-
Posts
13,892 -
Joined
Content Type
Forums
Store
Blogs
Downloads
Events
Gallery
Everything posted by arxcards
-
Best cruise line for Teenagers departing Brisbane
arxcards replied to Kenolly's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
The fine print for the Carnival brands (Carnival, P&O, Princess) is harder to spot than it used to be, but there is still a restriction in play for schoolies and the holiday season that follows. For cruises operating in Australia: All guests under the age of 18 must travel with a guest age 18 or older. Age-restricted cruises: For cruises departing from an Australian port between November 1st and January 7th, any guest under 19 years of age on the day they board the cruise must travel in the same stateroom as a responsible adult 19 years or older. In addition, from January 8th to January 31st, there is a limit on the number of guests under 19 years of age who can travel unaccompanied. Once the limit is reached, a responsible adult 19 years or older must travel in the same stateroom. We can advise you at the time of booking whether the limit applies to your booking. Princess Cruises can waive the responsible adult Australia & New Zealand 9 requirement at its discretion. The responsible adult is accountable for guests under 19 years of age in their stateroom for the duration of the cruise, and the ‘Rights of the Captain’ will be applied to anyone who displays disruptive behaviour. The difference prevents 18-year-old schoolies from becoming the "responsible adult" in the cabin, which could affect the 18yo in your group. I am not aware of Royal Caribbean's Quantum having similar restrictions. -
Is Pott Vila accessible again for cruise ships?
arxcards replied to korky1's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
Splendor's next scheduled Vila call is when korky1 is aboard. -
Coral Princess B734 balcony cabin
arxcards replied to anjo's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
A lift counterweight on the loose? -
Thank you! I love your candour. I do like the look of the cabin. Brisbane embarkations are so much better. 😉 In Sydney, Carnival had days when Splendor's queues were down to the ferry wharves. I noticed that Cassidy Rae was doing a resident musician piano & vocals show - did you get to see any of her shows?
-
Hotel in Sydney
arxcards replied to Cruisin'allovertheworld's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
It is pretty much in the middle of it all. Lots of dining options a short walk away, and Luke Mangan's Glass Brasserie is in the hotel. It is a couple of km's back from the harbour at Circular Quay, but easy to get around the city. Probably a bit far to walk to the passenger terminal with luggage, but an easy cab ride. -
Coral Princess B734 balcony cabin
arxcards replied to anjo's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
Pro - your views are both to port and to aft. I wonder how much use the balcony will get during an ocean crossing, and the balcony is a bit open to the weather. Two steps and you also have access to a more protected aft deck which is not often frequented. Possible banging of the door by the few that use the back deck. Aft lifts are a great way to get around Coral, so even though it is as aft as it gets, you can get around the ship easily enough. Only possible con I see is being on the end of the see-saw if a Tasman crossing is a bit bumpy. That isn't an issue for us. -
Is Pott Vila accessible again for cruise ships?
arxcards replied to korky1's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
I had friends call there on Pacific Adventure a couple of weeks ago. They tendered to a temporary wharf at the back of the markets, the same spot where Claude's water taxi used to operate from. Tendering there would be a bonus, but I don't know how short lived that option is and if the size of Pacific Adventure played a part. I can only be confident that you will be allowed in. Pacific Encounter is due in Port Vila on Monday, and that will be worth keeping tabs on. -
Princess ships for 2024-2025
arxcards replied to cheznandy's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
I am sorry to hear that. It sucks. No, not thrilled or even vindicated, but that itinerary looked vulnerable from the time they chose to relocate Coral back to the US. Just part of their craft where they announce the ships that are arriving, but don't mention which ones are departing. As a company it would be nicer if they were upfront. You can't blame those on the other end of the phone though, as they really wouldn't know until they see the changes on the screen in front of them. Sadly, when you go to Princess, your cancelled Oct 18th cruise is still available for booking. That should shake out over the next couple of days along with the replacement itineraries. She will really need a drydock by then. -
Covid protocols reduced to 'standard' across the fleet
arxcards replied to BermudaBound2014's topic in Holland America Line
Nothing in Australia has changed in the 3 weeks since that post. There has been no announcement about any forthcoming changes to the Australian East Coast Cruise Protocols. The status quo is in play until those government protocols are changed. At this stage for the Carnival brands in Australia,vax and pre-cruise testing remain in place until at least the end of August. As this is a HAL thread, it is somewhat irrelevant to them until they return to Sydney in October, and it is hoped that everything will be relaxed by then. We are rolling into winter now, and few ships remain - Carnival Splendor plus 3 x P&O Australia ships. Coral Princess is about to depart on a world cruise, but with Australian based rules at the time of departure. She will be away for 3 and a half months, so they are also hoping the Australian rules will be lifted before they return on 20th September. This is why they have no protocols listed going forward, but do have these general comments on their CruiseHealth page: 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! This applies to itineraries to all destinations except where government regulations may vary like Australia voyages that have their own vaccination and testing requirements. -
Should I try another cruise line?
arxcards replied to DT1304's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
I I agree. In most ways, Princess is a notch or two above. I am not a fan of P&O's dining rooms, but their menus on the first cruise after the restart were the same as they had been 5 years before. Same now as it was back then, it is a bit hit and miss for my liking. Princess is better but has also slipped a bit too. Regarding cabin layouts, all of P&O's ships used to be Princesses (Explorer was Dawn Princess, Adventure was Golden, Encounter was Star). The decor in the cabins has changed, but the layout and furniture have not. Yes, there will be a difference from ship to ship, but it isn't a Princess to P&O difference. On Pacific Explorer, as it was on Dawn/Sun/Sea Princess, there is even 2 different cabin layouts for identical grades of cabin. -
Some overnight in Cairns and those usually skip Port Douglas. Others spend the one day in Cairns, but only cruise to Port Douglas for the next day. If anyone is prepared to pay for a night off the ship in Cairns and a 1hr shuttle up the highway to Port Douglas the next morning, it opens-up more possibilities for GBR out of Cairns.
-
Hotel in Sydney
arxcards replied to Cruisin'allovertheworld's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
I don't really have an opinion either way on the Grace. Yes, the building is interesting. For a bit more art deco, also take a look at Luxury Accommodation in Sydney - Kimpton Margot Sydney which is also home to Luke's Kitchen, although I don't think it is open every day. Luke's Kitchen | Kimpton Restaurants (ihg.com) -
Either/or for me. If you are doing the sounds last, you are going clockwise around New Zealand, and between ports you will get to see some glimpses of land on the starboard side. For Milford Sound, you will see most of what you didn't see going in while going out. As you see with the earlier photo, the scenery can be spectacular, and I prefer to be up on deck for that and overlooking the bow if possible.
-
Should I try another cruise line?
arxcards replied to DT1304's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
One of the main players in CMV has returned with Ambassador, which seems to be CMV MkII. Their flagship is the old Pacific Dawn, which will be down here as part of a world cruise in Feb/Mar next year. It would be nice if they have some local vacancies to see how they look in their new pyjamas. -
Hotel in Sydney
arxcards replied to Cruisin'allovertheworld's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
When in January? Close to New Years is really expensive around the harbour. Convenient or budget? View of the harbour, or no view required? For me, if price doesn't matter - Quay Grand Harbour room. If price does matter - Marriot is convenient and good value. Rydges Sydney Harbour is closest to OPT, but not on my short list. -
RUMOUR - New addition to P&O Australia fleet
arxcards replied to Royalty X's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
The hull issue is about cleaning of fauna & flora from it, which has affected several ships this season. Some ports in NZ, particularly the fiords and Bay of Islands, require the ships to certified to be "clean". NZ put more restrictions in place for this just before the pandemic, and during the pause most of the ships got "dirty" at anchor and subsequently failed their compliance inspections. With Explorer heading-off soon for a season based in Auckland, it appears that there are even more restrictions, and they scheduled for divers to clean the hull while at anchor off Bussleton. Alas, conditions were too rough, and the job is yet to be completed. -
Massive 7.6 earthquake hits near Tonga
arxcards replied to MMDown Under's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
No fault line. -
Massive 7.6 earthquake hits near Tonga
arxcards replied to MMDown Under's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
Short rattle of my windows last night, 30 or 40km's away. The coal trains rattle them more, but it was a different shake. Definitely no damage though. -
Massive 7.6 earthquake hits near Tonga
arxcards replied to MMDown Under's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
They must be linked. Cessnock had a 2.7 last night. Seriously though, I hope all are OK.