CruisingOz

As per Mike.S, simple process to apply, we normally apply around the 80 day mark and it usually takes about a week to come through. I have only once had an email confirmation and so the other times when I jump not my cruise planner I notice the credit has been applied.

We have had great success with Casino Royale, they have been very accommodating. We have successfully moved our comp cruises and also had a few cruises where we had applied the dollars off certificates. The cruises have been cancelled twice round and each time they have moved the dollars off certificate value to the next / new sailings. Third round of bookings I hope is lucky and we finally sail. I know that Casino Royale will honour our status, but reading they may offer a comp cruise with consideration we could not sail would be unreal, so fingers crossed on that. Being from Australia we don't get any offers due to some local legislation on international gambling so for us it is just a matter of calling once a month and have a chat to them.

Possibly there is that fear, but for majority of the country our winters are quite mild. The vaccine rollout is powering along. On a positive note CLIA reports that talks with the government about a plan to restart cruising is progressing and even a news channel who has run several negative stories on cruising had a recent positive story. With all that is happening in Australia, I honestly believe we should see a resumption in cruising by September and Royal is well placed to fill the pent up needs to cruise.

Thank you. I have reached out to Royal locally and they do have access to Air2Sea and in AUD. They don't seem to offer it on the website but the call centre can quote. I need to make the payment in full. Looking at the US site for pricing, it seems slightly more locally as Royal International must take a slice of the exchange rate. They do offer refundable fares and also can book hotels for any pre or post stays. Also they are happy to bool only the Miami to Bridgetown sector (via AA) as I will use my Qantas points to fly to the USA. Also as an FYI, if you book International the US Air2Sea doesnt recognise the booking reference, but this is the same as follow ups with Casino Royale. This is probably for a different discussion but one of my issues with Royal is when I book through Royal US or a TA in the US, the booking can't be seen locally by International (Australia/0 and vice versa. Not really a big deal but when we book via the casino Royale and my adult kids book locally in Australia, we can't link reservations for dinners, activities and alike, which becomes a little frustring. One day we ho[e Royal's systems will align to be more seamless?

Hello Guys, We are looking at options to get us to Bridgetown from Miami for a Grandeur of the Seas cruise in early January. Coming from Australia we really have no idea about flights and accomodation. We are considering Royal's Air/Sea service to book flights and a hotel as we heard on one of Matts' podcast that Royal had reserved flights. Has anyone used this option, do you pay in full or only a deposit like a cruise? Do you need to know which hotel you want ahead of time, or does Royal give you the options? How far ahead should I book flights and hotel as I heard flights are limited. We are thinking of a couple days pre and post cruise to check out the city. We would appreciate any insight into this destination and if booked on one of these cruises, how you are planing to get there.

My daughter was so upset when she lost her Diamond status. Lucky for her, Royal didn't update her status back to Emerald until her was 22 years old, so she managed to sneak in a cruise and enjoy the benefits of the Diamond lounge, (drinking age for down under cruises is 18) It was funny on her last cruse where she wore her Diamond pin even though she was Emerald, and managed to talk her way into the lounge. She had the drink package but was salty about her status downgrade. It was lots of fun stirring her up about it. Poor baby, LOL

I was just looking at the Royal Caribbean App checking through my reservations and noticed two ships we have reservations on where the App is not yet available, the Grandeur and Radiance. If the App is not available for things like Muster 2.0 Drill and paperless menus and alike, do think Royal will offer free Voom wifi on the ships so guests can access various tasks with minimal contact and interaction with crew? I am sure it is only a matter of time before all ships will be able to connect to the app, so it would be interesting to find out if Royal has any timelines?

If you do book it, we would love to know your thoughts. It looks amazing but I am worried if it is windy, does it rock too much? It does seem expensive but as a group, splitting the cost, it should work out reasonable and what a fantastic place to base your group for the day, so jelly. Fingers crossed your sailing goes ahead. All the best

We see the double points as a positive and a thank you from Royal for cruising. We feel that the customer loyalty program from Royal is the best of all the majors and by offering double points, it will allow Royal to build a more loyal base of cruisers which will ultimately benefit all of us with newer ships, more on board experiences and new itineraries. We are Diamond Plus and Pinnacle is so far off, but the double points will get us closer to our goal and will keep us loyal to Royal. We are a bit upset that L&S ended, we had an amazing price on a Grand Loft Suite (about a third of the normal cost) on the Quantum for a 10 night around Japan which cancelled in early February. This would have been our first Star class and we were so pumped as it was soooo cheap and great itinerary. Such is life, and now looking forward to our next adventure, fingers and legs crossed it will be really soon.

Not really a fan of the new style. I don't think it looks as refined as the rest of the fleet. You certainaly will not have any issues knowing which ship is from a far

Possible solution would still require the Canadian Government to allow cruise ships into its waters but this could be as simple as crossing the boundary, whatever that distance from shore is and stop and drop anchor, logging the drop and then move on back into international or Alaskan waters. In Australia we don't have a PVSA so we can cruise to nowhere however I have been on a few cruises where the ship would cross into international waters, just off a wind swept rocky island called Willis Island which is in the Coral Sea about 280 miles east of Cairns, Queenlamd, Australia. The ship stops and drops anchor so it can log an intertnation stop which allows the ship to sell duty free merchandise. Should this be allowed, the ship goes nowhere near land but still fulfils the PVSA.

Excess product going to auction is normal. Once Royal ships are due to end the Australian season, and head off for their Asian sailing, they sell off their excess alcohol as the Asian market don't drink as much as Australian's.

Thank you for the insight and thoughts. We were thinking like yourself, leg #2 UDP. We have done the UDP once before on Voyage and it was way too much food and we vowed to never do it again, but a first time Symphony we thinking go hard, pack extra antacids, and borrow a motorised scooter to aid us to disemarked, LOL. You are right, take the first leg to enjoy, explore and take in the ambiance and then go into leg #2 with knowledge and a plan. Thanks again

Hello Community, We are trying to decide whether a dining package is worth it or simply enjoy Coastal Kitchen? All being well, we will be sailing a B2B on the Symphony of the Seas in a Grand Suite. This will be our first cruise on an Oasis class and we will also be the first time to try Coastal Kitchen. We have read through a number of posts on the message board and Coastal Kitchen sounds amazing, especially the night serving fillet steak. As our first time on such a ship, we know we must eat at the dining options only found on this class of ship, like 150 Central Park. If you had the good fortune staying in a suite, do you think it is a waste to buy the Ultimate Dining package, knowing you can eat at Coastal Kitchen? Would you simply purchase a three night package plus Izumi Hibachi and enjoy Coastal Kitchen? Looking through the cruise panner, the ultimate package allows Chefs Table, which we would like to experience of this ship. Also Wonderland I believe to different, with a unique bar on the Oasis compared to the Quantum class ships? Being a B2B would you advise to do the Ultimate package on one leg and a three night on another, save the money and do two three night packages and enjoy CK?

Hey Matt, just noticed the new button. I love it in dark mode, so much better for the eyes. This was a great suggestion by JLMoran, thanks

Thank you for the details and photos, they are excellent and really appreciate you taking the time. I am so pumped for the upcoming cruise and the corner balcony will certainly allow for great viewing of all the new ports of call we will experience. I am sure we will be so tired from all the port days and activities, that we would sleep through any party noise. Also we would have Kraken rum as our back up plan, so all good.

Hello Guys, We are looking at a cruise on the Grandeur of the Seas and are considering two cabins, with JS in the aft on deck 7. Cabin 7150 is on the corner and 7154 more in the middle. Has anyone stayed in any of these two cabins, especially the corner one, 7150. We are leaning towards the corner one as you should get a wider range of views? the deck plans look deceiving but it seems the middle cabin balcony is slightly longer and as more shade from the sun or rain? We have had aft cabins and love then, but never a corner. Would appreciate any guidance as to which cabin to choose. thanks in advance.

I have my fingers crossed crusing will restart soon in Australia but until the vaccine is rolled out, there is still too much political gameship, especially from the Queensland government, and the WA government is well away from any sensible decisions. At the drop of a hat, with only a case or two, the state boarders get shut and with all the negative, bias press; cruising start up will be a challenge. I just hope that when March 17th travel ban comes round, there is a plan to allow Australians to travel overseas and a roll out of controlled crusing to restart. Royal still has Ovation, Radiance and Spectrum in Asia, and with the Alaska season in jeopardy, this might be the perfect scenario for Australian cruising to restart early. We are luck we are not effected by laws such as the Jones and PVS Act's I really hope Alaska goes ahead, for the sake of their economy, and all the small business that rely on the seasonal trade. Also my cruise from Honolulu to Sydney on the Ovation in September might still be a chance, slim, but still a chance. Anyway, Australia is certainly in a great position to follow Singapore's lead and prove it can be done, and I for one will do my best to be on that first cruise with a Kraken in hand and tear's of joy.

We have checked all our upcoming sailing on the cruise planner and the "Internet & More" options are no longer there for any of them.

Hello Guys, I wear glasses, and I have found the cheapest option was to visit a local dive shop who sell masks which are made to be able to click on lenses onto the from of the mask lens. The beauty of these is that if your prescription changes you can simply clip on a new lens. My right eye is different to my left and so able to mix and match lens. They generally come in 0.5 increments. They are quite durable, I use them for diving and snorkelling, and mine are about three years old. There was an option where I could have glass lens ground and fitted into the mask, but they were very expensive and as a seasonal user, the clip on lens are great, highly recommend them.

Thank you very much. I have learned something new today, so my day is complete. Take care

Hello Matt, Silly question, but I can't seem to work out how to reply to a specific persons' comment? I can reply to the topic but would like to reply on a specific comment / person within the post; if that makes sense?

Thanks guys. Factoring what twangstar has written and with the latest news about Canada closing its borders, and Alaska 21 season effectively ended unless the cruise lines are given Jones and Passenger Service Acs exemptions, I think I need to change ships from Radiance to something else that is currently based in Florida. It mif=ght a case or putting deposits on a few options and as time gets closer, make the call.

Hello Community, We have booked a B2B on the Radiance of the Seas for February 2022, 5 night Key West and Labadee and 9 night Southern Caribbean. I know it is just over a year away but we have booked a cruise just prior on the Symphony which has all the shore excursions listed. The image used in the cruise planner is the same on a sailing which is technically still going ahead in April on the Quantum, 10 night Japan which we are waiting for Royal to cancel, and again no shore excursions listed with only 71 days to go. I know it is a year out but we are trying get some sort of certainty as we are flying in from Australia. We are worried and are now thinking of changing to Barbados or another sailing out of a Florida port. We have reached out to Royal via our TA and Royal say they are still working on local contractors to be finalised. We find this answer worrisome as the ports will be visited by Royal ships prior to our sailing, in fact one port is on the Symphony sailing prior. The ports are the standard fare for Royal. Is it unusual for no shore excursions to be available on the cruise planner for a cruise +365 days? We are worried our favourite ship may be moving on to ???

Awesome, thanks Matt. Take care