Jean C

Another thing to consider is whether or not you need to get a covid test before your flight, whether a RAT or PCR test is needed and the time these take, whether you can get the test on board before you dock, whether your cruise ship offers RAT testing at the terminal or if you have to get it done at the airport and allow time for queues with others doing the same thing. We can't even check in for our flight without our covid test result so I figured a midday flight too close for comfort and have put a book aside to occupy me during my long wait for a later flight. The LATEST CHECK IN TIME is the key time here. Of course Murphy's Law states that on the day we'll find we will have been able to catch the early flight with ease, but not sure what Murphy would do if we took the early flight gamble. Without covid testing in the mix the midday flight would be more doable ✈

PS, while in the area you MUST go to the Beach Bar at the Moana Surfrider (next to the Duke statue) for a Mai Tai - they do the best ones in all of Waikiki with the bar right on the beach 🍹 😋

Hi, my two cents worth. Princess is quite clear on their protocols for cruises from Sydney and Brisbane that passengers are required to ATTEST to a negative RAT test. The confusion comes from the troublesome medallion where the health section tells passengers to upload a copy of their negative test result. I presume that's what's done on the States but it clearly doesn't apply to us.

Hi, I googled "covid tests in Honolulu" and found results for travel and cruise ship test providers. There's one on the 4th floor of Waikiki Plaza shopping center in the heart of Waikiki (not Ala Moana shopping center, but the one close to Waikiki Beach). Unfortunately nothing comes cheap but it's a cost you can't avoid. For our tests in NZ test prior to boarding in Brisbane I will count the actual HOURS to calculate the timeframe, I wouldn't risk relying on someone not being aware of countries time differences. From their website: The Waikiki PCR Testing Center is located on the 4th floor of the Waikiki Shopping Plaza, and will offer an FDA-approved Saliva Collection Test (real time RT-PCR), a “gold standard” FDA-approved Nasal Swab (real time RT-PCR) Test, and a Rapid Antigen Test for COVID-19. The testing center will operate 7 days a week between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, with last check-in at 4:30 PM. Good luck.

Have you considered getting tested at the Aussie airport before you fly? I'm in NZ but had to research getting a covid test at Brisbane Airport to return to NZ. Histopath do both types of tests and have a facility at various Aussie airports. I found them by googling "covid testing at ??? airport". For us it seems Princess offer post cruise testing for international traveller's so we can do that instead. Good luck 🤞

Sorry, I put you wrong, the usual docking is at Waitangi with shuttle buses into Paihia, or if weather is good, a very pleasant walk along the waterfront into Paihia 🌞

Hi, all I can tell you is that Bay of Islands is a tender port and what wharf the tenders take you to depends on ocean conditions on the day. It is usually to Paihia Wharf but can be to Waitangi.

Hi, there is a very good Webinar detailing protocols for cruising from Australia that you can find in the Australia & NZ section under Forums and the thread headed "I WAS going to book a Princess cruise". This put my mind to rest. Also on the main Princess website under health protocols and cruises from Australia it says that we just need to attest to a negative test. When I first went into the Medallion app 2 or 3 weeks ago there was a check box to attest. With their fiddling with site and updates that's been replaced with "upload proof" - I wonder how people are going to deal with that, ignore it or to upload something maybe a photo of the negative test result?

I posted a reply but it hasn't appeared. Thanks so much, greatly appreciated 😋

Hi guys, another query for you 🤔 I know that Princess now advertise themselves as "cashless" but - we are NZ'ers and both have a lot of AUD left over from our South America cruse many moons ago and would prefer to use some of this on the Princess Airlie Beach Whitehaven Beach shore tour (booking on board). Even though they're "cashless", can you still pay cash on your Princess folio account? Probably a silly question but worth asking just in case 💰 Many thanks 😊

No, don't risk getting into trouble. I'm sure we will be able to sneak a couple of the yummy cookies off, as you say we can "test" the waters at port stops and take note of any announcements. Thanks 🙂

Thank you all for your responses, it's helpful just to know. Cheers.

Don't judge me, but could you please check if food, ie cookies, fruit, bread roll, can be taken off the ship at ports of call since it is a domestic cruise? Brekkie and dinner are more than enough food for us but we have a late flight home on disembarkation day and I wondered if some snacks could taken off for our long wait at the airport. Many, many thanks 😊