Review - Sydney to the South Pacific on the Splendor

[aussielozzie18]

Thought I’d do a mini review of my recent 9 day cruise and throw in a few photos - for anyone who might be interested.

 

In Australia at present, you have the option of Carnival Splendor sailing out of Sydney and Carnival Luminosa sailing out of Brisbane.

 

Guests are still required to be vaccinated and the Luminosa (new to Carnival from Costa) hasn’t been selling well due to the lack of water slides for families.

 

There have been some ridiculously cheap deals as a result.  Last December, my daughter and I did 7 day cruise from Brisbane on the Carnival Luminosa to the Great Barrier Reef.  Prices were so cheap I booked us adjacent solo balcony cabins and we had a great cruise and loved the Luminosa.  If we lived in Brisbane, we would have happily booked more cruises on her.

 

As a result of cruising on the Luminosa, I got an offer too good to refuse for 9 days sailing out of Sydney to the South Pacific on the Splendor for this month.

 

[aussielozzie18]

We usually cruise in our Australian summer.  This cruise was to be my first cruising in our autumn.  This was a packing dilemma.  Having not cruised  the Splendor before, wasn’t sure how cool the inside of the ship would be and expected the two sea days getting to Noumea (our first port) to be cool.

 

Luckily, I live relatively close the OPT because I was still “packing”  or if I’m honest - cramming stuff in my suitcase and hoping for the best - at 9am on the day of departure…

Edited May 25, 2023 by aussielozzie18

[aussielozzie18]

Arrived at Overseas Passenger Terminal (OPT) Circular  Quay at 11.30am.  I had selected a 12noon boarding time, when options opened 2 weeks prior.  
 

After dropping off my suitcase, I was permitted to go through.  Probably because I was a solo and there was a short space of time with no-one going through.

 

Currently, travel insurance that covers Covid is mandatory if you are cruising to the South Pacific. So signs up everywhere reminding us of this plus announcements as well.

 

Also, until two weeks ago, Carnival Australia cruisers were not permitted to take alcohol on board.  Thankfully this rule was finally changed so cruisers are  now permitted to carry on one bottle of wine or champagne on board.  Yay!

 

And you do need a self administered negative RATS test taken within 24hrs of boarding, with photo proof of ID and time (passport & the time displayed on another mobile phone).

 

So all boxes ticked, it was onto to border control, short wait of 10mins or so while they cleared the queues ahead, x-ray of your carry on and then you were on board the ship. Nice seamless process.

 

Next step was Muster Drill.  Lifejacket demo with staff member on outside deck in very small groups of 8 or so.

 

Then time for lunch in MDR.  Cruise - the only place to can have two slices of cake with no guilt.

 

Got chatting to a lovely couple seated at the booth next to me.  I find cruisers very friendly to solos.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 25, 2023 by aussielozzie18

[aussielozzie18]

Cabins available at 1.30pm.  I usually book balconies, but this cheap deal gave me an Oceanview.  Figured I’d give it a go.  Standard Oceanview on Deck 2 AFT.  All good. No issues.

 

 

 

[2022cruisey]

Thank you for posting this.  We are going on the same cruise next month so I am grateful for the time you are putting into this review.

[aussielozzie18]

Off to explore ship.  As expected the decor is hideous. I was glad I was informed that Decks 5 and 9 were the only through decks (told to think of Dolly Parton 9-5) helped greatly with getting around the ship as a newbie.

Carnival Australia is hugely popular with families but this cruise was in school term, so less kiddos than normal.  But the ones on board, were straight to the slides.

 

Suitcases arrived at cabins before sailaway.  Then it was time to head to the main pool area for the sail away party with Lizzie “hello darlings”, the Cruise Director.

 

Danced to the Macarena, Nutbush, YMCA etc as we departed Circular Quay and headed up the harbour.

 

 

 

[aussielozzie18]

5 minutes ago, 2022cruisey said:

Thank you for posting this.  We are going on the same cruise next month so I am grateful for the time you are putting into this review.

Excellent!  Hope you find it useful.  Feel free to ask any questions, I will try to answer…,

[aussielozzie18]

The adults only Serenity Deck

Popular slides

The iconic view

This little guy wanted to come along for the ride.

[aussielozzie18]

We had a beautiful sunset cruise  out of Sydney Harbour

 

 

 

This is the reason I love living in Sydney.

[Tripmode33]

Thanks for the review.

We've booked back to back cruises on the Splendor for August/September. Really looking forward to them. Brisbane is our home port so fortunate to try out Luminosa for three cruises - really enjoyed and great value.

Thanks for taking time to post your experience and great photos.

[balcony bound]

Love this, thanks!  Following along

[LPGA Golfer Gal]

Very excited to read a review of Splendor, Sydney (we are on GBR next month) - excited to hear about whether there are extra excursions/different excursions available once on board. Not a lot available online and no Reef excursions to the outer reef to be able to scuba dive. Looking forward to reading more. Thank you for doing this review

[aussielozzie18]

First night dinner, decided I wanted to try out the  Speciality Restaurant - Fahrenheit 555 @ $65.00pp.  You can pre book via email before the cruise but I decided to wanted to go that afternoon and had no problem getting a booking for 7pm.

 

Seated at 7pm in a very quiet restaurant (ie lack of cruisers).  Informed that a free bottle of white wine or red wine was available - pleasant surprise (I think this is a boarding night promo)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[aussielozzie18]

As it was a quiet night there were no diners seated near me, so thankfully I bought a book that I was enjoying and that keep me happy between courses.

 

For entree: stuffed mushrooms

For main: Surf and Turf

For dessert:  Chocolate Sphere

 

Service was excellent.  A very pleasant relaxed meal with meals not rushed between courses.

 

I loved the surf & turf - steak & lobster.  I am going to say I may have made the wrong choice re the entree and dessert as they didn’t appeal.

 

Nevertheless, if I have an opportunity to cruise again on the  Luminosa, I am going to try their Fahrenheit 555.

[aussielozzie18]

 

I love the Carnival Hub App.  You don’t need internet to access it on board.  It’s very user friendly.  You see the daily activities, the menu for that evenings MDR, all your individual charges on your board account and all the Carnival Shore Excursions + the weather.

 

If you prefer a paper copy, Fun Times, it’s available at guest services, the onboard paid cafe - Java Blue and I am sure your room steward can source a daily copy also, if reqd.

 

Note: photo taken on last sea day at end of cruise when seas a tiny bit bumpy -hence sick bags.

 

 

Edited May 26, 2023 by aussielozzie18

[aussielozzie18]

 

Weather forecast on hub app on 1st full day at sea. Didn’t worry me, a wet day at sea is better than a dry day at work!  and weather changes….

 

Our first full sea day was wet.  Didn’t bother me as I was new to Splendour and wanted to explore, check out the shops and happy to attend any activities in the main theatre.

 

Shops on board - the usual - duty free liquor because we were going to the South Pacific.  The best place to buy duty free in the South Pacific is in Vila.  We weren’t going to Vila on this cruise but there is a duty free shop in Noumea.

 

 

Just an example of on board ship duty free - $76 aud.  You purchase,  it is stored for you and you receive it at the end of the cruise.

 

Effy jewellery.  Pandora jewellery was tax free and 25% off for first 24hrs.  Watches, perfume, small adventure store selling snorkeling/beach gear.

 

Carnival store sold merchandise, duty free alcohol, cigarettes, chocolates, stuff you forgot to pack and handbags and a small selection of Billabong clothing and beach wear. 
 

I forgot to pack a hat 🤦‍♀️ so thankful a proper beach hat rather than just caps were available for purchase.

[aussielozzie18]

Drinks package $119.00 AUD pp, per day.  Maximum 15 drinks per day to max value of $20. 
 

Menu prices for  cocktails:

 

 

 

 

 

Cocktails from Alchemy Bar more expensive.

 

Wines:

 

Red Frog Bar Menus

 

 

 

[aussielozzie18]

Had breakfast in the MDR dining room.  Not sure why but I preferred the Lido Buffet Breakfast on Deck 9 from Day 2 onwards.  Plenty of choices and always found a table.  Plenty of hot choices, they tasted better than they looked in my photo…

 

 

The paid cafe for coffee was very popular in the mornings.

[aussielozzie18]

For lunch I would have salads from the Lido Buffet.  Plenty of other options including the deli & masala tiger next to the Adults only pool deck 9 AFT, Guy Fieri Burgers & Pizza were popular next to main pool deck

9 midship.  Can’t remember if one of the MDR’s were open for lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[aussielozzie18]

After lunch, saw a long queue snaking past Guest Services.  It was for purchasing Bingo tickets. Never played Bingo on a cruise  before, so figured got to be in it to win it..,

 

 

Bought the 5 game pack for $35aud.  Didn’t win but fun to play.  Prizes for games 1 to 5 ranged from $100 - $750.00.

[aussielozzie18]

Dinner was in the MDR.  I had chosen “Your Time Dining” (can’t remember the actual term) Very easy to book a table via the Carnival Hub App.  Requested a table at around 5.30pm and it was ready within 10mins.  Walked up to entrance with my table number confirmation on my phone and seated straight away.

 

Tables of 2 are very close together.  Had a lovely couple sitting on the adjacent 2 top.    As I sat down, I apologised for being in their personal space but they smiled and

we had a lovely meal together and chatted throughout.  The meal in MDR was superb.

 

I unofficially heard there were 75 solos on this cruise. Below:  another  solo chatting with her adjacent dining companions upstairs  in the MDR.

 

 

Larger tables downstairs.

 

 

[aussielozzie18]

Sea Day 2 - it was great to see the sun out.  Headed to a comfy long cane sofa on the Serenity Deck.  Shortly joined by one lady and then her friend.  Two solo cruisers travelling together and we had a pleasant couple of hours chatting and relaxing until lunchtime.  Had a toasted sandwich courtesy of the Deli a couple of steps away.

 

Serenity Deck was always busy.  The two spas were very popular. Above the Serenity Deck was more seating on Deck 10 AFT overlooking the Serenity Pool.  One side of this outdoor area on Deck 10 was the area permitted for smoking.

 

 

[aussielozzie18]

In the afternoon, the first of two High Teas on our cruise was held.

 

At lunchtime on boarding day, a waiter was wandering around the MDR advertising the High Tea - cost $20pp and taking bookings.

I made a booking.

 

The day before the High Tea, I received an small card invitation with the details of the High Tea location and the timing which was 3-4pm.

 

Sandwiches and cakes for one.  Double these quantities for two.

 

Plenty of ladies booked the High Tea.

 

The food was nice.

Note:  The day before I boarded the cruise was Mother’s Day and my daughter had taken me to The Tea Room at the QVB for High Tea.  That was superb.  

The food Carnival served was nice but the overall experience just didn’t compare.

 

Glad I did it but probably wouldn’t do it again.

[aussielozzie18]

 On sea days, I liked watching the audience participation shows in the theatre.  This one was “Identity Crisis - The Game”

 

Have to say I hate the environmentally friendly straws.  They breakup before you’ve had 1/4 of your cocktail.

Next cruise, I’m bringing my own re-usable straws.

 

They annoyed me so much I switched from cocktails to wine…

 

Edited May 26, 2023 by aussielozzie18

[aussielozzie18]

Tonight’s dinner in the MDR, I had two friendly & chatty couples on the adjacent 2 x 2 tops so another enjoyable dinner.  Service was consistently good.

 

We also had the Captain’s toast in the atrium next to Guest Services.  Lizzy our cruise director individually introduced the leader of each dept on the ship. Last to be introduced was the Captain.  All staff had a glass of champagne each and raised their glass to toast.  I remember on another cruise line all the guests present would get a glass of champers to join in the toast….