MuSick and Thar's Barrier Reef Cruise 2024

This one is a bargain! All the standard cruise fun starting at around $80 per person per day ($USD). It's cheaper than staying at the Motel 6!

The rates includes your accommodations, food, entertainment and activities. The Cheers Beverage Package is optional but recommended (see below). Off-ship activities (shore excursions and any hash trails) are additional.

From what I've read, this cruise is Australian, and they don't do the tipping thing. There is no gratuity that gets automatically charged on this cruise. You just tip at your own discretion.

NOTE: Babe Thruster will not be able to host this cruise in person but is available for all questions and assistance up to the cruise. MuSick and Thar She Blows will be hosting this one.

The following rates are per person based on double occupancy. That means two hashers per cabin. The rate is inclusive of all port charges and taxes.

Carnival pricing is elusive because those with past Carnival sailings (VIFP members) may be eligible for special offers which are lower than the standard group rates below. Also, specials come and go which may offer a better rate. You just never know with Carnival. The rates below will give you a general idea of pricing but they are constantly changing along with availability. Babe will send you an exact quote to approve before you are booked.

ALL PRICING IS $USD.

Inside cabins (no window) Upper Deck - $713.34 pp

Oceanview cabins (window) Main Deck - $829.58 pp

Balcony cabins Verandah Deck- Very few left. 

Pricing for suites and other categories available by request.

Onboard credits (in AUD) may also be included in these rates.

**UPDATE* Carnival is now charging a credit card surcharge for Australia cruises. 1.1% Visa/MC and 2.75% AMEX. Debit cards have no surcharge.

Single rates are twice the double rate minus one set of taxes ($144.60).

Some cabins will allow a 3rd guest (triple) and some will accommodate a 3rd and 4th guest (quad) in upper bunk beds. I typically don't recommend this for adults, but if you have experience with a typical cruise ship cabin and think you'll be fine with tight quarters, limited storage, and competitive bathroom availability, then go for it. As of 2/16/23, the rate to add a 3rd/4th to a cabin is $466.59 pp.

Deposits can vary as well depending on what deal you are eligible for. But deposits shouldn't be more than $200 per hasher. Some deposits may be non-refundable. This may be important because we don't know the situation with the air yet (see below).

Final payment is due November 27, 2023.

I don't need to give my usual lecture on getting a passport on this one. If you travel to Australia, you have a passport. Make sure it is valid at least 6 months after your planned departure.

You will need a Visa for Australia. The Visitor Visa should be sufficient. Here's the information on that: 

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600.

The Cheers Beverage Package includes your alcohol drinks, specialty coffee, bottled water, sodas, etc. It's not cheap. From what I'm seeing posted, the Cheers package is $119AUD per day. At the time I posted this, that converts to $82.16USD per day. That's pretty much what you would pay on a US Carnival departure. Is it worth it? For most of us, YES! But it kinda depends on what and how much you drink per day. As a general rule, your break even point hits at about 8-9 drinks per day. That's very easy to do on sea days, but maybe not on the port days when you are off the ship. The program also cuts you off at 15 alcoholic drinks per day (6 am to 6 am). This may sound like a bummer, but we've found that even some hashers can find it challenging to hit 15 drinks in one day. To help you keep track, Babe will give out drink counting beads to everyone getting the package to wear each day. Simply move a bead over every time you order a drink. Personally, I think it's worth it just to have that open bar feeling of ordering whatever I feel like and not worrying about how much it costs. Choose your roommate carefully. It's an all or nothing deal for you AND your cabin mate. If one of you buys it, the other has to as well. You also have the option of the Bubbles Soda Package if you drink more Coke than beer. Unfortunately, the beverage package does not follow you off the ship. 

At the time this was posted it was too early to look at air schedules. The cruise leaves Sydney the day after Interhash ends. This will be no problem if there is a morning Queenstown to Sydney flight we can all jump on. If there are no morning flights, then we are looking at the possibility of having to fly out Sunday afternoon before the event officially ends. I will monitor the situation as flight schedules should be coming out this summer. With enough hashers booked on the cruise, we may have some pull with the airlines to justify adding a flight. 

Apparently, Carnival doesn't offer insurance for the Australia cruises. If you want to add insurance, Babe can send you information on a 3rd party policy that can be added to your booking. You can also expand it to cover other components of your trip. 

All cancellations are subject to Carnival fees (if your deposit is non-refundable) plus $50 per person from the agency. Cancellations are also subject to the following fees from Carnival:

12DEC23 - $172.98 pp

16JAN24 - 50%

11FEB24- 75%

26FEB24 - No Refund

We highly recommend protecting yourself with the trip protection insurance which will be included if you opt in on the registration form.