Cruise Prep

      Another trip and yet another blog :-)  As most folks know, we do these blogs to let our friends & family know what we are up to on a timely basis and also provide us with a history of the trip. This is for when we argue over what and where we did something:-) or we just want to relive the experience many years from now. The blog is also phone ready for those that really want to keep track on the go :-)

Once again my Panama trip has morphed into a one month getaway to the South Pacific. :-)
Kelly has been eyeing up this trip since cruise friends booked it several years ago and invited us to come along. We hummed and hawed then after meeting another couple on our Trans Atlantic last year, that also booked the same cruise, we (the royal "we" that is) decided to book it.

Following several days in the Sydney area we will join Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas on it's final Trans Pacific re-positioning cruise back to Seattle, Washington. It will make numerous stops through the South Pacific Ocean at Noumea, Lifou Isle, Mystery Island, Suva, Lautoka, with Honolulu and Maui the last stops before Seattle. For the first time ever, we have secured an aft cabin and will enjoy the views astern.  (See arrow above)

There is a Facebook group as well as a Cruise Critic forum about our cruise and Kelly has been actively participating in both, to not only meet fellow cruisers but to share ideas and information about various ports and what not. Very helpful at times.

Royal Caribbean constantly sends out emails with "promotions" and "lower pricing" for various add-ons that you can purchase online before you start your cruise. There can be benefits to this as port charges and local taxes can effect pricing when you purchase said packages on board so part of the trip planning includes what shore excursions and other packages to purchase.

Kelly has secured an "internet package" so I can keep you all informed of our adventures. She got it "On Sale" so instead of paying a "insanely ludicrous fee", we got it at the much lower rate of a "ridiculously absurd fee".

The biggest one by far is the beverage package. This allows you to purchase both soft and hard drinks at the various bars/restaurants on board by simply using a coded bracelet or your SeaPass Card.  Easy, quick and very convenient... which translates into... very expen$ive.  Our cruise has offered this package and once again we tried to calculate the "consumption/cost ratio" divided by the days onboard....  as I hate math when I am on holidays, we just bought it! Done.. enjoy!

We look forward to the day when all of these packages are simply included into the cost of the cruise...  unfortunately the marketing department at RCI would not be able to attract people unless they can promote the lowest price... which is without the add-ons.  It's a $$$ choice.

The departure date draws closer and it's time for Kelly to start her usual packing ritual... searching the internet for the latest and greatest packing gadget! (To get as much stuff in our suitcase's as neatly as possible!) Well folks she found various items and I am told that my bags are prepped and ready to go!

She likes to pack mine to ensure lots of room for her return trip items & purchases :-)

Look for updates as we prepare to depart Victoria on the 14th and head over to Vancouver to catch the direct flight to Sydney, AU.  Let the vacation begin!