Vanessa77

So someone that is a part of the FB group for my next sailing on Ovation on 08-Jan-22 just posted this to the group. The originally had a 4 day booked immediately before the 12 night NZ cruise. That 4 nighter has been shortened and re-named. 
 
GUYS! WHAT DOEA THIS MEAN!?!??
 

This is not technically and on the ship thing, but I will never do a ‘resort for a day’ excursion. You leave the ship where you have a pool, free flow drinks (if you’re like me), all inclusive food and great service to pay to go to another place that has……a pool, free flow alcohol, all inclusive food, and great service. I just don’t get it! It seems like you are paying for something the ship already provides. Sure, sometimes there is a beach involved, but surely you can go to beaches without this pay charge. And if you don’t like beaches then why not just stay on the ship? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

This is not technically and on the ship thing, but I will never do a ‘resort for a day’ excursion. You leave the ship where you have a pool, free flow drinks (if you’re like me), all inclusive food and great service to pay to go to another place that has……a pool, free flow alcohol, all inclusive food, and great service. I just don’t get it! It seems like you are paying for something the ship already provides. Sure, sometimes there is a beach involved, but surely you can go to beaches without this pay charge. And if you don’t like beaches then why not just stay on the ship? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

This is not technically and on the ship thing, but I will never do a ‘resort for a day’ excursion. You leave the ship where you have a pool, free flow drinks (if you’re like me), all inclusive food and great service to pay to go to another place that has……a pool, free flow alcohol, all inclusive food, and great service. I just don’t get it! It seems like you are paying for something the ship already provides. Sure, sometimes there is a beach involved, but surely you can go to beaches without this pay charge. And if you don’t like beaches then why not just stay on the ship? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

This is not technically and on the ship thing, but I will never do a ‘resort for a day’ excursion. You leave the ship where you have a pool, free flow drinks (if you’re like me), all inclusive food and great service to pay to go to another place that has……a pool, free flow alcohol, all inclusive food, and great service. I just don’t get it! It seems like you are paying for something the ship already provides. Sure, sometimes there is a beach involved, but surely you can go to beaches without this pay charge. And if you don’t like beaches then why not just stay on the ship? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

This is not technically and on the ship thing, but I will never do a ‘resort for a day’ excursion. You leave the ship where you have a pool, free flow drinks (if you’re like me), all inclusive food and great service to pay to go to another place that has……a pool, free flow alcohol, all inclusive food, and great service. I just don’t get it! It seems like you are paying for something the ship already provides. Sure, sometimes there is a beach involved, but surely you can go to beaches without this pay charge. And if you don’t like beaches then why not just stay on the ship? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

This is not technically and on the ship thing, but I will never do a ‘resort for a day’ excursion. You leave the ship where you have a pool, free flow drinks (if you’re like me), all inclusive food and great service to pay to go to another place that has……a pool, free flow alcohol, all inclusive food, and great service. I just don’t get it! It seems like you are paying for something the ship already provides. Sure, sometimes there is a beach involved, but surely you can go to beaches without this pay charge. And if you don’t like beaches then why not just stay on the ship? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

This is not technically and on the ship thing, but I will never do a ‘resort for a day’ excursion. You leave the ship where you have a pool, free flow drinks (if you’re like me), all inclusive food and great service to pay to go to another place that has……a pool, free flow alcohol, all inclusive food, and great service. I just don’t get it! It seems like you are paying for something the ship already provides. Sure, sometimes there is a beach involved, but surely you can go to beaches without this pay charge. And if you don’t like beaches then why not just stay on the ship? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

This is not technically and on the ship thing, but I will never do a ‘resort for a day’ excursion. You leave the ship where you have a pool, free flow drinks (if you’re like me), all inclusive food and great service to pay to go to another place that has……a pool, free flow alcohol, all inclusive food, and great service. I just don’t get it! It seems like you are paying for something the ship already provides. Sure, sometimes there is a beach involved, but surely you can go to beaches without this pay charge. And if you don’t like beaches then why not just stay on the ship? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

Sometimes they will mention it somewhere in the Cruise Compass. But only for that day specifically, so it isn't something that allows you to plan ahead.  But at lunch they usually will have out a sign announcing stating the theme as mentioned above.
I am always out to try interesting food items so I absolutely cruise the Windjammer most nights to see if there's something to pique my interest.  Grab a dessert to bring back to the room for a late night snack while I'm at it.  

Hi all,
Next time I cruise I’m wanting to try the Windjammer for dinner, which I never did on my last cruise. I hear there are different themes each night, and the offering changes each night along with the standard crowd pleasers. 
 
My question is, how do you find out what the theme is for the night? I don't recall seeing this highlighted in the CC, and therefore didn’t know until later in the cruise when all my dining was already planned. On my next cruise we have the 5 night package, plus I want to try Solarium Bistro, and I’m a big fan of the MDR. So hoping I can find the info to plan everything around what we don’t want to miss in the MDR/what we want to try at the buffet. 
 
I feel like planning food is the biggest planning burden for this cruise ? 

It's like weather in the Caribbean.  If you don't like it, wait 15 minutes.  
In this case there will be a number of cruise planner sales before your cruise.  Sometimes items drop in price without an official sale.  Keep checking.  

Agreed. I think it will certainly make the return to cruising faster and easier however let’s not forget that even before covid the media and those who didn’t know better vilified cruising as a dirty ‘petri dish’. 
 
Cruiselines have always done as much as they can to protect passengers from sickness and avoid that stereotype and they will continue to do so for covid. 

Will you also risk the inability to return home for months with associated costs, and the cost of paying for 2 weeks in quarantine? ??
As keen as I am to go on a cruise, leaving the country (for the foreseeable future) to go on one is nowhere near as easy as you make it sound. 

I second this, with one caveat; it depends on how long your cruise is. 
if your cruise is 7nights or less, for your first time I don’t recommend getting an unlimited package. If you are on a quantum or oasis ship you’ve already got a few dinner options including (at minimum) the main dining room, buffet, and solarium bistro*. Try each of them twice and you’ve got heaps of variety and perhaps choose one of the specialty that appeals to you for the the spare night. 

*this is not to mention the large variety of other casual eateries such as the dog house, cafe 270, park cafe, el loco fresh etc. 
 
I say this as a person that did buy a dining package on my first cruise. However, it was a 9 night cruise on voyager of the seas which literally had a grand total of 3 included places to eat for all meals: main dining room, buffet, and cafe promenade. my next cruise is on a quantum class ship for 12 nights and I’ve bought a 5 night package. With 7 nights and all breakfast/lunches still to spend at the included venues I’m worried I’ll miss out on all the tasty included food! Go with a package if you really want to, but don’t get the unlimited one. There is good food on the ship at the included venues which is well worth trying. 

I second this, with one caveat; it depends on how long your cruise is. 
if your cruise is 7nights or less, for your first time I don’t recommend getting an unlimited package. If you are on a quantum or oasis ship you’ve already got a few dinner options including (at minimum) the main dining room, buffet, and solarium bistro*. Try each of them twice and you’ve got heaps of variety and perhaps choose one of the specialty that appeals to you for the the spare night. 

*this is not to mention the large variety of other casual eateries such as the dog house, cafe 270, park cafe, el loco fresh etc. 
 
I say this as a person that did buy a dining package on my first cruise. However, it was a 9 night cruise on voyager of the seas which literally had a grand total of 3 included places to eat for all meals: main dining room, buffet, and cafe promenade. my next cruise is on a quantum class ship for 12 nights and I’ve bought a 5 night package. With 7 nights and all breakfast/lunches still to spend at the included venues I’m worried I’ll miss out on all the tasty included food! Go with a package if you really want to, but don’t get the unlimited one. There is good food on the ship at the included venues which is well worth trying. 

I second this, with one caveat; it depends on how long your cruise is. 
if your cruise is 7nights or less, for your first time I don’t recommend getting an unlimited package. If you are on a quantum or oasis ship you’ve already got a few dinner options including (at minimum) the main dining room, buffet, and solarium bistro*. Try each of them twice and you’ve got heaps of variety and perhaps choose one of the specialty that appeals to you for the the spare night. 

*this is not to mention the large variety of other casual eateries such as the dog house, cafe 270, park cafe, el loco fresh etc. 
 
I say this as a person that did buy a dining package on my first cruise. However, it was a 9 night cruise on voyager of the seas which literally had a grand total of 3 included places to eat for all meals: main dining room, buffet, and cafe promenade. my next cruise is on a quantum class ship for 12 nights and I’ve bought a 5 night package. With 7 nights and all breakfast/lunches still to spend at the included venues I’m worried I’ll miss out on all the tasty included food! Go with a package if you really want to, but don’t get the unlimited one. There is good food on the ship at the included venues which is well worth trying. 

I think we have almost taken the lead here in Victoria. Just need a small outbreak/lockdown to get people going.
As of this morning I am fully vaccinated and ready to cruise!!!!!!
The cruise ban expires in 8 days. An announcement coming in the next few days I am guessing from previous extensions. Will it be good news?

No pay wall on this one:
https://cruisepassenger.com.au/tourism-minister-says-he-will-hold-talks-mid-june-on-a-possible-cruise-return/
 
most interesting section was:
Mr Tehan said: “My hope is if we can continue managing the pandemic like we are, we will be able to see more cruise ships in our waters hopefully in the waters between Australia and New Zealand as well.”
 
So NZ might be in the game as well! Fingers crossed!!!!

No pay wall on this one:
https://cruisepassenger.com.au/tourism-minister-says-he-will-hold-talks-mid-june-on-a-possible-cruise-return/
 
most interesting section was:
Mr Tehan said: “My hope is if we can continue managing the pandemic like we are, we will be able to see more cruise ships in our waters hopefully in the waters between Australia and New Zealand as well.”
 
So NZ might be in the game as well! Fingers crossed!!!!

No pay wall on this one:
https://cruisepassenger.com.au/tourism-minister-says-he-will-hold-talks-mid-june-on-a-possible-cruise-return/
 
most interesting section was:
Mr Tehan said: “My hope is if we can continue managing the pandemic like we are, we will be able to see more cruise ships in our waters hopefully in the waters between Australia and New Zealand as well.”
 
So NZ might be in the game as well! Fingers crossed!!!!

No pay wall on this one:
https://cruisepassenger.com.au/tourism-minister-says-he-will-hold-talks-mid-june-on-a-possible-cruise-return/
 
most interesting section was:
Mr Tehan said: “My hope is if we can continue managing the pandemic like we are, we will be able to see more cruise ships in our waters hopefully in the waters between Australia and New Zealand as well.”
 
So NZ might be in the game as well! Fingers crossed!!!!

You aren’t expecting this to go ahead are you? With just the fact that it’s so ridiculously hard to even leave the country (with no indication that will change any time soon) and no plans to let travelers Australian or otherwise into Australia w/o quarantine (also no plans to change any time soon) it’s pretty much a guarantee it won’t be going ahead. I think the only reason some lines haven’t cancelled yet is that they are hoping for a miracle! 

@mattymay I have to agree with you. Also NCL has cancelled everything until the end of Jan 2022. The season ends ~ early April so I wouldn’t be surprised if the cancelled everything in the end. What’s the point in making the trek all the way here for 2 months?