“LIVE FROM” 2019 Oceania Insignia World Cruise, Jan. 11-July 11

[JoePDX]

1 hour ago, Edgewater601 said:

I am on one leg of this ATW cruise Joe.  I think we are on the Edge together.  Look forward to meeting you.

 

Connie

Hi Connie -  We are!   Closing in on a month until we leave!   🙂    Look forward to meeting you and hearing about your adventures.

 

Joe

[See_More]

You obviously have a firm grasp of wifi.  Oceania announced wavenet VSAT(very small aperture terminal) wifi fleetwide one year ago.  The record connect in the cruise industry is about 3G(bits per sec).  Most ships operate about 20Mbps.  There is latency communicating with satellites in geosynchronous orbits and weather conditions matter.  For the near future think social interaction, not live streaming. 

[Go-Bucks!]

4 hours ago, Mura said:

Why without Wadi Rum?  If it's a time consideration, I understand.

 

Personal choice....😉

[Go-Bucks!]

Looked out from the balcony, just before sundown, and saw this amazing sight....a pink ocean and pink sky!!!  Never saw this before; neither had our stateroom attendants.  So beautiful.  After a few minutes, the pink hue was gone.

[Mura]

8 hours ago, Go-Bucks! said:

 

Personal choice....😉

Which is something we all do.  I was just wondering if it was a time consideration ... since we found our visit to Wadi Rum such a highlight.

 

Others don't need to be guided by OUR choice, of course.

 

Mura

 

[bob brown]

“Red skies at night,

sailor’s delight...”

😎

[roothy123]

Quick question: In Sydney, I know you were docked at White Bay Cruise Terminal.  I imagine there was a shuttle to somewhere in center city Sydney for those who didn't take the ship's excursions.  I'm trying to do some planning for my cruise, and wondered if someone could tell me where the shuttle dropped passengers.  I'm guessing it was perhaps around Darling Harbour, as I've seen that mentioned as a likely place.  However, I was wondering if that was it, and if so, if someone could give me a more specific location -  west side near the big Harbourside Shopping Center or east side?  

[Paulchili]

20 minutes ago, roothy123 said:

Quick question: In Sydney, I know you were docked at White Bay Cruise Terminal.  I imagine there was a shuttle to somewhere in center city Sydney for those who didn't take the ship's excursions.

Not on this cruise but did dock in White Bay before on another line. The ferry drops you off in the Rocks under the bridge.

[roothy123]

10 minutes ago, Paulchili said:

Not on this cruise but did dock in White Bay before on another line. The ferry drops you off in the Rocks under the bridge.

thanks; was not expecting that, although I know the Rocks are very popular from what I've read, so that makes sense.  That's near Circular Quay too, right?  Would love that, although could get over there if necessary from Darling.

Edited March 21, 2019 by roothy123

[Paulchili]

4 minutes ago, roothy123 said:

thanks; was not expecting that, although I know the Rocks are very popular from what I've read, so that makes sense.

Obviously the ferry has to dock where there is a dock (under the bridge) - not just anywhere and I think the Circular Quay docks are too busy for that (I am guessing here).

[bob brown]

Pilot’s aboard.🙂

[bob brown]

Just now, roothy123 said:

Quick question: In Sydney, I know you were docked at White Bay Cruise Terminal.  I imagine there was a shuttle to somewhere in center city Sydney for those who didn't take the ship's excursions.  I'm trying to do some planning for my cruise, and wondered if someone could tell me where the shuttle dropped passengers.  I'm guessing it was perhaps around Darling Harbour, as I've seen that mentioned as a likely place.  However, I was wondering if that was it, and if so, if someone could give me a more specific location -  west side near the big Harbourside Shopping Center or east side?  

Shittle bus stop is on Lime Street, near King Wharf.

[ORV]

Paul, when we were there I took a ferry from Circular Quay to White Bay to embark. There is a regular ferry stop there. 

[Paulchili]

36 minutes ago, bob brown said:

Shittle bus stop is on Lime Street, near King Wharf.

That’s interesting. Ours stopped at Ives steps.

I wonder if that varies from ship to ship or how busy the wharves are.

[See_More]

Mar.22.2019 Although the bar in Manila, Philippines is set uncomfortably low, about 21% of the population fall below the national poverty line. - a stark reminder of how fortunate we are.  But Manila is not without its charm and history.  Visited the walled city (old town) listened to the mellow sonorous sound of the bamboo organ at las pinas, St. Joseph’s Parish and took in the sweeping splendour of Taal volcano the smallest in the world rising a mere 1020 feet above the surrounding lake.  Scrumptious buffet at Taal Hotel.  A police escort allowed us to avoid delays.  

 

Edited March 22, 2019 by See_More

[bob brown]

NYCnative......

You asked sbout the Insignia gym...

[RJB]

1 hour ago, bob brown said:

NYCnative......

You asked sbout the Insignia gym...

A little hard to read.  

[See_More]

Mar.22.2019 ... moon over Manila... Loyalty over royalty... sweet dreams!

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

Here's part of what Bob posted - might be a little easier to read. (I'm at home, with Photoshop!)

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

16 hours ago, roothy123 said:

thanks; was not expecting that, although I know the Rocks are very popular from what I've read, so that makes sense.  That's near Circular Quay too, right?  Would love that, although could get over there if necessary from Darling.

 

15 hours ago, ORV said:

Paul, when we were there I took a ferry from Circular Quay to White Bay to embark. There is a regular ferry stop there. 

I'm the person who initially asked about a shuttle from White Bay, but using a family member's CC name, as we share a computer.  I'm getting a little confused over the different possible shuttle stop locations.  I can't find any ferry stops at White Bay, so I'm assuming that what ORV mentions is a ferry from the other berth location in central Sydney, not the berth location of White Bay.  Also, I'm assuming that what Paul is referring to (when crusiing on another line) is a shuttle that was offered (not a ferry).   So I'm putting in my notes that if a shuttle is offered, it will likely be to Lime Street, near the Darling Harbor ferry stop.  Of course, I just realized we will be staying on the ship, but it's disembarkation/embarkation day for us, so NO shuttle is likely to be offered.  Duh!   But at least all this info has given me a better idea of how to get from point A to point B without using cabs or Uber, which is often my goal.  So thanks to those who responded. The more I ask for info, the more I learn about Sydney!

Edited March 22, 2019 by IWantToLiveOverTheSea

[ORV]

No, definitely a ferry. A boat, in the water. There is an extra route added on the days that a cruise ship leaves from White Bay. We had it almost to ourselves. 

 

This had nothing to do with Oceania, we did it on our own. The ferry stop at White Bay is about a football fields length from the cruise terminal. 

 

See pic below, me in my private ferry headed to embarkation. 

Edited March 22, 2019 by ORV

[2552phxcrzr]

25 minutes ago, IWantToLiveOverTheSea said:

 

I'm the person who initially asked about a shuttle from White Bay, but using a family member's CC name, as we share a computer.  I'm getting a little confused over the different possible shuttle stop locations.  I can't find any ferry stops at White Bay, so I'm assuming that ORV remembers refers to a ferry from the other berth location in central Sydney, not out at White Bay.  Also, I'm assuming that what Paul is referring (on another line) is a shuttle that was offered (not a ferry) that went to the Rocks.  So I'm putting in my notes that it's likely a shuttle will be offered to Lime Street, near the Darling Harbor ferry stop.  Of course, I just realized we will be staying on the ship, but it's disembarkation/embarkation day for us, so NO shuttle is likely to be offered.  Duh!   But at least all this info has given me a better idea of how I might be able to get from point A to point B without using cabs or Uber, which is (often) my goal.  So thanks to those who responded. The more I ask for info, the more I learn about Sydney!

 

In 2017, Insignia docked at White Bay.  There was a complimentary shuttle bus that took us to King’s Wharf and dropped us off there.  King’s Wharf is at Darling Harbour.  From there we walked over to the ferries that operate between Darling Harbor and Circular Quay to go to the Opera House / QEII Gate of the Royal Botanic Gardens.

 

An alternative means is to take the Capt Cook ferry (operates from White Bay only when there is a cruise ship there) and dropped us off at King’s Wharf.  This ferry used to take pax to Circular Quay, but my notes say that it stopped doing that in 2017.  Things might have changed again since then.  If you plan to use the ferry to get from White Bay, then check out schedule and stops on the Capt Cook ferry website.  This would be at your own expense as it is not associated with the shuttle offered by the cruise line.

Edited March 22, 2019 by h2so4

[bob brown]

Sorry about posting the Canyon Ranch class schedule upside down...

[RJB]

2 hours ago, bob brown said:

Sorry about posting the Canyon Ranch class schedule upside down...

No big deal. It was corrected.  You are doing a great job with your posts with the photos.  I have been following it since day one and love  reading all of them.  Wish we were there.   Again, thank you. 

[Beagle5]

7 hours ago, h2so4 said:

An alternative means is to take the Capt Cook ferry (operates from White Bay only when there is a cruise ship there) and dropped us off at King’s Wharf.  This ferry used to take pax to Circular Quay, but my notes say that it stopped doing that in 2017.

 

This is correct. The Captain Cook ferry that Orv took from Circular Quay now operates from King's Wharf at Barangaroo.

Barangaroo is an urban renewal area with lot of cafes/restaurants/groovySydneypeople, and worth a look in itself. From Barangaroo you can take ferries to Circular Quay and elsewhere in the harbour on the Sydney ferry service . Or you can follow the new pedestrian path/escalators right up to Wynyard in the heart of the Sydney CBD . I have also done the walk from Barangaroo, following the shoreline up under the Harbour Bridge, through the Rocks, to Circular Quay to the Opera House. It is a bit of a hike, but very pleasant if you like walking.