LIVE! From Rhapsody of the Seas - 19th November - Queensland Coast

[Sydneycruiser2013]

Its become a gorgeous afternoon in sydney so yayyyy for sail party!

[bradsnana]

We did this cruise a couple of years ago. Best experience ever! Total bucket list trip.

Only downside was the jet lag coming from the US. It hit me going, got the husband coming back.

I tell everyone I know if they ever get the chance to go to Australia and do this cruise...jump on it!

 

 

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[MissCruising1]

Day 1 was as exciting as we thought it was going to be! So much so - when my head hit the pillow not long after dinner I was i zzzzzzz land pretty quickly!

 

We enjoyed sail away with a gorgeous SUNNY view of Sydney. Our JS is great! So glad we jumped on the offer when we saw it come up. Great size (we actually like it better than the Grand Suite we were in in November last year).

 

The Aft balcony is great!

 

[MissCruising1]

Sailing out of Sydney - best port ever!

 

[MissCruising1]

Day 2 - we are in Newcastle... and have come to the conclusion that even though the sun is shining and the city is quite lovely...we're not getting off the ship. I think we decided long ago that this cruise was really going to about Rhapsody than the ports.

 

Last night we had dinner at Giovanni's table because they were having a great 50% sail away offer. Even though we have purchased the Chef's Table package (that includes all specialty restaurants) we are quite a fan of Giovanni's, so looking forward to our next visit.

 

We got a welcoming party when we arrived in Newcastle this morning:

 

[nicben]

looking forward to this report will be on rhapsody in April trans pacific to Vancouver via Hawaii first post for me so go easy was engineer in bank line late 60s /70s visiting most of islands and more trouble is slnce I was there islands most islands have change names

[rednancy1]

Subscribing. :)

[SeaFlorida]

Looking forward to following your daily reports on your Queensland cruise.

Have booked this cruise for 10/28/14. Any suggestions about excursions

would be appreciated.

[MissCruising1]

It's been a cruisey day (I had to say that at least once!). We've just been enjoying exploring the ship. Breakfast in the buffet - lunch as well. However tomorrow it will be all about the Park Cafe because the food looks awesome (and super healthy). Buffet was great but I think we are going to enjoy the Solarium over the next 2 cruise / sea days.

 

We depart Newcastle at 4pm - shuttles have been frequently coming and going with all on board by 3.30pm. There were some great shore excursions on offer out to the Hunter Valley - just about kicking ourselves we didn't go as the prices were reasonable...but we've been before so that's ok.

 

Tonight we will be dining in the Main Dining Room - we have My Time - which we prefer, so we can mix it up.

 

It's a casual evening - tomorrow is formal and our Chef's table night.

 

Buffet this morning:

 

[MissCruising1]

This is our stateroom - photo by Mr G as soon as we got on the ship.

 

It is Aft JS 8598

 

[aussielozzie18]

This is our stateroom - photo by Mr G as soon as we got on the ship.

 

It is Aft JS 8598

 

 

Wow! That stateroom is impressive. We are booked in an interior stateroom, I think ours is going to be a wee bit smaller. Enjoying your photos very much.

[MissCruising1]

Leaving Newcastle, the cannon on Fort Scratley fires a farewell round (of blanks!)

[ScoutLeoOz]

thanks for the info!!

[ScoutLeoOz]

Thanks taking note for planning purposes!!

[ScoutLeoOz]

Just wondering if the fort is within walking distance of where the ship docks??

 

Those aft balcony cabins are wonderful - we have a D-1 on the 7th deck for our cruise in March but we've done the JS before.

[MissCruising1]

Just wondering if the fort is within walking distance of where the ship docks??

 

Those aft balcony cabins are wonderful - we have a D-1 on the 7th deck for our cruise in March but we've done the JS before.

 

Hi Scoutleooz - the fort is some distance from where we were docked. There were constant shuttle buses. Apparently (so ship rumour has it) there is a closer dock that is walking distance.... not sure how true that is!

[MissCruising1]

Day 2 - Evening... Got well into the swing of chilling out. We spent part of the afternoon in the Solarium while waiting for sail away. We headed down to our balcony to take in the view of Newcastle as we left.

 

Afterwards Mr G went back for his 2nd half hour gym session and I headed down to the Casino... I love watching everyone wait for the opening of the Casino when we are far enough away from port! It runs a close 2nd to how much I love watching pier runners on port days almost miss the ship!

 

Dinner was in the main dining room - it was a little chaotic at first as we had booked for 7pm which was one of the major change over times for the early diners to rush off to the show. However the staff were great! They dealt with some surly passengers who needed to chill out. We had absolutely no problem waiting an extra 5 - 10mins for a table to be ready. We got a table for 2 and told we could have it every night if we wanted. We explained that we have other restaurants booked but would come back to this table on our 'off' nights.

 

Dinner was delicious - I opted for Asparagus soup - appetizer and Mr G had Calamari. Mains (entrees) Stunning vegie quiche and perfect lamb chops. Could not fault anything about dinner at all!

 

After dinner we headed to one of our favourite places on all the RCI ships we have been on - Good old Schooner Bar. Got chatty with some fellow cruisers and the staff. Stayed for a couple of hours before tottering off for some shut eye.

[MissCruising1]

Solarium yesterday afternoon:

 

[charliegirlac]

Loving your review! I'm going on Rhapsody in February, but am going on Radiane next week (eeeek!) if you get a chance can you please check out the milk and breakfast cereal situation for me? I'm wondering if the milk is uht or fresh (weaning baby from formula to milk at the moment) also wondering if there is the Aussie standard weetbix onboard?

Thanks!!

Carly

[marquisite]

I'll be following along as I've got this booked for March/April of 2014! :D

 

Are you planning to visit the Great Barrier Reef on one of the port days (Cairns/Airlie Beach)? Despite living in Australia (at the bottom, mind you) I've never been to the GBR but not sure if it is worth going to or not (not much of a swimmer/beach person).

 

What's the Rhapsody Windjammer like? It seems quite small (seating wise) but then I guess there's less hungry passengers to feed than Radiance or Voyager OTS. And finally, is there any chance of a scan of one of the Cruise Compasses on a sea day? Curious to see what's planned, being a tropical Australian cruise.

 

PS: I seem to be playing catch up with you, having done Voyager of the Seas between Perth and Singapore, just as you had done (but in reverse). ;) How do you compare RH and VY? They're both different ships with their own good and bad between them but I'd still be interested to hear your comments.

[MissCruising1]

I'll be following along as I've got this booked for March/April of 2014! :D

 

Are you planning to visit the Great Barrier Reef on one of the port days (Cairns/Airlie Beach)? Despite living in Australia (at the bottom, mind you) I've never been to the GBR but not sure if it is worth going to or not (not much of a swimmer/beach person).

 

What's the Rhapsody Windjammer like? It seems quite small (seating wise) but then I guess there's less hungry passengers to feed than Radiance or Voyager OTS. And finally, is there any chance of a scan of one of the Cruise Compasses on a sea day? Curious to see what's planned, being a tropical Australian cruise.

 

PS: I seem to be playing catch up with you, having done Voyager of the Seas between Perth and Singapore, just as you had done (but in reverse). ;) How do you compare RH and VY? They're both different ships with their own good and bad between them but I'd still be interested to hear your comments.

 

We've both been to the reef a number of times so not going while on this cruise. It is worth it - as it is truly beautiful. However in Cairns there is another excursion that takes you up to a place called Kuranda - it is a rainforest village - very quaint and you can do the 'skyrail' back.

 

http://www.kuranda.org/

 

http://www.skyrail.com.au/

 

Rhapsody Windjammer is great - smaller but still has a lot of variety - really easy to navigate and lots of seating. We've never had an issue getting a table. There are also more tables for 2.

 

Park Cafe is quickly becoming one of our favourite places!

 

In order - we still love Radiance, then it would be RH and the jury is out on Voyager until she has the refurb! That is mainly because we LOVE the specialty restaurants.

[MissCruising1]

Day 5 - sorry out of action for a couple of days while out of range. I am using a mobile broadband internet connection rather then spend my life savings on the ships internet. I bought a telstra elite http://www.telstra.com.au/broadband/mobile-broadband/prepaid/devices-and-starter-kits/

 

I put $50 AUD credit on it at the begining of the cruise and even with the large photos being upload there is still $37 left - so it is value for money of course!

 

It just means I have to wait until in port to post updates.

 

We arrived in Cairns this morning. Gorgeous sunny day - very humid (as is the norm this time of year in North Queensland). We took it easy with our morning as we didn't dock until 10am - so we had room service breakfast - watched a movie -pottered about - had lunch in the windjammer and then disembarked around 12:30. We have both been here before so have done all the tours on offer or similar. Our only plans were to meet up with some dear friends that moved here a few years ago.

 

We headed down to the Esplanade http://www.cairnsesplanade.com.au/ which wasn't far from where the ship docked. In fact Cairns Cruise Terminal is in walking distance of the city and esplanade. It's a bit different to other ships that dock at Yorkey's Knob when doing a similar itinerary...

 

Unlike when we were in Newcastle the ship was practically empty as I would say 80 - 90% had opted to go onshore, do tours etc.

 

After our lovely catch up with friends over a couple of beers we headed back to the ship... a storm had been brewing all day (very normal for this time of year as well!) - it didn't hit but it was damp and sticky!

 

I love our summer storms and really hoped we would actually get one - instead we got some cooling rain as I dived into the pool when we got back onboard.

 

[MissCruising1]

I'll back up to Days 3 and 4 - two at sea days (our favourite). Majority of the time we relaxed, did a little shopping, Mr G got to watch some cricket....while I headed to the pool deck for reading and people watching.

 

The days were sunny and not to hot.

 

Day 3 we attended the Cruise Critic meet and mingle - and this time actually met people...some meet and mingles we have been to in the past were more 'stand and eat canapes and leave'. We had a lovely chat with a number of CC members - so this goes down as my favourtie M&M to date.

 

[MissCruising1]

Day 3 was busy! We had the meet and mingle and then that night Chef's Table... which was a hoot!!! what an amazing bunch of people we met! We laughed so hard and everyone really clicked. We may have lost a few team members from liking the wine just a little bit too much - but 70% of were still standing (just) at the end :D

 

We bought the Chef's table dining package for $130AUD per person pre-cruise online. In our opinion this is so worth it! Chef's table alone on land would be worth over $200pp and then we also have Izumi, Chops Grille and Giovanni's to go to. We still love the dining room - but having these extra restaurants and the amazing quality and attention to detail makes our cruise just that bit more special. It's pretty easy to guess from here on in that we cruise to enjoy dining as much as everything else the cruise has to offer.

 

Day 4 night - we went to Izumi - just wonderful. Our waiter knew we were anxious to get to the show on time so was spot on with his delivery of courses.

 

The show last night was The Aussie Boys - a lot of fun - particularly for the aussie's in the audience (they sing a whole bunch of Australian songs) - we are sure some other nationalities are a bit confused about this country now :D

 

After the show - we (well I) hit the casino for a wee while and we ran into some dinner companions from the night before... Part of what we love about cruising is catching up and chatting to new friends we meet to find out how they are enjoying the cruise.

 

So far Rhapsody has not disappointed us with anything...except we wish it was a longer itinerary!

 

As I type - I am on deck 4 in the R Bar - while Mr G is watching the Great Gatsby in the main theatre.

 

[allyman]

You two are awesome! I stumbled upon your blog last night from your Radiance cruise as we are going on Radiance next Tuesday and don't know a whole lot about it. Your blog was soooo informative, I immediately sent the link to my partner and we poured over the photos and drooled somewhat. You have us very excited.

 

I also joined you on Facebook, loving the photos and the interesting bits of info. We have booked an aft balcony on deck 9 of Radiance and now I have read your blog and this thread, keen to try the Chef's Table.

 

Keep up the great work, it is truly appreciated.

 

Regards

Ally