Loveh2ofl

Princess crew onboard are wonderful; wish I could say the same about corporate responsiveness. At least the twitter approach seems to get someone to respond - whereas the emails/forms take forever, if ever. Forget trying to reach customer solutions via phone - never sure you'll ultimately reach the right person. Good luck!

@kiwimum - Thanks for the tip! - I'd tried the customerrelations email address, copying Princess execs, as well as 'other' refund form w tracking number with no success for weeks, on a different kind of request. I sent a twitter msg referencing the date of the original email as well as the tracking number for the refund form - both of which had all the documentation. I got an immediate response to the twitter DM, plus action/satisfactory resolution by customer relations the next day. I wouldn't use twitter as my first method, but it was excellent as a backup!

We're boarding the world cruise in LA tomorrow, The wellness section clearly states how to upload one's self-test. So YES self test is OK within 24 hrs of boarding on this australia_enhanced protocol cruise,

For the enhanced_Australia - The pcr test must be medically given/observed. That is within 48 hours. The antigen test must be taken within 24 hours and can be medically observed as you stated OR self administered which is where you must take the picture with id and date/time. You don't do both and I believe the wording has stayed constant since 12/2?

I had medical expenses on our last cruise out of the US while at sea. Medicare Plan F reimbursed 80% after deductible. So that's another way to get out of country coverage. Lifetime max is $50K tho.

My interpretation (which may be wrong) is that one must have a specialty dinner on embarkation night.

We received a link to one in December for our trip in Jan - however it says it expired at end of Dec - it was a link to a downloadable pdf in an email from Princess. Just checked the link again and it has been refreshed to expire 12/23!

Isn't it a .pdf? Just put it on your device?

I know on Enchanted a year ago and on Island Princess in May it was as it had been previously - waiting in various lounges depending on your disembarkation time. No waiting in rooms because one has to vacate cabin much earlier than when one debarks.

Sorry - no International Cafe on the Island Princess!

Thanks for posting - are you happy with the internet so far?

with Covid - visits to the bridge and the special ship tour might not be happening?

Except don't think that will be the case if booked as a single cruise and not b2b

And the region - so seems to include pacific nations at least for now....

https://www.9news.com.au/national/carnival-cruises-reintroduces-mask-mandates-out-of-an-abundance-of-caution/63cb4890-bca2-46df-af69-99af50ea8e60

Yes - lots of folks have had prepaid excursions disappear. The more fortunate got email notification. I have a couple which got canceled without notice - I checked when other people on my cruise were saying they were experiencing cancelations. I chatted with Princess - who confirmed that they were canceled on 10/19 and that my CC would be refunded - however it has not yet been refunded as of today and chat can't help. So I'll have to call for status this coming week. Mine were scheduled for February. On past cruises, have gotten notification upon boarding about cancelations.

Hoping that it signals a change to those!

Dated November 2 on Princess FAQ for Australia/NZb- note no booster requirement or monitored test - while no updates yet to enhanced guidelines voyages,,,,see: CruiseHealth™ FAQ: Sailings from Australia & New Zealand - Princess Cruises Current Health Protocols for Cruises Visiting Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific Countries Vaccinations Guests must have received their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before the beginning of the cruise and provide acceptable proof at terminal check-in. Boosters are highly recommended for those eligible at least seven days before cruising. Testing At terminal check-in guests must attest to a negative viral COVID-19 test (PCR or rapid antigen) taken before embarkation.

Here's a good article. I also called one of the mentioned companies (Azova) which uses almost any test....were very responsive to questions. https://thepointsguy.com/news/at-home-covid-testing-travel/ See Azova: https://www.azova.com/travelvideo/

All you lucky folks! I specifically put my birthday info in (and it was there) on the Island Princess back in May. Nothing on door. No acknowledgement anywhere. We had dinner at Bayou Cafe - nothing. Nothing in room. I called to complain. A cake was brought to the room without plates, silverware or napkins. Had to call them back again to get the implements. It was a great cruise - but this was one of the things that went wrong.

Keep checking as requirements keep changing

and new enhanced guidelines: https://www.princess.com/protocol/?voyage=enhanced

https://www.princess.com/plan/cruise-with-confidence/cruise-health/ Ready To Welcome You On Board Updated October 21, 2022 It’s easier than ever to prepare for your cruise. All guests are welcome – regardless of vaccination status – and vaccination and testing requirements have been lifted on most voyages! This applies to itineraries to all destinations except where government regulations may vary like Australia and on a few enhanced guidelines voyages that have their own vaccination and testing requirements. Look up requirements for your voyage with our CruiseHealth tool. This information is also available to booked guests within Cruise Personalizer. Only available for upcoming cruises. For cruises departing further out, check back closer to your sail date.

Princess website is in the process of being updated some more - the 'top' page is now dated 10/20! Also enhanced guidelines voyages that have already left have been deleted and fortunately no new ones have been added! https://www.princess.com/plan/cruise-with-confidence/cruise-health/

Update to FAQs: https://www.princess.com/plan/cruise-with-confidence/cruise-health/frequently-asked-questions/au-cruises/