Transpacific Brisbane to Seattle April 13, 2023

[scruffy18]

16 hours ago, mainecruisefan said:

Quick question: did anyone prebuy the wifi package? It is no longer on the website and Carnival is telling me I can't buy it ahead of time and will have to buy it on board. I spent an hour on the phone wasting a lot of time.

 

The answer they give me is that you can't prebuy Internet on an Australian cruise. Has anyone else had this experience?

 

I pre-purchased my wifi package about 10 days ago

[scruffy18]

Where is a good place in Brisbane CBD to get some good souvenirs? 

[kangforpres]

just bought 3 shore Ex's but couldn't access any wifi packages. I wasn't planning on getting one anyway, I'm just gonna to use my International data for $10 a day when we are in port, (ATT US price) and Hawaii is free.

[mainecruisefan]

6 hours ago, Ames77 said:

Has anyone had problem checking in?  I checked in and it popped up to call carnival immediately.  They told me there is a system error and I most likely have to wait to check in once I arrive at the terminal.

I did not have an issue checking in.

[irie0518]

Does anyone know if the casino will be dealing in US or AUD?  I saw that in lieu of the slot tournament that you get $25 AUD.  That got me thinking if all of the casino will be in AUD.  TIA.

[mainecruisefan]

Just got an email from Carnival with the standard Covid information about vaccine requirements and required pre-testing... no changes there....

BUT then it talks about required insurance and that Vacation Protection can be added up to 14 days pre-cruise AND meets the requirements to cruise (at $109)... 

ALSO this little nugget:

"We have been actively working with our satellite internet providers to ensure adequate bandwidth is available during the voyage. However, because global satellite providers limit coverage to ocean regions, there may be instances when connectivity is slow or interrupted. Please keep this in mind as you make plans to communicate with friends and family.
As a result, we will automatically refund all pre-purchased Wi-Fi packages to the original form of payment. The social, value, and premium plans will still be available for purchase on board at the discounted pre-cruise price, but only on a day-to-day basis."

 

I have done a South Pacific cruise before and there were definitely days around the equator where we lost wifi for a day or so. That said, they didn't ever go to this extreme. I think this is favorable to us as passengers since we get the discounted rate but it doesn't leave me warm and fuzzy.

[irie0518]

One other question.  The self administered RAT test do we just do a test and take a picture? Does anyone need to witness it?

[mainecruisefan]

17 minutes ago, irie0518 said:

One other question.  The self administered RAT test do we just do a test and take a picture? Does anyone need to witness it?

On my previous cruise we took a picture of the test results beside our passport and something with a time date like a cell phone.

 

That said, from what I read on Carnival, we just need to sign something saying we took a test within 24 hours and it was negative.

[scruffy18]

1 hour ago, irie0518 said:

Does anyone know if the casino will be dealing in US or AUD?  I saw that in lieu of the slot tournament that you get $25 AUD.  That got me thinking if all of the casino will be in AUD.  TIA.

US dollars 

[scruffy18]

3 hours ago, mainecruisefan said:

I did not have an issue checking in.

I didn't have any issues checking in

[Suz&Sean]

2 hours ago, irie0518 said:

Does anyone know if the casino will be dealing in US or AUD?  I saw that in lieu of the slot tournament that you get $25 AUD.  That got me thinking if all of the casino will be in AUD.  TIA.

Per the letter from Carnival: 

• All transactions will be conducted in U.S. dollars, so kindly plan accordingly.  We encourage you to come prepared with U.S. currency (cash and/or credit) for your onboard incremental spending as our team will have a limited amount of U.S. dollars to facilitate currency exchange from Australian dollars (only).  

[mainecruisefan]

39 minutes ago, Suz&Sean said:

Per the letter from Carnival: 

• All transactions will be conducted in U.S. dollars, so kindly plan accordingly.  We encourage you to come prepared with U.S. currency (cash and/or credit) for your onboard incremental spending as our team will have a limited amount of U.S. dollars to facilitate currency exchange from Australian dollars (only).  

That said some of the islands will welcome AUD versus USD at least that was rhe case in 2019. 

[haywoodgw]

Hi all!

This is my first time on Cruise Critic, coming aboard only my second cruise, and cruising solo!  Any other solo cruisers?  Tips? I look forward to seeing you all aboard!

[baloothecat]

3 hours ago, mainecruisefan said:

ALSO this little nugget:

"We have been actively working with our satellite internet providers to ensure adequate bandwidth is available during the voyage. However, because global satellite providers limit coverage to ocean regions, there may be instances when connectivity is slow or interrupted. Please keep this in mind as you make plans to communicate with friends and family.
As a result, we will automatically refund all pre-purchased Wi-Fi packages to the original form of payment. The social, value, and premium plans will still be available for purchase on board at the discounted pre-cruise price, but only on a day-to-day basis."

 

I have done a South Pacific cruise before and there were definitely days around the equator where we lost wifi for a day or so. That said, they didn't ever go to this extreme. I think this is favorable to us as passengers since we get the discounted rate but it doesn't leave me warm and fuzzy.

This doesn’t bode well for those looking to work remotely from the ship. We were on a Hawaii cruise from L.A in January and several days where there was no connection, not even for the tv and everyone complained about the WiFi. I have AT&T phone mobile service and signed up for the cruise plan for at sea days. 50min of calls, unlimited text for $50. At ports we’ll activate the $10 international plan on AT&T to access emails, social media etc. we may sign up for the ships internet for a day or 2 while onboard. That’s our plan at least.

[Suz&Sean]

51 minutes ago, baloothecat said:

This doesn’t bode well for those looking to work remotely from the ship. We were on a Hawaii cruise from L.A in January and several days where there was no connection, not even for the tv and everyone complained about the WiFi. I have AT&T phone mobile service and signed up for the cruise plan for at sea days. 50min of calls, unlimited text for $50. At ports we’ll activate the $10 international plan on AT&T to access emails, social media etc. we may sign up for the ships internet for a day or 2 while onboard. That’s our plan at least.

Does the att cruise plan for at sea days work on the ship? How?

[zashi99]

55 minutes ago, baloothecat said:

This doesn’t bode well for those looking to work remotely from the ship. We were on a Hawaii cruise from L.A in January and several days where there was no connection, not even for the tv and everyone complained about the WiFi. I have AT&T phone mobile service and signed up for the cruise plan for at sea days. 50min of calls, unlimited text for $50. At ports we’ll activate the $10 international plan on AT&T to access emails, social media etc. we may sign up for the ships internet for a day or 2 while onboard. That’s our plan at least.

Pretty much my plan! Except I got the $100 plan.

[zashi99]

4 minutes ago, Suz&Sean said:

Does the att cruise plan for at sea days work on the ship? How?

https://www.att.com/international/cruise-packages/

[kaykayozzie]

14 hours ago, Ames77 said:

Has anyone had problem checking in?  I checked in and it popped up to call carnival immediately.  They told me there is a system error and I most likely have to wait to check in once I arrive at the terminal.

Halleluja. I am checked in. It only took all day. the check in page has us arriving on 5 May and refuses to change. I was advised to skip that part and was finally finished. Rather wobbly website? I chatted to a fellow from Philippines but he couldn't help. Very frustrating experience. See you on board. Kay

[poolmwv]

10 hours ago, irie0518 said:

One other question.  The self administered RAT test do we just do a test and take a picture? Does anyone need to witness it?

For safety’s sake, I would take the test and take a picture with your phone camera )it will capture the date and time. The original email said to take a picture with your passport. Carnival has different information between Carnival.com.au and the US version. And the programming on the websites has been pretty terrible.

 

[kangforpres]

I would never go on a cruise thinking "I'm gonna get a lot of remote work done using the ships satellite based WiFi system". Especially a cruise that is covering thousands of miles of open ocean with multiple consecutive sea days. 

 

But good luck none the less

[irie0518]

Safe travels everyone!!  We leave for Sydney on Tuesday with a one night stop in SFO first to break up the flight a bit from the east coast. 

[sfjakey]

Looking for hotel near ship terminal and airport for 2 nights in Brisbane before flight back to SFO. Also, one that will work to see some of the area.  Any suggestion would be greatly appreciate.   

Thanks

[Suz&Sean]

On 3/30/2023 at 12:04 PM, scruffy18 said:

Where is a good place in Brisbane CBD to get some good souvenirs? 

It sounds like a souvenir store may have opened in the cruise terminal. I imagine the airport may have some too.

[makaymor]

On 3/30/2023 at 9:13 AM, scruffy18 said:

I pre-purchased my wifi package about 10 days ago

Carnival just refunded all pre purchased wifi packages. The internet is going to be really sketchy and probably non existent during the multiple sea days. They will make it avail at the pre cruise daily rate when it is working. 

[mainecruisefan]

1 hour ago, makaymor said:

Carnival just refunded all pre purchased wifi packages. The internet is going to be really sketchy and probably non existent during the multiple sea days. They will make it avail at the pre cruise daily rate when it is working. 

Wifi definitely goes out when we are near the equator. However, I havent ever had a cruise company do it on a per day discounted rate before. That said, I will buy it because it is nice to stay in touch. 

I know from experience to tell folks at home how to track the ship position and that there will be days they can't reach me.