Ru2on

1 minute ago, ldubs said:

 

 

Oh man, I am really out of touch.  I had to look up what you meant by North Star.  I have seen ads for that before but didn't realize we would be up close to it on our upcoming cruise.   I need to find out if our group is booked on this.   

From what i read it will take a capacity of fourteen people a time .  Would def think about prebooking with a group of you 🙂

1 hour ago, The_Big_M said:

Queue jumping wasn't an issue.

 

It was debatable that queuing was an issue. There's no difference between a 6 night cruise in Asia, or 6 night cruise in Australia in terms of demand. Certainly there are more short cruises in Asia, but that doesn't change the actual experience on a night for night cruise.

Glad to hear queue jumping not an issue, really have to query how Royal justifies charging for the onboard activities in some parts of the world and not others.

I am looking forward to my cruise,  the experience of travelling in a different part of the world and really keen to explore The Quantum.  

16 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

Huh, reading this thread with interest.  We will be with our large family group on this cruise.  As long as coffee is available none of the other stuff will bother me.  Lol.   

 

We were on a cruise from Beijing to Singapore some while back and did not encounter any of the things mentioned.  I guess things change.  

Haha  I agree about the coffee, last I was on Royal the coffee was not bad.  The last Princess cruise I did the coffee had the flavour of wheatbix . 

I have prebooked the Nth Star for 6.30 on departure night, hoping its a nice time of the evening to do it.

.

FYI For anyone following this thread.

Three weeks till cruise and just had the North Star appear under paying activities on my Planner.

$10.96 ea.   
Looks like  it is a “culturally enriching” cruise where everything costs.  
 

Still If queueing queue jumping etc is an issue on these cruises I would rather pay the nominal amount and hopefully minimise the issues.  

 Really hoping that being a Culturally enriching cruise doesnt mean they wont have the newly introduced Vegan Menu 

Hi cruising on Quantum of the seas 16/11 desperately hoping they have  introduced the new Vegan Menu in the main dining rooms.  
 

It was meant to start in all ships from Late August, but hearing reports of some ships not having it available.  

Is there anyone cruising before then who can ask if the New Vegan menu is being offered.

SL27OCT19
 Celebrity Solstice
 12 Nights
 Sydney to Auckland (via Hobart)
Departs Sydney
 Sun 27 Oct 201

$1,234 for balcony guarantee 

$949 inside

We have sailed on Celebrity, Royal Carribean, Princess and P&O multiple times. (In mini suites, balconies and ocean views)

last year one of our cruises was a 7 night cruise to the Sth Pacific on Pacific Dawn in an Ocean View Cabin.  We had a great time and would definitely go again if the price is right,  we paid just over $600pp.  

The food does not match Celebrity or Princess and its not a luxury ship but the price of the cruise was probably half what i pay to go on those other lines and it was definitely value for money. 

We had fun we relaxed and we got looked after for seven nights while being on the seas absolutely go again if it was the right price.

Thanks for the replies, they have reassured me, we ended up booking a five day  5 NIGHT SPICE OF SOUTHEAST ASIA CRUISE.   Leaving & returning to Singapore. Will be a whole new experience for me.

It is a shame Royal have decided to charge for activities that are apparently free of charge in other parts of the world but I decided to just get ahead of it(hoping to avoid queues) and prebook the activities on my Cruise Planner. 

Unfortunately although the email I have been sent tells me they will be available to book through Cruise Planner they are nowhere to be seen 🤔.  

I do find it quite strangely comical that Royal are advising me that due to the cruise being a Culturally Enriching Cruise they have put a price on free activities .

I received an email today to inform me that my cruise is a culturally enriching cruise and to be aware that the entertainment etc will be spoken in the main passengers language, chinese.  Also informing me 

quote “Due to the high demand for activities on Culturally Enriching cruises, there is a minimal charge in order to reduce waiting times on Ripcord® by iFly®, North Star®, and SkyPad” 

Seems like cruising from Singapore on this ship may be very similar to cruising. From China?

My daughter and i are spending five nights in Singapore, Almost booked an add on spur of the moment five day cruise from Singapore on the Quantum but then read the very bad reviews based on its China sailings pretty much saying if you are a Westerner dont do it

Is the ship experience going to be the same when its based in Singapore?  Will anything be altered before it starts its Singapore season.  

Complaints were things like 

Lack of coffee available (i really  neeed my coffee)  no specialty coffees available 

All Food only catering for the Asian Market

Things that dont normally cost having a cost or only available for suite guests

Pushing Shoving Arguing 

English speaking tours and activities canceled ,

reviews basically saying ship totally catering to Asian Market only and if you are a Westerner..find a different ship/company.  Has me a bit concerned as I am not familiar with that area of the world ..so would leaving from Singapore be the same sort of cruising ?

Darwin to Singapore

Departing Darwin  

 Monday, 05 August 2019

 8 Nights

 Pacific Dawn

 Up To $100 Onboard Credit

Curious as to how it works if you cancel your cruise? Do you lose your coins and redeemed obc reward? .  In Australia we cant reprice the cruise we have to cancel and rebook if the price goes down.  I noticed the price on my cruise had gone under what i paid but still at this point more advantageous to keep my booking as i have 2 x $100 OBC rewards.  ..but will be sad if it gets to the point Where I have just wasted my points.

Hi, is there a Monkey bar on the Pacific Explorer or do you book Angelos and Dragon Lady somewhere else on board?  On boarding Aria and Eden we always made straight for the Monkey Bar to make reservations.

12 minutes ago, voluntr57 said:

5 days from Melbourne to Adelaide (Phillip Island, Port Lincoln, Kangaroo Island) on Golden Princess 27 Oct 19 from $549 on their website. Make sure you're signed in to see that price otherwise it shows as from $909.

Looking for this and not finding the price anywhere?  Is it their official site?

Actually, just got a new email sent stating apologies and this:

Tipping is not required or charged to your onboard account for cruises on Sun Princess®, Sea Princess®, Majestic Princess®, Ruby Princess® or Golden Princess® sailing roundtrip from Australia. You are, however, welcome to reward our crew for exceptional service.

(We always leave a tip for our cabin guys and anyone else who has gone above and beyond)

Our battery was flat after 3 weeks away.  Our fault because we didn’t disconnect the dash cam.  (So the Racq man informed us)

Got the same email, not sure why as my cruise is local Australian, it doesn’t apply.  Felt cranky with it though.  Have booked a lovely holiday would like good news emails thanks.  Glad it doesn’t apply or I would have been crankier!.

I am booked on Majestic Princess obstructed Balcony E109.  Wondering if anyone that had one of these  cabins  would have preferred a non obstructed cabin and lose the big balcony?  Wondering if i should tick of untick the upgrade box.   Also a little concerned about the area below where the crew congregate.. I love the peace of the ocean on my balcony

So just not sure how this works. I am cruising on Golden Princess and bought $67.50 worth of credit,  It is showing as $50.00 U.S.   The cruise in only travelling in Australia.  I have read everything is charged in Aussie $.  

Is it worth buying OBC, I think I am having serious blonde moments 😳 as i cant get my head around if i am duping myself or ?? Does it just get converted back at the same rate if everything on board is in Aussie $?.  🤨

Can anyone help out which are the smoking areas on Sun, want to book my cabin but would like this info first.

thanks for any help

Hi have searched threads and note someone else asked the question but cant see an answer.  Does anyone know which decks and areas are smoking.   Have had bad experience being directly under smokers deck once before.  Just about to lock in my cabin but would like that info first.  

Thanks if anyone knows the answer 

5 hours ago, Belmont Babe said:

Your question might be better asked in the Australian and New Zealand Cruisers forum, https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/564-australia-new-zealand-cruisers/ or the Princess forum, https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/119-princess-cruises/

Thanks will do

Hi cruising on Majestic in December, 

Hoping  someone has  knowledge on any Vegetarian options in The Grill and Harmony.  

My husband the Meat eater in the family wants to book before we board as the price is cheaper.  I have looked at the three restaurants and only Le Mer seems to cater to Vegetarian ( they serve Potato Gnocchi as a main).  The Grill I think has a salad which is not really what I call a main meal option and Harmony seems to have nothing.

 

Does this change if you request once onboard .. do they cater at all or do they stick by their menu religiously..so no Vegetarian option? .   Trying to work out if there's any point to booking as I would send my husband on his own rather than waste the money on me going when there's no point.. but he says if I don't go he won't.

Hi hope someone has some knowledge on any Vegetarian options in The Grill and Harmony.  My husband the Meat eater in the family wants to book before we board as the price is cheaper.  I have looked at the three restaurants and only Le Mer seems to cater to Vegetarian ( they serve Potato Gnocchi as a main).  The Grill I think has a salad which is not really what I call a main meal option and Harmony seems to have nothing.

Does this change if you request once onboard .. do they cater at all or do they stick by their menu religiously..so no Vegetarian option? .   Trying to work out if there's any point to booking as I would send my husband on his own rather than waste the money on me going when there's no point.. but he says if I don't go he won't.

It seems a little crazy not to cater at least one Vegetarian dish this day and age when so many for varied reasons don't want to eat meat.

On 9/5/2018 at 3:18 PM, greenoznic said:

Hi

 

Are there any vegans that have any experience with P & O, in particular the Pacific Explorer?

 

Thanks

Hi there, Daughter here. Please join this facebook group, they are extremely helpful and many people have shared there experiences/tips on cruising p&o as a vegan! https://m.*****/1991162617834488?group_view_referrer=profile_browser (if the link doesnt work the group is called Vegan Cruisade) 

Good luck 😃