Astro Flyer

Thanks…we don’t need a second account on our CA Coastal cruise. Also checked our NYC to MIA cruise in 2024 and SM is not cost effective for the way we cruise.

That began recently (7/1?) but for those of us who booked cruise only before SM was implemented it will affect us. Based on showing that 2 devices per cabin effective 10/1 for OLife Choice and SM bookings shows those of us with cruise only bookings are ineligible for a second device.

I get my Euros at ATMs in Europe which like chargecards uses the current exchange rate…do you need Euros prior to arriving?

Their T&C statement that seats are held up to 15 minutes should be followed & not be as little as 5 minutes before a performance. That’s a Premier benefit but also believe that Princess needs to follow their own rules & to explain to ineligible passengers why they’re being held. Reasonable people will understand & accept that is a Premier benefit however even they might get frustrated when those seats are held up to 5 minutes before a performance which violates their T&C.

As I recall, even passengers with a package see the option to prepay CA which is included in their package. As Mary wrote it’s apparently another longterm glitch in the Cruise Personalizer that Princess has not corrected.

Thanks for the clarification & hopefully it will not change before our Spring 2025 circumnavigation of Australia.

Thanks…did the CVP mention how it works without a package? Would it be $23.44 AUD which is the current exchange rate for the $16 USD tips. The packages are not cost effective for us so we will incur CA.

I won’t pay $140 for the Caymus WMD and wonder how many others would purchase it resulting in eliminating the original WMD. Hopefully someone posts if that $45 version is still available. 🤞 On every RC-class ship we go to the WMD & maybe the Caymus version will be like the more expensive Super Tuscan dinner which is rarely offered guessing due to the price. On Royal Princess’ inaugural TA in 2013 we attended the ST tasting with hot freshly made snacks for about $50 in Sabatini’s.

I’ve also read that norovirus is affecting more cruises now.

These are the amounts to purchase the packages

Thanks for confirming what I’m expecting after reading discussions on the OZ/NZ board. And based on posts there & my CP showing CA as in USD, it appears that will be converted to over $23 AUD because onboard spending is in AUD. As I recall, people posting on that board said not all cruise lines use AUD when sailing Oz so apparently that is not required by Oz law. When cruising Europe onboard spending is not in Euros so don’t know why it’s different in Oz. We’ll also sail Auckland to LA and that onboard spending including CA and OBCs are in USD.

As I’ve previously posted, I do not have direct knowledge about this situation but based on asking it on the OZ/NZ board for our 2025 cruises this was the consensus. Your first statement appears to apply to those who book cruises in Oz & NZ…CA included in cruise fare & no credit for it not being included in packages. Based on experiences shared on the OZ/NZ board for us booking in USD then CA is additional. I don’t have a package so expect to pay the $16 USD/pp/day CA (shown in my Cruise Personalizer) that is converted to the nearly $24 AUD. As I recall Thrak will sail Oz in the Fall & should have direct knowledge about how CA is paid when booking in USD on a ship that uses AUD onboard. IIRC he has a package so won’t pay CA daily like me but he might gain some knowledge about how you & I without packages will be charged for CA.

The new Caymus Winemakers Dinner is $140/pp however the original version on Royal-class ships in a Wine Cellar area of a dining room still shows available at a $5 increase…$45. https://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/food-and-dining/dining-options.pdf Lumiere (Ring of Lights on Royal-class ships): $130 per person with wine $115 per person without Regular CT on other ships in a dining room: $110 per person with wine $100 per person without

No extra charge

After our 2025 around Oz cruise ending in Brisbane we fly to Auckland to cruise 22 days to LA and the OBC is in USD. In 2009 we sailed Sydney to LA and OBC was in USD although things could have changed.

While I do not have direct experiences about other cruise lines’ procedures, based on answers I received on the OZ/NZ board other cruise lines do not follow the Princess procedure. Thus apparently the Princess procedure is not required by Oz law but appears to be how Princess saves money by significantly reducing the value of OBC which I also feel is unfair. I don’t have any package that includes tips & to prepay them it’d be their standard $16/day/pp (obstructed OV cabin). When using the AUD devalued OBC & onboard charging tips in AUD equivalent to $16 USD your $1 USD is converted to $1.45 AUD…$23.48 AUD per person per day. Hopefully someone will either confirm or will correct the procedure my research has revealed.

Here’s what my 28 day Around Australia cruise in 2025 shows for tips when booked from the US. 1) $448/pp = $16/day/pp in USD 2) OBC is in AUD & converting $16 to AUD that is $23.48 AUD at the current exchange rate. I’ve been asking on the OZ/NZ board about experiences & the consensus has been my tips will be charged in AUD equivalent to $16…$23.48 AUD. My $750 OBC everywhere else in the world except in Australia where it’s $750 AUD converts to only $511.21 in USD…about a 1/3 reduction in value. Reducing my OBC by 1/3 and charging tips in AUD equivalent to $16 further reduces the value of my OBC when cruising in Oz.

We cruised for our 50th anniversary which Princess knew about…only celebration was a small cake if requested in a dining room which we didn’t request.

I’ve enjoyed that several times when it was served at our Michael Mondavi Winemakers Dinners. 😋🍷

Would you know if bridge activity is videoed? Or is it like on airliners with only a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) in addition to a Flight Data Recorder (FDR)?

As I recall recently reading the no charge afternoon tea in a dining room is now only offered on sea days? Maybe it’s the same thing for the Royal Afternoon Tea on those 4 ships? We rarely have the elite afternoon tea in our cabin because it’s too much food before our 6:00 dinner. My wife occasionally goes to the buffet for those few items as a light snack.

It is also shown on their current dining PDF as available on Enchanted, Regal, Royal & Sky so apparently they are offering Royal Afternoon Tea again. Hopefully someone with recent experiences on these ships will confirm or deny it’s current availability. https://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/food-and-dining/dining-options.pdf

I saw it on the Royal’s earlier cruises but not since then on any of the Royal-class ships (Royal, Regal, Majestic, Sky, Discovery) we’ve sailed.

You’re welcome…Based on the different Cruise Contract statements it’s unlimited when boarding in Aus although how policies are enforced can vary with shoreside personnel who are not Princess employees.

There is a Passage Contract from Australia & for a few Asian countries and there’s another Passage Contract from most other places which you can read here. https://www.princess.com/legal/passage_contract/ In Australia there isn’t a limit stated on non-alcoholic drinks brought onboard unlike most other ports having these limitations (both are listed in Section 5). Guests are also prohibited from bringing water, sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages on board that are packaged in bottles. A small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages (i.e., sparkling water, sodas, juice, milk) packaged in cans or cartons may be brought on board on embarkation day, only if carried on in Guests’ hand luggage (not in checked luggage). A small quantity is considered a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans/cartons of 12 ounces each or less per person. Guests will be asked to discard open beverages in plastic containers prior to boarding. In March 2025 we’re sailing Brisbane roundtrip around Australia & looking forward to some pre-cruise time for our first visit to your city. 😊