What to expect on AU and NZ cruise

We're doing our first cruises in March on Radiance OTS to New Zealand and AU. We've done 20 other cruises in the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, etc. Other than the ship being non smoking-YEAH!- what differences should we expect? Are the cruises more casual or more dressy, are the menus different, anything else we should know about? I know we have to get VISAs and bring meds in their original containers along with a list of them from the doctor.

Any help would be appreciated.

We're doing our first cruises in March on Radiance OTS to New Zealand and AU. We've done 20 other cruises in the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, etc. Other than the ship being non smoking-YEAH!- what differences should we expect? Are the cruises more casual or more dressy, are the menus different, anything else we should know about? I know we have to get VISAs and bring meds in their original containers along with a list of them from the doctor.

 

Any help would be appreciated.

There’ll be a lot more Aussies.

We're doing our first cruises in March on Radiance OTS to New Zealand and AU. We've done 20 other cruises in the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, etc. Other than the ship being non smoking-YEAH!- what differences should we expect? Are the cruises more casual or more dressy, are the menus different, anything else we should know about? I know we have to get VISAs and bring meds in their original containers along with a list of them from the doctor.

 

Any help would be appreciated.

RCL “designate” their ships as non smoking however they have certain areas on outside decks as smoking areas. Generally two decks on either starboard or port side.

Meals pretty much the same, you may find vegemite for breakfast.

Dress quite casual for day, dressy top and pants or skirt for night.

Enjoy your cruise, makes the long plane trip worth it.

Thanks for the info. I'd heard that they had kangaroo on the menu so was wondering if they were completely different.

As long as there's no smoking in the casino, I'm happy.

We'll be gone for close to a month so we'll have to spend money on laundry. I was hoping MDR might be more casual than in the US.

sellwingri: We haven't been on a Royal ship on an Australia/New Zealand itinerary, but we have done several cruises in that part of the world on Celebrity.

One change we noted was the entertainment -- RCCL hires evening entertainment acts ( I am referring to the 7 and 9 PM shows) which rotate though the ships. I mean folks like Fred Klett, who has worked the RCCL ships for years. We have had him on Alaskan, Caribbean, New England/Canada and even in European itineraries. While he is funny, and does both family friendly and late night adult comedy routines, there is just so much we care to listen to. But on the Australia/New Zealand itineraries we have had, at least on Celebrity, a number of Australian and New Zealand entertainers. It was refreshing to check the Celebrity Today and find that the evening featured entertainment in the theatre wasn't someone you had seen multiple times.

And the Celebrity ships have had kangaroo in the buffet.

You may also get Pavlova or lamingtons

The menu changes for different parts of the world, although much is common. We don't really like the Australian food items that replace the US ones. When I was getting a recipe from the concierge last cruise he mentioned that they have around 2,000 recipes and that these are necessary to cater for the different tastes of people around the world.

.... bring meds in their original containers along with a list of them from the doctor.

It seems relevant to the topic, sorry to "hijack" the thread, but can someone confirm about the "original containers"?

DH takes a lot of meds. It will be very bulky to carry all of them in their original boxes.

Thanks, Dani

It seems relevant to the topic, sorry to "hijack" the thread, but can someone confirm about the "original containers"?

DH takes a lot of meds. It will be very bulky to carry all of them in their original boxes.

 

Thanks, Dani

It really depends, if you take them out of their original packaging are they clearly marked as to what they are?

Many of mine come in strips in a box, the strips are clearly marked as to the drug and strength so I have never had a problem just taking a strip or two. However the ones that are loose tablets in a bottle are generally not so well marked so would always take those in their original bottle

Your pharmacist can provide Travel Bottles. Just ask!

It really depends, if you take them out of their original packaging are they clearly marked as to what they are?

 

Many of mine come in strips in a box, the strips are clearly marked as to the drug and strength so I have never had a problem just taking a strip or two. However the ones that are loose tablets in a bottle are generally not so well marked so would always take those in their original bottle

Your pharmacist can provide Travel Bottles. Just ask!

Thank you so much for your replies. Your help is much appreciated :D

Your pharmacist can provide Travel Bottles. Just ask!

Do the travel bottles say what's in the bottle and the dosage? If so, that would be helpful for several of my husband's meds. Unfortunately, he takes around 15 different meds, some of which come from a mail order company, so it would help for some.

It seems relevant to the topic, sorry to "hijack" the thread, but can someone confirm about the "original containers"?

DH takes a lot of meds. It will be very bulky to carry all of them in their original boxes.

 

Thanks, Dani

A letter listing your medication from your Doctor also helps if stopped at the Border.

A letter listing your medication from your Doctor also helps if stopped at the Border.

Thanks, we'll get a letter from our Doctor.

Don't want to "mess" with the Australian Border Control, saw the show on TV ...:D

We're doing our first cruises in March on Radiance OTS to New Zealand and AU. We've done 20 other cruises in the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, etc. Other than the ship being non smoking-YEAH!- what differences should we expect? Are the cruises more casual or more dressy, are the menus different, anything else we should know about? I know we have to get VISAs and bring meds in their original containers along with a list of them from the doctor.

 

Any help would be appreciated.

With regard to the menus, we have sailed on locally based Princess ships and US based ones but I can't say we have noticed many differences with the food. Sure, there may be the odd thing such as the bacon at breakfast may not be the crispy kind (then again, they may have both crispy and non crispy :)), some of the packaged cereals may be different but other than that it's pretty much the same.

I honestly don't think you will have any issues with the food.

I'm not sure what MrYellowDuck meant re replacing the US food items as the only thing I've noticed was the bacon as I like the crispy version :eek:

You may notice that the comedians will tell jokes with a local flavour that won't mean a lot to citizens from other countries but overall the differences in the cruise experience are relatively minor unless you are particularly fussy!

Such as the bacon at breakfast may not be the crispy kind (then again, they may have both crispy and non crispy :)), !

Explorer OTS had both "english" and "american" style bacon in the windjammer when I was last on. There was room on my plate for both, plus the different types of sausages and all the other stuff. ;)

Heck, since I'm currently living in a Muslim country, I'll take any style of bacon at all, as long as it's real.

Heck, since I'm currently living in a Muslim country, I'll take any style of bacon at all, as long as it's real.

You need 2 slices of Toast coated with Vegemite that will stop your craving for Bacon!

You need 2 slices of Toast coated with Vegemite that will stop your craving for Bacon!

Or it will increase the craving for anything to get the taste of Vegemite out your mouth. ;) (And I am an Aussie)

I have been on Radiance twice, once out of Sydney and once to Alaska. I did find that the Aussie based cruise was a lot more casual. It was however also over the Summer holidays here in Australia, with about 700 kids on board, so that could have been a reason.

With regards to the menus, if memory serves me correctly, there were a few local dishes in each place, so yeah there was kangaroo in Australia, and there was Salmon in Alaska.

As there are so many Aussies on these cruises, what was mentioned before is correct, in that a lot of the entertainment, comedy etc is geared to Aussies, but overall the differences are going to be very subtle.

Heck, since I'm currently living in a Muslim country, I'll take any style of bacon at all, as long as it's real.

And this surely wins the post of the month award. :D

Or it will increase the craving for anything to get the taste of Vegemite out your mouth. ;) (And I am an Aussie)

.

As an American newly introduced to Vegemite, be sure to put about 1/2 inch of it on your breakfast toast to get the full impact.:evilsmile:

I think traveling with Aussies and Kiwis is great fun. You likely will also see no fake service dogs onboard.

As an American newly introduced to Vegemite, be sure to put about 1/2 inch of it on your breakfast toast to get the full impact.:evilsmile:

 

I think traveling with Aussies and Kiwis is great fun. You likely will also see no fake service dogs onboard.

Good to see you are alive after the Vegemite Road Test, I am sure your Aussie mates will have some other tests for you at a later date

Looking forward to our tour and cruise in Australia and NZ .As we are travelling quite a bit hubby does not want to bring his dinner suit with him but will have a nice linen jacket, will that be acceptable on formal nights on the ship ?

Sailing on Golden Princess.

Cheers

Scotslizzy

Looking forward to our tour and cruise in Australia and NZ .As we are travelling quite a bit hubby does not want to bring his dinner suit with him but will have a nice linen jacket, will that be acceptable on formal nights on the ship ?

 

Sailing on Golden Princess.

 

Cheers

 

Scotslizzy

Yep.

Looking for reputable agencies for excursions outside the ship in New Zealand and Australia. Your help would be appreciated. Leaving January 13, 2018...