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Just off the majestic and no. I dont recall seeing any vending  machines. If you have the soda package they sell you coke from their pipes soda behind the bar  if not they sell cans for around $3 Australian. You could also bring some slabs of cans on with you.

Popcorn was only available at movie time as far as I recall. 

It's been a while since I went to NZ, but from.memory it different for each port there. Mostly a license was fine and,and they didn't  look at it but at least one port wanted passports

We were on this cruise as well. 

I agree about the rudeness of some passengers  my 10 year old was gobsmacked overhearing a lady tell the waiter to remove her water glass and repour it as "when I say half a glass  I mean half and that's far too much!".  We then over heard her rudely remarking g to her husband that she didn't understand why my son had been brought too desserts.That not only was it greedy but that even if it were acceptable, they should of been brought separately. My son had asked for a scoop of vanilla ice-cream with his dessert and it was provided in a separate tiny bowl

 No big deal and none of her business. 

And dont even start me on the rudeness of the trivia crowd, who insisted on pushing in past zumba class participants even though there was a good 40 minutes or more between zumba finish and Trivia. 

 

I did notice that they didn't always sweep the crumbs off the table between courses, but I didn't take note of the direction of serving as it's not a big deal to me. As a mother I was just ecstatic that someone else was cooking, clearing and washing up.  

 

I agree re the Market place buffet. Yes there were clearly marked sections, but yes mostly the food remained the same. And, we noticed at dinner time the selections were greatly reduced, and quite bland. The layout was definitely odd. In what appeared to be the vegetarian section there was often a dish with squid.  All the cheeses were stacked together so that everything tasted like blue cheese  🤢 . At breakfast toast  cereal , fruit and eggs were in many places but waffles only in one. The excellent sushi actually appeared 3x, but you had to be quick  😜

Drinks were an issue for me. I was never offered a drink poolside, though was told by servers in the Market place to ask a deck waiter, when I suggested that iced water and cups be provided at the ice-cream parlour and towel desk near the pool. As a result I was one that often wandered in damp towel into the Market place. 😳

My son was also disappointed that the lemonade wasn't on tap anywhere on this ship.  😲🤣

 

I also agree that the entertainment was lacking. 3 production shows in 19 days is pretty slow, weve had more on a 12 day. I know there was  cast change over, but still. Dancer must be a pretty easy job on that ship if that's the required number.  And it was a bit insulting to watch poolside rehearsals for what was obviously the next cruise's  welcome aboard show. Um where was our show...

The rest of the entertainment was okayish, but not really of interest to me. We did enjoy the game shows. 

 

We also did Princess tours, and chose poorly in Vietnam but overall were happy.

 

I enjoyed the cruise and would go on the Majestic again...I'd go on any cruise again if I can afford it, but feel it definitely lacks the atmo5of some of the smaller Princess vessels. 

We get on after you disembark...14 more days. I saw her sail out of Hobart last evening. Seems surreal that she goes to NZ and back in that time. Enjoy your cruise, NZ is a lovely place. I look forward to your blog.

Yes definitely talk to the head waiter about allergies, they are magnificent with my Mum who has been on heaps,of cruises.

 

My son is not that keen on the kids menu. And I dont recall it having many vegetables, so for a shorter cruise is probably fine, but IMO not when your away a while. He would pick his meat off the main menu and ask for steamed veggies and a jacket potato. He loved the pork belly that used to be a staple on the main, not sure if it still is. As ti him with his vegies  was basically a Sunday roast, so something familiar. He also loved trying the icecream or sorbet of the day and some of the soups.

The waiters are lovely to the kids and get to know what they like. On our first cruise, ours found it amusing that a four year old liked lobster tail, so brought him 3!! Last cruise on our last night our head waiter kept giving him mocktails at no charge. And there were two in thr buffet area that got to know his and his cruise friend's drink preferences and would always come over for a chat. 

There are no trains, only shuttle buses from the airport. 

The bus stops at Southern Cross Starion which is basically on Spenser St. From there you change to a mini bus direct to some hotels or you can catch a tram to your hotel. 

The trams in the city centre are free as long as you don't go out of the city zone (they tell you) so it's easy to get around.

Go to a hotel site and look on a map at hotels in Spenser St or Burke St  or Collins. As all would be walkable or short term ride. 

personally I like to stay in the centre if the city.

The Victoria,   Causeway Inn on the Mall, or the Mecure Welcome. Are all reasonable budget hotels in the centre, an easy tram ride from southern cross station straight down Burke st, get off in the Mall and walk.  Maybe look at them on a map and choose something nearby if they don't quite suit.

Melbourne is a lovely city and there are some lovely hotels near the river (look for Flinders St or South bank area) and around parklands if you prefer. Its fairly flat and easy to walk to most places or hop a tram. There's also a tourist tram that circles the city and stops at all the major spots of interest...look up City Circle tram

 

22 minutes ago, CATGUY7 said:

 

You would have selected a “Club Class Mini Suite” when you booked. 

I didn't make the booking...

Ours says category mb, on the booking summary. I'm guessing it's not club class in that case. 

 

12 minutes ago, RMMariner said:

 

I think getting the minutes suite is worth it because the service you get will make most other people on the ship look like seconds class passengers. Sorry, couldn't resist.

Haha.. 

yes...seems auto correct didn't work well for me there. Maybe a second class suite is okay though, quicker service perhaps  🙃

How do you know if your minutes suite is "club class"?

Parents tell me they were warned that there would be 4plus meter seas today. They moved the shows around as they were expecting it to be too rough for the dancers tonight :o

It will be different on a Christmas cruise as there will likely be more children on board. We went in term time for many states so there were only about 11 in total, and mostly 8-14year old girls,

We are going on the Christmas/NewYears trip on the Dawn this year. My sons now 7 and is looking forward to making new friends and going to the games room without me, as Its not cool to hang with mum when your 7 apparently.

 

They always have specials on the spa treatments on port days ( and kids club is open) so if there's a port you've been to before or are not too interested in, it's worth staying on for the discounts and tranquility ( my parents are frequent cruisers and sometimes do this) They usually advertise the evening before in the Princess Patter(newsletter)

My son had just turned 4 when we travelled on the Sun three years ago. He was too shy to stay in the kids club and would not stay there without me (agggh) There weren't many other children on the cruise and none around the same age. The careers were lovely tried very hard with him, but he just would not stay there, despite the fact he was used to going to Childcare since 10 months of age. They certianly did a lot of fun activities and took the kids for free iecream. We participated in a dance contest thingy and a mini Olympics that he loved, made t shirts and lots of crafty stuff. They had lots of play station, wi and similar. though he caught sight of the teenagers separate section with even more electronic games and wanted into that section, but was not allowed.

Other then the games room they have lots of things going on on board and he was happy to tag along. He loved Bingo with hi Grandmother and enjoyed going to the shows of a night. He fell in love with the male cruise director and a few of the dancers and they all fussed over him. We found the NZ cruise didn't have many sea days anyhow so I don't feel I missed too much. I still got to Zumba and a quiz. They has cake decorating and ice-carving demos. And I escaped for a few hours on the ultimate ship tour and got to see the inner workings of the ship.

 

A few tips

The pool is very deep so if he's not a good swimmer, then I highly recommend bringing a swim floatation jacket so the you don't have to spend all your time in the pool holding him up.

 

The walls of the cabin are all metal so we took along a few people and other magnets and he and the cabin guy played tricks rearranging them every day.

 

Unless its changed dramatically the kids menu in the main dining room is all chips plus fried food ( ie nuggets, fish, pizza)apart from spaghetti bog as well as ice cream. If you want him to have some veggies you can order steamed veggies on the side or you can order one of the adult meals but have the veggies changed to ones he's more likely to eat and the potatoes changed to chips.

Just about to leave and head home:)

Well they have Auckland and then the home run. They had a formal farwell dinner in honour of their their NZ departees last evening. And from all report it was served hot (;)) thought to be fair my mother has allergies/ intolerances and so gets a special menu. She cannot fault the kitchen, waiters or food. Apparently they are extremely attentive and cautious.

Apparently the swell is ramping up too :D

Yep, looks like they made it:)

Spoke to my parents while they were waiting to leave st Martins. Apparently they were lucky to land there as it had been closed the day due to rough seas. They have also been warned they may not get into Easter Island. They said its been a bit choppy but not too bad....but then they live in Tassie and have crossed the Tasman a few times in much smaller vessel, so don't get too fussed about rough seas.

I'm hoping they get to Easter Island as I want a statue LOL.

 

They were also lucky to score the Sealife tour that got cancelled by Princess's provider, from a local operator for about a third of the cost. The tour Andy went on instead sounds good.

Wow you have a clearer pic then me Kiwi

 

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in the Gatun Lock and about to enter Lake at end of this first series of locks.

 

(hope attachments works, Im not sure how to make them bigger :rolleyes:)

I found one that shows it, but I'm not sure how to post the screen shot here.

 

 

 

http://http://www.***********/cruise-port-tracker/caribbean/willemstad-curacao.php

The web cam is delayed as it still shows them coming into port. But they are well and truly docked and disembarking. Parents off to some batcave...hope they don't have hendra virus there:eek:

I travelled on the Dawn about 3 years ago and did the ships tour, which included the hospital. I am also an RN. Rest assured they are more then equipped for most medical emergencies and would be able to deal with AF with no problem. They have facilities and can run a mini ICU if need be, until medivac can be organised ( though hopefully your AF shouldn't lead to that :eek:)

The cost may be enough to send you back into AF however.....but that's what you have travel insurance for.

 

My father developed scarlet fever during the trip we were on and required antibiotics and they also advised aspirin throat gargles....they antibiotics were around $80 and the packet of aspirin around $40, the medical visit was in the hundreds... But Travel Insurance sorted it all:D

 

If you think about the demographic that can most afford to cruise, the on board medical team are used to dealing with cardiac issues ;)

Due to the amount of time it took to clear customs.. (they zeroed the ship i.e. everyone off and through checkpoints, and did a search with dogs etc it took around 5 hours) and they got up to Times Square it was too late to have caught a show or got tickets. Some may have got some for tonight though. Apparently Times Square was crazy, being Friday night and really nice weather.

Bonus was that the tours got off on time or early. My parents got a bonus inclusion of Ground Zero on theirs, due to the extra time, so they are thrilled. Then got back tonight to find New York is the start of a new sector on the World tour they got another free mini bar as part of their Elite "ness"...so are having a night cap to celebrate. :rolleyes::D:D

[quote name='Kiwi Kruzer'][SIZE="2"]They have been off the radar dodging icebergs I believe. Just showing up again as they near New York.Not sure what time they arrive.???[/SIZE]

According to email from parents, they are due to get in at 7pm 24/07. They are looking forward to the view as they cruise into the harbour. Apparently customs/immigration takes around 4 hours, so the benefit will be that tours etc will get off to an early start the following day.

It's still early hours in the morning so they've still got a fair bit of sailing to do

*early hours

*last night

 

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LOL I spoke with my Mum last night. It was earky hoirs in the morning there. She didn't mention it being rough but that was 9.30pm kast night Aus ES Time here. She said the weather had been OK. ...quite pleasant sitting in the sun on the sheltered side of the deck. But then they have just come from an average -1- 10 degree here in Tasmania....so I guess 13 there seemed warm.

She also said they haven't noticed the food being cold and had asked some longer cruisers at breakfast about the cold food rumour and they all denied any issues as well.

They are not Cruise Critic posters.

 

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I found one of the blogs and it seems the cold food was a pre Southampton thing, my parents joined there. They are not too Internet savvy, but now they have figured out the problem they will no doubt find a corner somewhere.

From the call they are having fun and meeting lots of nice people. This is their first cruise as Platinum so they were very excited. Not much would put a damper on the experience for them.

 

 

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I'm reading through one of the world cruise blogs and the Princess ovens, hot plates, grills must not be working as they been reporting for 52 days of stone cold food.

 

 

:(

My parents are on this cruise. They rang just as they were docking in Iceland yesterday, but didn't mention this. Mind you probably more important things to chat about in a 3 minute call LOL. I haven't had a lot of communication since they have been at sea as they have had trouble with their internet connection. Turns out their cabin seems to be a "blind spot". I will ask...