Aus Traveller

... and it is a bit of a minefield knowing who to tip and what percentage.

Simply - don't worry about tipping. It is quite OK. The crew on the Australian-based ships are on good remuneration and don't rely on tips to top up a low base salary. The crew will not expect a tip. We have done literally dozens of cruises on Australian-based ships where the gratuities are built into the fare. At no time have we felt that crew expected a tip. Just enjoy your cruise and don't even think about it.

When travelling we usually carry our passports in our handbag/carry on case. If we feel it is an unsafe place, the passports are carried under our clothing in a security wallet. When we are on cruise ships we are totally comfortable leaving passports and cash in the safe.

It depends on which cruise line. Princess actively 'chases' the wedding market with many of their ships having a Wedding Chapel. A few years pre-COVID Princess announced that they were changing their port of registry for the ships (or might have been some of their ships) to Hamilton in the Bahamas so their captains would be able to perform weddings.

Maybe they are busy packing!

Are you comfortable driving a hire car?

I agree with the above comments so I won't repeat them. Keep in mind that on the cruises where gratuities are in place, the crew remuneration relies on tips to make up a major part of their income. On the Aussie-based cruises where gratuities are included, the crew are on a much higher rate of base pay.

Initially everyone was locked out of the cabin, but at least one of the male occupants appealed to the Purser to be allowed to get his shaving gear and other personal items. Agreed - it shouldn't have been allowed.

The problem was the police investigation. Because the ship was Australian based with Aussie passengers, Aust police investigators were sent. They sent two officers from NSW Water Police who weren't experienced in investigating suspicious deaths. The main officer who did the investigation (not that he did much) went on stress leave for two years before submitting his report. In his defence, it was originally believed that the death was from natural causes.

I believe that P&O was unfairly blamed. It cost them many millions of dollars including the $2 million they paid the B family as an ex gratia payment.

Her drinks weren't spiked. From evidence at the Inquest, Ms B knowingly took the drugs after going with one of the men at 1am back to the cabin he shared with three others. Although I don't have personal experience, I have read that it is difficult to know the strength of illegal drugs.

The conversation started because Lyndarra said he wouldn't cruise with P&O because of the unfortunately affair involving Ms Diane Brimble. Subsequent posts were an attempt to point out that it wasn't P&Os fault and that cruising (and security) have changed a lot since then - as has society.

Maybe some of her alcohol purchases were for the men she was with. There was testimony that at least a couple of the men didn't want her with them. They were trying to win on to the young girls and didn't want to spend time with a woman in her 40s.

They won't have zero alcohol options on board. If she takes non-alcoholic wine with her it will be queried. She will have to be prepared to point out where it says on the label that it is non-alcoholic.

I can't recall evidence stating that Ms Brimble took alcohol onto the ship. However, she spent a lot of money on alcohol (I can't remember the exact amount) on the first night. Of course, she could have been buying drinks for the men she was with. She might not have drunk it all herself.

Agreed. Details that came out at the Inquest were very interesting. Ms Brimble's death was initially thought to be from natural causes, probably a heart attack. The authorities on the ship should have know early on that she had bought a lot of alcohol that night, but it was only later that drugs were detected.

At the time when Dianne Brimble died, security wasn't as tight as it became shortly after. Unfortunately the men involved took drugs aboard and the lady made some unfortunate choices. When she became very unwell, they didn't call for medical help until it was too late. In my opinion, P&O was unfairly blamed for the death. It didn't help that the NSW Police investigation was very poorly handled.

We both remember that.

I remember the get-together I just wasn't sure which cruise it was. 🙂 You have both convinced me it was 26th June.

I certainly remember your poetry.

Last year we were on the Coral for a coastal cruise from 26th June. It could have been on that cruise and not the January or February ones this year.

We met on a Coral Princess cruise in either January (to Tasmania) or February (to NZ) this year.

Well said. I am glad that neither I now my husband, like gambling, not even bingo.

Thanks for your comment about my new avatar. It was a shot taken on the Coral Princess while we were in the Med during the world cruise. Yes - ANZ share trading is now CMC Invest. I try not to think about the amount I paid for my shares pre-COVID.

Our P&O cruises are from the Brisbane terminal.