Wanderers2

Our passports are due to be renewed in July so I will apply at the end of June & save the extra cost. 

We are headed to the US & must have a valid passport of at least 6 months to the end of our trip.

That is really the only reason I put the post on the forum, to give everyone a heads up. 

1 minute ago, Aus Traveller said:

Some countries (including Vanuatu and Fiji) require there to be 6 month's validity on passports. Australia does not for Australian passport holders. The Aust passport is valid until the day of expiry. NZ requires three month's validity for Australian passport holders. 

 

I came across this NZ cruise situation for my daughter a few years ago. Her passport only had 4 or 5 months left when the cruise was due to end and the travel agent insisted she had to get a new passport. I made enquiries with the Aust Passport Office and the answer was "An Australian passport is valid until the day of expiry".

The passport office can say that but so many countries insist on 6 months validity to be able to travel there.

I have read a report that states the price of an Australian passport is to increase again on July 1st 2024.  The cost increase was said to be $50.00 per adult application. Also if you need your passport in a hurry that fee is to increase as well  The passport office is advising that the standard delivery time is 6 weeks.

Something to think about if your passport is coming up for renewal.

On 5/3/2024 at 6:19 AM, CruisingRJY said:

Hello. Would anyone be able to assist me with this please.  I am looking to confirm if Michele Olivier is still the the Head of Customer Service & Experience on the Princess Cruises Management/Leadership Team.  Her contact email address would be an added bonus.  My wife and i have just completed the 2024 World Cruise on the Island Princess and have some 'deep' thoughts to share with her about how the itinerary change was handled. 

Also, would anyone know the email address formats for the department managers aboard the Island Princess?

Thanks so much for any assistance you can be.   

Write directly to John Padgett & you should be contacted by one of the management team. 

1 minute ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

No, I would expect AUD coming from Asia but USD coming from the US or Europe. It changed sometime between April 2016 and March 2018. 

Ahhh I didn't know that. thanks

Just now, OzKiwiJJ said:

I guess they make a mistake occasionally. After all we are the only region in the world where the ships operate in a local currency onboard, and repositioning cruises are confusing in that respect - different rules for different start/end locations. 

I really expected as the Discovery was coming from Singapore that the OB currency would be USD

6 minutes ago, arxcards said:

Yes, I always believed that was how it should be too.

Just noting how confusing it can be when the Princess brochure doesn't match reality.

Yes I agree, very confusing.

On 4/16/2024 at 7:54 AM, arxcards said:

In true Princess consistency, I just had a look at the 2025/26 launch brochure again. The Singapore to Sydney cruise is listed as a $US cruise:

 

8 Nov 25 Discovery X544

Singapore > Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My) > Nha Trang > Lombok > Darwin > Yorkeys Knob (for Cairns) > Airlie Beach (for the Whitsundays) > Sydney

Onboard currency is in USD

Referenced from page 18 of: 23376_Mini-Brochure_25-26_AU_3.0.pdf (princess.com)

We are booked on this cruise & the Travel Summary in our Princess account definitely shows the onboard currency as AUD

Hi all,

If you are doing this cruise in February 2025 check out the roll call that has been created;

Diamond Princess, February 2025, Brisbane/Sydney to Tokyo (Yokohama)

Regards

Dianne

4 hours ago, colourbird said:

 

I booked Discovery's repositioning cruise to Sydney. We had a great time doing a similar cruise on Majestic several years ago.

 

It's good when they swap ships like this (unlike RCI sending us Ovation each year) as I like to try out different ships rather than ones i've been on before.

We are also on the Discovery repositioning from Singapore.

The Crown, Diamond & Royal appear to be doing the 2024/2025 Australian season. Not sure why we only have 3 ships next summer. 
 

The Crown, Grand & Discovery appear to be the ships for the 2025/2026 summer

4 hours ago, JanetAlice said:

I’m confused. Is the OPT the same as White Bay Cruise terminal? I find conflicting into as to where the Majestic Princess departs from?

The OPT is the Overseas Passenger Terminal & is right in the centre of Sydney. The Majestic Princess will definitely dock there as it is too large to get under the Harbour Bridge to go to the smaller White Bay Terminal. 
I believe these days all the Princess ships go to the OPT

9 minutes ago, memoak said:

We are hoping for Captain Tani

Not a captain I know has he been with princess long?

I don’t see him on the list above. 

More information from my informant currently on the Diamond. The new captain is currently onboard but she missed his name, so it can't be Captain Arrigo.

Just now, bronzey214 said:

Captain Paolo Arrigo announced he is disembarking the Ruby tomorrow in Barbados. I’ll update with the new captain’s name.

Perhaps he is going back to the Diamond as he is on these lists as its captain 🤔

A report today from the Diamond Princess that Captain Stefano Ravera is leaving when she docks in Yokohama in the next few days & moves to the Grand Princess. No report of who will take his place.

Does anyone know why there is so much swapping of captains on the ships?

The current crew on the Diamond Princess

8 minutes ago, rwmiller said:

We are back on the phone again and another representative is telling us a passport is required. They keep telling this requirement is tied to the voyage number. Is there a separate Princess phone number / website that we can try to get directly to a Princess Australia representative? 

 

Thanks again everyone,

Bob

The itinerary may be the key to why a passport is required.  If they have an Australian travel agent it may be advisable to contact them by email.

Have now booked Singapore to Sydney 🙂

40 minutes ago, Womble99 said:

Are the pricing breakdowns available yet? Or is it just the promo lead in fares?

I think just the Promo fares.  I have attached a copy of that part of the brochure. We can hope they offer some deals.

Princess Brochure Prices.pdf

Australian itinerary for Discovery Princess has been release & for sale from November 29th

Discovery arrives in Sydney December 6th 2025

25 minutes ago, Jean C said:

We too have a very soft spot for Diamond Princess. We sailed on her from Sydney to Tasmania and around NZ, so local waters, after she had become a Japanese ship. Other than bi-lingual signs, she really felt no different from Western ships we've sailed on, we loved her 🥰

We will be on the Diamond February 25 Sydney to Yokohama. Will be our first time in the Diamond . Very curious how the Onsen works 🤔

Apparently there have been a few crew changes on the Royal Princess when she arrived in Australia today. 

2 minutes ago, colourbird said:

 

I've been trying to work out which way she's coming as I might book that cruise (depending on where the cruise starts). A search of other possible ports hasn't helped as they aren't showing anything that far ahead. Asia may be better for us as I might not be able to get enough time off work for a longer cruise.

 

 

The Royal (arrived this morning) & Majestic (arrives in Sydney Nov 4) have both been sailing Alaska & have come across via LA, Honolulu, NZ then to Sydney (I may have missed a couple of stops but that is the basic route) Discovery might be something similar 

1 minute ago, colourbird said:

For quite some time Darwin port has been showing Discovery's first visit on Friday 28 November 2025 and Sydney port is showing her first visit on Saturday 29 November 2025. Either one of them is wrong or she's a very fast ship!

She is cruising Alaska before she comes to Australia so not sure about Darwin, unless she comes to Asia first