A cruise from Australia 🇦🇺

[Chiliburn]

20 minutes ago, little britain said:

That’s great! Balmain for lunch and Manly for dinner today! 

Watsons bay is good,ferry wharf 5 to Watsons Bay and walk to south head . A easy hour walk return and there’s a nudist beach!!

Just turn left at the wharf and follow the shore ,the best view in Sydney from south head but do it before lunch as in gets busy. 

[jennmaybe]

We are planning to do Australia/NZ in the Fall of 2025…….if RC will ever release the schedule!  😔

[bonsai3s]

5 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

I don’t know what your plans are but there’s a $8,90 cap on all public transport across Sydney,today,Saturday and Sunday.
You can use your credit card as an electronic ticket and ride the ferries,trains and buses all day for $8,90 . You won’t get a better deal in Sydney .LOL

 

@Chiliburn...that's a great deal! How often does this happen?

 

We used the Opal Card when we were in Sydney...what is the daily cap for it currently?  I know there was an extra charge to take the train to and from the airport...what is the cost now? Thank you.

[Chiliburn]

20 minutes ago, bonsai3s said:

 

@Chiliburn...that's a great deal! How often does this happen?

 

We used the Opal Card when we were in Sydney...what is the daily cap for it currently?  I know there was an extra charge to take the train to and from the airport...what is the cost now? Thank you.

To be honest it changes,at the moment it’s $8.90 cap Friday to Sunday.

Through the week it’s about $16.80 from memory. Which is still cheap unlimited travel ,anywhere a couple of hours from Sydney .

 

 It was $6 weekend then before that it was $2,50 .

I don’t know if a overseas tourist can get it but if you are over 60 like I am it’s $2.50 cap all year round.You have to go to one of their business offices and get a Opel card.

[CaptainBazz]

11 hours ago, bonsai3s said:

 

@Chiliburn...that's a great deal! How often does this happen?

 

We used the Opal Card when we were in Sydney...what is the daily cap for it currently?  I know there was an extra charge to take the train to and from the airport...what is the cost now? Thank you.

We were in Sydney last year in March...took the subway to the train station...train to Katoomba...did the sites there...then train and subway back...total cost $16...what a deal. 

[little britain]

No cruise ship in today! 
Showing the location of OPT ( modern building) in relation to Bridge taken from Opera House 

[Badatz2]

On 1/19/2024 at 4:19 PM, CaptainBazz said:

We were in Sydney last year in March...took the subway to the train station...train to Katoomba...did the sites there...then train and subway back...total cost $16...what a deal. 

How did you travel between the sites such as Echo point, the three sisters, scenic world etc.?

 

There is a Hop On Hop Off Explorer bus from Katoomba station that goes to all the sites and includes Scenic World tickets for 99 AUD

[CaptainBazz]

1 minute ago, Badatz2 said:

How did you travel between the sites such as Echo point, the three sisters, scenic world etc.?

 

There is a Hop On Hop Off Explorer bus from Katoomba station that goes to all the sites and includes Scenic World tickets for 99 AUD

We took the regular City/Town bus which left the station and did a loop past all of the sites. Tap on and tap off at each site...very inexpensive, maybe $6 in total...buses ran about every 20 mins if I recall correctly. 5 mins ride between each site. The times are posted at each stop. Scenic World tickets were obviously extra. I think we paid about $40 each (Senior rate). Overall definitely cheaper than the hop on hop off bus.

[little britain]

Round #2

 

 

[Chiliburn]

@little britain 

you haven’t lived until you have had a Tasmania scallop pie.

 

 

 

Edited January 21 by Chiliburn

[little britain]

Another amazingly easy check in… 14 minutes from cab 🚕 to cabin! Sydney really has this down to a fine art. 
 

I was on this ship for her maiden sailing to Rotterdam, and then again for the first leg of her repo to Asia. I love this style of ship. It’ll be good to become reacquainted with her again. 
One change I’ve noticed is a Fish n Ships by the pool area which was not there before 
 

JJ is in the Suite lounge. 

Only 11 🍍 on board so we have full access to CK 👏 

 

It is the last week of Australian school holidays so there are around 1100 kids on board. 
 

 

 

Edited January 21 by little britain

[bonsai3s]

1 hour ago, little britain said:

Another amazingly easy check in… 14 minutes from cab 🚕 to cabin! Sydney really has this down to a fine art. 
 

I was on this ship for her maiden sailing to Rotterdam, and then again for the first leg of her repo to Asia. I love this style of ship. It’ll be good to become reacquainted with her again. 
One change I’ve noticed is a Fish n Ships by the pool area which was not there before 
 

JJ is in the Suite lounge. 

Only 11 🍍 on board so we have full access to CK 👏 

 

It is the last week of Australian school holidays so there are around 1100 kids on board. 
 

 

 

LB, may I ask who the CK Host and Manager...and  Suite Concierge are?

Thank you. 

[SpainAlien]

Do you know if all classes of cabins have kettles? We are in a lowly inside cabin so I doubt it but I can hope.  We board on 9th Feb, will you still be onboard then?

Edited January 21 by SpainAlien

[SpainAlien]

Sorry, another question: is Fish n Ships complimentary (except for lobster)? There is conflicting info online.

[Biker19]

23 minutes ago, SpainAlien said:

Sorry, another question: is Fish n Ships complimentary (except for lobster)? There is conflicting info online.

The app (set to current sailing) should list that (any for fee items) for that venue. 

[Chiliburn]

53 minutes ago, SpainAlien said:

Sorry, another question: is Fish n Ships complimentary (except for lobster)? There is conflicting info online.

All cabins have a kettle but for some reason there’s never any coffee,plenty of tea though.

Fish and chips is mostly free ,there’s a charge for the lobster and fried mars bar.

[little britain]

1 hour ago, SpainAlien said:

Do you know if all classes of cabins have kettles? We are in a lowly inside cabin so I doubt it but I can hope.  We board on 9th Feb, will you still be onboard then?

I believe so. We have a regular balcony and there is kettle, tea and sachets of coffee (which you don’t get from Southampton!)

[little britain]

2 hours ago, bonsai3s said:

LB, may I ask who the CK Host and Manager...and  Suite Concierge are?

Thank you. 

Mariano, Lúe in CK and JJ in the lounge.

 

Sorry to say that it was a disappointing first night in CK despite it being fillet night (which was delicious). 
Service was slow. The wine list was very lacking compared to the MDR wine list on Brilliance! No Fifth Leg! They didn’t have the Columbo French rose and when I asked for Whispering Angel I was told it was an extra $1 as it was $16… whereas I drank it quite frequently for free on Brilliance at $15 🤷‍♀️
 

Other waiters were overheard telling their tables that it wasn’t burrata as the starter, but mozzarella… our waiter didn’t tell us, and an over chilled unappetising slab of mozzarella appeared. 
Happy to see that Vintage’s does stock the Pontings range of wines. Will stock up there before dinner tomorrow! 

[little britain]

1 hour ago, SpainAlien said:

Sorry, another question: is Fish n Ships complimentary (except for lobster)? There is conflicting info online.

Yes the app shows complimentary for;

Fish and chips

chicken fingers and chips

Fried shrimp and chips

Crispy fish sandwich 

 

treat yourself:

Fried lobster tail and chips $12

desert of the day.. no cost showing but as its under the “treat yourself” column I guess there is! 
 

I’ll look tomorrow 

 

[bonsai3s]

6 hours ago, little britain said:

Mariano, Lúe in CK and JJ in the lounge.

 

Sorry to say that it was a disappointing first night in CK despite it being fillet night (which was delicious). 
Service was slow. The wine list was very lacking compared to the MDR wine list on Brilliance! No Fifth Leg! They didn’t have the Columbo French rose and when I asked for Whispering Angel I was told it was an extra $1 as it was $16… whereas I drank it quite frequently for free on Brilliance at $15 🤷‍♀️
 

Other waiters were overheard telling their tables that it wasn’t burrata as the starter, but mozzarella… our waiter didn’t tell us, and an over chilled unappetising slab of mozzarella appeared. 
Happy to see that Vintage’s does stock the Pontings range of wines. Will stock up there before dinner tomorrow! 

 

Thanks for the names.

 

Oh my.. hope the service gets better...at least the filet was delicious.

 

* I have never been charge extra for Whispering Angel...curious if they'll charge you extra at Vintages? 

[little britain]

A bit choppy this morning as we head south. 
Top tier confirmed just over 1000 C&A on board so a lot of new cruisers. There are only 11 pinnacles 

 

Demographic - a lot and I mean a lot of Chinese/ oriental guests.  
The shops seem to be stocked with a far higher quality of goods - Marc Jacob’s handbags 👜, a very big selection of Kate Spades; and of course the 2nd hand LVs 

The Omega watch shop looked like it already was selling and the casino was quite busy at 11am. 

Edited January 22 by little britain

[xpcdoojk]

Hi LB, when I saw the screen with only 10 Pins, I knew you would win!

 

Congrats.  I have us booked for 3 months next year From Singapore, Brisbane, Sydney and Honolulu.  You should have an awesome time!!!!

 

Your friend ———— jc————hopefully we will sail together some day

 

[little britain]

19 hours ago, SpainAlien said:

Sorry, another question: is Fish n Ships complimentary (except for lobster)? There is conflicting info online.

Today’s Fish n Ships pudding was a little chocolate mousse thing - no charge. 

[little britain]

I don’t think they got the wine delivery 🚚 this week 

There is no St Augustus Shiraz 

There is no Ponting Rianna rose

There is no Colombo rose 

 

They did waive the extra $1 charge and give us WA in lieu 

 

 

For the gamblers the roulette tables only had one zero. 

DH turned our $8 free spins 🎰 into $101 !!

 

The Chinese dress up on formal night.. some fantastic dresses 👗 

Edited January 22 by little britain

[sgmn]

Enjoying your trip reports LB. Hope you continue for the Spectrum cruise,  we're on her a couple of weeks after you and will be interested to hear your opinion on her and your ports of call.