Clarea

Thanks for the advice on local bookings and the port terminal schedule - very helpful!

Thanks for your replies. I also normally book early due to work too - I travel to the Far East at least once most years for work and my husband and I try to combine with a cruise. We are quite restricted on dates and need to book far out to fit in with my work schedule and flights - this has worked most years with Royal Caribbean. I've been waiting patiently for RCI as bookings were scheduled to open in August, but looks like it will need to be Princess if nothing shows up by end October, which is a shame as I was looking forward to trying Ovation, Quantum or the refurbished Voyager. Does anyone know if the local charters are available for overseas (UK) guests to book? Might be a different experience, but I would consider giving it a go!

We have been on 3 Royal Caribbean cruises so far and stayed in JS once, GS twice. The most recent GS - on Oasis transatlantic UK to FL October 2014 - was a fantastic living room space, but there was absolutely nothing "exclusive" about the lounges. The "Suite lounge" was packed every night with loyalty members, so much so we could rarely get a seat unless going in @ 5.30pm sharp when the free drinks started. The drinks menu was limited, the room hot and the noise level very high. Coastal Kitchen was not in operation. We were initially not allowed into the Diamond Lounge as suite guests, but after a few days the concierge relented and let us in. It was also packed, but a bit quieter and cooler than the suite lounge. In retrospect I would have booked a JS on Oasis and the ultimate drinks package and utilised the bars, which were almost empty as everyone was in the "exclusive" lounges! In contrast the small concierge lounge on Voyager from Singapore to Tokyo was very quiet and enjoyable.

Does anyone know when Voyager or Ovation summer 2016 Asia cruises from Beijing and Hong Kong will be open for booking?