patch nine

16 minutes ago, Sparky74 said:

3 weeks out and we’re still waiting for our cabin allocation. 🤷‍♂️

We got our allocation a few weeks ago and it was actually one of those we originally wanted although we could only book a guarantee at the time.  Our first time with a guarantee and we were a bit concerned, mainly as we really wanted a covered balcony and a lot of them weren't, but we got lucky in the end.  We booked through a Princess Cruise Planner and he did say he  would look out for our allocation and made a note of our requirement,  so not sure whether he had any influence.  

2 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

The qr code is best used after the health check is done, normally a day or so prior to sailing.

I haven't seen anything about the health check on the app.  Does that also appear just prior to sailing?  I know we don't need covid tests any more.  

Thanks Geoff.  I did wonder whether the app was the latest version and that was why I got my husband to download it too, but he had the same issue.  Will try again next week.

We are due to board the Coral in Brisbane in a couple of weeks (our first Medallion cruise).  I have downloaded the app and put all the information in and the app says we are "blue lane".  Have done dining room reservations etc with no problems.   However, there is no QR code which Princess says is required for check in.  I understand we need to pick up our medallions at the port and I have ordered these.  Have also printed off luggage labels, but cannot find how to generate a digital boarding pass and QR code.   My husband has just downloaded the app too (following the link in an email from Princess) and all the information I have put in has come up for him too, but again no QR code.

As I missing something?

The first time we also witnessed the weather balloon and the talk was interesting.  Yes, so many birds in that area - mainly red footed booby birds as I recall.

The first time we went to Willis Island we stopped for about an hour and had a hook up with the guys at the weather station.  Then they all came out and stood on the beach and waved and it was one of their birthdays so everyone on the ship sang "Happy Birthday" to him.  The next time we passed at a greater distance and the ship didn't even stop and there were no announcements that we were even there!

how many times have l'escargot appeared on the menu?  😂

We were on a cruise in Western Australia on the Coral Princess a few years ago and when we boarded we were issued with a notice that a British TV show was being filmed on board.  This was a program about cruising with Jane McDonald and we were initially a bit worried about any disruption but in fact we hardly saw the film crews during the week we were on board and we didn't come across any areas which we couldn't access.  We watched the show on TV many months later and it seemed that most of the filming had been done during excursions at the different ports.

We had to renew ours last year.  The online application and the visit to the Post Office for photos etc. were the easy part.  The hardest part was receiving them via Australia Post.  More than 3 weeks after they were posted by registered post still no sign of them.  The Passport office gave us the tracking numbers which showed the passports had made it from Melbourne to Brisbane (via various other places) but they had been in the sorting office there for the past 7 days.  Over the next week many calls were made to Australia Post and we were finally told the passports were "officially lost".  So back to the Passport Office for them to re-issue (and us being very concerned about where our passports had ended up) only for them to turn up in the mail the following day in a special Australia Post envelope saying they had been damaged by their equipment!!  Luckily they were both intact, and we met the postman at the box to take delivery which was good as due to covid we were not required to sign for them, despite them being registered!  

32 minutes ago, lorri111 said:

Does anyone know how long it takes for FCD to be reinstated in account if a refund is requested (rather than taking the default offer of higher FCC?

Mine happened quite quickly.  Can't remember now but pretty sure it was about a week - may have been less

when Princess cancelled our cruise we got the choice of FCC (with extra credit) or a refund.  For FCC you did nothing and for a refund you filled in a form online.  We asked for a refund and got our FCD returned to our Princess a/c.   We would have got extra credit with accepting a FCC  but this didn't work out as much as the OBC we would get with the FCD and it would have meant a full deposit required which is why we went for the refund.  So we now have our FCD back ready for us to book another cruise.

to get the FCD back on a cancelled cruise you need to request a refund.  They then refund by whatever method you paid the deposit.   Our Oct 2021 cruise was cancelled prior to final payment so we requested a refund and the FCD was back in our account shortly after.  I am just hoping that they allow the FCDs to be extended.

23 minutes ago, qbay46 said:

Is it Fountains Abbey, England

Yes it is.  In Yorkshire.  Your go

raking through some old photos but I don't think this one has changed much since it was taken!

it is the Pandora at the Museum of Tropical Qld in Townsville

2 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

When you said "your reason for going there" I took it to mean you were actually there. I have been past Willis Island on more than a dozen cruises. The reasons ships include Willis Island in their itineraries is because it is in international waters so the cruise can be an 'international one'. They can duty free goods and the cruise line does not have to collect GST.  Sufficient information?

BTW, typing my answer took longer than 'Getting Older Slowly'.

Yes you can have next go as you were first with the place

1 minute ago, getting older slowly said:

To be in International waters ???

That is correct.  It means they can sell duty free and operate the casino

3 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

Willis Island. Presumably you were visiting the weather observation station.

It is Willis Island but that wasn't the main reason why we went there.  We didn't leave the ship.  I have been there twice, the first time we stopped quite close and the ship had a hook up with the guys at the weather station and they gave a bit of a talk and set off a weather balloon and then they came down to the shore to wave and as one guy was celebrating his birthday all the passengers on deck sang Happy Birthday to him.  The second time we visited we were a long way off and the ship didn't even slow down!

But there is a reason why the cruise ships include Willis Island on their itineraries even though no one gets off the ship.  

I first visited the Cutty Sark on a primary school trip and my husband has several models of it.

Where was I and what was the reason for going here?

Just now, Bowm54 said:

Yes, well restored after the fire and looking spic and span.

Your turn please.

The Cutty Sark in Greenwich

Mele Cascades in Vanuatu?

Bodleian Library, University of Oxford?

1 minute ago, Blackduck59 said:

It looks like a miniature railway as found in some zoos or tourist parks

No it is for real and quite a tourist attraction in "normal" times 

Yes it was at Kuranda very recently and eerily deserted with no tourists.  Your turn Bowm54 and Docket gets the bonus point.