Rassa

If you check your on line summary relating to your cruise, particularly if it does not start and finish in Australia, there is a 'Crew Appreciation Pre-Payment' button - that shows the total of the daily charge that you can choose to pre-pay or you will find that you will receive a daily charge during your cruise.

You would think that having done it once with the World Cruise they would be better planned this time around. They have your deposit and you lose if you bail out. Having been in the same position as you, it was just awful going on and on for what seemed forever. Sorry Chill, I hope it's a shorter wait for you than it was for us on the UWC mini segment through the Suez. We ended up changing to the Brisbane to Hong Kong mini segment and enjoyed it. Good luck.

Nice ship!!!!🤣

I had a cruise booked going through the Suez (booked it 2 weeks before the Middle East War started). There is I believe an ACCC rule that the airlines must return your airfare cost for cancellation, minus cancellation cost for each leg of the trip (there were 6 for the two of us, so that totalled about $120 x 6 legs = $720). Royal Caribbean compensated us for nearly the whole $720. I also booked seats by the exit door (more leg room) but that extra was non-refundable. If I booked an overseas trip again, I would leave booking the seats until a later time. I booked with Emirates and there was a cancellation button, it was so easy. Waiting for Royal to cancel and not knowing was the worst part.

I think it is more about tell them (the customer) as little as possible and as late as possible for the benefit of RCCL (so staff don't have to deal with too much negativity and the bottom line for RCCL).

The airfare home from the cheap Celebrity cruise is about $1500 plus. I was also interested in the cruise until I looked at the fares home. It would have been about $4000 total and that included a balcony with the fares back home. No saving to be made in the end. I am on a transpacific back home in October. The airfares from Melb to Hawaii was about $600 each and that included better seats and food. Total $4000 again.

Haven't heard of move over offers post covid but I have read of move down offers for free and yes, I would be tempted. Had a move over offer 2019 for a month which included an upgrade if we cancelled a cruise from Singapore to Southampton for the return of our fare. We were more than happy to oblige. I would not be surprised if move over offers return as cruises currently appear to be heavily booked. Only ever heard of Princess making move over offers.

When you mentioned abba, I thought you meant a show in the theatre, but it was a theme night. So were passengers dressed in white or 70s clothes ....? I am on when you get off. Saw Nathan years ago and liked him, seems he has changed his presentation a little.

Our first cruise back after covid was on the Coral Princess and we were overnight at the OPT. If you are in a cabin overlooking the Opera House - glorious view. We weren't expecting it (weather up north was a little wild) so Captain decided to spend the night in Sydney. Don't recall there was much noise from the restaurants around the Opera House or even from the ferries but the area lighted up at night was simply beautiful. I am sure there was no expected time to be on board for the night. We were fairly tired from exploring Sydney during the day, so we stayed on board for the evening. A truly memorable stay.

I'm on one mini segment. Can't wait to get a 'selfie' of us under the UWC sign. A 9 month cruise is way too long for me.

Could it be Rotterdam?

Lovely photos. It is coming to pick us up next weekend. So is the museum to the left of the ship there @aussielozzie18 We are usually mesmerised by that fantastic view and sit down at one of the cafes, coffee in hand, just taking it all in.

No, only one single door between two cabins and the bed against the other wall leaves no room for another door. A towel may stop the noise filtering through under the door. Otherwise not a bad cabin and you are able to look down at people using the internal promenade deck.

@Aus Traveller Thanks for all your info on credit cards, we have referred to your table abit. We are flying into Dubai and need to catch a taxi from the airport to the cruise terminal area (staying overnight) can I use my Latitude card to pay for the taxi? I have a Bankwest credit card as well. We are also thinking of getting a HSBC card. Hate getting local currency, we always have some left over.

Single door. The noise comes from the bottom of the door, perhaps use a towel if it bothers you. The shows on the Promenade deck are no bother - they end early enough. We had a cabin opposite Cafe Promenade once and it was not a noisy cabin.

Oh dear, we were on her in the last month and had a great time .... sorry to say. I understand where you are coming from but I am trying to prise your hands off the Grand. I am not the only Melbournian to want this and obviously not the only person to want the Grand. I nevertheless, wish you well in keeping her.

I last travelled HAL 20 years ago for a month, so I am not really qualified to add my opinion other than saying we stopped because of the age group and now we are in that age group! We really like cruising with Princess and RCCL. I have cruised on the Grand post covid and we have 2 coming up in the next few months. She is just a little tired looking but we like her. As the oldest in the fleet, Princess ships have been going to P&O Aust. P&O have revitalised the entertaining areas and the old Star and Golden are looking good here in Australia, with different names. We are just hoping when the Grand is eventually sold off, that it home ports for P&O Aust., in Melb, Australia.

I felt Gatsby night was the only night close to formal. The youngies really got dressed up compared to other evenings. Otherwise, it was just neat casual every night. I was pleasantly surprised on our recent Pacific Adventure cruise. The entertaining areas have been beautifully refurnished. The difference has made Coral Princess and The Grand look really tired and I am still OK with going on those ships. Cabins are the same and tired looking as when she was Golden Princess. If the Grand is sold off, I hope it comes to Melbourne. The food in all restaurants was fine as was The Pantry. We had a nice winter getaway.

With trying to not book middle seats, I have found that the system won't let you complete the booking. Two people together have to choose the middle seat in domestic with window or aisle. With international, I was able to not choose the middle seat many years ago, but that has probably changed also.

We choose to pay extra and have the economy seats by the exit door. Pre-covid for overseas flights they were only $40 extra, now they are $400 extra. However, you have to be in reasonable health to be able to open the doors, should the situation ever arise. Started purchasing those seats even for flights within Australia. The middle seat in domestic flights is just horrible.

Exactly which is why I went on by.

No Chili just a now and again Celebrity and I have a FCC for one in 2025. I am also thinking about one of their cruises in Europe on one of their older ships but they are generally expensive and to me not better than RCCL or Princess. You might have got that mixed up with I like Capt Kate's cat - bugsey.

The cruises I have been looking at, is you pay double the deposit and if you cancel you get half back. I like Princess and RCCL equally, but RCCL is pushing me towards Princess even though I still have some RCCL cruises booked.

Can you explain that Chili? I know if you change your mind about a RCCL booked cruise you generally lose your deposit. Princess has not started that practice yet.

There is nothing there. Was there on a Sunday and the shops were even closed according to a fellow cruiser we bumped into on the way. May-be some excursions! $20 on the bus to get to Cairns - don't know if that was return.