Gwendy

Buy some AUD before you leave. From your bank or a currency exchange.

We were temperature scanned at the airport when we returned from Norfolk Island on February 4, so some precautions were in place. As a side note in 2009 on World Cruise we were temperature scanned in Apia because of bird flu. The people doing scanning wore thongs and only changed the ear piece of the scanner when I requested it. They just used the same earpiece for everyone. Lol

I am amazed by people’s lack of personal accountability. They knew Covid was rife and going on a cruise shop was iffy after Diamond Princess. This was the same time we cancelled our long planned family cruise to Alaska.

You will probably only need a small amount so exchange rate is not that important compared to benefit of having cash when you get there. Some years ago I had run out of local money when I went to Cultural centre, tried to use my card but gentleman couldn’t work machine. “Today is free entry” he said and gave me back my card. It is a fair way out if town but I believe it is on HOHO route. It is really worth seeing and set in a beautiful setting

On WC in 2019 Sea Princess diverted to rescue 2 sailors whose boat was sinking in rough seas, exceptional work by crew at night very rough weather. We were hours late into Curaçao, yep some passengers complained they missed their tours. I really don’t understand some people.

Yeah, one rude crew member, thousands of rude passengers. Lol on Caribbean Princess a couple of months ago passengers would enter lifts/elevators and grunt their floor number to whoever was standing by the panel. No please or thank you. I stopped responding and pushing their buttons (pun intended) after a couple of days.

Over 59 cruises on 9 different cruise lines, only once have we encountered a rude crew member. Considering his many crew we have had interaction with, it’s not a bad average

This is the bugbear of the single cruiser. Also unless you call the wait staff over who are doing coffee etc, they ignore you. “Oh I thought you were waiting for someone else, then I was coming over to you.” Still manage to keep well fed, and still solo cruising, just n observation.

Barcelona is changing where ships dock fromOctober 2023, I think. Would be use to check, but I think you’re leaning towards Rome anyway. Shame if they are changing port docking in Barcelona, it was so convenient.

On Caribbean Princess in August on formal night, family where males wore daggy tshirts, shorts and baseball caps worn backwards.

If you want to do tours check out Lyvai tours. Some years ago we booked the little train, but just as we were ready to go on the sunset tour they cancelled it because of lack of numbers. They gave us our money back then put us on a large coach and took 4 of us to the lookout for sunset, time to look around and back to the port. Excellent service

If they don’t dock at the terminal in town, they dock in the industrial port area and run shuttles into Noumea.

I understand how it could happen, but why. Change the programming to stop this useless information being sent.

Same happened to us on Enchanted.

10 days on World cruise. We were supposed to stop at Easter Island but couldn’t disembark because of big swells, then across the Pacific to Tahiti.

We just booked Melbourne Cup cruise and tried to book parking. All sold out. Love the convenience of on site parking. But not this time. Thinking of a taxi to port, about the same cost to park the car and then have son pick us up as we get back on a Saturday. No use having kids if you can’t use them. Lol

Upgrade, should be a link on your log in page. We did this last year and booked grandstand seats, couldn’t use them because the weather was atrocious. Those that paid for P&O area tickets were mostly disappointed. It was away from where you could wander and check out horse stalls, iconic statues etc. Thinking of doing it again this year, it was such a miserable freezing, wt day last year should be better this year? Hopefully.

In Cobh on WC three men had to run down the pier, they had been at Kelly’s Bar. I was standing near one of their wives, she was ,less than impressed. We were looking in the gift shop near where the ship was docked in Stockholm. Two of the ship’s crew came and rushed us out, there was still 30 mins before we were supposed to board. As we got into the lift the gangway came up and we were away.

On a recent cruise saw a young man, early 20’s, in his pjs at breakfast every morning. Lol

Nothing like that, on CP, just had to know to ring and order them. Also on Enchanted no order form just had to remember to order them.

On Caribbean Princess last month Elite formal night canapés were described as pralines. They were actually four chocolates. We had no packages, ordered them by phone and no charge.

We missed Noumea in May, P&O stated engine issues meant we couldn’t get there on time. We were given a small amount of OBC. I think there us an issue with Noumea, seems to be missed by a lot of operators.

No difference to other cruises, Mediterranean in April, no one in true formal gear, just slacks and dressy tops for some, others just anything goes. Greenland last month, same. Some people make an effort, some wear tshirts and cargo pants, even saw someone with a baseball cap worn backwards in dining room on formal night. Not even a sparkly cap. Lol

On Caribbean Princess at the moment. Dining room service is slow, but waiters trying hard and food very good. Everywhere I want to be seems to be crowded and has long lines. There was a huge line for afternoon tea on first sea day, but that seems to have solved itself, maybe people just not bothering. Again long line to get into theatre and always packed. Just seems too many people for facilities. However as usual we are enjoying our cruise. It is just a change after Regal and Enchanted.

For our 2024 cruise from Brisbane we received an offer for discounted flights from P&O Australia. We live in Brisbane so flights not necessary. Seems all of Carnival brands have these issues.