khas

We are booked for April 2024. We were only going for Egypt ports and unfortunately they got scrapped along with Israel. It’s an old dull ship and we have zero interest in Greece. We’ve planned an entire holiday around what was originally our bucket list cruise to see the pyramids and now trying to find an alternative cruise to somewhere we’re interested in for the exact same dates in Europe is proving rather difficult being the off season. We haven’t cancelled yet as a last resort we will keep it, but if we hadn’t booked 6 weeks away coming from Australia I would have cancelled instantly. $200 OBC is not enough compensation for changing 5/6 ports. 

I’m looking at booking a caribbean cruise for this August. Just wondering what everyone recommends as to whether it’s better to book on Aus site and have grats included or try U.S site with exchange rate? I am also considering using next cruise on board in February but I think the only benefit of that is reduced deposit and potentially some OBC but would prefer to book sooner rather than later! 

On 11/18/2022 at 11:03 AM, twangster said:

There is a science to turning a mega ship between cruises.  It's a lot to unload, load and go that they perfected.  

As they look to a new home port they'll desire to create that same turn and burn approach.  So what hope port offers the ability to perform a repetitive itinerary ideally 7 nights?   Longer itinerary require more supplies which take longer to load on turn around day.  That pushes them near a breaking point for transatlantic.   Doing so every week would not be ideal. 

Itineraries that work on other classes may not map well to Oasis class. 

 

I would think their plan being once Lelepa is up and running, that an oasis class would do repeat 7 night trips from Brisbane to pacific islands. Bringing an oasis class to Brisbane would help bring a lot more people to depart from Brisbane’s new terminal as well, since it’s not exactly an idyllic location like Sydney’s. 

On 11/8/2022 at 4:07 PM, Looksee said:

Hey there. Is anyone on Ovation or Quantum at the moment who can tell me what beer they have? Hubby is convinced they'll have Corona but I can only see one drinks menu on the App and it doesn't include Corona. Thanks!

Got off quantum today and can confirm plenty of Corona on board!

I would be ecstatic if an oasis ship made it here, but I just don’t think the whole “the ship is the destination” idea would be viable here for royal. Disney is a huge brand, and that is why the ships sold so well, not because it’s a cruise but because it’s something Disney. I’ve heard a lot of unhappy customers with royal due to the planned ports not being open and there’s been a lot of cancellations due to this, and so I really don’t think the ship will sell without ports to visit and unfortunately there is hardly any ports that could take an oasis class ship.

On 10/13/2022 at 9:18 AM, Chili said:

Quantum was only about half full for the trans pacific.

There were  suites available a couple of days ago. I think that says it all.

The start to the season isn’t going so well for royal either. First quantum leaving Brisbane is having 2 stops in noumea instead of Vila and mystery island and there have been a lot of unhappy guests cancelling and trying to reschedule. Still suites available on this sailing too.

Has anyone else been having problems trying to book quantum sailings? I’ve been trying to book for a couple of days now and keep getting the same error message. 

Interestingly, it works when trying to book on US site, it’s only the AUS site that this comes up. 

The South Pacific as a cruising destination has died by the sounds of it. 

13 hours ago, Chili said:

Most of Ovation’s cruises are just about booked out but the ones to noumea seem to have plenty of vacancies.

I suppose people are a bit cautious about the islands being open.

Probably because Noumea can be a dull port to repeatedly go back to. A lot of people I know if they’ve been on 2 or more South Pacific cruises don’t even bother getting off the ship in Noumea anymore so I can see why it isn’t selling.

10 hours ago, Chili said:

Vanuatu is back in business with trial cruises.

 

https://www.dailypost.vu/news/trial-return-of-cruise-ships-in-vanuatu-to-start-on-november-9/article_2aeaa851-56a3-5345-ba2a-bb8798df08e9.html

First quantum out of Brisbane is supposed to do Vanuatu but is a week earlier than those dates. Bit disappointing but no word yet on change of itinerary. 

I was told they would reprice but if non-refundable you lose deposit.

11 hours ago, Ja-sun said:

I'm looking at RC's sister company Celebrity. They have a cruise Oct 23. Ten night with two days in Egypt. Looks pretty interesting. 

I have been looking at this cruise as well as one on rhapsody. I know Rhapsody is quite old and smaller, and celebrity one is a new ship but when you add the cost of flights and accommodation just to get to Europe it all adds up so I will be going RC as price is too good not to.

13 hours ago, CruisingOz said:

I have not been following any rule chances, but for us we had to have an RT-PCR done less than 24 hours prior to our flight departure, and needs to have specific details noted, so we paid for one via Histopath done at the Sydney International airport the afternoon prior. Our flight was at 10am, so we went and had our test done after midday the day prior. Also we had to have a return ticket, people were rejected who had an open ticket.  I assume you have your ESTA, Australian Vaccine passport, noting your two vaccines, or three, which are more than seven days old from date of travel. Also suggest you carry printed copies as well as soft copies on your phone. We were asked several times, like five times between entering the airport and airside and on the way home, at least five times, once even right before exiting customs. Safe travels 

Awesome thanks mate, you're a legend! 

3 hours ago, CruisingOz said:

Having just returned from the US and wanting to take advantage of the double points, it seems Australian cruises are so much more expensive than cruises in the US. Sure there is less competition but it seems far more excessive when comparing similar ships and days

I’m heading to the US next week and was wondering if you wouldn’t mind clarifying if you did pcr test prior or whether they accept RAT done by a testing company. Just not sure which one to book as it doesn’t specify on anything I’ve read so far just states a negative test result printed on paper with the details.

15 hours ago, Chili said:

That’s interesting, who and when did you book.
I don’t think that is correct. My agent first said that but I told them it’s in the cruise with confidence price guarantee,

I will try to find the fine print for you.

I booked direct through RC website as all the travel agents I know closed their businesses recently. That was information I was told when I called RC direct. I’m booked on Quantum November 22 so I’m outside the eligible sailing dates apparently. 

18 hours ago, Chili said:

So I have put the Australian price match to the test another 2 times with the current WOW sale.

Royal Caribbean didn’t hesitate to match the current price and OBC  under the cruise with confidence price match.

The agent said they where surprised when they reprised the fares

Would love to know your secret! I tried repricing mine but apparently it’s not eligible for price guarantee and I would lose my non refundable deposit. Little bit disappointed as the OBC would be a lot more if I had waited and booked now. 

1 hour ago, Chili said:

That’s strange,they are basically the same ship.

 I thought it may have been Brisbane being a smaller market and a ugly port,which is basically a industrial port.

If we ever got a oasis class,it is supposed to be a toss up between Sydney and Brisbane. I don’t think Brisbane would fill it especially if they are having trouble with quantum.

I’ve booked quantum, but I’m based in qld so to not have to travel a day before and a day after a cruise is a big bonus for me with struggling to get days off work. 
 

But the only things I can think of is that Quantum is a slightly older ship (wouldn’t think that would make a huge difference) and was originally marketed towards the asian cruise market. Maybe people are unaware that it’s since been recently updated to suit western cruisers and is very similar to ovation now? 

36 minutes ago, Chili said:

At the moment it Singapore residents.

There was a article how the Singapore government was going to offer incentives for Australians to travel there and go on a cruise.

I have looked into it and I don’t think it’s worth it.

There’s close to a $1,000 worth of Covid tests involved and if you come down as positive you have to isolate for 10 days and until you test negative.

Here one article,it’s a bit old but gives you a idea.

https://cruisepassenger.com.au/how-singapore-plans-to-tempt-australians-to-cruise-from-its-harbour/

 

 

That’s disappointing! I’ve got quantum booked for November 2022 but was hoping to be able to sneak another in in January by flying somewhere not too far away.

Does anyone have an idea of whether or not Australians will be able to cruise on the Singapore to nowhere cruises when Aussies are allowed to travel into Singapore from next week? Or will they still only be able to be booked by residents of Singapore?

With the Singapore government opening up travel into the Country for Australian’s from November 8, does this mean that Australian’s are able to book and travel on the Singapore to nowhere cruises? Or do you still have to be a resident of Singapore to book?