Ned Flanders

Hi Phill (with 2 LLs!)

I tried unsuccessfully last week to book a 2020 Carnival cruise on their Australian website but then booked it very easily over the 'phone with the Carnival consultant based in Florida.

Within hours I rec'd confirmation emails including one entitled "Pay for your Carnival cruise in just a few clicks", which showed in part:

* Deposit paid

* Final payment due date

* Payment options, either BPay  with biller code & ref details, or by card over the 'phone.

Maybe give Carnival a call on the number listed for Aussies, 1300 385 625 & I'd bet they'd be only to happy to email you something similar?

Cheers

Phil

1 hour ago, Helen*Back said:

Thank you Ned Flanders and MicCanberra! Great advice! 😊 Ooh, Phil (Ned) so you went on the same cruise we are going on?! (except I think your last port was Melbourne and ours is Newcastle?). I would love to know more. I thought I read somewhere that the crossing from Sydney to Picton was very rough on your cruise? True? 😮

Hi Helen

I hope to write a full review on our Solstice trip in the reviews section by Monday, but briefly, we had a fabulous time.

As you'd expect, the staff were wonderful & in terms of the Syd - Picton crossing, whilst the seas were somewhat bouncy at 3 to 4 metre swells, my wife & I both commented how smoothly the ship handled them. We were on Deck 10 forward.

We've lately sailed on Carnival Spirit & whilst she inevitably coped reasonably well with choppy waters, we're in no doubt Solstice was smoother. Of course, being a bigger ship would probably assist in that regard.

If you have specific questions not covered in my forthcoming review, feel free to ask. But from our experience, you & your family will have a memorable Christmas/NY cruise!

Cheers.

Phil

We sailed on the 2018 Christmas/ NY Solstice NZ trip &  we travelled without any kids. However, may I make a suggestion? 

I joined a trivia team which included a Mum & her teenage daughter. The daughter didn't attend the teens' club until a couple of days after Solstice sailed & unfortunately, she found, as can happen, that groups & cliques had already been formed & she felt unwelcome & left out & thus didn't return. 

Sad, because she thus had to rely on her Mum for company & entertainment & the cruise wasn't as enjoyable as it should've been for her.

So may be best if anyone is contemplating going to the kids' clubs, they be encouraged to go at the start & try them out.

At least your son will have friends for company regardless.

Happy sailing!

Phil

Thank you teigenes!

Weather looking pretty damn good at 23 degrees on Boxing Day in Picton when we five will be lucky enough to be on board

Thanks NSWP & The_Big_M.

Most disappointing that Celebrity doesn't . Will consider not sailing with them again on principle, but that may be cutting off my nose etc........

Phil

NYE for us will be at sea on Celebrity Solstice, having departed NZ for Melbourne on way home to Sydney. Looking forward to celebrating both Christmas & NYE on board.

Does anyone know if Celebrity in Australia offers any OBC or discounts for past (Australian) military service?

We've been able to obtain OBC on our Carnival sailings.

Many thanks.

Phil

Thank you very much OzKiwiJJ, Suzi66 & thistledoo for answering my queries plus more! Sincerely appreciated.

I'll  check out the current situation re current offers for the additional package plus for premium upgrade.

Thanks again everyone .

Phil

We are 3 cruisers sailing 23 Dec next, in the one cabin. As part of our perks, we have 2 classic drinks packages; we'll buy a 3rd once on board.

Q1: When we're in a bar, can 1 person order a round of 3 drinks with the collective 3 sailing cards? I trust that each person doesn't have to individually go to the bar and order their own drink?

Q2: Does the 18% service charge apply to:

- each drink ordered on the 2 "perks" packages?

- each drink ordered on the 3rd drinks package we'll purchase on board?

Many thanks!

Phil

Hi There!

I've read that Carnival (USA or Aus?) will formally announce the first 5 Splendor sailings to & then out of Sydney on 7 March next.

We loved cruising out of Long Beach down to Cabo & Puerto Vallarta in 2011 & have enjoyed local sailing on Spirit since. Looking forward to booking next month for an early Australian Spendor trip.

Now if we could only have Carnival Australia introduce a drinks package (other than the soft drinks)!:(

Can't help you with any info LuckiePuris, but love your taste in coffees!:D

Gotta love Cruise Critic!:) Some very clever & quick witted contributors!:D

Bigdavefc

An option for Port Vila, if you & your travelling companion/s enjoy the odd alcoholic beverage & a mini sight-seeing tour thrown in, is to do the Taste of Vila tour which is on the Carnival tours list.

A half day of rollicking good fun, singing in the coach & visits to 4 or 5 local bars for a coldie or 2!:D

Cheers

Ned

Food for thought: it is posible that the initial enquiry was intended to be to the contrary - can kids be avoided on the Spirit???;)

Phil

Hi Spirit Angel

From my experiences on the Spirit:

1. Kids in February - I expect there'll be a fair number even though outside of school holidays, but we've never had any trouble with them on our cruises. We chill out & switch off.

2. Serenity is definitely controlled (discreetly) as an adults' only area.

3. Nouveau - in addition to the evening bookings for $40 (food only), you may want to do yourselves a favour and book in for the "Long Lunch at Sea", also in the Nouveau. Only on "sea days", but you pay $30 each for 3 courses including lobster, or you can choose the seafood platter at $50 per head.

You can have the sommelier's recommended wine pairings with your dishes at $20 per head.

I know the costs can mount up, but hey, you'd pay twice as much at home & after all, it is your 40th birthday!

Full details on Carnival's website, but what a glorious way to spend a lazy afternoon at sea.

Happy cruising.

Phil

"Please ask if you guys have any questions - gotten to know the ship well"

Thank you New Cruizer for, what to me is, the most useful info on cruise ships- food & beverages! Your posts get my taste buds going in anticiption for our October cruise on the Spirit.

The All Star Margaurita looks like a stand out attraction!

Did you venture to the Blue Iguana Bar? I loved the Pacifico beers in Puerto Vallarta & Cabo San Lucas when we travelled down the Mexican coast on the Spendor in 2011 & I'm hoping that Pacificos are served in the Spirit's Blue Iguana bar - did you notice?

Once again, thanks.

Phil

They have to make a profit somewhere or there'll be no more cruising for any of us. So drink up ;)

Had to laugh Tigerlily75 - I'm drinking up for you & all the other tee-totaller cruisers!:p

We too would like to enjoy the benefits a drinks package can bring, but we also enjoy the freedom of choice by not being tied to one.

Plus, by having to pay for each round of drinks, we get to tip the waiters every time which is something we enjoy doing.:)

Phil

"

If the band Music Manilla are on board, you are in for a treat! They are the best Covers Band at sea and are the resident band on the Spirit.

 

Make sure you see their set up on the pool deck.....they play for two hours straight without a break (well they did the last we saw them!) and their version of Hotel California is fabulous!!! "

 

Gotta echo Fletch's sentiments on Music Manilla - close to my favourite ever cruising moment was sailing away from Island of Pines on the Spirit & being blasted away by this band on the pool deck.

 

Phil

Hi Slim

For Vila, given you've been on 2 "out- there" type excursions previously, I reckon the Toast to Vila may be up your alley.

For about $65 or $70, you get a pre-tour (alcoholic) beverage, a rollicking good bus trip with some old favourites sung the way we might like them when we're in holiday mode, plus 4 or 5 bar/restaurant stopovers with a free drink & nibblies in each.

Throw in a bit of a sight seeing tour through & around town & I think it's the best way to soak up Vila!

We had a blast.

Cheers.

Phil

- when are you cruising next? October 2016

- which ship? Carnival Spirit

- where to? and why there? Noumea/Mare/Isle of Pines because a) Haven't been to Noumea since the 80s & more importantly b) We want to check out the Blue Iguana which is part of the refit this coming August. Love those Pacificos & Marguaritas!

Hi Elaine

Carnival Australia recognised my national service time with the Army & gave me $50 OBC for our 5 night cruise & $100 OBC for our 11 night trip this year.:)

If your daughter cruises Carnival, the relevant email address is:

defencebenefits@carnivalaustralia.com

I gave them the booking number, cruise details & evidence of service.

Kind regards

Phil

Just a question regarding the band. Did they do the 'two - three hour afternoon rock concert' on the pool deck? To me this is where they had total control over their repertoire and really let it rip?

Gary

Hi Gary

Belated comment following our 1 Aug '14 sailing on Spirit.

Thanks for the heads up re the band - they were fabulous & you're 100% correct, the pool deck concert was the best.

They held it early on in the cruise, I think whilst we were at the Isle of Pines, our first port of call. This was their first appearance & they played for 3 hours from 2.30pm & we watched from up on Deck 10 overlooking the pool deck. They rocked & won themselves a huge following which meant Club Cool was very popular whenever they played there, which was most nights after that. Even sighted the captain & his wife enjoying them on at least one occasion one evening.

They were great in encouraging a passenger to take over the drums one night so the drummer could move up front. Her name was Louise & she was pretty darn good as a fill-in!

They should do more afternoon poolside shows, given the atmosphere was so good & we couldn't always make it through the late nights at Club Cool (slowing down now in life!!!!), although my sister & my B.I.L. were there everytime they played.

In fact, we made mention of the wish for more poolside concerts from them in our post-cruise Carnival survey.

Enjoy your cruise Gary - only 4 days to go, lucky b!

Phil

We pack up to about 9 cans each in our 2 lunch size cooler/carry bags & they fit comfortably in our carry on luggage.

We don't risk them in any check-in baggage just in case - those Pepsi Max cans & others are notorious (with us at least) to explode at the slightest impact.:eek:

My wife too loves her Pepsi Max!

Cheers

Phil

Thanks Barry

So scenic & historical & wets the appetite in anticipation of our Easterm Med cruise, which is oh so long away next year.

Regards

Phil