Thanks guys for your posts. I too have been following your discussions. Everyone likes a good repo 🙂

Ditto for me too, waiting to see what comes here from Asia in 2025/2026.

We are on Quantum from Singapore this year and hoping for Voyager next year.

The Discovery Princess Singapore to Sydney is too long for us at 16 days, but Royal seem to keep theirs at 12 days.

Have fun Geoff n Barb. Love Carnival!

The comedy venues are great as well as piano bar etc. Head up front top for quiet and lounges...behind water slides.

52 minutes ago, resordanis said:

Currently on Brilliance and about to lose internet. We just had an announcement thru all cabins and dining room that 22 billiard balls have been misplaced or stolen on this cruise and they are wanting them returned. I did have to check my watch to see it wasn’t 1st April. Third world problem for Royal Caribbean as it has apparently never happened before.

Wow Cheryle, that is so bad that people may have stolen them.

We had a couple of games when we were on board, love those tables. 

Hope you guys are having a good cruise.

19 minutes ago, resordanis said:

I can live it hope as an overnighter actually at the Port in Cairns was the only reason this cruise appealed to us!

Oh Cheryle, I hope you guys get to see him this time, you have had such bad luck.

1 minute ago, cheznandy said:

 

Double posted..whoops

40 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

No one special Eileen .it’s the difference between Carnival and RCG.

 

We got exactly the same worded letter except  25%.....forgot to add in post above that deck 3 aft was definately poop deck, they were always spraying it with Eucalyptus spray as it stunk of sewer.

Stewards told us that there had been many leaks, so they just keep spraying.

29 minutes ago, JohnGc said:

Thanks, I gathered that but can you book on another later bus. Will they accommodate you by automatically  getting you on another if spare seats available. Have any of you guys actually missed a booking on ConXion if so what was the outcome. 

I have a  booking confirmation in front of me, I have copied and pasted the relevant details, some relates to flights, but I would read it that if you miss your allocated time you get on the next one, just call to inform them if you are held up.

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