conaka1950

Your are right; I need to list the ports.  Guernsey, Cork, Dublin, Liverpool, Glasgow, Belfast, Invergordon, Edinburgh and le Havre France.  Any help on tour companies is much appreciated.  Thank you

Looking for recommendations for shore excursion companies.  

Thank you Conaka1950

On a back to back, you leave all your belongings in your cabin (unless you are changing cabins), but you will have to check off the ship then come back on. You will be given a letter with details on what you have to do. You can go off early (whenever you want) if you want to go sightseeing, but there will be a 'latest' time you have to disembark. It is usually around 10 am. Transiting passengers can check in and be the first back on board, but if you want to sightsee, you can return to the ship any time later in the day. Usually transiting passengers are given their new cruise card on their last evening on board. Otherwise, you will need to take your documentation regarding the next cruise (and passports) ashore with you so you can check in on shore before boarding.

Aus Traveller:

Your information is very helpful and it will help us in planning our time in Sydney!

Thank you,

Conaka1950

PescadoAmarillo

My husband and I are cursing Australia, NZ, and Tasmania February 2019 on BtoBtoB. I read your blog and it sounds like you have experience! What is the procedure to get on and off the ship on these BtoBtoB cruises? We cannot seem to get a firm answer from Princess.

Thank you,

Conaka1950

paul929207

That sounds the best. Thank you!

1025cruise

Thank you for your reply; I will try to find the blog you mentioned.

We are sailing on Sun Princess February 2019 on 3 cruises out of Sydney, we have the same cabin for all three cruises but it is considered 3 separate cruises. This is not a bad thing as it helps us to increase the number of cruises we have sailed with Princess. My question, which so far Princess has given me three different scenarios, is what is the procedure in between each cruise to get our new cabin card. Sun Princess is not providing any excursions for those of us staying on board; consequently, I need to book independent tours. Not knowing the procedure and the time I need to allow to get back on board is making it difficult to book tours. Any help would be appreciated.

Conaka1950

Thank you, Conaka1950

Thank you dkata. This information has been most helpful. We won't have all day but still may get to see the area and skyway. We disembark on March 5 and will drop bags off at hotel them proceed to train station. Conaka 1950

If you take a day bus tour, you will probably go to the wildlife park also. So if you aren't interested in the wildlife park, save yourself the $89 and DIY by train. It's easy and cheaper than a tour.

 

You just need to get yourself to the Central Train station and use your Opal card to tag in and get you into the track area. Find the platform where the Blue Mountain Train line runs to Katoomba and board that train. They are on the West side of the station, (platforms 1-9) opposite from where the train from CQ stops. Trains to Katoomba run on a regular schedule as it's a commuter line. Try to get an express, rather than a local train, if you don't want to stop at every station. The train is a double decker, so I recommend going upstairs and sitting on the left side for the views. When the train gets to Katoomba, use your opal card to tag out. (At Katoomba, there is no gate, so you have to remember to find the tag out machine at the exit on the platform and tag out.) Total cost was around $6 one way (non-commute times)

Walk across the street (about 100 feet) to where the 686 Express bus stop is in front of the Carrington Hotel. Use your opal card to tag in and tag out on the bus. That bus takes you to Echo Point for the views ( worth at most about an hour) and you can walk along the Prince Henry Cliff walk (45 minutes) to the Scenic World skyway and take that over to Scenic world, if you are interested in doing that. You pay on the other side, ($15 if you just ride the skyway. Otherwise $33 to do all the rides, including the steep railway and cableway back up. From Scenic world, you catch the 686X bus in front of the entrance back to the train station. This can all be done in one day if you leave early from Sydney.

We found scenic world to be packed full of tourists and buses, but we are glad we did it.

We highly recommend taking the train and doing it yourself.