The Prize for the most Indecisive Traveller

[WanderlustNZ]

I suspect you're docking at Station Pier, Port Melbourne. There is a tram (from memory, it's the 109) that runs from Port Melbourne to the city. Problem is that with the new *wonderful* Myki system, you're going to need to find somewhere that will sell you a ticket. There might be a newsagent or 7-11 nearby to get one. [Something else to research].....and that stupid system doesn't offer a visitor card either!!!!! Perhaps there is something else available at Port Melbourne. I think there used to be a free shuttle or something. Not sure if it operates anymore. But when you confirm your travel, let me know. Perhaps one of those marvelously wonderful and friendly Melbournians might be persuaded to take a day off work and come show you round town. What do you want to see? Check out the tour options and figure what appeals. If you head into the city, there's buildings, museums, arcades, gardens, coffee/chocolate, food, Vic Market to go see. It'll come down to what you will want to do and see. You might also consider Brighton beach/bathing boxes, St Kilda, Brunswick/Richmond, zoos and perhaps a show?

Thanks for all that info PIO. Very helpful.

As for giving us a private tour, that would be lovely. Lunch and petrol would be on us. In saying that, I also know what work and life is like, so I certainly won't hold you to that offer. We'll see how things go closer to the time.

I'm really not sure exactly what we want to see in Melbourne. Probably some buildings, perhaps some markets (if they're open mid-week), perhaps ride a tram? I don't know really, I'm embarrassed to say I know little about Melbourne. Most of the NZers I know who have visited Melbourne have done so for the the shopping or F1 - neither of which are really my thing. I guess it would just be nice to get a small taste of what makes the area so special without spending hundreds of dollars to do so.

Also, thanks for sharing that people from Melbourne are called 'Melbounians'. I had a feeling I had 'Melbournites' wrong, so it's good that I now know. What are people from Sydney and Hobart called?

 

[WanderlustNZ]

About 2 hours ago I called the agent to release the hold on my cabin. I wasn't happy with a few of their cancellation T&C's and I decided I would rather book directly through Celebrity instead.

However, I was about to book when I read one of Celebrity's T&Cs regarding the free beverage package. It states:

"Any existing booking (Offer Status, Booked Status & Courtesy Hold) that is cancelled on or after 19 February 2014 and is rebooked for the same ship and sailing within the Sale period will not be eligible to receive the offer."

Basically, it reads as though I may no longer be eligible for the package that sold me on the cruise in the first place. In my case this T&C doesn't really make sense; it's not as though I have cancelled a booking without the beverages to book one that includes them. I'm not gaining anything financially by the change, in fact it's cost me $30 more.

I have emailed Celebrity as I can't get through on their phone lines and hopefully I get a response soon.

I would be a bit disappointed if I can't get the package, but if this turns out to be the case I will take it as a sign and look into other options.

I'm not the most patient person however. I want to know now.

 

[zanzibar138]

About 2 hours ago I called the agent to release the hold on my cabin. I wasn't happy with a few of their cancellation T&C's and I decided I would rather book directly through Celebrity instead.

However, I was about to book when I read one of Celebrity's T&Cs regarding the free beverage package. It states:

"Any existing booking (Offer Status, Booked Status & Courtesy Hold) that is cancelled on or after 19 February 2014 and is rebooked for the same ship and sailing within the Sale period will not be eligible to receive the offer."

Basically, it reads as though I may no longer be eligible for the package that sold me on the cruise in the first place. In my case this T&C doesn't really make sense; it's not as though I have cancelled a booking without the beverages to book one that includes them. I'm not gaining anything financially by the change, in fact it's cost me $30 more.

I have emailed Celebrity as I can't get through on their phone lines and hopefully I get a response soon.

I would be a bit disappointed if I can't get the package, but if this turns out to be the case I will take it as a sign and look into other options.

I'm not the most patient person however. I want to know now.

How annoying! I'm like you, I want to know now too

 

[gogo65]

Hi wanderlust, I think you will be fine, generally this is for people who booked previous to the pick your perk sale, so that they weren't cancelling and rebooking to get their perk.
They could probably reinstate the hold anyway, just explain you wanted to book directly with them. In fact I know some people book through celebrity US so that they can get the better cancellation terms and conditions( they are much more generous regarding free upgrades if the price drops, refunding the price difference if prices drop etc)

 

[Caroline NZ]

True. I could even consider Perth since it's apparently now closer than ever.

In all seriousness, after a few hours researching, the top contender is a Celebrity cruise that begins and ends in Sydney with visits to Melbourne and Tasmania.
It's really cheap, and if I book before the end of the month, I can get the free classic alcohol package.
I have to do some quick thinking.

Yay for an Aussie trip We are heading over for 10 days at Easter(Sunshine Coast/Gold Coast/Kingscliff ), I am actually really looking forward to it now ( after deciding the USA was just too far to go a for a 10 day break!)

 

[WanderlustNZ]

How annoying! I'm like you, I want to know now too

I've never been known for my patience I know I'll spend the whole day at work tomorrow anxiously wanting to come home so I can try ringing them again and reinstating my booking. I get a bit anxious that the price will go up overnight.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Hi wanderlust, I think you will be fine, generally this is for people who booked previous to the pick your perk sale, so that they weren't cancelling and rebooking to get their perk. They could probably reinstate the hold anyway, just explain you wanted to book directly with them. In fact I know some people book through celebrity US so that they can get the better cancellation terms and conditions( they are much more generous regarding free upgrades if the price drops, refunding the price difference if prices drop etc)

I think you're right. Some of the wording in their T&Cs implies that an existing booking is one that was made prior to the promotion period. In which case, I will be fine. But I want to make sure before I fully commit.

I think I would get too anxious about the dollar if I booked through the US site. The good thing about using the Aus/NZ site is that it locks in the NZ price while our dollar is so strong. Plus I won't have to pay international cc fees every time I make a payment. Thanks for the suggestion though. It's definitely something worth considering in the future.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Yay for an Aussie trip We are heading over for 10 days at Easter(Sunshine Coast/Gold Coast/Kingscliff ), I am actually really looking forward to it now ( after deciding the USA was just too far to go a for a 10 day break!)

Yay, Easter is so close now. We are heading down to the Sth Island at Easter and I can't wait.

 

[zanzibar138]

Yay, Easter is so close now. We are heading down to the Sth Island at Easter and I can't wait.

Sounds great! We don't have any Easter plans this year.

 

[PrincessInOz]

About 2 hours ago I called the agent to release the hold on my cabin. I wasn't happy with a few of their cancellation T&C's and I decided I would rather book directly through Celebrity instead.

However, I was about to book when I read one of Celebrity's T&Cs regarding the free beverage package. It states:

"Any existing booking (Offer Status, Booked Status & Courtesy Hold) that is cancelled on or after 19 February 2014 and is rebooked for the same ship and sailing within the Sale period will not be eligible to receive the offer."

Basically, it reads as though I may no longer be eligible for the package that sold me on the cruise in the first place. In my case this T&C doesn't really make sense; it's not as though I have cancelled a booking without the beverages to book one that includes them. I'm not gaining anything financially by the change, in fact it's cost me $30 more.

I have emailed Celebrity as I can't get through on their phone lines and hopefully I get a response soon.

I would be a bit disappointed if I can't get the package, but if this turns out to be the case I will take it as a sign and look into other options.

I'm not the most patient person however. I want to know now.

I hope you get good news. In any event, it probably means you have room for something else instead.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Yay for an Aussie trip We are heading over for 10 days at Easter(Sunshine Coast/Gold Coast/Kingscliff ), I am actually really looking forward to it now ( after deciding the USA was just too far to go a for a 10 day break!)

Congrats, Caroline. Hope you have a great trip.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I hope you get good news. In any event, it probably means you have room for something else instead.

Yeah, while I'm not a superstitious person, I tend to think that things happen for a reason. If I can't go ahead with this cruise, I'll take it as a sign that I should book anything else.
The problem, however, is that there is very little out there (both cruise and land-based) that would work out as cheap. And I'm all for finding a bargain for this holiday.

 

[gogo65]

What are you doing get on the phone and find out please we're waiting

 

[WanderlustNZ]

What are you doing get on the phone and find out please we're waiting

I love that you care. It's what makes the Dis so special.

I got a somewhat vague email back today to say that I 'should' be okay rebooking. So I rang and got another slightly unsure response that I should be okay.

So I took that as enough of an okay and rebooked 10 minutes ago via their website.

Unfortunately, my impatience was justified when the price did go up overnight. But takeaway the fact that there were no cc fees via the website (and there were via the agent) I think I'm only about $40 extra out of pocket. Not the end of the world.

Yay, it looks like this trip is happening!

 

[zanzibar138]

I love that you care. It's what makes the Dis so special.

I got a somewhat vague email back today to say that I 'should' be okay rebooking. So I rang and got another slightly unsure response that I should be okay.

So I took that as enough of an okay and rebooked 10 minutes ago via their website.

Unfortunately, my impatience was justified when the price did go up overnight. But takeaway the fact that there were no cc fees via the website (and there were via the agent) I think I'm only about $40 extra out of pocket. Not the end of the world.

Yay, it looks like this trip is happening!

Woohoo for booking

I HATE when prices go up overnight! I keep finding that hotel/flight/train prices go up each time I look at them, but I just can't afford to book everything right now

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Woohoo for booking I HATE when prices go up overnight! I keep finding that hotel/flight/train prices go up each time I look at them, but I just can't afford to book everything right now

I know what you mean. In some ways it makes me a bit jealous of the less serious planners who don't look up anything until they have all the money to book. 'Ignorance is bliss' so to speak.

 

[Tashinwdw]

I know what you mean. In some ways it makes me a bit jealous of the less serious planners who don't look up anything until they have all the money to book. 'Ignorance is bliss' so to speak.

I agree, I have to wait till after tax time to do a fair bit of booking, I keep checking prices and stress every time the price rises.

 

[gogo65]

I love that you care. It's what makes the Dis so special.

I got a somewhat vague email back today to say that I 'should' be okay rebooking. So I rang and got another slightly unsure response that I should be okay.

So I took that as enough of an okay and rebooked 10 minutes ago via their website.

Unfortunately, my impatience was justified when the price did go up overnight. But takeaway the fact that there were no cc fees via the website (and there were via the agent) I think I'm only about $40 extra out of pocket. Not the end of the world.

Yay, it looks like this trip is happening!

Yippeeee.....I'll let you know how celebrity's drink package goes in a few weeks

 

[PrincessInOz]

I love that you care. It's what makes the Dis so special.

I got a somewhat vague email back today to say that I 'should' be okay rebooking. So I rang and got another slightly unsure response that I should be okay.

So I took that as enough of an okay and rebooked 10 minutes ago via their website.

Unfortunately, my impatience was justified when the price did go up overnight. But takeaway the fact that there were no cc fees via the website (and there were via the agent) I think I'm only about $40 extra out of pocket. Not the end of the world.

Yay, it looks like this trip is happening!

YAY!!! You're booked. Let the fun begin.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Yippeeee.....I'll let you know how celebrity's drink package goes in a few weeks

Please do. I am already thinking of ringing Celebrity and paying the $11.50 extra per person per day to upgrade to the premium package. DH likes to try a lot of different premium beers and while there is quite a good selection in the $5 and under category, I know he'll be tempted to try as many new beers as possible and the vast majority are $6 or more.

Also, while I tend to drink mostly water and mocktails when I cruise (alcohol goes to my head very quickly), when I do have an 'adult' drink I like it to be a fancy cocktail. Not just Vodka and Tonic, but the likes of a Mojito or a Daquirri.
If you could do me a favour and check out how many specialty cocktails fit within the classic package I would really appreciate it. I'm envisioning that the 'drink of the day' probably does, and other than that it'll just be the standard spirit and mixer drinks such as Rum and Coke, Gin and Tonic etc.