AZjohn

We were always able to adjust the price on every line we sailed if the price went lower than what we booked for a specific cabin. There were even cases that happened after final payment and got the difference as OBC. Always a clever idea to keep an eye on prices 🙂

Thanks again for sharing this thread with us @cruzin4us! Had many laughs and really enjoyed your writing style and comments. Safe travels home and Cheers, John PS: what was you final opinion on the bidet? 🤣

I don’t think Australia/NZ gets them but yes, once the ships cross over to the UK they just magically appear. Maybe because they know how to use them while some Americans just can’t figure out how to safely 😂

I’m so happy that next month our cruise on Grand down under will not have smoking in the Casino. I applaud Australia to have the balls to tell all cruise lines if they want to sail there then stop the insanity of indoor smoking. Now that’s a country who is looking out for the safety of their citizens !

Agree, they have their way of seeing things that do not look right. like you, I don’t know anything about their training or what specifically they look for. But I was once on a jury on a Federal case that started with 2 people crossing the US boarder with drugs (not medication) and the boarder agent explained a few small actions that the defendants did within the first 5 seconds that gave him cause to search in more detail. I actually find it kind of interesting how it’s done in the real world and not in some fiction movie.

Sorry but Princess holds credibility with their previous lies about speed of their current Wi-Fi. Fool me once - shame on you. Fool me twice - shame on me! Those of you feeling optimistic this time around, I wish your hopes come true 🙂

Oh man…. That would have been the green light if I was sitting there to jump up and yell as loud as I could FOOD FIGHT! then proceed to get in real trouble in my retaliation mode 😆😂🤣

Awe….. one of several things that make Maui a very special and magical place for us! Nothing better than hearing everyone’s ohhhhhh’s and ahhhhhhh’s while watching the breaches (especially when a baby is learning how to do it for the first time with mama) 🙂

Freakin hilarious! Thank you for reminding me to not take my physical limits serious as I’m getting older. It wasn’t that many years ago we would do shore dives off the beach in Kaanapali all the time. The last time I tried a couple years ago I’m crawling on all fours trying to come out on shore after the dive, huffing and puffing, throwing my weights off and tank because I couldn’t even stand up anymore… Yes, getting older is a very humbling experience that I don’t think you really understand until you start going through it. I got to remember to have your humor outlook about it instead of getting pissed about it. It’s just part of the deal with living a full life 🙂

Well, I personally have really enjoyed your thread and writing style. Likely because you write in my kind of language and have a great sense of humor 🙂 Now as far as food pics, you are correct. Your either really into them or not at all (kind of like the Dallas Cowboys). My wife does it all the time so I just learned over the years it’s what makes her happy so I’m cool with that. So, you continue doing what you enjoy girl 🙂 Cheers, John

Yes, been keeping a close eye on this for our Feb 23rd Australia/NZ cruise. It is what is is and will comply as we did on a cruise in 2022. Not a big deal to us. But, we also know that Covid doesn’t magically disappear while dropping masks while eating meals in MDR. Gut feel this is likely the area where there is the most spread. But as I said, it is what it is and can’t really eat with your mask on 🙂.

I just checked that app on my iPhone13 and looks fine with the receipt, all personal data, and the message "This NZeTA authorizes you to travel to or transit New Zealand". I haven't looked at it in many months since I applied and was approved but, I think this looks good enough to me. Best of luck, John

Not being facetious at all? Trying my best to do all the right things and someone mentioned gum. Yes, I guess my gum could be considered OTC medication now that I think about it. My wife chews just regular gum so looks like this whole thread is making me make more out of it than it should be. We no longer drink, drug, smoke, and won’t be bringing any food so I’m just not going to worry about any of that stuff. We are getting older now and with that have a lot of medication we need to bring. We will keep it all in original bottles with labels and have a nice long list from medical center of all our prescriptions and will make a nice list myself of the various OTC medications we will have and mark yes to line item #1 and go where we are told. Thanks and Cheers

I'm sorry but maybe I missed something on the thread. Are you saying gum is a food item in the Australia declaration document? I understand the basic concept of "if you can eat it, declare it" but I honestly would not know what line item to mark yes on the declaration form for gum (I chew Nicorette gum for too long now but that is a different story). Would I mark line item 6, 7, or 8 for that gum? Thank you, John

Our experience with tender ports with no status or ship excursions maybe 1.5 to 2 hours later than posted times as we were grouped as one of the last. Ports we docked at were not as bad but still at the back of the line.

Oh yes! @possum52 was kind enough to explain several months ago the requirement for both the Australia and New Zealand visas (or ETA’s) with links to the apps. Super easy and wife and I were approved for both within hours. I wish things were that simple and civilized over here in the US (lol). Cheers

Thank you, everyone seems so nice here 🙂 We have been planning our once in a lifetime visit to both of your Countries next month and have been reading this board for 2+ years to try and learn as much as I can for our visit (and cruise). Look forward to just having a coffee and chat with as many as I can while there 🙂 Cheers, John

I am sorry to post on your site but I could not help myself to say you are 100% correct! Its so out of control here and sadly polluting the rest of the world. I’m ashamed and hope your two countries never buy into it. OK, I’m done venting and thanks for letting me share 🙂

Exactly! This is about the drug cartel taking physical violence to get their leader released out of custody (like they did and succeeded to do 3 years ago). The drugs and cartel flows north to the US. Big risk to me for an American or Canadian to be held hostage anywhere in Mexico right now. This is not good and truly feel sorry for the good people in Mexico just trying to make a honest living.

I like your writing style and look forward to following along with your cruise to Hawaii. I did get a chuckle about your first experience with a bidet 🙂 Those of us that had that “first” experience know exactly what your feelings were. Trust me, after a couple more times you will likely become very attracted to that umm…. fresh/clean feeling and kind of wonder why this hasn’t caught on to the American culture (we installed them in our home after our first trip to Japan). Happy cruising and enjoy your rock and roll motion the next few nights!

As all the others pointed out, the morning of debarkation is not a relaxing and mellow time after maybe around 6:30am. The ship is not a good place to kill time waiting for your later travel plans. Your kicked out of your room early, every open space inside ship is packed, and food service is cut short. They really need everyone off the ship for turnaround in order to get ready for all the incoming passengers (try to remember how ship was when you first boarded).

As you know, there are many examples but, I think everyone can relate to Southwest Airlines lack of continual IT investment finally caught up to them (great example). Because the majority of people will always pick low price over covering their butts, this SWA disaster will likely not result in them doing business different (they will give all kinds of lip service but will not update their IT platform). Kind of like Princess Medallion (JMHO).

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TD is gone for good (sorry to those that had found memories of it, our memories were more like it took forever to finish the dang meal and had to listen to the same long story over and over again by same people at the table). Culture has changed over time. Passengers want to dine when it’s convenient to them (like port times, activities on ship, show times, etc).