maxmia

Has anyone else had a Princess rep. tell them that the sale price on the web is for online bookings only?    I have booked at lease 4 of the last cruises by phone, and never had a problem before.    Yesterday I was quoted an increased fare of $700   to book on phone, or if I wanted the sale price with the 3x3 offer book on the website.     It's something new to me!    

I live in a coastal area with extensive waterways.    I recently did a tour of our local waste depot.     It's amazing what people put down their sinks and toilets.   The mind set seems to be, if your swill it or flush it away, its gone.  I had to totally rethink what I put down the  kitchen sink, and into my toilet bowl, it was a real eye opener.    I have been to Asia and I know waste in the waterways is a big problem in those countries, but at least for us who are aware of the damage water pollution can do, lets try and make a difference.   By the way, I like a straw in my Brandy Alexander, but if it's served without it, so be it.

11 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

Take lots of money, Norway is ultra expensive.

Thanks MicCanberra, i have  now been warned.   Just back from the UK , its expensive enough there.  The cheapest coffee AU$7, not many freebees these days,  most landmarks have entrance fees, but it does not seem to stop the tourists.    Thank goodness I had visited these sites several times on previous visits.   I will start saving my gold coins for Norway, might be able to afford a coffee there.        Maxmia.   

I finally managed to get into my roll call.   Wanting to join  private  tours that are being arranged, so hopefully there will be a few going.      A cruise to Norway port intensive, any advice?         Thanks Maxmia

I have not been on this site for almost 12 months, and i totally dislike this new format.  In my opinion, they have lost the plot. Have been trying to connect with my roll call, keeps asking me to register.  I thought I would not be able to write a post on this forum if I was not registered.    So frustrated.      

Yeah, could have been either or neither of those two reasons.

Just off the Pacific Explorer. The sanitation crew were on duty for the very bad influenza outbreak. We heard from the Medical centre that there were 800 cases, my husband being one of them. The problem was a number of the passengers who were diagnosed as being infected, did not wear their masks, and stay in their cabins as requested. No issue with the toilets or smells the we noticed. Enjoyed the choice of restaurants, and in the Pantry, all food was served by staff, no food handling by passengers. They also have 3 hand washing basins on each side of pantry.

Elite with Princess, but quite liked the Explorer, and would sail on her again.

I really object to the references to floating nursing home. My husband and I are elderly (80's) and we participate in most of the activities on board. We do not have walking devices, and we are not incontinent, and we love cruising. At our age is is very suitable, we are not having to drag suitcases from place to place. We are 3 star mariners with HAL and Elite with Princess. We have booked a P & O cruise on Pacific Explorer and we will have a good time. We have never been on a bad cruise. It is what it is.

Heard this rumour on our last cruise (April 2017) spoke to the Captain's Circle host, and he confirmed the changes had been made for OZ cruising from April 2017 regarding the FCD. I had a cruise booked using FCD and wanted to switch to another sailing, and was told by Princess that the FDC would be lost in the future by switching, but as I had booked before the changes came into effect, it was refunded. These new rules make me cautious about booking anything too far ahead. These new rules may apply to NZ cruisers as well. He also said it was something to do with the OZ government protection laws, something I have never heard of in regards to cruising.

In OZ we do not have many costal cruise options. Getting enough cruises up for Elite needs longer cruises. We reached Elite by doing from 12 day to 38 day cruises, loved them all, enjoying the perks, but not worried about priority tendering, just enjoy the 3 day laundry turn around and the priority check in. Just love being on a ship. PS. forgot the internet minutes! Barb.

Just off Golden, heard this story from anther passenger. Spoke to the Captain's Circle rep.. and he confirmed it. He said it was something to do with the Australian Fair Trading rules. They are apparently different in the USA, He was a bit vague on the matter, said it had always been in force. To date we have not had to test the rule, so hopefully we will never have to.

There was none on the Sun Princess October round Australia cruise (30 days)

:rolleyes:

We have a cruise booked with the special offer, waiver of cover charge specialty restaurant, and a bottle of wine. We booked direct with Princess, but confirmation E mail does not mention the extras, and I cannot find it on cruise personalizer. I like to have a paper confirmation of inclusions, and wonder where it should show up, any ideas?.:confused: Thanks,

Can anyone tell me what time the Princess shuttle starts from the domestic terminal to White Bay.:confused: Thanks.

Question for those who were on this cruise ... have your received your post cruise "survey" email yet?

 

This cruise ended on Wednesday 27 April and it is now Friday 6 May. We haven't received our email yet, nor have several friends who were also on this cruise. :confused:

 

Just wondering because we were urged frequently to fill this survey in and post it back to Princess during the Wake Show and from many of the crew members also.

Also on this cruise, we have not had the survey email, usually arrive a day or so after the cruise ends, very strange.:confused:

[quIote=CATGUY7;49527949]I have read the thread, and again, could care less what you do.

I will never understand why people get so touchy on these forums. Also why they keep bringing up a subject that is so much a matter of personal choice, and seems to inflame so many. Do what you want, just don't share it on the forum.

Re Visas. Do we need extra photo's for the Vietnam Visa? We did a land tour 3 years ago, and needed to apply directly to their Immigration. but that only lasted 90 days. We are letting Princess do the Visa, so I hope we don't need one for Indonesia now, seems a bit up in the air at the moment.

:confused:

Depends on your budget and length of stay.

 

pier 1 (mentioned above is nice, but expensive).

 

Park Hyatt is even nicer but $$$$:eek:.

 

we like Holiday Inn the Rocks, the night before we sail, it's right opposite the OPT.

 

Some nice ones around at Darling Harbour.

 

Four Seasons is good too.

Hi Gut2407, we have booked the Holiday Inn at the rocks, for our Golden to Asia. Is it easy walking from the Hotel to the OPT with a suitcase each? Thanks Barb.

Agree with most of the points made, one thing though if you went on a similar cruise (length and return to same port with no flights) whether out of the US or the UK, you will find that the crowd is even older, fatter and whingier.

That said, I think us cruisers here need to uphold a standard as we cruise for the next 20-40 years, we can't do anything about getting older but we can try to not get as fat or as complaining as the current cohort.

We are of the older gen. weight 72ks and 66 ks, not admitting age, but would probably be classified as the very old, cruise around 3 times a year. We don't complain, enjoy every cruise accept that not everything is perfect. Know how annoying it can be getting caught behind some very slow passengers, but our thoughts are " there but by the grace of God go us"

Hi Irene and Stan, we met you on a cruise,a few years ago. Stan hurt his arm on the bus. I think it was a Hal cruise, I can't remember, we have done a number of cruises since then, now with Princess. Hope you are both well, Barbara and Kevin

I can't swim.:eek:

I can't fly either!

When I bought OBC, I did not see anything on my cruise details where it said Casino credits. Can someone please explain how to do this, thanks. Barb.:confused:

While on our 35 day cruise on the Sun, had my nails done, there was 5% added to the price, but the charges were $AU We are on the Golden in April to Hong Hong, all charges are in US$ plus a daily gratuity of about $13US. We also did a HAL cruise in December, Sydney Fiji Sydney on Noordam and all charges were in US$.plus daily gratuities. Barb.

Is it possible to apply direct to the Indonesian embassy and obtain a visa yourself? :confused:

Probus is great for pre-existing heart etc. conditions. Their cover has an excess, and is governed by age. You must be a member of a Probus Club, but they have a great membership. I would recommend that any retiree join their local club. My DH has previous open heart surgery, and a cancer operation, all within the last 10 years, he is 89 years old. We have no problem getting insurance for him, we did a 35 day cruise, including Hawaii, and it cost us around $1600 for the 2 of us. We were previously covered by our CC, but once you turn 80 they cover everything except medical. but charge quite a bit extra for pre-existing. You can check it out if you Google Probus South Pacific, travel insurance.

We prefer cruises that don't involve flying, but unfortunately sometimes it can't be avoided. We can cope with a one way flight these days, so sometimes a re positioning cruise has good ports, and prices. Shop around, get a good TA.