kate59

I cancelled my booking for this cruise and rebooked it under the Oceans of Offers with a different TA, only on the best price. 

I ended up saving A$290 pp on the cruise cost and got an extra US$100 onboard credit.

You do have to check deals around as Princess have put their price up on their Australian website for this cruise, so their prices for best price and value are inflated compared to what they were and what we can get with specific cruise TAs.

On 1/7/2020 at 7:30 PM, Pharry said:

The interesting this about this sale is that it is on Princess Aust site and the prices are in Australian dollars. Our travel agent is looking into for us, fingers crossed 🤔🤔

We can get the offer but as of yesterday the prices have gone up on the cruises I have been following. But we can only have free wifi and the drinks package (neither worthwhile for us) but the Gratuities are not included for overseas cruises for Australians. I have written to Princess several ways and a week later no response - so this tells me in my mind gratuities must be included in our price for overseas cruises - so in future do I remove the gratuities??? would be interesting if every Aussie removed them and wrote that Princess will not give us free gratuities on the promotion so we must have pre paid them.

32 minutes ago, Porky55 said:

Dubai is only a problem with any of the drugs you mentioned if you don’t have prescriptions for them. In some countries Tramadol / Stemetil can be gotten OTC and Dubai want a script. Also, having the bulk of medications in your checked luggage also solves a lot of problems, just carry an immediate few days in hand luggage - with original script and Drs letter just in case. 
Spent many a stopover in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi - quite familiar with both lovely cities and I have  some very peculiar meds. Never a problem 👍
Rose

I agree a beautiful city and with authority to carry was no problem how ever I would never place medication in checked luggage as risky if bag lost. It happened to someone on China tour with us and just as well it wasn't unusual medicine. She never got the bag back. 

22 minutes ago, Pharry said:

leck57 we were able to do this. The extra cost has been added to our booked cruise to Alaska, we also refared when i noted a price drop. We like a drink also, the cost worked out to be $A370 per couple for us. Your cost will depend on your fare. Hope you get a good deal. 

How many days is your cruise, our offer was $410 per person for 12 days,  so not worth when we don't drink much. 

Thanks

my experience this year.

I have several banned drugs in Dubai where we were spending a few days. one was Stemetil for nausea and Tramadol for pai , it wasn't what you would think would be banned.

It is best to check each country's banned drugs - in Dubai I applied online for an exemption especially as I was carrying a month worth but only there 3 days. No one was checking bags as we came off flight but I was told by our driver it was their quiet time.

There are some horror stories online so I won't risk it - just follow each countries requirements. Good when I cruise as it isn't such a problem

29 minutes ago, Aussie Gal said:

If your cruise leaves or returns to one of the ports in Australia, then your gratuities are included. If it leaves from a port overseas and doesn't return back to Australia, then you pay gratuities and it is added each evening to your account.  Simple as that.

Jennie

 

Sorry Jennie, you missed the point of the post. I know how the gratuities normally work in Australia, my cruise is around the Baltic and it is about us Australians not getting the same offering on the best Ever Sale.

To the other Australians here - please let me know how you got the deal and how much per day was it.

I have been trying to get it for over a week but Princess Australia keep telling my TA we can't have gratuities included it is only for Drink package and wifi. Is this because they are already included??? no still coming up in cruise personaliser to prepay and not on our travel summary as already paid. Looks like I will not be paying them?

It is worth it if gratuities are included for us as we don't drink much alcohol or use up our lite quota of wifi. But would work of with the coffee and mock-tails.

Once again Princess Cruises stuff us Australians around.

Anyone got any ideas, please.

We have done it on numerous Princess ships both in Australia and other places around the world - but only wine. Spirits will be taken and returned when disembarking ship, ie duty free from Port Villa.

16 minutes ago, Bribie Cruiser said:

Hi Kate. I have just booked E401 for a cruise next year. Just wondering what your experience was with the obstructed view from this cabin? Cheers, Colleen

This photo was taken at night. You can still see over the tender but not down. We where happy with it given the price we got. Balcony was not real big but adequate.

Just curious if anyone has tour suggestions for a day in Aqaba (we have decided Petra just too strenuous although we don't mind walking).

Anyone done the trip to the Dead Sea and if it was worth it - which company.

Thanks

5 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

I love the walk-around promenade deck. The Sun also has the anytime TV in the cabins - great.

We love this ship even though it is getting old. Last time I was on it there was a little bit of rust in some places but I have also seen this on newer ships.

We have spent over 100 nights on her over the last 8 years so just know her so well. After being on the Majestic in November, I would still have no problems cruising on the Sun if the itinerary was what I wanted. We so missed Crooners and the Wheelhouse Bar for dancing.

I remember you Aus Traveller.😉

We have been cruising with Princess for about 8 years, at least one cruise a year - longest 46 days so far. We get the future cruise credits before getting off the ship and they can save you heaps.

I looked at booking a cruise onboard last November and the quote gave me 3% off the advertised price at the time, as well as the FCC onboard credits, once home I could have changed it over to our TA if I could get greater benefits. I decided I needed more time to think about though so didn't book it. Since then spoke with our TA and yes I would have benefited from booking onboard and transferring booking to TA - so will book in future.

We are booked on the Grand Adventure next year - 56 nights, shame I didn't see it when I was on board in Nov.

On our last cruise in November 2018, we didn't get one but didn't bother asking either, just thought they must have done away with them, however our steward wasn't so up to date either as hubby wanted good shoes cleaned and he was told they no longer do that - I think she just didn't know or sometimes care - the cabin got looked after so I was happy.

Our favourite long cruises so far have been from Australia (yes bias as I live here) 

46 nights from Fremantle around the Indian Ocean - seems to only go every few years. Included India, South Africa and islands of the Indian Ocean, eg Maldives 

42 night cruise to Japan return to Sydney, included Guam and New Guinea - again this is only every few years.

Our next big one will be the Grand Adventure from Southampton to Sydney - see the link in my signature.

We love the longer cruises.

4 hours ago, Ombud said:

With so many good wines now having screw top instead of corks, I leave the corkscrew at home. Hard to get thru security

You can borrow cork screw from Steward. 

Check the Patter in cabin. It is your daily news about opening and closing time on back of it. 

The only issue with boarding early is that your cabin may not be ready. But you can still board and go for lunch.

Those of us who are Elites or in Suites can board any time and usually our cabins are done for us.

I am booked on the Ruby in November - Sydney to Tasmania.

Next year I am booked on the Regal when she comes into Sydney - can't wait - 56 nights. See the link in my signature.

Regal Itineraries https://www.princess.com/find/searchResults.do in Australia

On 5/10/2019 at 12:05 AM, kywildcatfanone said:

On our last Regal, the elite toiletry kit was not there.  I asked for it and it never came. 

It wasn't on the Majestic last November either, but I will be asking about it in future.

Make sure your Princess emails don't go to spam on program/app.

Our 56 night cruise next year we booked before it was released to the public - go great as we got a good deal, on board credit and our cabin we wanted.

Also make sure you get future cruise credits before you get off your next cruise - I have learnt to get 2 or 3 each now as we cruise a few times a year. This is a worthwhile perk anyone can get with Princess.

Just curious if the Sapphire Princess has theme nights as well as formal nights. Can anyone let me know from recent experience.

Thanks

There are 2 different medical forms

• the one you fill out at embarkation - have you had a cold. flu or diarrhoea? Yes I know of some who have lied, otherwise I wouldn't have gotten the flu.
• The second one is a more comprehensive one that people with chronic illnesses can fill out to provide information to Princess regarding their condition. It can help and I wouldn't expect anyone to lie with this one.

I have filled one our before. Because of my health issue I sometimes need to have nutritional supplementation so filled it out then found out Princess would provide it for me so I didn't need to hassle with security to get it on board. Worked out well for me. Currently going well and eating so not completing for next cruise.

37 minutes ago, tanzer22pilot said:

Has anyone had mail (think Amazon box) delivered to them at a port?  

Not to port, but in Australia I have had things delivered to nearest Post Office for pick up.

It is easy to work around the 2 to 3 days - I usually travel with 4 days of clothes and a few spare.

They usually do a great job with the laundry and my linen shirts come back beautiful - better than I can iron.

Steward usually hangs it all up for me so no problems.

Our July cruise it may be a little different as we have to cater for extremely hot weather then cold so I still might need more clothing. still working it out.