Rhapsody Oct-19 2008 Australia -> New Caledonia / Vanuatu

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cj_123456

Guest
Hi all!

We're booked on our second cruise, as above, less than 12 months after the first! =docdance

But unfortunately 3 of the destinations have just been deleted and replaced with 2 far less appealing destinations and wait for it .... an extra day at sea! I've just emailled asking for an upgrade or credit, but I don't like my chances (td)

Some questions!

1) This is the first sailing from Rhapsody's new home in Sydney. It looks like it's out of action for a week or two prior. A reasonable journey to it's new home but surely it wouldn't reposition empty ... does anyone know if it is being refurbished? Would this be a major one?

2) Given that tipping is not customary in Australia, does this mean there will no longer be tipping on Rhapsody? Prepaid gratuities were not added to my invoice, they were on my last cruise out of Miami.

3) Also, does anyone know if the Rhapsody has a pizza parlour? I've read that it does, but it isn't mentioned or shown anywhere on the RC site. Weird.

4) On my last cruise, my expenses card was billed in my home currency despite selecting USD on both internet check-in and the paper slip. Is this a blatent money grab (as the exchange rate used was obviously a few or more points in their favour) or was it more likely a genuine mistake?

THANKS!!! :wave
 
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moojar

Guest
Hi,

I am cruising on Rhapsody OTS out of Sydney in April 2009.

There is an advertisement in today's (Sydney) Sunday newspapers for the trip to Oz - 19 September 2008, 28 nights Vancouver to Sydney 'private charter', second passenger free. So sorry, does not sound like there is a refurbishment planned. Pity, because I have read some shocking passenger reviews of their Asia cruises last year. Signs of aging of the ship was a common complaint.

We elected to pay our tips up front ($107 USD each for 11 nights); it was an option on the booking form (RCI's website.) I believe you can pay upfront on-board as well, thru the purser's office (?).

I have also read about a pizza restaurant on-board, but cannot tell you more than that.

I have seen an active roll-call for your cruise on another cruise forum...

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Neil.
 
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coastiesNSW

Guest
Hi, We are also on board, and we too are p***** about the change of itinerary. We have been to the "new"/amended stops on Pacific Sun in Dec/Jan 2006/07 and were looking forward to the new stops.

Funny, we found out about the changes by accident in another forum after the deposit penalty period had expired!!!

We too asked RCCL many times for refund, upgrade, any compensation, but no joy there!

Also I hear some are upset about not receiving the promised OBC. We are due for this too but still waiting on confirmation from TA.

Still, it will be a good cruise as all the locals over here that I've chatted with are all upbeat regardless of the stuffups.

Don't know about the pizza place.

I understand that all billing will be in USD. Tips (15%) are automatically included in bar purchases. Other tips are at predetermined daily amounts for cabin staff, waiters etc and can be paid as an add on to your bill.

Personally, we will NOT be prepaying or pre-allocating any tips until we see what service we get!!!! I've read too many horror stories about RCCL/Rhapsody (and also many good ones) and I'm sour about the way we were treated re the changes and no notification or option to withdraw our deposit even though this was in June - well before the expiry.

Have you registered for the Meet and Mingle on board? I think that it is 1st day at sea.
 
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Racqmyworld

Guest
Hi everyone,
My husband and I are also booked on the Oct 19th cruise out of Sydney. We choose this cruise more for the destination and exotic South Pacific ports than for the ship. I didn't realize that they had changed the itinerary on us! We had been frustrated during the last month because it was taking too long for them to upload the shore excursions on-line.
When they finally did some of the ports are not completed. I finally had to email the head of the shore excursion department at RCCL for answers. I was told that at the ports we are "tendered" at, there will be no shore excursions available because there are no tour operators available. Had we not been into the penalty phase, I'm sure my husband would have pulled out of trip. This is his first time with Royal and he's so far not very impressed. I've sailed to Alaska
on Royal many years ago as a first time cruiser and had an excellent trip.
Has anyone sailed the Rhapsody before? We've been spoiled on recent cruises with the larger ships and many amenities. We were upset to learn about the lack of a specialty restaurant and laundry facilities on board. We've been on the small Tahitian Princess which accommodates 600-700 passengers and they had these facilities. It seems like basic amenities to have on board especially for cruises longer than 10 days.
Anyway, don't want to sound negative. I'm counting down the days to Vacation. Believe me even if there are no tour operators--as long as I can get to a picturesque beach and not have to WORK for a couple of weeks, I'll be in heaven.
Looking forward to meeting many of you on board.
 
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coastiesNSW

Guest
Hi,

We are on ROS 19 Oct too - where are you from?

we've also been frustrated about the changes as we've been to most of the stops not so long ago.

But we're Ok as we love snorkelling and the beaches and of course the markets !!

There has been a lot of discussion and views on another forum.

Also there is a "meet and mingle" sponsored by RCCL and you can register to meet a whole group on the first day out.

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to refer you to the other forum - but it is pretty active. Go and register at

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=725477 - and read through that lot!

No harm in being in both forums I reckon - that's democracy!

Kevin n Julie (Central Coast, NSW. Australia)
 
M

Murrumba

Guest
Hi - I just read your concerns regarding no excursions -i.e. isle of pines, champagne bay. I am going on this cruise too and I have been to these places about 4 times before. I just wanted to let you know that these are wonderful small islands and the beaches where the tender boats drop you off are beautiful. On the other ships I have been on the ship usually do a bbq or such on the beach. So I was hoping that is what they will do here too. The last time that I went was about 14 years ago, and I was hoping that these islands would be the same and not too developed. remember these as being the best days on the cruise. So don't be disappointed. I am just upset that we are going to Luganville - but then again it will be good if you have not seen this before. I look forward to meeting you on the cruise.
 
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Racqmyworld

Guest
Hi--Thanks for your advice/comments. We'll check the other site.

BTW, My name's Racquel and husband David. We're from Bakersfield, California. Looking forward to meeting you in a couple of weeks. Can't wait.
 
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The J's

Guest
You'll have to let us know what to do, We are on the cruise after yours. Nov.1 sailing Let us know were to snorkel. John & Janet
 
C

coastiesNSW

Guest
[quote The J's]You'll have to let us know what to do, We are on the cruise after yours. Nov.1 sailing Let us know were to snorkel. John & Janet[/quote]

Hi,

We arrive back on the day you sail, so i thought that I'd copy my post to the Cruisecritic forum for ROS 10 Oct.
At this stage a while lot of us are still wondering what we are getting on tis cruise as the reviews have been so varied1

BUT we ARE going to have a great holiday!!!! Hope you do also.

"Note that I do not know about Noumea, but it appears that you'd have to take the island day trip. I've been to Noumea and there isn't really any good spots, just a beach or 2.
- Mystery Island has shallow reef all around it and you can snorkel all around the island and out a fair distance. There's plenty to see, and it is nice, but not spectacular like our Barrrier Reef. There's some really good snorkelling at one point where there's some shallow kelp forests and coral. Also the locals will take you by boat out to a "shipwreck" - but I heard that it is just an old fishing boat and not real great - and it costs!
-Vila has some snorkel spots in the harbour off Iririki island, and also Erakor Lagoon. Hideaway Island is a great spot too, not far from Vila by taxi/car.
-Champagne Bay has a white sand beach like Whitehaven in the Whitsundays. There is a nice protected bay with coral reef not-too-deep, and it is a really nice spot. Also you can venture out of the bay and snorkel around the rock ledges if water is calm. The locals offer transport (at a cost) to the "blue holes" which they say is where Blue Lagoon was filmed! (But I thought that was in Fiji?) Supposed to also be pretty good.
NOTE: Watch your stuff here - the young locals wait til you go in the water and thieve stuff! There will probably be native markets set up here on the day
-Luganville we have not seen, but I do know that if you go to Santo you gotta dive or snorkel over Million Dollar Point (google it). We have booked directly a snorkel and "try scuba dive" with Santo Dive. There's 3 dive shops in Luganville, some do only scuba and/or are tied to the cruise line. You may be able to book direct - and if you want to snorkel, I'd suggest booking ahead coz I don't know if there's all that much else to do in Luganville itself.
- Isle of Pines has really nice snorkelling around "The Rock". This is in a bay a short walk from the bay where
we come in on the tender. (you can also snorkel in that bay I think - it was very windy when we were there). The Rock has some really nice coral and reef and weed beds and heaps of fish and you can swim right around the rock. Also the bay has a nice white sand beach.
There may be other places but we didn't go further - it was good enough there.

The main problem may turn out to be the numbers of people in the water - it can get crowded.

All of these spots are good, easy and enjoyable, and convenient for a day stop, but I wouldn't try to compare them with the Barrier Reef (no, not the tourist pontoons!) or some spots in Fiji. You'd have to travel further and make arrangements to see the best spots, I feel.
Hope this helps.
Kev n Julie
 
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