Jamesszy94

Admittedly I don't cruise as much as I'd like to, but I love all the info that Matt gives us here, in his videos and the podcast. I'm still trying to follow his advice and look for a TA... but none here in Australia.

What even is this livery.... I like Royal's cause it's simple. I think Royal has the best livery of any design. Most of Celebrity's ships are too blue for my liking even though Blue is my favorite colour.

Do you mean these ones? Because apparently according to Wikipedia those were removed in 2018.... Unless you mean this article: https://www.nsw.gov.au/news/sydneys-cruise-terminal-receives-major-upgrade "In July 2019, two additional, custom-built walkways, carrying 5000 passengers each arrived at the OPT to support visits from future larger cruise ships. The NSW Government has placed these gangways in time for the 2019-2020 summer cruising season, and are projected to deliver around 1200 passengers every 30 minutes" I mean this is nice and all but the terminal itself is still tiny

Really? I didn't know they upgraded the OPT, I guess they'd have to with ships getting bigger and bigger, I think the biggest ship that's been moored at OPT is still Ovation? Are there actually plans to build a newer and bigger terminal in Sydney? Or is it all just hearsay or broken promises by NSW I could be wrong, I feel like most of the cruise lines that operate out of Australia only sail around Australia (Queensland, Cairns etc), South Pacific cruises and the occasional New Zealand route.... and then you have the repositioning ones that sail outside of those areas, which happens once or twice a year.

That's unfortunate, I feel like if the NSW government ever did build a new cruise terminal that could accommodate bigger ships, it would generate so much more tourism for the cruise industry in Sydney (not that Sydney needs anymore tourism We already get plenty, but you know what I mean). We could get the Excellence-class Carnival ships or even (finally...) an Oasis ship the only question is... where in Sydney would they build a new cruise terminal... (either build a new one, or upgrade the existing one)

So I know Wonder and Odyssey have the larger livery of their names on the side of the ship, do we know if Icon or future Royal ships for that matter will also have the larger livery or will they go with the smaller one on most of their other ships? I actually quite like the larger livery! Considering a big name for a big ship!

That's so sad seeing Allure as the only one that's still 225,000 GT! Wasn't Odyssey supposed to be the final Quantum ship?

Yes! Haha, I used slightly cause I couldn't think of any other word. You'd think Sydney... being so big... we'd have a bigger cruise terminal, but nope, I guess that's one of the downsides of having the Harbour Bridge Not everything can fit under. I guess that's why OPT is the main cruise terminal and then only the smaller P&O ships use WB Terminal Hmm, you're absolutely right, I haven't cruised since.... 2017... so I don't really remember the size of the OPT, but now that I think about it, it was pretty small compared to some of the other terminals I've been in, I guess when and if Royal ever send an Oasis class ship down, it'd have to home port in Brisbane.

I mean, I know Oasis class is slightly larger than the Quantum class ships, we do indeed have an Oasis capable terminal in Brisbane, but I also think our port here in Sydney should be capable of docking an Oasis-class, Quantum and Ovation cruise from the Overseas Passenger Terminal during the Summer months here... I guess it depends on the cruise market down here and if Royal can justify sending an Oasis class down here.

I'm still hoping that once things go back to normal here in Australia re: cruising, Royal will send one of the Oasis class down here - although, from what I've heard, we've got pretty strict biosecurity laws so all the plants down the promenade will either have to be removed and replaced with something else or Royal will need to think of something! I really just want to experience one of the Oasis class ships.. Heck.... we'll even take Allure or Oasis!

I know Allure, Adventure, Explorer and Liberty are all supposed to get upgrades but those have been postponed indefinitely, any ideas if any of the Quantum class ships will be upgraded eventually? I'm aware they're very different in terms of having not having water slides, royal promenade etc was just thinking if there were any features they could add etc. I'm also aware that the Quantum class ships are still relatively new compared to all the ships that have received upgrades so it could be a while

If you need an extension cord or a power outlet of some kind, I'm pretty sure you can just ask your room steward for one, they're happy to give you one (Unless that's changed, haven't been on a Royal Cruise in a couple of years), I asked for one on my last Royal Cruise and the room steward one had one ready for me when I got back to my room, unless you need your own for whatever reason.

The last few cruises I've been on, we've tipped every single staff member we interacted with except one - maybe that person was having a bad day or something had happened, but he just wasn't very friendly or polite to anyone, and he had gotten our order mixed up a few times! Gratuities going up isn't surprising to me, especially in this day and age where COVID19 is still very much a problem and not just the cruising industry, but every industry is having trouble attracting workers.

Does anyone know if MEI caters to people who live in Australia?.... I wanted to use Harr Travel but they don't cater to people in Australia....yet.

It must have changed sometime after 2017 then, because my mum was able to get two free rides during the sailing, albeit, one of them was because there was noone queueing - so not sure if that counts tbh

Is the North Star on Quantum Class ships still complimentary? Or do we have to pay now? When I sailed Ovation, it was free on port and sea days, so just wondering if that's changed now.

Because It would have been a souvenir

When I was in Alaksa, I wanted to buy a couple of these, but we were flying home to Australia from LA, so we didn't want to risk having them in our luggage.

That's unfortunate, while I've only been on one of that Cruise Line's ships, I didn't really like the atmosphere, it was very party atmosphere....

Titan(ic) of the Seas Medusa of the Seas Aphrodite of the Seas Defender of the Seas Illustrous of the Seas Athena of the Seas Keeper of the Seas Enchantment of the Seas 2 Poseidon of the Seas Zeus of the Seas Of the seas of the seas Royal of the Seas Caribbean of the Seas Hype of the Seas Jester of the Seas Majesty of the Seas (2.0)

Kraken of the Seas!

Excellent write up and pretty much almost how I remember Ovation when I sailed on her back in 2017....(there was one incident during one of the shows though that completely ruined the cruise for me though) Back then you had to book for the NorthStar, not sure if that's still the case now....also, it was free back then I'm not really much of a pool person (something about being self conscious about my body) so the pools being filled with teenagers didn't really bother me. But also...Ovation is only 6 years old, Ruby Princess is almost 14 years old, so she's bound to show some wear and tear at some point...

I knew I was forgetting one....

Hmm interesting, thanks for the insight. How likely is it that RCI deviate yet again with Utopia and don't install Central Park (or at least the plants)? So that she's suitable for cruising in Australia? I'm guessing probably like a 1% chance

Fortune of the Seas Magic of the Seas Serene of the Seas Pacific of the Seas Fascination of the Seas Luminous of the Seas Breakaway of the Seas Getaway of the Seas Escape of the Seas Encore of the Seas Miracle of the Seas Conquest of the Seas Glory of the Seas Valor of the Seas Liberty of-oh wait this one exists already Freedom of-oh wait this one also exists Dream of the Seas Breeze of the Seas Vista of the Seas Horizon of the Seas Panorama of the Seas Mardi Gras of the Seas