sandrab60

Hi Diane, so glad you've booked, hope you have a great time :) Don't forget your xmas decorations, the outside rooms have a large deep window sill perfect for a little tree and some battery operated fairy lights :) Our room was on the wharf side, and as I had turned on the lights before we left at lunchtime on xmas eve, when we came back that night, we could see them from the dock :)

Re the suit situation, like most ships, this one has 3 "formal nights", but also like most ships, it's not a strict hard and fast rule. We had people in tuxedos and ballgowns, whilst some just wore trousers and a collared shirt or a nice frock or blouse and slacks. Hubby wore a jacket and tie to the first formal "meet the captain" night, but not again. Friends and family we were with did not even bring a suit. We also didn't go there each night, preferring the buffet outside by the pool, more relaxing. You must check out the buffet each day for the food sculptures, with the xmas theme, the artistry is fabulous! If only I knew how to post pics on here!

And the Bingo, never played before, but we both got addicted to that each afternoon at 4pm I think it was. We had a little habit of going to High Tea at 3pm in the buffet and getting a little plate of something with a cuppa (watch out for the old people stampede), then off to the theatre to enjoy waiting for the bingo to start. It starts slowly the first few days, but word spreads and by the end the jackpots were huge and the room was packed :)

Hi Diane, the inside cabins and most of the outside ones have twin beds as per the photos on the website. Other than no option to convert to queen, they were not really any different to any other ship we've sailed on. I liked the 2 separate wardrobes, and the shower set up in the ensuite.

Hubby and I loved it, as did our daughter (27yo), her hubby was a bit bored at times, even taking part in all the quizzes and games on offer every day, (but that's normal for him).

The crew are mostly eastern European, and wonderful people, full of stories :D The staff really know how to throw a party and do so very well, especially Xmas and NYE (we did back to back).

The only down side I found was with the food, being an aussie summer, more was needed in the salad department, and no ice cream! Both things I wrote on the feed back forms at disembarkation. The shows are all done by the crew (no fifo acts) brilliantly, so talented. Only other minus was some of the old people, lining up 1/2 hr before dining buffet opened and acting like it was their last meal, but I've seen that on other ships too.

It's def the smallest ship we've been on, but we enjoyed that side of it. Plenty of bars and lounges and outdoor areas, and the indoor pool down on L3 was awesome. No laundry, but good ironing room right next to lifts.

In Bali, we just self toured, got taxis to and from, was very surprised no duty free at any dock or on board. Security was a bit lax in Bali compared to the scrutiny we expected from other ships.

In a nutshell, would we do it again? Absolutely! Round up a few friends or family and bon voyage! If you have any questions, just ask away :D

Hi Dizzy Liz, yep the 13/14 summer season is on the website at http://www.cmvaustralia.com/australian-cruises On the home page, go to third tab along 'cruises' and 'cruise list' is in the drop down menu, and there they all are :)

I was so excited to read the Astor was being based at Fremantle for the next 3 summers :) It was going to be a long lonely summer without a single ship calling in for months, glad someone saw a hole in the market and filled it! I had read recently that the cruise market in Oz and particularly WA had grown by more than 30% in last couple years.

We have already booked the 10 nights to Bali and return over Christmas and the follow-on short 3 night NYE sailing. We'll have family (10 already at present) from 20-30 Dec 13 and then a few mates (hopefully) from 30 Dec 13 to 2 Jan 14.

The website is www.cmvaustralia.com no au after it. Their invoicing on-line is not quite up and running, but Lauren (I think) assured me our bookings were safely there, and we would get emails with invoicing details soon.

It's great they have a few 2-5 nighters for weekends, love them :D