arxcards

Close to everything and flat for the scooter, Four Seasons is close. Marriot is usually our go to these days, a bit further away, but a flat walk and a bit more modest in price. Both are easy walking, and there are resting places along the quay as well. The former Rydges (now Sydney Harbour Hotel) is the closest in a direct line, but it is a solid set of stairs in between there and the terminal. It is still closer than the others I mention, even after walking around on the footpath. I had given up on them, but haven't tried with their new management. Their pricing is comparatively cheap at present.

What sort of budget?

On formal night, you can also tie the remaining rope around your neck.

Alas, we got caught with one, as I was only looking at the total and hadn't spotted the $180 in payments that had already been taken. The dollar figure seemed about right but found after disembarking that Barb's purchases came across to my folio for payment on my credit card, but her OBC didn't and she disembarked with her $150 non-refundable OBC intact. That could be a FCC for 15 eggs bennies, but P&O said bad luck. In return, it has cost them far more than $150 already. So, it is more than annoying if you are having a good time and just looking at your outstanding balance. In balance though, theses are actual card charges and not holds, so there should be no lingering holds if they do it that way.

The Loyalty Islands have been seeking their own independence from New Caledonia, and I agree, will be in the middle of any unrest. Lifou is mentioned specifically in this report, although with more peaceful protests at this stage. Attempted prison mutiny, demonstrations ahead of New Caledonia constitution vote | RNZ News

Should be no gratuities. It is an $AU cruise, so even a sector linked to the US should still be $AU rules.. Easter Island was listed as a stop initially, with shore tours available but the more recent version of the itinerary is showing 4hrs of scenic cruising and no shore tours available.

Yep, a bit of history repeating. Or as P&O used to say when they were giving reasons for cancelling ports in the South Pacific - The natives are restless. Did you ever get to Ouvea? P&O cancelled calls there due to "restless natives" around 15 years ago but haven't been back since.

Pac Encounter is heading out towards Mystery Island at present, so should be OK for a few days. They are due to call at Lifou on the way back, so I guess that depends on whether they are New Caledonia or Loyalty Islands that week. Pac Adventure is also heading for Mystery Island & Vila and is scheduled to call in Lifou & Noumea on the way back on 20th May. Splendor departs to the Islands on Sunday. Noumea is the first scheduled stop on 22nd May, and they also have Lifou and a 2nd call to Noumea on the way back.

It is just a walk through to hand over cards at most, to keep people honest with their duty free allowances and declaration. Our last one around Willis Island on Majestic, we were given cards, filled them out, then shredded them we we got home. There was nobody to collect them, on what was otherwise a domestic cruise. Over the years, it has been 50/50 for us. @Astro Flyer Note that according to the Brisbane terminal page, arrival is 8am. If that is accurate, you have lost a bit of valuable time toward a possible late AM flight. https://www.portbris.com.au/cruise/cruise-ship-schedule

I have given up cruising on P&O.

It isn't always seamless. 20 minutes after being seated and all you have is menus, bread and a drink, they seat a group at an empty table nearby. You can then get caught waiting another 20 minutes while the waiters line up their orders with yours. Convenient for those moving into the empty space, but not always for the traditional diners that arrived for set service. That is why they try to keep both areas separate.

There are two types of anytime. You can pre-book for anytime on any day. You can book them today, or the same day as you are dining. If you don't want to use the app and prebook, just walk up (maybe join a line) at the designated walk-up dining room.

The ones they have cancelled are 19+ months away, so at least nobody is out of pocket for airfares. If something was to happen similarly for cruises in 2024, Princess will usually refund out of pocket expenses such as non-refundable hotel, airfares, transfers.

I dress up on formal nights and have plenty of variety. Black shoes & belt for formal & smart casual for me. I get that someone who suits yellow tones will need their browns, olives taupe and also need black for formal nights. I guess it is easier to pack for a cruise if you are a blue tone person.

If you can only afford it at a last minute price, I guess you can afford to wait. The 2024 last minute deal only came about because of a late decision to divert from the Red Sea. 2025 has already been altered, lots cancelled, plenty jumped on the newly available cabins. There will be bits & pieces available into next year, but I don't expect there will be anything cheap unless there is an Iceland volcanic eruption or a US civil war. I hope you can jump aboard, as there will be plenty of sea days for a chat or two.

Ahh yes, too true.

It looks like she is berthed on the dock. A bit of that going around today. The auroras are spectacular, but GPS has larger margin of error.

This pic gives an idea looking back to the ship:

When you look down, the width of the promenade deck and railing will be visible from your cabin, as the deck comes out to around the same width as the lifeboats & tenders. When you look out, you get something like this view of the life raft stations - a pic of 8408 from Adventure's previous life as Golden Princess

Many of the around Australia cruises visit a port in Indonesia, but it looks like this one is totally domestic. Great news - no departure or arrival cards to complete, and if customs are present it should only be a walkthrough. For the majority of passengers, Brisbane is just a port day. Many will be eating breakfast as you disembark, so much less hectic in the terminal. A bit of Monday morning meh and it is in the middle of school holidays, but nothing to predict a peak travel day at the airport. It all points in your favour, as long as it remains one of the good days.

The earliest disembark slot we have had is 7am, and express walk-off was at 6:45 for that cruise, however like Pacific Encounter this morning, that was a full turnaround. Partial turnarounds run a bit later, of which we had one late last year on Majestic Princess. We were one of 400ish disembarking, and first disembark slot at 7:45am with express walk-off starting at 7:30am. Your Brisbane to Brisbane is likely a similar arrangement, with the majority of passengers doing the Sydney to Sydney lap. Given only up to 500 passengers disembarking, is also why you may not see the disembarkation tour to the airport. It might be a bit frustrating, as you can watch the planes banking and landing on your starboard side as you are approaching the port, yet they are so many hours away.

HAL is very comfortable, and what any Princess cruiser should be able to easily grow into. But then, there are no DAM ships in Melbourne either and they are operated by the same DAM company that took your Princess ship away. Have you checked out NCL's offerings for next summer out of Melbourne? Quite a nice alternative if you can find a suitable itinerary.

On a good day, you can be off the ship by 7am. Most days are good days, but not all. Princess will say PM flights, so I will go with them - just in case it is one of those bad days (weather, customs, broken gangway etc). PS: I will take a look at our more recent Brisbane disemarkation schedules when I get back from the salt mines. PSS: Pacific Encounter was docked in Brisbane this morning before 5:30am (no idea what time disembark started though).

At least they listened to passenger feedback (for a change). There are still some that like the traditional way. Coral & Island would be a challenge compared to all the other ships with more dining rooms. On the Grand class, they used to keep a fixed traditional dining room, while all the others were mixed between pre-booked and walk-up anytime diners. Worked OK then. I am OK with it. More choice can't be a bad thing, except when traditional tables aren't being filled and they drop in the overflow of walk-up dinners into that level. Now if they listen about the pillow chocs - taking them away for covid is no longer a valid reason.

I have one, bought from Macy's in Waikiki, but the brown side isn't often seen. My point is, if you need a brown & black belt you need to pack two different wardrobes. An extra belt is nothing in luggage, but the extra matching shoes, shirts & trousers are.