cheznandy

Happy to share!

Here is my view on the differences between the Diamond and the Sapphire, they are sister ships.

We cruised 11 nights from Singapore visiting Penang, Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur, ko Samui, Laem Chebang (Bangkok/Pattaya) and Phuy My ( Ho Chi Min/ Vung Tau.

Sapphire has an International cafe on Plaza deck serving breakfast items, egg/bacon muffins, yoghurt parfaits etc, pastries and at lunch salads and pre made sandwiches and rolls. The IC is next to the coffee lounge area so a great place to sit and relax. All free! (except coffee)

Sapphire has Alfredos on Plaza deck serving pizza. We would grab a salad from the IC to eat with our pizza. A lovely newly decorated eatery, all free!

Also on Plaza deck, Sapphire has a wine bar which I thought was under utilised on this cruise. Mainly saw people sitting there reading and drinking coffee.

A few high end shops, although I believe diamond had these installed in her dry dock.

Future cruise sales, Captains circle host and excursions are all behind the casino.

The Sapphire now has a jug/kettle in all cabins/suites while in Asia, we had slippers and robes in our balcony cabin, our friends in an inside did not. We are not sure if it was because we had a balcony or we are Elite (forgot to ask others:rolleyes:)

Large TV's with heaps of great latest release movies as well as other options.

Sapphire also has the four lovely anytime dining restaurants, Vivaldi, Savoy, Pacific Moon and Santa Fe, all serving the same menu, different decor.

Just a note on dining on Asian cruises from Singapore.......these cruises are made up of 4 nights, 7 night cruises, we did 11 nights. The first 4 nights we found more Asian cruisers, there was no dress code in the dining rooms, we saw shorts, singlets and thongs (flipflops) when I enquired if there was a dress code I was told "yes, but the Asians don't like to dress for dinner" Also the Anytime dining rooms were packed.......they were letting Traditional diners in, which made getting a table for those of us with Anytime difficult.

After the turnaround in Singapore for the last 7 days, mostly Aussies and UK's boarded, the dress code changed, even saw a man sent back to his cabin to change! and the Anytime dining line lessened.

So just heads up for those expecting the usual dining experience, it is run a little different depending on dynamic of the cruisers.....when in Rome....go with the flow.

A couple of little secrets.....Happy hour from 3-4pm in the Wheelhouse bar and 11-12am in Skywalkers Two for one drinks......buy two beers and take the other back to your cabin fridge;) We saw people with their beers lined up to take back!! Better than the buy a bucket get one free deal!

If you are Elite, Platinum or Suite and attend the Elite lounge in Skywalkers, you can get ANY drink on the card in your room for $5 not just the drink of the day;)just ask nicely.

Also if you are Elite you get another Mini bar set up on turnaround day and our 11 night cruise we received two cruise credits even though we booked it as one cruise, getting my husband closer to Elite:p

Happy to answer any questions re cruising from Singapore, just didn't want to fill this up with ports of call etc.

Chez

xx

cheznandy,

 

What a great idea! We arrive in Singapore on the Wednesday and fly to Melbourne on the Friday evening. We will spend Wednesday and Thursday exploring around the city and now think we will check out of our hotel on Friday morning, go to the airport and check our luggage in and then like you, take a taxi to the Changi Museum and then back to the airport for a late lunch and check in.

 

How did you organise your return trip to the airport from the Changi Museum? Did you book a taxi to pick you up or were you able to that once your visit to the museum had finished.

 

Leigh

Leigh, the museum will call a taxi for you. They will give you a slip of paper with the number of the taxi and arrival time. Just wait out front.

Ours said 5 minutes and it was there sooner!! Too easy!

Take the head phones set for the tour, entry and headphones $8 Singapore.

There is a cafe/restaurant attached, looked like nice food, lots of locals there. We just had coffee and ate at the airport. We spent about 2 hours inside the museum. It is small but very moving and informative.

Chez

xx

Good thinking Sarah, hadnt thought of that. Two airfares but less cruising Australia. See what the itineraries look like.

Chez

Xx

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Waiting waiting too......just bought two FCC on Sapphire just in case.

Won't be able to board in Europe but hoping to jump on in Singapore or somewhere on the way to Sydney, unless we cancel one of our upcoming cruises, just not enough damn annual leave:(

Hoping the Emerald heads back in March/April in 2017 via Hawaii, love to do both ends:p

Chez

xx

Would be happy be a part of a Princess thread.

I think including both Oz and overseas Princess info would be great as that is usually where the confusion lies. Having done cruises on both, there is a world of difference. I have just experienced even more differences cruising on the Sapphire from Asia.

Sarah's El cheapo thread is going great, so maybe you are onto something Anna:)

I too look at the main Princess board, but only some threads I read, most relates to Princess cruises leaving from US ports, tranfers, accommodation, insurance and lots of stuff that doesn't concern me.......and we won't even mention the tipping threads;)

Chez

xx

We have just returned from a Sapphire Princess cruise from Singapore.

Our Qantas flight to Sydney departed at 8pm.

We chose the "independant" disembarkation from the ship, which was 9.30am.

Taxi to the airport from MBCC took only 30 minutes.

Check with your airline, we were able to check in with Qantas from 10am, others who were flying Emirates/ Ethihad were 2pm.

We checked in luggage then took hand luggage upstairs to the Left Luggage area. $3.80 per piece, depending on weight, larger suit case more.

We then caught a taxi to the Changi Museum which is close by, $10 taxi fare.

Returned to the airport around 2pm and collected carry on luggage. Had a light lunch a were going to use the swimming pool and showers but found a nice sleep lounger in a quiet area so napped till just before our flight!!

You can also leave your luggage at the MBCC terminal at left luggage, a good option if you plan to see a bit more of down town Singapore, needs to be collected before the next cruise departs but as the Changi Museum was nearer to the airport, the airport left luggage was easier for us.

Lots of options, all easy in Singapore which is a tourist's heaven:)

Chez

xx

For when you used an aussie TA or booked direct call 1800 754 500 and follow the prompts.:D

Thanks Mic, will do.

Chez

xx

Thanks so much for all the replies.

Just off the Sapphire Princess in Singapore, so just read all this today, will let you all know how it goes:p

Chez

xx

Thanks for all the info here and every ones input.

Have a few Royal Caribbean cruises booked.

Can I ask if those that bought OBC booked direct with Royal or through an OZ TA?

Our first cruise coming up is booked through a US TA, so from the info given here we are unable to buy the OBC in AUD, but the other three were booked with an OZ online TA, so will I contact them or Royal direct?

Thanks

Chez

xx

On the Sapphire now, it is going into drydock in March for two weeks, dates are on the MBCC website. Getting new chairs in Horizon court and hopefully Crooners, they are looking a bit sad! Dont think any major work though.

Chez

Xx

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Happy Oz day to all. We will be celebrating tomorrow onboard the Sapphire Princess leaving Singapore. Our Aussie contingent have Aussie hats and will be raising our glasses to the lucky country......, although Singapore would come a close second, what an amazing place and kind friendly people!

Chez

Xx

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Just would like to know if Skywalkers Lounge is still made available from 5pm to 7pm for Elite and Platinum passengers each evening when travelling around Asia.

We had it on the Christmas Cruise just past and it was attended very well and is something to look forward to before dinner.

We will be on the Japan to Sydney cruise on the 6th September 2015.

And I want to meet up with the friendly staff that I made friends with last December/January.

Hi John,

I am on the Sapphire on Monday from Singapore so will post back and let you know.

We were on the Diamond from Beijing in 2013 and they had the Elite/Platinum/Suite drinks in Skywalkers so hopefully will again, its a great way to start the evening.

Chez (from Port Macquarie also)

xx

Hi Goodycruising Basically we found the Radiance overrated and in desperate need of a refurb when you sit on your balcony and paint is falling onto to your breakfast from the rusted out ceiling and varnish from the handrail blowing into your coffee at over $500 per night I don't think this is good enough.

The bathroom is tiny as is the shower, the public restrooms were disgusting

The ship seemed very under staffed the rock climbing wall was closed as there was no trained staff to run it?

One of the glass elevators was out of order for the whole cruise I realise this can happen but there is no excuse for lack of hygiene no wonder there was a gastro outbreak

I don't understand how RCI can justify their over inflated prices for the Radiance when it is in such poor condition????

Chester my Aunty and Uncle just came off Xmas/New Year cruise, they had the same complaints understaffed, in need of maintenance, rude staff.

She has done a review on another site;)

We are on the Radiance over Easter for the first time,......a few other friends who have cruised on Radiance a few times noticed a deline on the Hawaii to Syd repo.

Anyway, we are booked and paid, got a bargain through a US TA months ago, paid in full before our $$$ dropped, so less than half of what it is now, we will have a great time either way. Will let everyone know what we think when we get back:p

By the way, my Aunty also said that the staff on board were not sure if the Radiance will be returning, most of their contracts are up in March and they did not know if they will be back:confused:

Chez

xx

Ours is part of a banking package.

We cannot use the CC insurance for the VOTS sampler in Feb as it is a domestic cruise but will be using it for the April trip to South Africa.:D

Ours is the same investment package from ANZ also, so no fees for Visa and Amex cards, just our Qantas membership thats linked.

We are off next week, flying to Singapore, then 11 night Sapphire cruise and will be using our Credit card Travel Insurance again.

If you are using your Credit card for travel insurance just remember to take a copy of bank statement showing the part of travel that you paid for and Emergency contact details of the insurer in the case you have to make a claim.

Previously they had also given me a Claim number prior as we need it for a something we had booked that required proof of insurance.

Chez

xx

Apologies my friends, I put this post on the wrong thread, silly old fellow I am.

and Les, I thought it was just that you had too many lubberly jubberly reds:p

Chez

xx

Goodycruising I found this on a review site.....

Beware NAB uses Chubb insrance - always reject your claim

1 out of 5, reviewed on Aug 29, 2014

The NAB travel policy attached to your credit card is not one you want to rely on.

We had a laceration that required sutures whilst travelling on cruise. CHUBB initially rejected the claim as they do not cover medical costs incurred within Australia. The cruise boat travelled into international waters and I was required to obtain several letters from P&O to confirm.

After many emails and letters I was reimbursed less the hefty excess!

Beware - last resort insurance!!!

Someone who didn't do their homework:eek: or didn't know about Cruise Critic for info!!

Good luck with your findings!!

Chez

xx

We have the ANZ Platinum CC like Les, it states that it does not cover domestic and if a cruise it must have an international port. Cant speak for all CC Travel Insurance, but I think they may all be similar.

It does cover for a domestic flight if connected to an international flight within 24/48 hrs.

We did the 3 night Solstice cruise last January and had to take Travel Insurance with One Cover:(

Have not had to make a claim yet using our credit card insurance, we need to spend $250 on travel to have cover

Chez

xx

Civitavecchia shows Emerald Princess 3 October 2016 0600 - 1900.

Good job. Slowly working it out.

Soon we can join all the dots and work out the itinerary:p

So looks like doing Europe season before heading this way.......via Darwin.

I have noticed most that come from Europe come via Dubai then Perth and on to Sydney that way. Any ideas where it will be before Darwin?

Chez

xx

Probably. I more interested in its repo cruise. Where it coming from.

Having a search around I see the Emerald Princess is booked into Darwin on the 8th November, and Sydney on the 15th November, so it seems it is coming via Asia/Europe.

Chez

xx

Thanks for the reassurance and good wishes everyone, I'm sure once we are onboard everything will be fine so now it's time to get the suitcases out.

 

Yes we were on the Diamond with you Chez and we stayed on and did the return to Sydney, you have a good memory, wow that was almost three years ago, where does the time go.

I know, time has flown!

I remember because you were chatting to my sister asking if it was me, we look very similar!

Take care and enjoy your cruise:)

Chez

xx

Izzy, I just wanted to say Hi:)

We were on a cruise and Rollcall together back in January 2012 to NZ, I think you did B2B?

So glad you are cruising again, and hope hubby's rehab is going well.

Have a wonderful time on the beautiful Diamond Princess.

Chez

xx

What a great outcome, I agree, fellow cruisers are a great source of info and help.

I hope they have a fabulous cruise, and thanks to you, less stress:)

Chez

xx

Sydney Ports have the Spirit going at 5.30pm http://shipschedule.sydneyports.com.au/marineoperations/movements.asp

 

so they would have to be onboard by 4.30pm so try and change the flight or catch a taxi from the airport

Bob, i got my info here

http://www.sydneyports.com.au/port_operations/cruise_schedule

No wonder we get confused:rolleyes:

Either way it is a close call if there are delays.

Chez

xx

Hi there!

Lucky for them they have you checking their itinerary:p

Sydney port schedule has the Spirit leaving at 6.00pm

The boarding time on the documents would be a suggested boarding time by Carnival which is usually done by deck. I would think that final boarding would be at 5pm.

Quickest way to OPT from airport is Taxi, about $40 - $50, although I havent done a taxi in a while, someone else will know.

Any chance of them leaving on an earlier flight? Even the night before? Perhaps contact the TA. Make it more relaxing for them etc Sometimes Immigration/customs can be quick, sometimes slow, sometimes flights are delayed......I would be concerned if it was my Mum and Dad as they havent travelled much are not in "the know"

Chez

xx

So us the AU dollar :(.

Do you know how many you need as a minimum Fletch?

Its 100 shares.

Chez

xx