Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ships?

[love_the_life]

Re: Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ship

They refused to do one with Hyatt and Intercontinental. Now I am stuck with their spamming as unsubscribe doesn't seem to work.

Glad you've been the trailblazer
Did you download the form and then email it to the AU office? The link above was set up for US.

 

[Infreq]

Re: Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ship

We've done a couple of Azamara trips but I've been wondering how the Oceana R class experience compares??

 

[Pushka]

Re: Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ship

Glad you've been the trailblazer
Did you download the form and then email it to the AU office? The link above was set up for US.

I did it maybe February? Something I read here or on CC. Took ages and had forgotten all about it when they finally emailed.

 

[get me outta here]

Re: Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ship

Tree are some very nice suggestions here. Lovely ideas for that special trip:

3 of the best spas at sea | afr.com

 

[pootle]

Re: Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ship

We've done a couple of Azamara trips but I've been wondering how the Oceana R class experience compares??

I did Oceania recently, ships are very similar in fact identical I have also sailed azamara. A few years ago, do not since the refurb, but yeh enjoyed both and the service levels the same. Oceania do have some awesome deals at the moment.

 

[woodyren]

Re: Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ship

We started cruising in Nov 2013 and our first cruise was a Trans Atlantic from Rome to Miami on Celebrity Reflection. It cost us $699 USD and this was when AUD was above parity. Amazed at the value when we started booking we added a Caribbean on Oasis a Caribbean on Carnival and a Panama Canal on Norwegian to the trip. Total of 43 days and for around $100 pp per day.

We enjoyed it so much we have taken many more cruises since then. After we sail Sydney to Seattle on Explorer if the Seas in April we will have completed the full lap.

Royal and Celebrity are our favourites and we still aim for around an average of $100 pp per day on our cruises. We spend almost zero on board which allows us to cruise more. Have diamond status on Royal so free drinks between. 4.30-8.00pm helps.

Would love to try the higher class ships but could never justify the cost. 61 years old and still work part time to pay for our cruises and land holidays. Would rather spend on three cruises than one with a higher standard as we are very casual and the mainstream lines offer more than enough luxury for us.

 

[Major]

Re: Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ship

We started cruising in Nov 2013 and our first cruise was a Trans Atlantic from Rome to Miami on Celebrity Reflection. It cost us $699 USD and this was when AUD was above parity. Amazed at the value when we started booking we added a Caribbean on Oasis a Caribbean on Carnival and a Panama Canal on Norwegian to the trip. Total of 43 days and for around $100 pp per day.

We enjoyed it so much we have taken many more cruises since then. After we sail Sydney to Seattle on Explorer if the Seas in April we will have completed the full lap.

Royal and Celebrity are our favourites and we still aim for around an average of $100 pp per day on our cruises. We spend almost zero on board which allows us to cruise more. Have diamond status on Royal so free drinks between. 4.30-8.00pm helps.

Would love to try the higher class ships but could never justify the cost. 61 years old and still work part time to pay for our cruises and land holidays. Would rather spend on three cruises than one with a higher standard as we are very casual and the mainstream lines offer more than enough luxury for us.

What class of cabin do you receive for those dollars ? Do you prefer balcony cabins or are you happy with interior ?

 

[woodyren]

Re: Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ship

What class of cabin do you receive for those dollars ? Do you prefer balcony cabins or are you happy with interior ?

We have had balcony cabins for under $100 per day and while we prefer balconies we only get one if it is reasonably close to the price if an inside. Our next cruise we have a junior suite and booked it because it was $1300 each for a 10 night cruise so it was a bargain. In April we have an inside on a 24 night cruise that cost $1620 pp. Insides are fine and it's only a short stroll to look at the view.

We are fortunate that I can work casual almost as often as I want but can travel at the drop of a hat. We just wait for a bargain to the general area we would like to visit or just take one out of Sydney if the price is right.

In saying that we have booked an Alaskan cruise in May on Celebrity Solstice that has cost us $2000 USD for 9 nights in an ocean view cabin. We booked this through a USA agent and received full premium drinks package,unlimited internet each,pre paid grats and $450 USD on board credit. Highest price we have ever paid but when balanced out with the Sydney to Seattle 24 night repo it works out OK when the cost of the extras are factored in.

 

[sinophile888]

Re: Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ...

I will also be using insureandgo.

I have been using insureandgo for some time, since being rejected by 13 other companies. Unfortunately, I had to make a claim in August when I was deemed unable to travel to Europe in October and November this year. This was due to a pre-existing medical condition which I fully disclosed to insureandgo.

I have just received a reply from insureandgo. Happily, a full refund of all costs. There was a delay in the refund as it took the airlines many months to cancel and refund the flights. I was very nervous that excess would be charged on all items claimed, including 8 flights, 6 hotel bookings and 1 cruise. Fortunately. only 2 x $100 excess was charged for my daughter's and my claim. I was worried that the excess wold be charged for all individual bookings for the two of us.

Well done, insureandgo.

 

[drron]

Re: Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ...

That's good news sinophile888 as insureandgo isone of the few with reasonably priced policies for the over 70s.

 

[Pushka]

Re: Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ship

I'm on Princess now. In some things better than Celebrity in others not. I prefer Celebrity to RCL.

 

[sinophile888]

Re: Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ship

I am interested in buying enough Carnival shares to be eligible for the shareholder’s benefit(s). I understand 100 shares is the magic number.

Can the shares be bought from Australia? If so, from where?

I am wait-listed for a Cunard cruise which leaves is about 4 weeks, so I thought that I’d better get organised just in case my luck holds.

 

[Pushka]

Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ...

I am interested in buying enough Carnival shares to be eligible for the shareholder’s benefit(s). I understand 100 shares is the magic number.

Can the shares be bought from Australia? If so, from where?

I am wait-listed for a Cunard cruise which leaves is about 4 weeks, so I thought that I’d better get organised just in case my luck holds.

Yes. I did mine through ETrade. They pay a dividend and in just over 4 months have gained 16% in $ value plus recently $100 USD OBC. Will shortly put through another obc for QM2 in April.

Get onto it ASAP. Takes a few days to set up the international etrade account, then you need to transfer money then the purchase. Application needs to be made to Carnival no less than 2 weeks out (takes 10 days to process) but you need to have a confirmed booking to apply.

 

[sinophile888]

Re: Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ship

Yes. I did mine through ETrade. They pay a dividend and in just over 4 months have gained 16% in $ value plus recently $100 USD OBC. Will shortly put through another obc for QM2 in April.

Thank you so much, Pushka. I thought that you'd know. I will try eTrade and NAB on Monday.

 

[Pushka]

Re: Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ship

Thank you so much, Pushka. I thought that you'd know. I will try eTrade and NAB on Monday.

Yes. NAB do them too and easy if you have an existing NABTrade account. Just need to add on the International trade access which I think you do online. A pain but worth it once done.

 

[straitman]

Re: Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ship

First I've heard of this. :shock::shock:

Can you give some more details re cost of shares and the amount of discounts and anything else useful?

 

[Pushka]

Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ...

First I've heard of this. :shock::shock:

Can you give some more details re cost of shares and the amount of discounts and anything else useful?

The price you pay is the going rate for the shares on the NY stock exchange and you must buy 100 in your name not say a business or super fund. Then there is brokerage which varies.

For every cruise in the Carnival group - Princess, HAL, Cunard, Carnival, P&O, Seabourne, AIDA, Costa, P&O UK and AUS, you receive OBC from $50US to $250US depending on brand and length of cruise.

If you do b2b as separate bookings then you get separate OBC for all trips.
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9Mjc0MjIzfENoaWxkSUQ9LTF8VHlwZT0z&t=1

I'm up to about $550 so far on a few cruises plus divs of around $30US 6 monthly.

Of course the share price you pay can fall and the exchange rate can fall leaving you with a negative result. I've been lucky. Been in twice and sold once, and profit so far on all holdings without even calculating OBC and divs. That can change.

 

[Major]

Re: Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ...

Just remember that E Trade are now in the ANZ group

https://shareinvesting.anz.com

 

[Pushka]

Re: Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ...

Just remember that E Trade are now in the ANZ group

https://shareinvesting.anz.com

They've been with ANZ for a long time. As long as I can remember.

 

[sinophile888]

Re: Who on AFF are the cruise gurus and what are your preferred cruise lines and ship

Yes. NAB do them too and easy if you have an existing NABTrade account. Just need to add on the International trade access which I think you do online. A pain but worth it once done.

I have a NAB share account so its full steam ahead on Monday. All I need now is good news from Cunard.