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Matt, Is the Australian ETA and passport all we need for the B2B cruises out of Sydney to NZ and SP then?

Thank you for taking the time to do this. Its a great reference . I was always having to double check ship info. Just printed it and put it in my cruise folder.

I totally agree with Mljstr. Only exception, when we did this with our grandkids we had both parents signing the notarized letters. If parental custody is an issue, a copy of the court agreement may come in handy.

To add to this question: Doing radiance out of Sydney in early 2020. Is Samba Grill included in any dining packages?

Just my two cents: Not recommending a specific hotel but when we did our northbound Alaska cruise a few years back, we overnighted and we did a precruise morning tour from our hotel, thru RC, that included them taking our luggage to ship as we did about a 4 hr tour of Vancouver. There was a list of 5 or 6 hotels for pickup, ours was a HIE. Great tour, no hassle and next we saw our luggage was in our cabin.

Another idea would be to have kids eat at Windjammer first then take them to kid clubs, then go eat at MDR. Then straight from meal to show. Or sign them up for quick dinner and have kid staff pick them up, if offered, you complete dinner then on to the show.

You can take the #10 bus out Bay St. It stops outside Fort Charlotte and also it is not too far a walk to Ardasta Gardens/Zoo from the fort. Also Arawak Cay is across the street from the fort where you can eat at local vendors. Just let the bus driver know where you want to go. Also note you want the #10 not the 10A which is a more scenic(?) route around the island. You can catch the #10 just a short walk from cruise exit. To return just take the #10 back or then take the 10A for a different return route. Again, if not sure just ask driver, give him a $1 tip if he's extra helpful.

I agree with above posts. It should not be an issue. Just to feel safe, I would request an early luggage tag or self disembark with luggage if you are lightly packed. Worst case, I usually have travel insurance for any real mess ups.

Getting to do mine in 2020. B2B from Sydney to South Pacific and New Zealand on Radiance with 6 night precruise in Sydney. Would love to see RC come up with a cruise like MSC's Grand Voyage that sails from Dubai->Cochin->Singapore->Hong Kong. What's extra nice is they overnight in those stops for extended exploration of each area.

Been to Nassau way too many times. Now we usually stay on and just enjoy a less crowded ship.

Hope you enjoyed your cruise. How was the food in MDR? Menus by chance?

A few years back did the north bound to Seward out of Vancouver. Pittsburgh to Chicago to Seattle two nights ahead of cruise. lots to see in Seattle and Vancouver. Spent one day in Seattle and took a transfer bus over to vancouver and did another day. Well worth it. At that time RC had a morning tour and transfer to ship in which they handled the luggage all the way from hotel to room which made boarding very easy. At Seward we took train to Anchorage and flew out late that night to Seattle to Chicago to Pittsburgh. Strongly recommend arriving at least a full day before cruise.

I agree that the park time would be too short. We did the Space center and were very impressed. If offered an airboat excursion may do or there are a few airboat places close to port that may work on your own(45 minutes away), check tripadvisor. Also did an ecoboat trip a few years back offered thru cruise but it was an airport transfer package and it was also very nice. Don't know if it is still offered.

I'm in; least that I can do since the first thing I do every morning is check the RCblog. Cruising is addictive!!

Looking for a more current list of menus for MDR than is listed in blog. Doesn't need to be Oasis I guess as I assume most menus are just about the same ship to ship. thanks

Welcome to cruising and the Blog. I agree with other comments listed. my two(or three) cents: On the bigger ships, book as much as possible for activities on the ship on the daily planner, you can always cancel it out. For a first timer, I would just stick to main dining room so you can get a feel for the regular menu options, then on future cruises you can decide on whether you want to pay extra for dining/special event. For port excursions, if for nothing else but piece of mind, I would do excursions thru RC and reserve ahead. I agree to excursions that do port city overviews maybe that also leave time to walk in the port areas. Last, check out ship layout ahead of time and once on board walk around to find key areas of interest to you, theater locations, dining area, different pool spots, etc. Added thought, arrive a day or two before cruise to enjoy the embarkment city and need not worry about making ship due to delays. Relax and have a great time.

Welcome to the Blog. When we did the cruise out of Barcelona took taxis from airport to hotel and from hotel to port. We stayed at a hotel close to the Familia for ease of a visit there. Not complicated and fairly priced. I am sure you could get three taxis or check into a shared ride service from airport to hotel. It was very convenient to do a RC transfer after cruise to the airport. If you are only staying for a night precruise then anywhere in general area is fine as you will need some type of transportation no matter where you stay. Search TripAdvisor for reviews and locations. We stayed at an apartment with full kitchen as we came in 3 nights early.

Don't agree with the TA on pick pockets, just mind your stuff and you wont have problems. You may get pushy people selling stuff but just a firm, polite no is all you need. That said, I have done Blue Lagoon, Pearl Island and Glass boat. If you are looking for beach time do Blue lagoon or Pearl, Also check out the British Colonial all day if it is offered, or do it online directly. Its right off the pier, very clean and "safe". Check TripAdvisor for reviews on your possible choices. Have a great trip and a "welcome to cruising".

I am also a 60ish person. I love the Radiance class ships. I actually prefer a smaller ship due to crowd issues especially at ports of call, embarkation/disembarkation. Doing Australia B2B in 2020 and purposely chose Radiance of the Seas due to size but also it has a beautiful centrum area. Not a lot of bells and whistles. Didn't want a bigger ship due to concerns about overcrowded beaches at South Pacific/NZ stops. Done radiance class many times and have never regretted my choice.

Junkanoo beach is an ok beach if you are looking to be able to walk to a beach from the dock. Did it with my family and it was ok at best. Read the reviews on TripAdvisor for a nice overview. Personally I would do the British Colonial beach all inclusive. I used to just take the #10 bus up to Cable beach but I am not sure of access thru the hotels there anymore. Used to be that as long as you bought a few drinks they would allow you access to the beach and even the pool.

Forgot to add, I usually choose the later dining slot as it gives me extra time to just relax and not rush to dinner. Most sailings have the evening shows available to either dining time.

Just depends on your wants for the rest of the cruise. Check out some of the Cruise Compass' on the blog to see what else may be available or not available with 8:30 seating. Also once you first board ship, find the dining staff and request to move to 6:00. Also consider doing Windjammer or specialty restaurant for a night if there is something that conflicts with 8:30. I tried My Time once and didn't care for it. Seemed we weren't given as much attention by servers. Postings have others liking MT. No matter what you choose, you should have a great time.

I agree with taking expired passports along with you and just not mentioning that at checking in. it would expediate things if a problem did arise out of country.

Not to raise your fear level, In Pennsylvania where I live, our drivers license is not an acceptable federal ID due to failure to comply with federal security guidelines. Just double check that your state's DL is acceptable. Not sure is that matters with raised seal BC. Just a double check thought.

Question about Solarium Bistro. My cruise planner recently opened for Oasis on 11/25. The Solarium was an option for dinner with no fee except for lobster and lamb dishes. I knew the Bistro has a healthier menu and had free breakfast and lunch but was unaware of free sit down table service, old reviews show $20 fee. Can someone verify this? Also has anyone tried the food there for any of the meals times? Thanks in advance.