Oriana1

Good on Princess for providing some good will (money back) and that will stop a lot of complaints and keep people coming back.

I thought it was wonderful of Princess to give us the 20% credit. Passengers still complained about the 20%, because it meant they would have to go on another cruise that they probably already hated going on.

Kim

I was on the Golden Princess at Christmas and cruised around New Zealand.

The cruise before mine the Golden Princess missed Akaroa, Port Chalmers, cruising the sounds plus Milford Sound, but they did go to Picton as an extra Port.

On my cruise we missed Wellington, cruising the sounds and Milford Sound.

We had booked an aft balcony cabin to sit there going through the sounds. We could not use our balcony for the final three days of the cruise due to the fog and mist/showers.

To our surprise, the day before we arrived back in Melbourne, every passenger received a 20% credit of what we paid for our cruise off our next Princess cruise.

Kim

Yes indeed, nice job backing in to Napier.

As Aus Traveller says, that 90* turn would require skill as it's quite tight.

 

Golden Princess has had to bypass Gisborne today and proceed straight to Wellington.

The tender anchorage there is exposed, so that is hardly a surprise.

About 2.5 - 3m southerly swell straight into the anchorage today.

I was on the Golden Princess for the Christmas cruise. Funny we went to Gisborne and then had to bypass Wellington due to the weather.

Kim

Hi Peter and Jenny,

Thank you for the cruisecal website, which is great and extremely helpful.

Kim

Hi Penny,

As far as I know check in commences at 10.30 am on Sunday with a possible boarding time of then 11.30 am.

I would get there at 11.00 am.

Kim

Well believe it or not we have accepted a great 'Move Over Offer'. Accepted because we have done this cruise before on the Golden Princess and were boarding from our home port.

 

Great offer, and I believe they are frantically trying to finalise the offers and there seems to have been a lot offered and accepted!

• Cruise fare as refundable onboard credit
  
• Free cruise up to 14 days anywhere in the world
  
• Upgraded Premium Cabin to Club Class Mini Suite
  
• 2 x Speciality Dinners
  
• $$$ for incidental expenses
  

 

Now what to decide on! :D:eek::D

Hi Margot,

I was on that cruise from Melbourne. I heard about the offer from a passenger but she only knew about the refundable cruise fare and a free cruise. Another passenger was also offered the same offer but declined it. I would have jumped at that offer.

As we ended up missing Wellington, cruising the sounds and Milford Sound due to the weather all passengers received a letter on the last day offering us 20% credit of the amount we paid for the cruise for a future cruise.

Kim

You can download the single page PNG Declaration Form by clicking on the link in the body of the text on the P&O webpage https://www.pocruises.com.au/PNG-visa-form .

Might save a bit of time if you fill in the form before you arrive at the Cunard check-in. :)

Definitely complete the PNG Declaration and photocopy your passport details before you get to check in or better still before you leave your house. So many pasengers turn up with nothing, even though it is emailed to the passenger.

The passport details just have to be black and white and DO NOT have to be signed by a JP.

Kim

I work at the check in at Brisbane cruise terminal and also going on a cruise to Papua New Guinea next week.

Passengers have to complete a visa form and attach a copy of your passport information page. This is handed in to the check in staff and then we give them to the ship.

The ship organises the visas and then charges your account. I have heard those fees are between $8 to about $30. Will find out next week.

The main thing about going to Papua New Guinea is that your passport expiry date MUST have a six month expiry on it from your return date to Australia. So if your return date to Australia is say 1 May 2016 your passport expiry date must be 1 November 2016 or more otherwise no cruise for you.

Kim

Someone named Joanna is CD on Aria.

Kim

Will check before disembarking in New Zealand.

Thanks Oriana1, this clarifies my question and what I thought might have been the situation. I think I will wait until I am on board rather than risk paying the higher price and it not being reimbursed and having to chase it up. You would think in this day and age that they could get their cruise personaliser reflecting the correct prices for AUD voyages.

 

Elise

Hi Elise,

I thought the same thing to purchase on board. I would not want to risk it that Princess actually paid you back the credit.

Personally, I am now thinking of just getting the soda and more package which is about $8.00 per day. The reason being is that you can take on a bottle of wine each at embarkation. Then my cruise is around New Zealand so you can bring on another bottle each at each port of call (to have in your cabin or take a glass up on deck). They have a happy hour in the afternoon, two for the price of one. Just that I would not be able to drink $50 a day extra in alcohol.

Kim

I am booked on Golden Princess later this year and noticed the same thing $74 on cruise personalised and $59 on Princess website.

I telephoned Princess a few days ago and advised them of the $15 difference. The person said that they can not fix the cruise personaliser but apparently the price is $59 and if you happen to purchase it at $74 you will be reimbursed the $15 difference as on board credit.

Kim

Legend is definitely at Portside that day. Check in probably commences after 10.00 am. Cost of taxi is about $30 or more.

Kim

Thanks David for the photo.

My 19 year old daughter is on Sea Princess and is thoroughly enjoying it.

Kim

The way my teenage daughter found the maggot was that she stuck her fork in the leafy end and was going to take a bite from the trunk end (I hope that makes sense) and noticed the maggot just at the part where the trunk became the leaves/branches. That maggot could have had relatives/friends throughout the other broccoli.

For the tomato sauce incident they did remove that bottle/dispenser and refilled it. That maggot was alive.

My daughter is currently on Sea Princess and so far is maggot free.

Kim

A query about the on board credit. I have considered purchasing some Carnival shares. Is the on board credit in addition to what your travel agent gives? For example, I am going on Pacific Aria next year and the travel agent gave us $350 on board credit, so would that mean I get $350 plus $250 from the shares (cruise is 14 days) to give a total of $600 on board credit.

Kim

I was on Pacific Dawn for the five ship spectacular.

The good thing we did have vegetables.

The bad thing my teenage daughter loves broccoli and could not find it on the sides order, but one night I had salmon and it came with one broccoli so she was requested a serve of broccoli as she was eating her final piece discovered a maggot in it.

We complained and was told it happens often.

We can attest to it happening often, as on our previous Pacific Dawn cruise, my daughter had a live maggot walking across the tomato sauce that she just put on her hot dog purchased from the Grill.

On both occasions the ship sent a bottle of champagne to the cabin.

Kim

We booked Cabin #6103, Port side Second cabin from the front, and I can't wait.. I love the sound of the water splashing against the bow, and at night you can look straight down and see phosphorescence in the wake..

 

On the Summit, we also booked one of the Sweet Sixteen cabins, double length Veranda, it's like the fourth or fifth cabin from the bow. for 14 days...

 

As long as you don't have motion sickness issues, I think it's the best place to be..

Hi Anj,

We were in 6106 (three cabins from the front) on Celebrity Solstice. 6102, 6104 and us (6106), all of our balconies were not against the ships side but were about 30 cm to 40 cm in from the outside of the ship. Cabin 6108 was in line with the ships side, so we could only see straight out, not aft at all, and not forward towards the bow. The cabin was very noisy coming into port.

Kim

Thanks everyone for your comments.

 

We've booked - deposit paid today - yeh!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Kids and parents very excited. Tahiti and Hawaii here we come (well in 12 months :))

 

Deb

Hi Deb,

Looking forward to seeing you on board.

Kim

Hi there,

 

I need advice from anyone who has travelled on the Solstice with kids. I have 15, 12 and bringing a 7 year old with us, can anyone please tell me what the teens/kids clubs are like.

 

We will be travelling (hopefully) next April - Sydney to Hawaii.

 

Is there much on board for kids to do as it's an 18 night sailing with about 11 sea days so I don't want them bored.

 

We just got off the Rhapsody and they totally loved that ship, there was always something for them to do onboard.

 

Any advice on the Solstice would be greatly appreciated as I'm hoping to book something in the next couple of days. Thanks.

Regards,

Debbie

Hi Debbie,

I have already replied to a similar question you put on the 11 April 2014 and 3 April 2015 roll calls for Celebrity Solstice cruising from Sydney to Honolulu.

My daughter, Laura was 16 years old when she went last year. Laura has previously been on 13 cruises and said this was the best one she has ever been on. There were only 40 teenagers on board which was great as they all got to know everyone. Lets say the first night on leaving Sydney she did not get back to the cabin until 3.00 am (teenagers club shut at 1.00 am, clocks were put forward so it was actually 2.00 am), the teens were just sitting in Team Earth talking until 3.00 am.

For meals, we only saw Laura at breakfast the first day (where she met LillyLovesElvis' two teenage boys) and then when we all had dinner at the speciality restaurants. We would go to Select dinner in the restaurant and have to say our names ie Chris, Kim and no Laura.

Laura would go to Teens Club at about 10.00 am and not come back to the cabin until 2.00 am/3.00 am. We would pass her during the day, or see changes of clothes on the cabin floor. Laura did spend the days in port with us.

There are LillyLovesElvis' two teenage boys, plus twin girls (about 14 years old) plus Laura so far that we know of on the roll call.

I will get Laura to tell you below what she did during the day/night.

Kim

Hi Debbie,

My Mum has asked me to let you know what we did in Teens Club.

In Teens club we did:

* dodgeball out on the basketball court

* playstation and Wii

* theme nights (College night, dress up night)

* scavenger hunts

* trivia

* movies

* talent quest

* pool party

* boys Vs girls in various games

* Xbox 360 and we had a dance party

* hot glass show

* game called capture the flag where the teens played with the younger children's club

* dress up with things around the ship eg newspaper

* table tennis competition

* ice cream party

* pizza party

Plus lots of eating, wandering around the ship, making a subway meatballs sandwich at about midnight every night, all the teens having lunch together and eating the best hamburgers at lunch, sitting in the buffet area having softdrinks/mocktails.

Laura

Very appreciated... I'll do my research more from now on.. ^^

 

Thanks again..

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

The cruise critic roll call group are having sailaway drinks/get together at the Sunset Bar, deck 15, after lifeboat drill.

Kim

I am also on this cruise.

1.Once you check in you are not allowed off the ship.[/color]

2. The premium package only covers drinks up to about $13.75 (that was in April last year). Quite a number of the drinks in the speciality restaurants were more expensive than the $13.75 so you would have to pay the extra. I drink white wine and ordered the cheapest white wine in the speciality restaurant and it was $13.75, which was covered in my premium package last year.

3. The Italian or French restaurant.

4. Just use Australian dollars.

5. Weather is a gamble anytime, but it was a lovely fine day in Noumea in April last year.

Hi Kim. We will be in a similar situation on our Christmas cruise. Our older DD will be a senior in high school but will just have turned 18. I agree with those who say that 18 year olds are not allowed to "attend" the teen club. However, here is a post that mentions some activities that help 18-20 year olds meet up on the ship.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=41438531&postcount=9

 

In the past, my DD would use the X Club as a place to meet others her age. She wouldn't actually do many of their activities, but it was a place to meet up and then leave the club area and do something with others. Also, our experience is that most of the teens who "attend" the X Club will be the younger ones. X Club starts with age 12, and sometimes they let 11 year olds in when their parents demand it. So your 18 year old will probably prefer to find others her age and do stuff independently with the 15 and 16 year old.

 

I noticed your cruise is in April. I'd love it if you would come back afterward and post some comments about your 18 year old's on board experience. Our cruise isn't until December so we'll be curious to hear about her experience.

Hi Jungle Jane,

We are going on the Solstice in April 2014 just for eight nights around the Pacific. Our daughter will be fine for teens club for that cruise as she will be 17 years old. It is for the cruise we have just booked for April 2015 when she will be 18 years old. The cruise is on Celebrity Solstice going from Sydney to Honolulu (18 nights). We did that same cruise on Solstice in April 2013 and there were only 40 teenagers on board. The two other children who we met on the April 2013 cruise, we have all decided to go again in April 2015 (same ship/same ports/same time of year). On the cruise last year the three children (plus about another nine teenagers) would go to teens club, escape and eat, walk around the ship, more eating and then back to teens club (this went from 10.00 am to about 2.00 am in the morning).

My daughter has been on 13 cruises and said that the teens club on Solstice was the best one she has been to.

There were no activities specifically for 18 to 20 year olds as I could count on one hand passengers in that age group. I will see if there is anything for 18 to 20 year olds on the short eight night cruise.

I may ask, when we go on the ship in April 2014, if there is any chance she could attend teens club. Even if it means the two other children go in, make friends and then escape with those children and my daughter just joins in.

Luckily my daughter will not be able to drink alcohol. In Australia you can drink alcohol from 18 years of age but because the ship goes to an American port the age for drinking alcohol will be 21 years. That is okay with her (and me).

Kim

Does anyone know if Celebrity Solstice allow my daughter who will have just turned 18 year old to attend the Teens Club? We are travelling with another family whose two children (aged 15 and 16) will be in the Teens Club.

Kim

Thanks Kim and everyone else for making me feel comfortable about the Solstice. She is currently 16, and by the time we get to January 2015 she will be 17. Very interested to know which cruise you are taking in April. Did you mean April 2014? My daughter will still be 16 then. She hasn't cruised and is hanging for us to take her. Being in the senior years of high school I am loath to take her outside school holidays.

 

Your daughter always finds friends to hang with? I was concerned that she might need to take a friend onboard, but it is costly, and I don't know that any of her parents would be happy to part with the $2K it is going to cost (assuming they have their own room).

 

Do you get Laura a separate room, or do you all share?

 

Any further advice appreciated, very keen to try the Solstice.

 

Regards

Ally

Hi Ally,

We are going on the 3 April 2014 cruise. As we (unfortunately) live in Queensland (sorry we moved up from Sydney five years ago and would move back tomorrow if possible) Laura will only miss one day of school. For the cruise in April this year, Laura missed two weeks of school and then she had to have another week off due to my Dad passing away whilst we were on the cruise. This has affected her Year 11 results for first semester (terms one and two) as she had exam block the first week back, after the cruise and my Dad's funeral, and she did not know a thing in exam block as everything was what the students had learnt those three weeks. So next year Laura will be in Year 12 so we do not want her to loose too much of school so hence why we are only doing the eight night 3 April cruise.

Laura has always found friends. They seem to go on the first night, make friends and stay in that group. Laura has really never hung around with us too much on a cruise, not that we are avoiding her.

Laura was in our room on the sofa bed.

On port days Laura would be with us, except one day on the cruise in April which went to Tahiti. The night before Moreea the teenagers had a pool party and Laura jumped in the pool and sprained her ankle as the indoor pool is not very deep, so she spent the day in the cabin and we went ashore.

Laura found P and O worse, as the teenagers just want to sit in a lounge and talk. This was not allowed but on a Celebrity it was okay to do. They were not causing problems, just sitting chatting and having a soft drink.

Kim