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Cruise Tip

The perfect traveling companion.

Question for you. Have you ever been on a cruise shore excursion (or another occasion) only to have your day ruined because your phone runs out of power? Well, this cruise tip is just for you. Prior to my Sydney holiday in 2023, the Pulse Charge Venus Universal Phone Charger was advertised on the TODAY Show on channel 9 in Australia. The company was having a 'Duo Bundle Sale,' and none of my portable chargers were working; so one year later I took advantage of the offer, and I absolutely lo
KarinaGreen

KarinaGreen in Cruise Tip

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Talking about cruising

Give it a TEN

During every voyage you go on the cruise staff makes the professional effort to put you (the passenger) first so that the voyage full of memories that will last forever.  From the amazing ‘Cabin Stewarts and Waiters all the way through to the Captain;’ working on a cruise ship is a full-time job.  Every morning, the amazing crew wake up before you do (at 5am depending on the crew level), and don’t get to bed until you do - 24/7.  None of the crew gets a day off, and they don’t see their families
Princess Cruises

Changes NOW at Princess Cruises

On Sunday, 17 March 2024 I boarded the grand Princess cruise at Station Pier Wharf for a two week Queensland Round Trip.  Although cruising is back after the loooooong lockdown period; Princess Cruises has really stripped everything back to the basics.  These are just some of the changes I noticed straight away when I boarded the ship for my 2024 cruise. Your Cabin: In your cabin; you no longer get a love heart chocolate treat on your pillow every night, your PJ’s placed nicely, or a c
Casual Dinning Options

Dinning in the ships main restaurants

Unlike before, things have changed on the Princess cruise ships in regards to ‘casual dining in the main restaurants.’  This was originally organised when you booked your cruise with your travel agent, or your cruise coordinator; but now you have to organise it yourself through the Princess app on your mobile device. As well as ‘the Sabatini Italian restaurant, and the crown Grill; ‘the grand Princess also has three casual dining rooms: ‘DaVinci, Michelangelos, and Botticelli.’  These resta
Disney Cruises

Sydney, the Disney Magic awaits you

Hi ho, hi ho.. it's off to cruise we go! Exciting news for all you Disney Cruise fans out there. Disney Cruises is bringing 'the Magic of Disney' to Australia for the ‘2023/2024 Summer cruise season.'  Spotted off the coast of Noumea New Calendonia on Wednesday 25th October 2023; the massive Disney Wonder cruise ship will sail into Sydney Harbour for the first time THIS Friday, 27th October 2023 so if you’re around Circular Quay go down there, have a look.  Since I now live in Mel
KarinaGreen

KarinaGreen in Disney Cruises

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Lets talk cruising

Vaccinated and unvaccinated; cruising is now open for ALL Australians!

Exciting news for ALL Vaccinated and unvaccinated Australian cruise lovers.   On Friday 25th August 2023, CLIA announced, "Effective immediately; the COVID mandates for cruising that were put in place when cruising returned in May 2022 have been dropped." You no longer need to 'be triple vaccinated, test positive before boarding, or wear masks on board the ship (unless you want to).' The withdrawal of cruise-specific COVID measures was confirmed by Australia’s Chief

And the award for the 'Biggest Cruise Ship in the world' goes to...?

Well, if you thought the 'Wonder of the Seas' was the biggest cruise ship... think again! On Wednesday 12th July 2023, the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line announced their newest and biggest cruise ship on Chanel Tens 'The Project' TV Show. My mouth dropped, and I responded with 'Oh wow' when Sarah Harris said, "and the award for the 'Biggest Cruise Ship in the world' goes to...? Royal Caribbean for their newest and BIGGEST cruise ship 'Icon of the Seas.' I naturally got cruise happy when footage of
KarinaGreen

KarinaGreen

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We three ships of cruising are...!

On Monday 27th February 2023, I boarded a Virgin flight at Melbourne Domestic Air Port for a much needed two week holiday in Sydney, Australia.  As well as catching up with my family, doing a class at my Sydney Dance School, and doing the touristy thing; I was also able to go 'cruise ship chasing' at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay, Sydney.  But what surprised me was this.  I originally planning to just see the Majestic Princess... I wasn't expecting to see two others; plus the to
KarinaGreen

KarinaGreen

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Why I love cruising

September is ‘Cruise Month,’ and the Cruise Lines International Association started a competition using this question, “Why do you love cruising?”  They asked for ‘25 words or less’ so I gave this answer, “Being on a ship is like ‘heaven on the ocean.’ I feel at home the minute I step on board, everything is done for me, there’s places on board we’re it’s just ‘me, and the ship,’ and if I could live on a cruise ship… I would.” Twenty five words is actually too short for the full answer beca
KarinaGreen

KarinaGreen

1

2020 Holiday Travel Tips

Holiday travel for U.S. residents will be very different in 2020. No doubt about it. With the exception of small or expedition cruise ships, vacations by sea are essentially off the table for the rest of 2020 (depending on how the CDC rules on cruising when the current No-Sail Order ends October 31). But that doesn’t mean you can’t plan a great escape over the holidays.  While some folks have sworn off travel altogether since the COVID-19 pandemic became front and center in the U.S., others
Jan115

Jan115

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Another Covid Casualty - Cruise Travel Magazine

I recently heard from a friend and fellow cruiser that Cruise Travel Magazine was ceasing publication as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. I believed her but, of course, I had to go see the news for myself, directly from the source. Sure enough, the magazine's home page contained a single paragraph:  "Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus pandemic, lack of advertising and the current and uncertain future of the cruise industry, we are forced to cease publishing Cruise Travel magazine.
Jan115

Jan115

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Pandemic Be Damned - I'm Booking Cruises

The cruise and travel news isn't pretty. Coronavirus has wreaked havoc on our vacations - yours and mine. The news isn't all bad, though. Cruising is a no-go at the moment, but if you don't mind a few precautions including 72-hour pre-testing, there are currently several destinations that are open to Americans needing a land-bound escape - and don't we all! In fact, an escape to an island in the tropics would look really good right about now. Most of the Caribbean Islands are welcoming flight-bo
Jan115

Jan115

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Coronavirus and Travel: What You Need to Know

Whether you normally travel for work or you’re just chomping at the bit to get away, you’ll want to consider how you will stay safe and healthy before planning your next adventure. Covid-19 travel bans are gradually being lifted and destinations are re-opening, and you’ll need to take precautions - and take them seriously - in making trip preparations. It may be a while before major cruise lines sail or Europe welcomes Americans back. As if travel weren’t stressful enough with planning, pac
Jan115

Jan115

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The Benefits of a Travel Agent in an Uncertain World

[Updated 6/27/2020] If you experienced a recent COVID-related cancellation during the 2020 pandemic, you might be cursing the cruise lines, airlines, or resorts out of an abundance of frustration in obtaining refunds or credits. If you booked your own trip, unfortunately you’re on your own. The entire experience of contacting agencies for your refunds or credits can be time-consuming and stressful, especially if there’s an urgency to have your money refunded. Now imagine if you had booked w
Jan115

Jan115

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What to Expect on Your First Cruise

Are you embarking on your first journey at sea? Or maybe you need a refresher? Here are a few tips to make your cruise a smooth one. Flights. If you aren't cruising from a port close to home, you’ll need to fly to the port of departure. If possible, arrive at least a day early to allow for any delays or flight cancellations. If your schedule doesn't allow it, then you should book the first flight of embarkation day, preferably non-stop, being sure to allow enough time to reach the ship 90 m
Jan115

Jan115

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Jamie's Italian Onboard Symphony of the Seas

The term "foodie" is tossed around a lot, and I never thought of myself as one unless it means someone who likes to eat a lot of good food then heck yea I am a "foodie." Do I know the science of food, recipes, and what ingredients are in a dish just by tasting it? Of course not, but put a spread in front of me that looks like I am going to be in a food coma in under an hour and I am going to tell the world about it.  As a born and raised New Englander, I have dined in some pretty
JSinapijr

JSinapijr

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Norwegian's Upgrade Advantage - Should You Bid?

In eager anticipation of your next cruise, you've logged into Norwegian Cruise Line's online cruise planner, and you're greeted by words in big bold letters:  "LET'S GET YOU UPGRADED!" Those first four words grab your attention with a promise of a better cabin than the one you've already booked. Then your eyes move on to the words "Submit an Offer ... " and you realize that you'll have to shell out some money for that upgrade. The big question is, should you submit an offer to upgrade your
Jan115

Jan115

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Symphony VS Harmony

I know we have been gone for a second but we are back and starting off with a blog that is bound to answer your questions!    Symphony of the Seas VS Harmony of the Seas!   The largest passenger ships in the world, Symphony of the Seas (2018) and Harmony of the Seas (2016), just so happen to be sister ships operated by Royal Caribbean International. "They can't be that different" is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of sister ships, right? I am here to te
JSinapijr

JSinapijr

4

The New Ships we Saw in 2018

Well, 2018 is racing to a close, and it was an incredible year for the industry. Let's take a look back at some of the incredible new ships that debuted in 2018! New Ships: Every year cruise lines seem to outdo themselves with the incredible ships they debut, and 2018 was one of the most incredible! From the largest ship in the world debut to the most innovative ship of our time.  The Largest:  Symphony of the Seas, debuted in May of 2018 making her the fourth Oasis-c
JSinapijr

JSinapijr

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Prepare for Emergencies with Both a Passport and Trip Insurance

I have stressed in previous blogs about the importance of carrying both travel insurance and a passport while on a cruise vacation. An article on Yahoo’s travel page yesterday about a couple who cruised very recently without the benefit of either passport or insurance is a perfect example of what can happen if travelers don’t prepare for the unexpected. The couple were on a three-night cruise to the Bahamas when a sudden and serious illness necessitated a visit to the cruise ship doctor whi
Jan115

Jan115

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Group Cruise Misconceptions

What exactly is a group cruise? When I offer a group cruise to someone, I often get looks of puzzlement or replies like "I don't like to travel in herds" or "nope, don't like crowds of tourists". What many people - those who have never experienced group cruising - don't realize is that a "group" reservation doesn't mean that you have to follow one another around the entire trip as if you were attached at the hip. For some, the term ‘group’ conjures up images of eating every meal together, d
Jan115

Jan115

1

Most Reliable Airlines for Cruise Travelers

After trying multiple new airlines over the last year, I have figured out which ones would be best for getting me to my ship on time and which ones might cost me my entire cruise. For all of you seasoned cruisers sound off and tell me what you think is the best/ most reliable airline to fly and where you are flying from! Also, tell me what your most unreliable airline for cruise travel is!  Now I would ALWAYS suggest flying in a day early to avoid any possibility of missing your ship but he
JSinapijr

JSinapijr

8

Regal Princess: A Stormy Start and First impressions

In attempt to keep the costs down for this cruise, we initially booked an inside cabin. However, the price dropped and we were able to upgrade to a standard balcony at no extra cost. I wondered, would a balcony even be usable on a cruise like this, one in which driving rain and wind kept everyone inside? First things first ... get the balcony door open. We pulled and yanked to no avail, but finally the door slid open so that we could barely see the skyline and Statue of Liberty through the mist.
Jan115

Jan115

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