carlandlyn

An announcement was made at lunchtime today (18th Nov) that industrial action could not be held for the next 6 months, giving us some grace.

Financial Review: The decision suspends Svitzer and the unions from entering into industrial action for six months.

We will see what happens

Lynn and Carl

On 11/11/2022 at 5:09 PM, adelaidefc said:

Yeah it's currently $122, and that's not far off the lowest I've seen it. I can't imagine it dropping to $87 again, anything around $100 and I'll grab it. Could always cancel and rebook in the unlikely event it dropped again.

Hi all, I am sure you are all keeping an eye on these prices, but the sales may have started early, Deluxe Beverage Package down to $97.66 AUS, not sure if it will get much cheaper, but still a week to the Black Friday sale.

Thanks to all that replied to our request. hope to see you around some day.

Lynn and Carl

Hi all, we are only 4 weeks away from our first cruise on Ovation and were curious about a couple of things now she has arrived in Oz. As we have seen the drinks packages have gone up a lot in recent months, and was curious what the prices are like onboard for coffees, beers, wines and spirits. Has anyone managed to grab a copy of those yet?

We are also wondering about the 'free' items, such as iFly and North Star. There are paid experiences on line, but are there free slots, and how hard are they to book? We will be looking forward to the reviews over the next few weeks.

Thanks in advance!

Lynn and Carl

Hi, I don't have any menus, but we cruised princess a couple of months back. We paid $40 pp back then, but found that it was worth it then, and the current price is pretty good. As with everything, it comes down to your drinking habits, but if you are going to have a few decent coffees, and 4, or more, spirit / cocktail drinks, or 6, or more, beers then you will come out ahead. then you through in the odd soft drink or fruit juice...........

And then you get the internet, which was actually pretty good cruising the Oz coast. We were able to do all basic email / web type options. We didn't try streaming anything though, but we did make audio calls.

The princess plus package is bottom shelf drinks, but there is a decent range for beers and spirits, the wines are good - but you don't get a great choice.

This was something we reviewed when we looked at the package, hope it helps, enjoy your trip!

48 minutes ago, easytiger said:

Just booked a 4 night cruise from Brisbane  A$5450 for 2 ,   for the cheapest balcony cabin. Crazy prices !!

Hi, can we ask how you did that? Ta......

We have done this on Solstice, but in reverse. We had a great time, the ship was lovely, and the ports magic. We did a lot of our own touring though as the prices were a bit expensive, but that's just our opinion. I did a number of the wine events, great to socialise, and a few nice wines as well. Hope you enjoy it!

We were at Port @C (as mentioned above). Its only a short ride from most of the tourist areas.

Another example of inept Australian Journalism I am afraid. Media beat-up because they can't actually find any real news. An embarrassment to Aussies.

Its just so that when you get up in the morning to depart, you are not just left with the PJs you were wearing the night before. Some have packed everything into their bags, had the Stewards collect them overnight, and realise they have 'absolutely nothing to wear' when they go to depart!! 😲 
If you loading on and off all your bags yourselves, then no problem.

Have fun!!

Lynn and Carl

Thanks for putting this together, interesting read. I did google a number of the wines (and I use Vivino, but Dans' price list works as well) and disappointed (but not surprised) by the huge mark up on the bottles of wine. I know how it is in restaurants etc. but...... Oh well.
Cheers all 🍷

Lynn and Carl

So in the 23/24 summer season Princess does some SYD/Auckland runs. Celebrity does SYD/Auck and Auck/SYD in Feb 24. P&O are also doing some Auck/Auck cruises over the summer period.
So there may be some options (and price tags) that fit.
That said, if you have some time and want to see a good slice of the place both losfp and Ethel6666 comments are good, take a slow drive, a couple of day/overnight tours and see the country.

Hope you have fun.

Lynn and Carl

On 5/26/2022 at 6:33 PM, Hammer61 said:

I’m on the Ovation transpacific crossing in October, the PBP price is currently on special until 30^th May for Memorial day and is A$1664 so about A$88 a day, so that’s not so bad as it has been but got to be quick! The only downside is that both people in the cabin have to get it, although if you call up as long as you buy another package, you can get just the one PBP, my wife doesn’t drink alcohol or sodas, so the soda package is a non starter, but even getting the Refreshment package is about A$40 a day!!! And all she would drink would be the Water, the occasional coffee and Green tea!!!

 

The 3 night dinning package is offered at a 40% discount but still A$171………I really don’t get this at all, isn’t it you pay a surcharge for speciality dining? Looking at Chops Grill at around A$95 (on special usually A$110!!!); I can eat out at a very good steakhouse in Sydney for less than that PP! Sure Chops is nice but I think they are taking the Mick a bit.

 

Can see why they canned the Radiance coming down under, bookings I suspect are falling short or more I suspect going to Princess (who let just one person buy their PBP or have the current offer with PBP and WiFi that’s only $40 a day each extra) and Carnival who as well as Princess price everything on board in Australian dollars when in this part of the world, plus their prices on board are more reasonable and inclusive of the gratuity, the price you see is the price you pay, not 18% added, also Celebrity with their all inclusive pricing, worked it out had we chosen to the Transpacific with Celebrity, the price was higher but factor in the included beverage package and WiFi (using RCI pricing) and it would actually have been cheaper for a balcony state room.

You can purchase the drinks package for one. I, like you, have a non-drinking wife. All you need to is call RCI and inform them your wife is a non-drinker, and they will sell you the one package. My wife does love a good coffee, so she gets the Refreshment Package instead.

Lynn and Carl

We had a forward facing cabin on Explorer of the Seas, I am pretty sure it was 9204, just below the bridge. It was a decent room, and good view out the front. There were no obstructions of any kind in or outside. We usually book balcony's, but were quite happy with this for a seven day cruise. We did not anchor anywhere, so can't comment on the noise that may bring, but that would've been our only concern.

Hope this helps

Lynn and Carl

On 5/4/2022 at 6:34 PM, Aus Traveller said:

Some yes, some no. The port for Dunedin is Port Chalmers, a 20-30 minute drive from the centre of Dunedin.

 

For Christchurch, ships will dock at Lyttleton, a 20 min or so drive from the centre of Christchurch.

 

At Picton, ships dock at a working wharf (timber loading) fairly close to the centre of the town. I seem to recall that everyone had to take a shuttle bus because pax are not allowed to walk on the dock.

 

Napier is also a working wharf - once again timber loading. Pax are not permitted to walk on the dock. Free shuttle buses take pax the 10 mins into town.

 

Wellington. The ships dock in town. It is probably a 15-20 minute walk into the centre of town, but there is usually a free shuttle bus.

Can concur with all the above.

One more I could think of is Tauranga, its right in the middle of a small town (quite nice, but not large where you berth), can walk anywhere, but its designed to be close to Rotorua and the geothermals, which is about 90mins (from memory) on the tour bus.

16 hours ago, bonox55 said:

Just saw a report on cruising returning to Aus and it mentioned that Tasmania has not made a decision on whether to fully open its borders at this stage. I have friends who have a  cruise booked to Tassie in November. Hope it will be open by then!!

The Tassie rules are based on a Dec21 document. Hopefully with NSW, QLD and Vic already indicating they are ready for cruising to restart, the other states will review their current rules and amend accordingly in the near future. They may wait a little while just to see how it goes in the other eastern states first. Fingers crossed!!

Lynn and Carl

Hi all, the site below outlines both international and domestic requirements. Currently only WA and SA have any domestic requirements, with all the others allowing unrestricted domestic travel between the states. I am hoping 🤞 that once a ship arrives in Oz and completes any International requirements, that these domestic rules apply. Trips to the South Pacific Islands and NZ will need to meet both ours and their rules, so more complicated for those trips.
Here is hoping some common sense 🤪 applies, and at least the domestic cruises will be relatively free of those types of restrictions.
 

https://www.australia.gov.au/states

As we all know, rules and restrictions can change, and all we can do is to continue to review those rules up to, and beyond, our departure dates.

The ships themselves will also have their own company rules (some imposed by the country's they are cruising to/from), which, hopefully, will be well advertised prior to departure.
For those on the early cruises this will be a real pain 😳 , as they will be making some of this up as they go along, but hopefully they will be embedded quickly, and hopefully(?) well advertised.

Safe and happy sailing all!!

Lynn and Carl

On 3/23/2022 at 7:45 PM, Aus Traveller said:

I suggest you ask anyway. Let us know how you go.

We have the same issue, my wife doesn't drink. So in the past, if I wanted the package, I have rung the company and explained my wife does not drink, and they will sell you a single package. I suspect the same should be in place for Princess. 🤞

So, first time cruising with Princess, a question for you seasoned Princess cruiser, what are, generally, the times for the shows on Coral Princess? We are looking at booking meal times / specialty restaurants and curious when to book so we can fit in a show?

Thanks

Lynn and Carl

There used to be some good drink spending v drink packages calculator spreadsheets around, but they are a little out of date due to recent cruising limitations. But that said a quick google of 'Royal Caribbean Drink Calculator's' will bring up a few options. Don't forget your drinking habits during a sea day will be different to a shore day, so take that into account.
We are not serious drinkers, and generally will only have 2 (or three) alcoholic drinks a day, and so we usually only get the non alcoholic pack, and monitor the alcoholic drinks. Again, look for when they have real specials, not the normal weekly 'psuedo' specials.

Whatever you do, have fun!

Lynn and Carl

Thanks everyone for the responses. I did speak with Princess, and they were quite polite and nice to talk to. There was some comments on limited rooms for the cheap prices, but the operator did agree its was a bit weird, and shouldn't have changed during the booking. 
Glad to see I wasn't the only one that noticed the fare change quite significantly during that day. Somehow we did jag the cheap price again, but have decided not to go as other family can't make it.
Welcome back to cruising everyone, hope to see you all out there soon!

Lynn and Carl

2 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

But was that price jumping for exactly the same cabin, selected by cabin number e.g. C512? 

Yep.

22 minutes ago, sewgood said:

This has happened to me before in terms of prices changing within the day when I have been watching a certain cruise.

It can fall again in two days time, just keep watching the price.

They must have software that changes the cabin prices when goals are met (prices go up) or not met (prices go down).

Thanks, we will do, all the TA companies followed the price rise with Princess.

19 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

When you say "while I entered my details" was that when you were in the process of booking a specific cabin that you chose? I've never heard of that happening before. Very strange!

 

Actually I entered the details for the cruise, but then updated my profile, so when I got back to the cruise details it bounced up $130 per person. So not real happy. Serves me right for doing something in between. I have since logged in and out a number of times, and in the middle jagged the original price, don't ask how, cos haven't been able to do it since as we are trying to get more cabins for the kids. 🙃

Not sure who else was looking at Princess today, but we were looking at a short getaway out of Brisbane. The price for a Balcony started at about $480 for a three day, and $570 for a four day cruise, within a couple of hours they were now $615 and $884, the price for the three day cruise went up $130 while I entered my details, and the response from them is they are "subject to change" - yeah 30% increase in 5 minutes, some change. Waiting for a call from customer service ....... not holding out any hope, but will vent anyway.

Hi all, most questions revolve around the alcohol available, but what about the coffees. My wife is a big coffee drinker, and was wondering what the coffee is like in the lounge, or would we see better down in  Café Promenade area. We normally get a non-alcoholic package, but first time in a suite, is it still worth getting it for the convenience?? Thanks......

So today the Oz Govt decided to push the cruise ban back til Feb17. So really not much happening this summer. We may get some Pacific cruising done by P&O and Carnival, with a couple of smaller companies doing Great Barrier Reef and Kimberley cruises. So fingers crossed for next summer.