arxcards

Correct. Just asserting it as a slap in the face to cancel passengers embarking in Auckland, yet still having the ship in port on the same day.

That isn't quite how it worked. Princess originally planned to schedule a ship each for Brisbane & Melbourne, Crown Princess plus two summer ships in Sydney. In the end they split 24/25 season for Diamond between both home ports, and also removed a ship from Sydney. Of course Melbourne should sell out - what else do you have apart from a short season of NCL and P&O. Brisbane also has Royal, Encounter & Luminosa to compete with. Yes, a dummy spit with the Vic government, but with context, the same govt that waived most of VV's port fees that was insisting on all of the Carnival Corp brands copping an increase. Some would call that standing on principle, so some of the angst could be redirected to your government & port authorities. Grand may have been sailing mostly full, but they still weren't turning a profit. AHPPC held the cruise ban, and there was nothing our pollies could do about it. In the end, 25/26 both ports miss out. Not just the cities, but we all miss out on Melbourne & Brisbane departures, so it doesn't really serve them right if we are the ones that are missing out. Despite the recent spin of Aussie cruising breaking records, things are on the slide now that covid FCCs have been used-up. Less home based ships in all of our ports over the next couple of years, but hopefully our govts will let us all have a bit more pocket money in the years that follow.

$250pp OBC - phfff.

Greyhound is $350. I would go with the flight.

The same trip is much more flexible via tour coach. Much more to see, and they will stop for photo ops. Another alternate is on the public option - ViaRail.

I agree. If they decide to exclude Auckland departures in 2026/7 and beyond, that is one thing. To change their mind for 2025/6 is a backhand to anyone who had already booked. As far as I can tell, Crown Princess will still be calling in Auckland on the same dates, just not changing any passengers.

Did you see what was hanging on the cat's collar? 😝

Allocation of dining preference while booking your cruise no longer applies. Dining reservations are now done via the app. You can do each day individually, or book the same restaurant/time for the whole cruise.

I would like a re-imagining of the old Sun Class - smaller, less passengers, alternate ports that can handle a smaller ship. My only must haves would be Crown Grill, Crooners, Good Spirits and a slightly expanded International Café. Add an aft pool, plus a comfortable cabin with a glass screened shower. More importantly, the medallion MKII. Slightly modified to sense when you are just about to get thirsty, then orders your favorite tipple for you.

Correct. Nice balcony size, but no overhead cover.

Yes, that has all changed since 2015, which was what I was replying to. Similarly the other way, we have also been processed at sea by NZ authorities when cruising the other direction - also 10 years ago. What has become evident the past two seasons - any ship carrying passengers that embarked at a foreign port faces the full letter-of-the-law disembarkation procedure from borderforce. That is unavoidable for a ship full of passengers on a relocation, but a major inconvenience for the sake of a few hundred passengers cruising from a dual-port embarkation in Auckland.

They certainly have. We have even had our entry processed at sea between the fiords and Hobart. Back in the BC days, some judgements were made on Ruby being assessed as low risk, but now borderforce stick to the rules.

25/26 is a bit far away to tell, but it appears that there are more people who are holding-off on booking anything. As for 24/25 in Brisbane, that is a little over 6 months away and Diamond isn't selling as well as they hoped. In addition, there are two other Carnival Corp ships in Brisbane that aren't filling-up either. Brand loyalty aside, they are all doing similar itineraries to generate revenue to the same shareholders.

It takes away a risk. If there is a chance that they could alter an itinerary away from NZ because of a dirty butt, it is made much more difficult if they are scheduled to drop-off passengers and embark new ones in Auckland. The other issue with embarking passengers in Auckland is that the disembarks in Australia are much more complicated than for loop cruises.

That would mean dropping from 3 ships to 1 in a single season, which seems unlikely. Anything is possible, including musical chairs. So far, Discovery in LA is just an old crumb that hasn't been swept away. It is still looking like there is more bad news to come though.

Rhapsody & Grandeur. They have been up for sale for a while.

They call them Cruiselings, and they advertise to attract them.

Strange. I can't think why they would do that.

My March 2026 Discovery cruise is intact - for now.

Grog is bonded. Smokes are not, as long as you take them back to the ship yourself. There is no duty free rule on this. P&O just won't let you take alcohol aboard, so it is bonded whether duty free or not. Cigarettes can be taken aboard, whether duty free or not. Fung Kuei will deliver back to the ship and you will see it again on disembarkation morning, so be sure to carry any cigs back to the ship yourself. P&O won't fish them out for you.

Ouch. That is a shame for the Brisbane market, as it leaves them a ship short for their summer season. P&O, Carnival, Royal Caribbean. I was looking at a Brisbane cruise, so glad we hadn't committed. Making room for the new Star Princess? 🤣 Caribbean winters must be the go. Yet another ship relocating there.

Princess has been able to sell individual packs of 20 over the bar for $12, whether domestic or international. This was still true ex-Sydney last season. They were restricted to 1 pack per adult per day. Thankfully no longer required for us. I don't recall P&O being as cheap for us either. Fung Kuei is the go. Cheaper, more choice, plus you can take them to your cabin and consume during the remainder of your cruise.

I find the cabin to be very much a Princess cabin, and yes, most of the ship is still very Princess. I think the exceptions are Waterfront, Angelos, Dragon Lady & the Pantry. Also, Shooting Stars disco never looked as good as the Blue Room does on Explorer. We have very fond memories of cruises on Golden & Star Princess, and aren't inclined to spoil them with Adventure & Encounter.

P&O can be weird. It could also be that WA and QLD have different rules in place. The funny part with P&O on international cruises is that "duty free" cartons are bonded and can't be taken back to your cabin, yet you can only disembark with a packet per adult.

There is a duty free shop aboard, but all the grog and smoke cartons are removed from display on domestic cruises.