Live-- “Eh” to “G’day” – Vancouver to Sydney on Radiance 2014

[thetexasaggiecruiser]

Omg I was so stupid! My email should be makaylahwhite1989 at yahoo dot com. So sorry teachergal29, could you email me again?

 

 

 

Thank you so very much!

 

 

I sent this one - just to help out teachergal29 has been so awesome on this.

 

Raina, hope the cruise is going swimmingly!

Edited September 17, 2014 by thetexasaggiecruiser

[FloGaleRNTX]

I'm sorry to be late to the party, but could you add me to the list of those who want the name of the discounter?? I'm flogalerntx52 at yahoo dot com

 

Thanks!!

 

Barbara

[mdwcruises]

I sent this one - just to help out teachergal29 has been so awesome on this.

 

Raina, hope the cruise is going swimmingly!

 

Thank you so much! And many thanks to teachergal29. And it also Raina is having a fabulous cruise! Can't wait for the next installment.

[AussieVisi2r]

I shall be posting another update in a while. The unlimited wifi has kicked in. Still not terribly fast but time doesn't matter now! Yahhh

 

I hope i have not sent you all on a 'bum steer' with the airline people but they were brilliant for me.

 

Raina

[h20cruzer]

It seems everybody wants the website for the discount air broker myself included my email address is cosmocruisegirl at comcast dot net.

Raina wonderful review. Brought a tear to my eye. Vancouver bC is my favorite city, loves those pics. I always tried to get my dad on a cuise but never could get him to go. So wonderful you and your father can travel and have this special time together.

Norma

[Retirement]

Could I have the name of the discounter, too, please? anitapaulton@gmail.com

 

We live in Vancouver and think that it's the most beautiful city in the world!:)

Edited September 17, 2014 by Retirement

[springaussie]

Raina how fast are is Radiance cruising at now?

[AussieVisi2r]

Tuesday 16th September

Cruise Day 5 - At Sea

 

The seas were up to 5 metres last night. It was a great sleeping night with the gentle massage of the rocking bed. We are cruising at 18 knots.

 

 

Another relaxing blissful day at sea.

Trivia.

Behind the stripes lecture.

Todays guest was Marius, Head of hotel, who I talked about on day two. He is from Cyprus and runs everything NOT marine on the ship.

 

 

Hotel, Food and beverages, Entertainment, Guest Services, Human Relations, IT, Medical, Marketing, Spa, Photography, House keeping, Inventory……. 12 departments. Busy man.

 

He has been in shipping for 18 years and 10 years with RCL. HE started as a head waiter and worked his way up.

 

He said his biggest challenge was doing the season out of Brazil. Late dinners, bars open to 6am and the ship empty until 1pm! That and missing out on friends and family and the big events in their lives.

 

On board, crew are from 66 different nationality’s. So it is ALWAYS someone’s Independence Day, or some other celebration they have made up!

 

He sky dived last year in Hawaii after mis-hearing the guys in the mess after a few beers. He thought they said Diving’ so said he would love to go! He said that he jumped out of the plane and was so happy, loving the feeling then thought “why are you happy, your shute is not open yet!” But he did love it. (Fool).

 

I then went to the Crown and Anchor lunch with an officer. We sat with Lawrence, From NZ via Singapore. A lovely guy and had fun chatting about all kinds of stuff.

 

 

I barely had time for my Nanna Nap today.

 

For dinner we went to Giovanni’s, which as always was fantastic. The Scallops did not disappoint. Shamus, the Maître d from Ireland, stopped by and had a chat. And can that guy chat – so funny.

Food was amazing.

 

 

 

Not a very exciting day today. Sorry guys. But tomorrow will have a lot more to tell you about.

 

Everywhere you look on Radiance you can see the ocean - even on ceilings. The accessibility to the ocean is one of the things I LOVE about this ship.

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

The loyalty scheme is amazing on RCCL.

 

Diamond Plus is so wonderful. Every time I look around there is another gift or treat or something special. Everyone on a Royal cruise is treated as special, but I can stay in the cheapest room (which I do with out Dad) and keep getting amazing things and have access to the Concierge Lounge every evening for great drinks - including soft drinks, coffee etc.

 

 

Not much colour in the sunset today - but still lovely.

 

 

 

.

[windjamming]

Wow, I just read this entire thread in one sitting (when I really should be getting ready for work!) What an amazing trip! This will be a difficult itinerary for us to take, so thank you for sharing with us.

 

PS: You are a great daughter.

[Passion4Cruising]

Raina, thank you for bringing us all on your adventure! I'm hoping my mom would like to do this trip as Australia is on her bucket list.

 

Would it be possible to also get the broker name. I can emailed at Babs82400 at gmail dot com.

 

Thank you again!

Barb

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[teachergal29]

Just sent Raina's email to:

FlogaleRNTX52

cosmocruisergirl

Retirement (Hi Anita, we have sailed together in the past, think the Hawaii r/t)

Passion4Cruising

[artypharty]

teachergal, one more request for the discounter please! thank you!

 

ranvic30 at aol dot com

[lemonade-sails]

Raina, love all of the pictures!

[alwayshappytocruise]

You are more than welcome. I did miss one that I was confused about. Hope seetosea comes back to clarify..

 

:o If it's not too much trouble, I would also like to see the information about discounted airfare. We flew to Sydney on United via business class 5 years ago and it was $10,000 for the two of us....more than our cruise in a JS aft! email addy is lyndaunderscorehoogerhyde@yahoo.com the underscore is this not written _!!!

 

Thanks in advance, loving this review!!!

 

Cheers, Lynda

[aggie1]

I also would like inf on discounted air fare. patsyagatsbcglobaldotnet. Thanks

[teachergal29]

Sent Raina's email to:

artypharty

alwayshappytocruise

aggie1

 

Had to guess on some of the emails. Those wanting the link, please write out your email exactly as it would be written in the address window. Just put in at for the @ sign and dot for the .

Edited September 17, 2014 by teachergal29

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

Great report!! The first several posts in Vancouver and your sailaway reminded me of my amazing Alaska cruise on Radiance in June!!

Edited September 17, 2014 by OfTheSeasCruiser

[seetosea]

I tried .spriggs at comcast dot net and it wouldn't let me send it..

 

I emailed it to pooh3901 and mdwcruises

 

Still looking for the email re: discounter

 

I've checked spam and email and it's not there. Let's try another email

 

jjspriggs at gmail dot com

 

My Comcast account can be so finicky.

 

Thank you for doing this.

 

Jackie

[teachergal29]

Still looking for the email re: discounter

 

I've checked spam and email and it's not there. Let's try another email

 

jjspriggs at gmail dot com

 

My Comcast account can be so finicky.

 

Thank you for doing this.

 

Jackie

 

Just sent it again. Hope it works..:)

[boeckli]

Have only just had a chance to read the whole thread - thanks to Raina for taking us along :D Will be boarding Radiance in Sydney on Oct 20 :D

 

Would also appreciate the discounter info - email is

 

my screen name at gmail dot com (hope you understand that :) )

 

TIA

 

:cool:

[BekkaW]

Great review Raina! This itinerary is definitely on our bucket list. We'll be on Radiance in January with DH and my MIL so it's great to see what it's like. Coincidentally, we're from Canberra too - small world!

 

I would also love the details of the wholesaler if someone doesn't mind passing them on bek dot wheate at outlook dot com

 

Thanks

[AussieVisi2r]

Thursday 18h September

Cruise Day 6 - At Sea

 

 

The early sky was very pretty.

 

 

But it is heating up very quickly. Sadly the wonderful weather of Vancouver is gone and I shall have to wait for New Zealand for good weather again. 29 today! Yack.

 

The morning started off with some “Gospel at Sea”. Sheila Rodgers, wife of Captain Malcolm, usually leads a singing group for her congregation. So she decided to do some singing on morning. It was lovely.

 

 

There was a very cute kid there with parents that had THE best accent.

“Where you goin’ Mumma”.

 

 

The official chart.

 

 

And as you can tell I just love the Blue Birds.

 

[bigeck]

QUOTE from Raina:"I priced a few airlines and eventually got onto a few of the discount business seat sellers that advertise on many places. This one has a name that talks about first class discount air. I knew I would never get to travel first class. I was after affordable business seats. They eventually got back to me with Global First class tickets with United for around half the price of Qantas. So we grabbed them."

 

I would be very interested in the 'Discount site' where you got a good deal on flat bed Business seats. I know you cannot say it here, but could you please email it to me at psd354 at embarqmail dot com.

We are going to be sailing from Australia to LA (28 days) in April 2016. I am doing research now on flying the one way into Sydney or Melbourne.

Thanks so much for the great review and photos. :)

 

Sorry for being late, I just caught up.

Can you forward it to me as well please.

Coming from Scotland, we get hit with big airfare every time.

Thanks in advance

alex moir at Hotmail dot com

[AussieVisi2r]

I then headed off on the Galley tour. This is always very enjoyable. You go through the My Time Dining kitchen on deck 5 then down to the main kitchen on deck 4.

 

 

They bake 7000 bread rolls a day – plus loaves, pastries etc.

 

 

There are 127 Chefs and 42 others (dish washers etc).

The dishwashers are worth over $100,000 each.

The bakery works 24 hours a day.

 

 

Recycling and rubbish sorting is huge. Food scraps are mulched (to a minute size – too small for fish to eat) and put overboard. Paper and some plastics are burnt and glass, cans and crockery are recycled. They are sold at certain ports and the money goes into the Staff Fund. Parties, emergencies, family relief etc. That really encourages staff to sort al rubbish well.

 

Mashed Potato anyone?

 

 

How about some Cauliflower with cheese sauce?

 

 

Or sponge cake?

 

 

I'm pretty sure that if you book the Chefs Table you can ask for the galley tour. So worth doing if you like facts.