orangestreet

Wonderful review! Thanks for that. Would love to see menu pics please.

Have a look at this:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2092580

Everything you need and more.

I am a vegetarian and was blown away by the quality of Indian food (vegetarian) available onboard. There was plenty of choices for us both at the buffet and the main dining room. Good point about afternoon tea from the above post. Skip or have a light lunch and experience afternoon tea. Not many people know about it and can be a bit quiet. Then, there are veg pizzas available 24 hours at the buffet.

You will have a great time on the Spirit.

I did two online quotes and got similar prices, cheaper by $200 but the rooms weren't right opposite each other, and my dh rang a different travel agent and got the same price also.

We aren't willing to have the rooms any further away from each other then what they already are so I'm happy to pay the extra cost.

 

Thanks for all of your help :)

When you say you are calling different travel agents, you don't mean physical agents in shopping malls, do you? Google 'Australian online cruise travel agents' or some such. There are so many of them and a few of them are pretty good.

Spend an hour on the web and you will find prices much cheaper for your cruise. Or better still get an online cruise TA to organise it all for you. They do this day in day out. The thing is with these massive prices you are about to pay, you could travel on a much nicer cruise ship for much longer. Mind you, I travelled on Carnival Spirit this year and had a fabulous time.

Maybe post your email ID on the forums and somebody will help you with more specific details.

Agree with others that deck 7 is a lovely deck. Nice and quiet. We had an extended balcony and it was fabulous.

The prices you have mentioned is way more than I would ever be willing to pay for a Carnival cruise. We paid just over $900 PP for an extended balcony cabin for 9 nights. Shop around.

I was told by somebody I once met in Goa, India that they thought Sydney was one of the prettiest cities in the world along with Rio. As a Canberran, who visits Sydney on holidays, it never fails to amaze me with her sheer beauty. Jaw droppingly beautiful.

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We are taking the 8.00 AM bus to Sydney for our carnival spirit cruise. The spirit leaves at 6.30 so plenty of time. If the bus breaks down, another one will be on it's way. Like others have said, you will have to be mighty unlucky not to make it to Sydney by 4.30 at the latest.

We will get off at Central and take a taxi to OPT. We hope to board at 12.30. Which cruise are you going in?

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Reading that there is a charge for the bus to beach area in Mare. Is this cost, which I think is approx $19pp, include children as well? Grandkiddies will be just 18mths and 2yrs.

Any advice on things to do cheaply at this port, especially for young children and us two 'oldies'.:)

I am interested in knowing the answer to this too. Our daughter will be 16 months in March when we travel to Mare on the Carnival Spirit.

Also, do we need book the trip to Yejele beach through Carnival or are their private operators at Mare through whom we can make the booking?

Hi there,

Me, wifey and our little girl will be going to Lifou, Noumea, Mare and Isle of Pines in March 2014 on Carnival Spirit.

I was wondering if there are any Kayaks available for hire off the beach at any of those ports? It would be nice to kayak around those beautiful lagoons at a leisurely pace if we can.

Thanks for your time.

Hi there,

Does somebody have a recent copy of the Carnival Spirit's Funtimes newsletter? A google search comes up with Funtimes from the ship's time in the US. Nothing from the Spirit's Sydney sailing. Traveling in March so would be extremely grateful if somebody has a copy.

Thanks a lot.

Short on time a bit so will keep it short. Will come back with more detailed comments later. Just a few observations:

- Sea cliff bridge is good. Spend time and overnight in Wollongong.

- Keep Kiama/Gerringong and must visit kangaroo valley next day

- skip ulladulla and go to Mollymook.

- personally, I would drive through Batemans bay and into Canberra if that's what you want to do. Merimbula, Eden is all very nice but your drive is too long for my liking. The above places will give you a good taste of the beautiful south coast.

If time permits, go back to Sydney from Canberra and spend more time there. Especially the coast between Bondi and Coogee. Canberra is lovely and feel free to ask me for more info. But it is not for everybody perhaps.

Slow down, drink lattes, lazy lunches, talk to the locals, people watch, take in the scenery and swim in the ocean. No point in trying to do everything. It is a huge state!

Does anybody have a copy of the latest Funtimes newsletters for Carnival Sprit? I have Googled it but could not find ones for cruises leaving from Sydney.

Thanks very much!

Do the Bondi to Coogee walk. Go to Coogee, have a meal at a seaside cafe and then go shopping at Westfield Bondi and take the train back to Circular Quay to your hotel.

Take the ferry across to Manly and enjoy a day out there. If you wish, instead, you could take a ferry to Watson's Bay and enjoy a swim at Camp Cove or walk along the headland (stunning views).

Go to Darling Harbour at night and have drinks and dinner at Harbourside.

Like somebody said, explore the botanical gardens and the rocks area and if fit, walk the Harbour Bridge instead of climbing it.

Go and seek the many restaurant hubs such as Newtown etc - see Tripadvisor for the best in your favorite cuisine and enjoy all that Sydney has to offer.

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Although our Christmas beach picnic at Wollongong was rained out, we spent the day driving through Kangaroo Valley. That was foggy at times, but still a beautiful place.

:)

Kangaroo Valley is a highly underrated place in NSW. The southern highlands, Kiama and surrounds are simply wonderful.

Glad you liked Australia and Australians. A week in Mauritius once reminded me how lucky I was to be an Australian.

Interesting photo of the Celebrity Solstice photographed from the Opera House. Lots of people on balconies in bathrobes looking relaxed and looking forward to a wonderful cruise adventure ahead.

Photo source: Sydney Morning Herald

http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/national/photos-of-the-week--december-12-2013-20131212-2zaaa.html

Just booked on Solstice, our favourite ship for Nov 28th, 12 nts to NZ. Last minute deal Balcony $1360pp. v happy with that price.

Wow, that is an amazing deal. Can i ask where you found them? I mean TA or direct? I tried a search on a few popular sites but could not find this deal.

Enjoy your cruise!

Mate, fantastic review. Thank you for taking the time to provide so much detail. Blown away by the generosity in time and spirit you have shown. Thanks again.

Excellent pictures. Thanks heaps.