DrivesLikeMario

Good advice everyone.  I was wondering the same thing.  Looks like I'll do it myself instead of having the butler do it.  Thanks!

Air Tags are great.  They've helped us in the past.  
Just make SURE you can very easily lift your suitcase to the conveyor belt for the scanner.  Too many people struggle with it and all their other belongings and it holds up the line.

On 3/8/2024 at 1:36 PM, Acrusa said:

Did Oceania ever offer a post cruise tour or hotel package in Papeete?

No.  I did ask but they didn't.  I tried just about all the hotels in the area and no one wanted to rent a hotel room for the day - even those that say they will do it.  Maybe if I booked one about 2 wks. prior but I was trying to book a little farther out.  Even the small hotels refused to let us book for 1 night (for example, the Swiss Hotel).  The Hilton was definitely a treat.  So glad we did it.

1 hour ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

My apologies, I misspoke. As soon as I read your post I realized it. We did do the plane trip over the GBR from Yorkey’s Knob. We also did the Kuranda Railway on a different cruise, and, if I was forced to choose, I’d pick the plane ride. The railway is great…the plane one is once in a lifetime-type fantastic. 
 

http://pescadoamarillo.blogspot.com/2017/10/day-8-yorkeys-knob-cairns.html

 

Yes, that’s what I’m discovering.  Have sent the company an email and they said the same thing.  I’d like to do both the train and the flight if possible.  Hopefully, we can work it out.  Thanks so much for your help.  I’ve enjoyed reading your Aus/NZ blogs!

45 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

We tendered to a pier in Airlie beach. Daintree Aviation met us there, drove us to the airport (20 minutes or so I think), and took us back afterward. We were in a small plane with another couple we didn’t know, and the young pilot (they’re all trying to get their hours to fly for Qantas). 

That's really helpful, thank you!  I thought you'd be going from Yorkey's Knob but Airlie Beach would be much better for us since we want to do the Kuranda Railway from Yorkey's Knob.  I found Daintree's website and will definitely look into it.  As much as I love water, sitting on a boat for 6 hours in one day to get to the GBR is just too much IMO.

36 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

Another option for Cairns is to fly over the GBR. We arranged that on our own because neither of us was looking forward to the long boat ride out to the reef (many people got sick, and one person on our cruise fell down the stairs on the excursion boat and broke his leg because it was so rough). We arranged a flight through Daintree Aviation and they picked us up and returned us to the ship. 

That's a great idea.  How did you get to Daintree Aviation?  Was it a short taxi ride or did they pick you up?  That might be a better way to go as I really don't want to spend a whole day at the GBR.

48 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

There are so many thing that can’t happen on that tour that I would definitely book through Princess. 

Thanks.  Appreciate the expertise you have in the area.  Thanks, capriccio too.  

We learned an important lesson after a 4 hr. Sabatini's dinner.  What we do now when ordering at the specialty restaurants is tell the waiter that there's a show we want to get to at a certain time and then they know to get the lead out.  Our last Crown Grill dinner took a total of 45-50 mins.!  It was almost a little too fast, but so nice to get out of there in a timely manner.

With the Princess shore exc. being so expensive, do you think it's better to go with another company for the Great Barrier Reef tour?  Or is this one that is better to go with Princess?

If anyone reading this is planning to take the Kuranda Railway, it's suffered a lot of damage due to ex-tropical cyclone Jasper and will be completely closed until late April.  

Your luggage problems are why we got Air Tags.  I follow our bags along every step of our trip.  If they get lost, the bag information the airline has can often be wrong.  You show them where they are on your Find My App and voila! 

Also, AA sends you text messages that show the progress of your bags.  Your sister probably didn't get that service since she started with AK Air, but the texts are really helpful.  Between that and the Air Tags, the chance of problems are minimized.

3 hours ago, PaperSniper4 said:

That was our experience also last March <2023>. However, maybe Princess now prices the "Plus" with the international water thing already considered? So cruisers may not see that additional OBC? Worth check if one plans a LOT of drinking that first night!😁

 

 Doug

I don't think so.  We were just on a few weeks ago and had the Plus Package and paid the $60/pp pd rate.  The $25pp OBC is separate from that which is nice that they even offer that, IMO.  We went prepared not to drink alcohol until in international waters so the extra $50 for us was a win-win.  ;)

Agree.  It's those on the ships for many B2Bs that know all the answers.  It's frustrating for those that aren't on many B2Bs.  We have also been told the person running the trivia for that session picks the questions.  They can add their own if they want but generally, it's a bank of questions they have to choose from on a regular basis.

Interesting.  We were on the Regal just 2 wks. before you and were very pleased with the food quality and food service.  Everyone we ate with at night seemed pleased with it too and many commented on how good it was.  Compared to the Emerald Princess which we were also on recently, we were thrilled with how well run the Regal was.  

Just find another place to read or play games.  There are plenty of cozy little quiet places onboard.

We were on the Regal recently and had a really, really good cruise!  The crew were really good and you could tell the management on this ship run things well.  
The drink thing as of a few weeks ago is this:  there's a short list of alcoholic drinks they can make you.  They will cost money and will go on your onboard account even if you have a beverage package.  Once the ship is in international waters which is about 6:30-7:00pm, all drinks are available and all beverage packages apply.  It wasn't any hardship for us but some people (newbies mostly) were very shocked they'd have to pay for the drinks.  What many of the waiters failed to tell people is that everyone got a $25 OBC to cover a few drinks for those first few hours onboard.

It depends on what ship you're talking about.  Generally speaking, mini-suites are not obstructed.

Also, don't expect a "suite" experience in a mini-suite.  They aren't real suites.  There's a few perks which you may like if you don't have any status with Princess.  The perks depend on what category of mini-suite you pick.  The "Reserve Collection" which used to be "Club Class" have a few perks but nothing that great IMO.  We usually go with them due to the location of the cabins though and being able to dine without making dinner reservations.

What's up is supply & demand.  Many ships for AK this season are just about sold out.  It's crazy, but everyone seems to want to cruise there this summer.  I've had a heck of a time finding just 1 berth for 1 person on a few different ships.

Totally agree and I've said it for years.  They need a new level above Elite.  Way too many Elites now.  30 cruises or 300 days sounds fair to me too.  Even just one more small perk added would be nice.

Wow!  That's not a good deal at all!  Glad to hear it!  I did call all of the big hotels and even the small Swiss Hotel and no one offered a day use pass at that time and many wouldn't even let us pay for a 1-night booking.  Thanks for the info.  I had to tell myself to just forget about what it cost and enjoy the moment.  😉

Yes, we wanted to be close to the airport and wanted to earn (not use) Hilton Honors points.  It was rated higher at the time too.  It really was beautiful and clean.

1 hour ago, luckybecky said:

 

Wondering how this worked out for you? We are considering doing the same thing. Did they allow you to check in early (if needed)? Were you able to leave your luggage at the bellhop desk and use the facilities while waiting for your room to be ready?

 

We get off the ship in the morning and the flight we are considering doesn't leave until almost midnight.

We packed our swim suits, cover-ups, sunglasses, SPF, hats on the very top of 1 bag (forgot the camera). Took that and went to the bathroom to change, putting our clothes in that bag.  Then we gave all the bags to the bell hop.  We had to pay for 1 night at the Hilton which was incredibly beautiful.  It was around $450 if I remember correctly.  A lot to spend but SOOO worth it.  
 

We talked with others that didn’t do that and they said it was the biggest mistake they had ever made.  They walked for 6 hrs dragging their luggage around the market area & finally went to the airport thinking there would be a/c.  They were so sweaty from head to toe.  Pretty gross.  Felt bad for them. 
 

After changing & dropping the bags, we were sent to the pool (and wow, was it nice!!) for a few hours.   Then we had 2 burgers with fries and each a Diet Coke for $90. We were able to check in afterwards.  I’m not sure if being in Hilton Honors was why we got to check in early but it CERTAINLY made a difference at check in.  It was MUCH faster for that line than the regular line.
 

The rooms were really nice.  We got a fourth floor room (highest one with a fantastic view over the pool) and checked out about 7:15pm.  We bought snacks at the little store the Hilton had on the property. 

Thank God we left for the airport when we did!!   You should’ve seen the line for check-in and the hard stares we got when we got out of the taxi and even more so when we passed over 100 or so people to wait in the business class line.  
 

We were #3 & #4 to check in which meant we got ahead of all the hundreds of others in the security line.  We had to wait in that for almost an hour.  We walked upstairs to the Business Class lounge.  It’s the ONLY place in the entire airport with a/c and it was desperately needed!!   We enjoyed snacks and drinks there.  Everyone else had to sit downstairs, packed into uncomfortable chairs in the stifling heat.  There were a lot of really grouchy people we noticed as we walked passed them all to board first.  This is one place you want to upgrade your seats!!  
 

Don’t miss sunset at the hotel - absolutely amazing!   Sorry so long but I wish I had more info before we booked.  It was really hard to come by.  Also, were used to hot, very humid weather.  The heat there is like nothing we have ever experienced.  It was incredible so don’t underestimate it.  
it was worth every penny and bead of sweat though. 😂. It’s just amazing!!

24 minutes ago, Seaspartan said:

We just completed a cruise on Emerald and asked the future cruise desk about discounted cruises. We were told the only “deals” were those we would have received by email. He did check the cruise I have planned for April to see if he could get a better price. The price was now $600 more per person with less OBC. Then we got the hard sell on the future cruise package that includes hotel stays. Selling that package seemed to be their main interest as everyone around us was getting the same pitch.

Wow.  We didn't get that pitch at all in August and Sept. on the Emerald.  I don't like sales pitches either.

9 hours ago, trbarton said:

I’m courious if you could get a discount on a booking a booking already made?

 

Tom😀

When they had the 50% off, I did just that.  Cancelled my booking and then re-booked right there with the FCC.  The money transferred over and kept the same TA too.

11 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

We are currently on the Enchanted Princess.  We had a lengthy conversation with the Future Cruise Manager onboard.  In her "opinion," the 50% discounts were discontinued because ships are now sailing full or near to capacity.  So, no need to discount fares.  🤷‍♂️

That makes sense to me from what I've been seeing too.  Occupancy is high even for 2025 sailings.