Australian family

I was on the Voyager of the Seas today, it looked great. Lots of media outlets were onboard too.

Saw one of the Virtual Balcony cabins too, interesting. All the cabins have had a makeover. They looked very fresh.

I was very impressed with the ship, even though the tour was very rushed. Saw quite a few cabins. including a mini suite.

Let me know if you have any questions and I will try and answer them for you.

Yes it is wonderful how we have these rescue helicopter services and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. We have donated to these services. You never know when you will need them.

AN ELDERLY Sydney woman has been winched from a cruise ship off the coast of Rainbow Beach by a rescue helicopter crew on Monday morning.

An RACQ CareFlight Rescue spokeswoman said it was reported the woman, aged in her eighties, suffered a medical condition after boarding the Dutch ship Volendam with her daughter in Sydney on Saturday.

She said the woman was treated by the ship's doctor but when her condition worsened last night, the Sunshine Coast based RACQ CareFlight Rescue helicopter was tasked to the northwards-bound ship to leave at first light this morning.

Before 6am, the crew spotted the ship 60 nautical miles north east of their Sunshine Coast base and prepared for a winch rescue.

A Queensland Ambulance Service flight intensive care paramedic was winched down onto the front of the moving vessel about 40 nautical miles east of Rainbow Beach.

The CareFlight spokeswoman said the patient was treated, secured in a stretcher and winched aboard the helicopter.

She was flown in a stable condition to Nambour General Hospital where a Brisbane-based relative was said to have met her.

Watch video here:

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au...beach/2462498/

AN ELDERLY Sydney woman has been winched from a cruise ship off the coast of Rainbow Beach by a rescue helicopter crew on Monday morning.

An RACQ CareFlight Rescue spokeswoman said it was reported the woman, aged in her eighties, suffered a medical condition after boarding the Dutch ship Volendam with her daughter in Sydney on Saturday.

She said the woman was treated by the ship's doctor but when her condition worsened last night, the Sunshine Coast based RACQ CareFlight Rescue helicopter was tasked to the northwards-bound ship to leave at first light this morning.

Before 6am, the crew spotted the ship 60 nautical miles north east of their Sunshine Coast base and prepared for a winch rescue.

A Queensland Ambulance Service flight intensive care paramedic was winched down onto the front of the moving vessel about 40 nautical miles east of Rainbow Beach.

The CareFlight spokeswoman said the patient was treated, secured in a stretcher and winched aboard the helicopter.

She was flown in a stable condition to Nambour General Hospital where a Brisbane-based relative was said to have met her.

Watch video here:

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/woman-winched-moving-cruise-ship-rainbow-beach/2462498/

When we visited we hired a car through Thrifty at Burnie (we rang them directly). You are taken by shuttle to the visitor information centre (you have to use the shuttle to exit and enter the working port), thrifty had our car waiting there.

QUOTE]

 

Sorry! didn't see this when I wrote the previous post, I had the screen open looking at all the other posts. A call to Thrifty gave us the information that they are not at Burnie any more? Maybe the call centre didn't know much about how it works there.

 

We obviously need to do more research on a week day. The reason we try to do stuff online on the weekend is that ringing during work gets awkward as my customers don't think I should be on the phone when they want my instant attention! :p

 

The car hire businesses are really small in Burnie, they work from the airport, but also service the cruise industry by having rental cars at the tourist info centre (which was built because of the cruise industry). Yes give them a call during business hours (I just goolged them and they came up). Maybe they have gone, as Burnie is doing it really tough. When we were there and on the bus back to the ship the driver was talking about how one American tourist spent just over $100 on lingerie at a small business. The town really appreciates the business that the cruise industry brings.

When we visited we hired a car through Thrifty at Burnie (we rang them directly). You are taken by shuttle to the visitor information centre (you have to use the shuttle to exit and enter the working port), thrifty had our car waiting there.

We drove west Along the coast, and called into a few beaches along the way and headed to Stanley and had morning tea at a quaint little cafe, it is very English there, we then took a chairlift up the nut. Well worth it, we then drove to the "Highfields House" which the locals will happily direct you to, and took in the beautiful views back to the "Nut" http://www.stanleytasmania.com.au/index.html we then drove back to Stanley and went to a waterfall, (we followed an itinerary of HAL's). Well worth going to Stanley. Also a lot of fields of flowers we drove through.

I wouldn't attempt to do anymore, as that was plenty to do for the day.

Will be interesting to learn their new names.

 

Guess the Neptune Lounges will become inside cabins

Yes they will have to jam so many extra cabins in. I wonder what else they will change on the ships, besides the exterior paintwork?

Yes you are correct David, they were supposed to cruise north to Cairns. A friend is onboard, and they have had a rough trip down, and suffering from sea sickness.

Some friends were supposed to be cruising up North tomorrow from Brisbane, instead they are cruising to Sydney. I would much prefer to be heading South than be anywhere near that Cyclone.

yes its the agency that has the friday sales plus they advertise in the travel section of the sunday paper but they say that

 

Please note this flight maybe indirect

Thank you. One will have to make sure they read the fine print closely.

I have just spent my afternoon organising a cruise with one of the big online Travel agents. One of the ones that comes up first if you do a google search and I saw what I thought was a great deal on Celebrity Century for Jan next year.

 

Firstly it included air but when I inquired it was with Air Asia. Melbourne toSydney to Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.Agh... I am tired just thinking about that!! Then they wanted 1/2 deposits which the air was not refundable. So with cruise dep and air they wanted $990 pp up front. No way I thought I will organise my own air later. That was ok.

 

So I get my cabin organised and he sent me the quote. Now this is where I found...... In the small print at the end !!!...... THIS PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE any other deals with Celebrity Cruises. So no Drink Package etc. NOT HAPPY. And when I called him back he didn't return my call. No surprise there!!

 

For those who know me on CC they would know I do not use Aussie TA's. I wonder why????:mad::mad:

Good on your Liz for standing upto the agency. Is that the agency that does Friday sales, if it is I don't like their marketing? They advertise a deal with airfares, but don't disclose the airline, and have an option that is cheaper to book online, but all the information is not available. I like things to be very clear, and upfront. And the other thing you have to watch with the cheaper airlines, is that check-in luggage is extra!

ms OOSTERDAM

Sydney to Seattle

27 nights

SAILS 13 APRIL,14

FROM $70 per night PLUS US$600

ON BOARD CREDIT!*

Inside twin FROM $1,965 pp

Window (Obstr. view) $2,255 pp

Window twin $2,335 pp

Veranda twin $2,365 pp

Dlx Veranda twin $2,748 pp

Suite twin $5,845 pp

CRUISE/STAY/FLY PACKAGES AVAILABLE.

* On Board Credit is per room.

How do I find a us agent to book through

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

Have a look also on Cruise Critic, there is always US agencies advertising on here too.

I am searching for some prices for some cruises, and are trying to look at the American sites, but when I search it directs me to the Australian sites. I use Google Chrome.

Have you tried Worldcare Travel Insurance, I notice they are in New Zealand. My parents used them last year and they are over 70 and were very reasonably priced.

I agree too that a balcony is great. It is cold crossing the Tasman, but good to be able to use your balcony to view the sounds.

We enjoyed sitting on your balcony on the sail out of Sydney. Is also great to go out on, when you arrive back in Sydney in the early hours, to see the heads.

We also used the balcony on the sail out from Dunedin. The balcony was handy in all the ports to just go outside and view the scenery on the way into the ports, and to see what the weather was like.

We are hooked on balconies.

I was looking at the Voyager of the Seas for a new year eves cruise. The price was $17,000 for a balcony for 4 people. A Rip off.

someone posted on facebook that they came off the Pearl the other day and P&O had High tea at the salt grill for $20....so maybe no afternoon tea unless you pay for it

That is just money grabbing. Ridiculous,

What with full English style breakfasts, dining room 3 course lunches and dinners -- who can eat anything at afternoon tea?????

 

Barry

And me, nice having tea and coffee as well being brought around to your table.

And aren't we lucky that we have had 3 of the Queen's visit Australia.

Hi Col

We have cruised on the Oosterdam and Volendam, both times to New Zealand. I personally think the Volendam is a nicer ship, and a lot of people have the same opinion. The Oosterdam is still very good, a larger ship. There is lots of balcony cabins, and we were lucky to have one on a Christmas/ NYE cruise. If you go for a balcony go for deck 4, as the balconies are deeper.

We are a family, we found the entertainment to be very good (that being the shows, our daughters enjoyed some of them as well). We are not into dancing, and I believe the ships do not party until the wee hours in the morning.

We also prefer open dining, as you are not restricted to what time you dine, and you dine with different people, which can be very interesting.

Yes the crowd is older, but then there was a lot of younger passengers. We did notice on the last cruise there was less American passengers and a younger crowd.

A lot would depend on when you cruise as to the ages of the passengers.

I think the title of this thread should read "Confess", not "Confuse". The guy definitely was not confused about raping the lady.

Sorry I was confused, lol

Have a wonderful cruise Jilly. Enjoy!

A woman on a cruise ship woke to find a man in her darkened stateroom. What he did to her will make you rethink your next holiday choice

http://www.couriermail.com.au/travel/travel-news/ketut-pujayasa-confesses-to-raping-a-passenger-and-trying-to-throw-her-overboard-off-holland-america-cruise-ship/story-fniztvng-1226831634296

The other bed pops out of the ceiling above the double bed.....the sofa has wooden base,so very sturdy to climb over.

 

We tried the pop out bed but the guard rail is small and you could easy fall out,our 15 yr said the sofa was comphy and we stuck with that.

 

In the morning we folded it up easy and used the sofa.

Thank you for your response.

I still think the cabin has a very weird configuration, on the Oosterdam it was a similar setup, but opposite, with the sofa beside the door. So went it folded it out, you were blocked from going outside, but at least you could walk to the bathroom during the night. I am surprised that they can get away with it, especially if you have to get out of the cabin in a big hurry during the night. I sometimes wonder how much thought the ship designers put into the layout of cabins.