cruise surprises

[p--and--t]

Just got back in Nov from a 4d cruise on the Nile.

No guards, no guns. Just the usual security at the door to make sure it was only passengers coming on board.

Booked thru TA in Cairo. Less than USD600pp inclusive of all shore excursions and personal guide (tips not included)

 

[Pushka]

Just got back in Nov from a 4d cruise on the Nile.

No guards, no guns. Just the usual security at the door to make sure it was only passengers coming on board.

Booked thru TA in Cairo. Less than USD600pp inclusive of all shore excursions and personal guide (tips not included)

I seem to have missed your Trip Report? . I'm all ears.

 

[woodyren]

This has been so interesting - so many tips and wonderful insider information. Some of you mentioned that you plan your own excursions which are often more cost effective than the ship’s offerings, and you can craft the trip around your interests. How do you find the reputable operators (driver and car) who offer the best service? Some of you also mentioned that getting off the ship can be time consuming and you lose valuable shore time. How do you get around this problem?

Just stumbled on to this thread so I will try to supply some additional input.

If you do social media many cruises now have FB groups for a particular cruise. In that group you will find many people who will share their excursion advice and often organise a tour where they allow other members to join in.

We almost exclusively cruise Royal Caribbean. Partly because we enjoy the more laid back fun atmosphere on board. Partly because the upmarket lines are too expensive for our travel budget. Maily because of their great loyalty program which has now gained us free drinks (6 each per day) and free internet.

There are a number of great bargains on Quantum OTS out of Brisbane in January.

 

[woodyren]

The experience of AFF is quite amazing. The information provided in this thread is invaluable and I have taken all the comments on board. But there must be singular go to moves that you engage in, to make your cruise successful. What might they be.

We have over 50 cruises under our belts but have only ever cruised on mass market lines. Royal, Celebrity, NCL, Carnival. We have cruised from Singapore, Southampton, Rome and Sydney since travel resumed last year. All on Royal.

Happy to help with advice but it will all depend on your personal preferences on which line or itinerary would suit you best.

While on board would you prefer quiet time to yourself with fine dining or are you more of a casual diner, active and enjoy a bit of boisterous partying with a crowd and activities such as a surfing simulator, rock climbing, trivia, rock bands, shows etc?

Are you taking the cruise more as a way to visit new destinations or is it more about the ship and the time on board watching the world go by?

Where would you like to cruise from initially? A local Australian cruise or a particular part of the world?

How will a cruise with lots of younger children affect your enjoyment?

Would you prefer to dress formally or a take more casual approach?

What is your budget approximately per night?

 

[Stargazer]

Thank you woodyren for putting things in perspective. Lots to think about. Fifty cruises is amazing.

 

[ayebee]

just saw the Viking Orion "steaming" up the bay on way to Port Melbourne, and idly googled it to see where it had been...
mmm - I suspect this qualifies for the "cruise surprises" thread.

Viking Orion: hundreds of passengers stranded on cruise ship off South Australia due to ‘marine growth’

Ship hasn’t docked in a port since it cast off from Wellington in New Zealand on Boxing Day

www.theguardian.com

<edit> should have added - I noticed it as it was belching rather a lot of black smoke, hence my reference to "steaming"

 

[ayebee]

Now I am here
We did the APT Kimberley cruise in May/June.
I imagine many have done this Kimberley coast cruise, but happy to provide a report / pics from that if there is interest.


PS - I have never done a trip report on AFF

 

[RooFlyer]

PS - I have never done a trip report on AFF

Never too late I once did one about 20 years after!!!

 

[Pushka]

just saw the Viking Orion "steaming" up the bay on way to Port Melbourne, and idly googled it to see where it had been...
mmm - I suspect this qualifies for the "cruise surprises" thread.

Viking Orion: hundreds of passengers stranded on cruise ship off South Australia due to ‘marine growth’

Ship hasn’t docked in a port since it cast off from Wellington in New Zealand on Boxing Day

www.theguardian.com

<edit> should have added - I noticed it as it was belching rather a lot of black smoke, hence my reference to "steaming"

It's been a cruise to nowhere once NZ refused them entry after a couple of ports. They will only get to Melbourne to reprovision but to really twist the knife, even though arriving later in the evening, every passenger has to disembark to do Aus immigration requirements, the last batch theoretically at 11.30 pm and then turn around and board again.

 

[Pushka]

And now today a Regent Cruise has been prevented from entering a NZ port and is coming to Adelaide for cleaning.

 

[Pushka]

Guests have been told they will be receiving 100% of all monies paid to Viking by way of voucher. Most seem very happy about the compensation. This will not send Viking broke . Their owner is a billionaire. They are about to arrive in Sydney, unfortunately to White Bay not the OPT. Guess it means they get to go under the Bridge though.

 

[Anna]

I saw the Viking ship today! Plus the monster Ovation OTS. OMG what a behemoth. And there's a third ship in town as well, couldn't see which one.

 

[Pushka]

I saw the Viking ship today! Plus the monster Ovation OTS. OMG what a behemoth. And there's a third ship in town as well, couldn't see which one.

That was Orion. We sailed to Alaska on it. Beautiful ship. No kids. No casinos. No photographers. Maybe it was a Silverseas one. Was Ovation at the OPT? Would have looked massive.

 

[drron]

The Silver Muse and the Silver Shadow are the SS ships cruising Australian waters at the present. Two days the Muse was in Auckland. The Shadow is due in Sydney on January 9th. So not an SS ship. They also dock at White Bay.

 

[Anna]

According to NSW Ports yesterday was Viking Orion and Silver Shadow at White Bay (also still both there today) and also today is Seabourn Odyssey down at Eden.

Sydney Cruise Schedule

www.portauthoritynsw.com.au

 

[drron]

According to NSW Ports yesterday was Viking Orion and Silver Shadow at White Bay (also still both there today) and also today is Seabourn Odyssey down at Eden.

Sydney Cruise Schedule

www.portauthoritynsw.com.au

Interesting as on the Silversea website the Shadow is only due to leave on January 9th. Though possibly it sailed from Hong Kong early where it has been sitting along with the Silver Museuntil recently. The Muse is already doing Aust-NZ cruises so why not the Shadow.

 

[Notyourbag]

I'm #loyaltoroyal so can help with any Royal Caribbean questions. I've done the Eastern Caribbean on Adventure of the Seas (out of San Juan), Europe with Odyssey of the Seas out of Rome and doing another Caribbean cruise next month going to St Marteen and the ABC's.

 

[Clayton]

Absolutely! No one size fits all.

One starting point might be where are there cruise options that would otherwise be a pain in neck to try and do by land/air. eg Caribbean - all manner of ships, sizes, demographics and ports of call. Or seeing the highlights of the Mediterranean without having to checkout of a hotel room every other day (and only unpack once). Hawaiian islands? Mexico etc

I probably wouldn’t recommended a megaship (eg Oasis Class as a first cruise). The ship itself is the destination with only two or three ho hum ports of call.

The Med is a particular area where the small ships such as SilverSea Silver Wind can make a magical difference by traversing the Corinth Canal, or setting the entire passengers onto a beautiful Greek Island with only a few fishing boats in port (no Cruise behemoths). Or the Uniworld river boat docked in Venice , walking distance from all the main attractions.