stewart_oz

13 minutes ago, Perfectlife said:

How can you tell from the deck plans which cabins are connecting?

 Easy way is to go to the princess web site.

Locate your ship under the "onboard our ships tab"

Find deck plan and you will see an option to tick "connecting cabins"   ( NOTE Must showing a deck plan that has cabins .. eg Caribe deck)

Example in link below for Diamond,  select  Deck 10  Caribe deck

https://www.princess.com/deckPlans.do?shipCode=DI

1 hour ago, dog said:

For those giving Calm down advice- Why don’t we just wait and see what the fall out ends up being.

 

The silence from princes is deafening

They need to respond. 

10 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

Has anyone seen any recognition or admission by Princess that this occurred?  Any place they’re giving passengers a heads-up to watch for suspicious activity?   

We need to keep  this going till somebody get a response from Princess

.

This was a serious breech or leak of information and whilst it looks like credit card details were not visible .  What was visible was passengers names and cruise.    So easy for a thief to know when your on holidays etc. 

Princess need to explain what happened  and what information was disclosed  and what action/s they are taking. 

If anybody does get information , please let the rest of us know   in particular if they get a contact source.

1 minute ago, memoak said:

So why when I log in shy do I only see my own data ?

@memoak

Often data systems are "replicated",  so there is multiple sources of data. 

This is done around the world to speed up internet access. I.e Making the information "local"

So it means , if the data is out of sync, different locations can see the information presented differently

37 minutes ago, memoak said:

I am on my account now all I see is my cruises. If there is an issue it is the browsers not Princess  I am on safari. Don’t blame Princess for a browser issue

@memoak   

I am a software engineer and I can categorically say this is a major princess issue .

Browsers only show what data is pushed to them.  The only way for it to show other peoples data is if it is pushed to them  by the  princess data base.

Your browser is a bit like your TV,  it only shows what the TV station transmits.  

Please be carefully in makings uninformed   additional  comments

Same here.

Major inconvenience but more to the point MAJOR privacy breech .

Maybe we should all push for free plus upgrade  ( not going to happen ).

Still.  do like that I could see a ship sailing from Italy and the itinerary was Alaska   😁

13 hours ago, hubofhockey said:

I certainly understand the size of Australia and we will probably fly from Sydney to Melbourne, after 3-4 days in Sydney.  We will stick with our plan of Great Ocean Road tour with Go West Tours.  I want to be able to enjoy the scenic drive and not do all of that driving on vacation. I am counting on flying from Sydney to Melbourne and then Melbourne to Adelaide and then flying back from Adelaide to Sydney.  We have so many Hilton points that it would cover Hiltons in Sydney, Melbourne and Aukland.  Thinking about the Sea Dragon in Kangaroo Island.  

Looked at the Go West Tour and it certainly covers a lot of the iconic sites, so looks good .idea.

  I have done the Apostles helicopter flight. Gives a different perspective. 

Will chuck another thought into the mix for you.  

Have you looked at Philip Island.   Smaller than Kangaroo Island, but similar scenery etc

Accessed via bridge instead of Ferry

Big thing with it is the Penguin Parade.  Something unique to  the Southern Hemisphere.

Plus various other nice scenic sites

Its accessible  from Melbourne via another long day trip,  or alternative is a stay down there as there is some nice accommodation in a  town Cowes

Can then avoid the driving etc 

@hubofhockey    

Keep in mind anything I say are my personal opinions and experiences . ,  so others will have equally valid inputs.

I gather you will be here in February , so the East coast , Melbourne and Sydney can experince days into the 90's

Tassy  ( our slang , not Wanner Bros, for Tasmania ) is a great place to tour around. Have traveled there a number of times myself. However if this is your first time to Australia and you have only 11 days , I would save it for next time. 

Keep in mind mainland Australia, is about the same size as the USA.  so .. big.

We have only 7 states  so each one is also big. 

Whilst day trip of the Great Ocean Road is doable.  The only practical way for somebody who has not been here before via a tour company ,  and then its rushed.  Best way as myself and @possum52  are suggesting is to allow at least 2  and better still 3 days for it.  Lots of little side detours. Sea breezes make it cooler,  so ok in the warmer weather.

As you indicate your into nature.  Sydney wise. look at the blue mountains up around Katoomba ,  Melbourne , you can head into the Dandenong mountains ( have  a look at the Steam train Puffing billy )  .  Both locations are accessible from the relevant city center by local trains

@possum52   I agree would most definitely do an overnight stay along the Great Ocean Road and Warrnambool is a  good option.  The other would be Apollo bay depending on what time they  left Melbourne. 

Manly is certainly another great option The main thing was trying to indicate was seeing Sydney harbor from a Ferry is a good convenient way to do it and much cheaper than the hop on hop off options

@hubofhockey   Kangaroo island is interesting, but not overly unique  , as far as Australia is concerned.  So something to consider.

If I was doing kangaroo island , I would drive from Melbourne along great ocean road and then via the Currong , onto Kangaroo island and Adelaide.  Flying back to Sydney from there.

If not doing Kangaroo island.  Then a loop.  Melbourne .. Great Ocean road   to Portland or possibly Mount Gambia if time permits, then back via the Grampians  ( small mountain range) , staying at Halls gap for a couple of nights, making sure you at the very least go up to the Boroka Lookout,   then back to Melbourne .

In Sydney,  great cheap way to see the harbor,  is to catch the ferry from Circular Quay to Watson's Bay.  If your into sea food the is a rather nice up market seafood restaurant at Watson's called Doyles.  ( best booked ) .  Choose a nice day and grab the top deck seats on the Ferry  if you can  ( you have to rush for them) .  The pics are my partner at Doyles and on the top deck of the Ferry

2 hours ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

Why not just do both?

@Rick&Jeannie Interesting thought and thanks for the input.

However as this is our first cruise we are using it to see how we like cruising.  Plus only 7 nights. So we were thinking that spending most evenings in the MDRs mixing with other might be a better way of gauging the experience for a long cruise.  So only one "specialty" night planned.

We are sailing out of Melbourne Australia in Nov. on a 7 night cruise

After people's thoughts/opinion on which specialty dinning ,  Sabatini's or Churrascaria Grill has the best experience.

We do dine out a lot ,have wide tastes in food, and Melbourne has some great restaurants.

So more after which on the Diamond has the better "cruise experience"

As @SoloAlaska  said  always use a flight search engine .

Rarely find booking directly with an airline is cheaper , particularly as then your tied into using the same airline for return legs.

Have found skyscanner ( look up on web)  as best resource , its easy to use and view alternative dates/times.

Fares are continuously changing. So unless you find the service on a certain airline particularly noteworthy , then look at all airline offering and not what somebody used 6 month ago.

PS Keep in mind TAs add commission , its their living so that's only fair.

But booking an airline now a days is a bit like buying a bus fare, easy to do yourself

"You originally post says you are interesting in sharing a table with out passengers, so you want a private table? "

Oops  Typo   was suppose to say other  passengers  not out  .  😁

@wallyj

Billiant  thanks for all that.

Had not clicked thru on the app to point of the private/shared option

Can see it now

Interesting though at the moment I cannot select shared for later than 6pm  on any day.

I would have thought shared would be their preferred option

We are booked to sail on the Diamond P  on a 7 day trip embarking Melbourne , Australia,  Nov 9th 2024.

So currently  119 days out from sailing

Just completed final payment so now  have access to the dinning reservations in the App

Trying to book for 2 people

I can book for the International Dinning at either 5:20pm or 750pm  for all days sailing

For the Savoy  and Vivaldi I can book any time slot from 5pm thru to 8:20pm on any day

However there are no time slots showing for either the Pacific Moon or Santa Fe for any of the days.

Does that mean they  are fully booked at this stage or do they open the booking for them closer to sailing?

We are first time cruisers.  We like the idea of sharing a table with out passengers.

How does that work if I make a booking that is just for the 2 of us?

Is there options we should take into account.  Eg Book same time/same restaurant etc

Lastly if we wish to attend an evening performance ( can somebody advise what time they start)  and wish to arrive in a suitable time to be able to get a seat.

What time would people suggest is a suitable dinner booking time.  We prefer around 6:30 - 7:00

7 minutes ago, beatleman said:

When did they shift Flinders Island to S.A. bet the Tasmanians don't know.😀

DOH.

Try Kangaroo Island     lol 

Gee Hope the ships captain does not make the same mistake 😆
 

Actually just checked the license rules for South Australia.  ( The State where Flinders island is located )

"SA driver's licence laws

Short term visitors with temporary visas can drive in SA but must only drive the type of vehicle authorised by their licence. You must carry a current driver's licence issued interstate or overseas at all times. If the licence is not in English you must carry an International Driving Permit or an English translation."

So  on that basis it looks like US one should be valid.  I would ask them. Maybe send a copy of your current license.  

DO REMEMBER WE DRIVE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO YOU

Being Australians we  don't need an international license.

Seems most countries now   are requiring international license for non residents.

So it naturally flows onto a rental company requirement.

9 hours ago, SKSMIKE5 said:

Thank you to both of you! I will definitely be checking on these rentals to get a car! Any must see's on the island? We plan to head to the Kangaroo Wildlife Sanctuary but are open to other stops. 

As we will be on the Island this November will try and remember to jump back here and let you know before your January trip

PS  I would book an Uber.   Tram idea is good. But then you have to navigate yourself and wity cruise ship crowd might be a rather crowded tram.

If you book an Uber then it will be waiting there for you.  Not sure how many Taxi's might be available  with so many on a cruise ship.

If the USA uber app wont let you book Australia , just load the Australian one.

Then when your about to disembark book the Uber, that way you know the timing etc

Firstly  we  are Melbourne couple, so have driven the great ocean road a number of times.

Love it and recommend it.  Dont be afraid to get out and look even if the weather is bad.  I find the sea takes on it own character when the wind is blowing etc

Just a heads up in case you have not driven here before.  We drive on the opposite side of the road here and the Great Ocean Road  winds along the coast.  So always good to have in  the other front seat a  passenger who also drives. As they can help advise/remind you of the right side to be on .

Have a great trip and enjoy.

@MicCanberra

Thanks

Actually have already put similar message on our Roll Call.

So just trying extra avenues

Do a search for seafront connect and Hertz 

Penneshaw  is the location you want

I recently read my cover-more policy as issued by Commonwealth bank.

Here  is what it states

"Cruising in Australian waters
Cover is included under Overseas Medical, Benefit 2: Overseas Emergency Medical and Hospital Expenses if you are travelling on a domestic cruise in Australian waters.
When you complete the steps to access the Overseas Travel Policy, for a domestic cruise, not part of an international journey, please choose ‘Pacific’ as your destination."

So it looks like this one does cover domestic cruise.

As always, best reading the PDS in detail to check specific coverage