FunforGin

Hi there, I really enjoy a good Shiraz but no longer drink alcohol, does Princess Cruise Lines stock alcohol-free wines onboard for purchase? Would love to know, as enjoying a nice wine with dinner would still be nice to do, if I can:)

Wow! This is such an encouraging thread - to read that most of you who have done many, many cruises still get excited about it.

I'm excited about my first cruise coming up March 5th:)

I've lost something before I even got to try it!

My first cruise is in less than a month's time (four nights); I booked quite a few months ago in a suite, and my friends and I were really excited about speciality dining included for first night.

Recently I read posts here that it has been removed by Princess and is now only available for cruises six nights or more.

How does a company get away with selling a 'product' that promises certain things, and then when you go to use that product you find that some of the promises have been taken away?

In any other business they wouldn't get away with this.

Why don't they set a date whereby all new bookings after a certain date no longer receive that benefit?

I feel cheated, and I haven't even had the cruise yet!

Hi just a couple of quick questions. I'm aware that the daily gratituties are built into the cruise cost for Australia and NZ but I wondered about things like tipping for baggage handlers at embarkation in Melbourne, and giving a cash tip to room steward at end of cruise?

Also.... I've read so much about cruise ship water tasting really bad and heaps of people seem to buy bottled water and take it onboard. Is that a good idea, and can we do that for Princess cruises downunder?

Yep, it's Transcend Auto. I'm very happy with it, but one problem I had is their software CD, no matter what I did, I couldn't get the software to work, so I could email a report from my machine to my Sleep Therapist. But really it's not a big problem because they're located in same city, so can just take machine in and she can download reports directly.

There was another smaller one I looked at that had a battery 'shell' thing that held the battery and machine, but after checking out reviews online, I decided not to buy it because it was apparently not quiet at all.

Hope that helps:)

I had to update my CPAP machine a year or so ago, and bought a unit for use at home and when travelling. It's small and very quiet. I bought the optional rechargeable battery as well, It's great - gives 8 hours sleep and I no longer stress about finding outlets to plug into, as I can plug it in anywhere in the stateroom during the day to recharge:)

Hey thanks for your encouragement guys, feeling a bit better about it all now:)

I'm new to cruising, and have been eagerly anticipating my first cruise - a short reposition cruise from Melbourne to Auckland early March on Golden Princess (in a suite for a special treat)

The review I read has left me feeling absolutely deflated; any joy of anticipating has gone and now I'm just worried:confused:

Hi I'm a newbie and I was wondering how far in advance do cruise lines release their schedules.

I have cruises booked for 2017 and 2018 with Princess Cruises and have a friend who wants to cruise with me in 2019 and I would like to stick with Princess Cruises for that one too.

I just want to stay around NZ/Australia for cruise holidays and hope to snap up a great stateroom/suite for 2019 but I know that you've gotta be fast to nab the good ones so any 'heads up' on this would be much appreciated:)

Being a kiwi gal I kinda understand the humour...a bit like sending the apprentice to the shop to ask for 'striped paint' or a 'long wait'.....:)

Yay! Soooo happy to see flat whites on the coffee menu! Will probably ask for an extra shot and hopefully that will mask the UHT milk flavour.

Tony don't know if you will ever see them in Dunkin Donuts but if you head down under you gotta give them a go....they're kinda like a cappuccino but with a lot less froth.

Hi I absolutely LOVE flat white coffees and I know it's a very kiwi way to have coffee and possibly in Australia too but probably not many other places, soooo I was wondering if the International Cafe serves flat whites on cruises around Australia and New Zealand?:confused:

Hi thanks so much for that info and link....relieved to see that it won't affect our group in 2017 and in 2018 its just myself and a friend so that won't be an issue.

I'm obsessive/compulsive about researching anything when it comes to spending money and I came to the conclusion that Princess Cruises were going to give me great food experiences (I'm a foodie) without being too 'high-browed' for me.

I know that sounds weird given I have chosen to save hard and book suites for both cruises, but I come to the conclusion I would like to cruise once a year and do it well without all the social pressure if you get my drift...I'm just a plain 'ol kiwi gal after all!

I'm sooo excited that I even named my six new chickens after Princess Cruise ships!

Goldie

Ruby

Saphy

Emmy

Coral and Dawn.

I call them my princess girls!

Hi I have my very first cruise booked for March 2017 and have booked one of the premium suites (sharing with friends) on deck 15 on Golden Princess.

I also booked an aft suite on Dolphin deck, Golden Princess January 2018 (sharing with a friend).

I'm thinking that as suites go so quickly, it's highly unlikely there would be a price drop, is that correct?:confused:

Also....on another subject, on the March 2017 cruise there are 9 in our group, with only myself and two other friends in suite. At the time I booked the suite, there was no indication re club class (segregated) dining.

Now I'm feeling really bad because I really want to enjoy the club class dining but from what I've read Princess Cruises don't allow you to have guests dine with you. Having paid a premium by booking into a suite, I really want to be able to enjoy ALL of the extra benefits available....but was also looking forward to sharing meals with all of our friends.

I understand that the full menu is available for room service in suites, and so does that mean that we will not be able to have friends dine in our suite with us as well?

What about the special afternoon teas? I read that we can have that served to us in our suite, does that also mean that we can't have friends with us for that either?

Does anyone know what the per person charges are like to have a cocktail hour in suite before going to dinner?

Lots of questions, so glad there's somewhere I can ask them without feeling dumb (LOL!):)