CoopColbie

Hi all

Just wondering if someone can give some practical experience. RCI say that your passport needs to be 6 months from expiring when you come back from your cruise. But passport office have said it just needs to be valid the day you return and NZ (which is where I’m travelling to) have said they just need the passport to be valid while I’m there.

So is that true? Can I get in and out of Australia (and NZ) with a passport that only have 5 months left on it?

Thanks

Jetstar's International services require you to buy a lot of add-ons - but from what I hear about airlines in USA, you are used to that. If it's an overnight flight, you probably don't need a meal or entertainment - just make sure you have enough luggage allocation.

Their international services are usually on a Boeing Dreamliner, which are new planes and very comfortable - probably one of the advantages Jetstar has over Qantas in that regard.

I hope that is a zoom lens ... if I have learnt anything from watching 'Deadly 60' (I have kids ... we watch anything involving Steve Backshall), those dragons can move!

Cut and paste from elsewhere on CC:

 

 

The Dome will be updated with a contemporary nautical theme. Balcony and penthouse suites will receive new carpets and outdoor furniture. Child-free retreat The Oasis, the gym and embarkation area will be refreshed with new soft furnishings. The spa will also be updated with a new barber shop. Pacific Aria will also have the line's Southern Cross livery added to her hull.

Thanks for that :)

Anyone know why they sent her to Singapore for this, when they did something similar to the Jewel here in Sydney?

Here is the menu with prices

 

 

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Does this mean that 'Little Pirates' eat for free at Shell and Bones (if they are with a paying adult?)

What are they doing during dry dock?

Here's my general tips:

- If you are particular about eating in the Waterfront at a certain time, go there as soon as you are on-board and book a table for that night and the remaining 3 nights.

- If you want to go to any of the specialty restaurants, book those in as well. They will be set up on a table at the Waterfront as well, so when you are doing your dinner booking you can do your specialty booking as well.

- If you want to participate in any of the cocktail/martini/whiskey/wine classes, they usually have sign-up sheets for those at The Orient Bar. The Martini classes are usually very popular, while with the Wine Tasting it is usually easy to just turn up and get into that one (they hold it in the Waterfront restaurant and usually just set up a few more tables for people who just turn up without booking).

- Definitely try to get along to the comedy shows - I find the comedians are usually very good and very well suited to a 'cruising audience'.

- If you are travelling without kids, make a bee-line to the Adults-Only Oasis - grab a lounger and a cocktail and enjoy the relaxing while watching the world go by.

- Don't forget your 'costumes' - your Gatsby gear and your Blanco (although, out of Auckland, it might be a 'Black' Party as opposed to a 'White' Party).

And remember, it's 3 days to just chill and relax ... go with the flow and enjoy!

Hi David

Can you add the following for me:

19 September 2019 - New Guinea Island Encounter (10 nights) - P&O Pacific Jewel from Brisbane

Thanks

Tania

Yes - there are still instances of booze smuggling. You have to remember that drink packages still need to be paid for - either separately or part of an inflated booking price. That makes the smuggling of alcohol still something people are willing to consider.

Hi

1. There is hot water in the Pantry so definitely take your thermos if you want to take it back to your room. But there is also milk options up in the Pantry as well (not sure if there is A2 milk though).

2. There are no crayons in any of the dining areas, so if that is something that your child likes to do while waiting for you to finish (my kids watch some pre-loaded shows on an ipad), then definitely take your own.

As for other things to pack - just make sure you have a few little things from home that they like to play with. When I travelled with my 3yo, I had some trains and some puzzles and his favourite teddies with us. He did like going to the kids club, though, that kept him entertained as well.

Have fun!

Sorry forgot to say you can book the table for the whole cruise. While they say you can do this at anytime, the reality is we make it our first stop once we get onboard. We drop off the bags then head to the waterfront for lunch and make the booking then.

Agree with this - get onboard and go straight to the waterfront to book a table for the early sitting for the entire cruise.

Hi all

I've recently started looking at taking a cruise on Princess. I see that the US and Canada are about to enjoy a 'Sip N Sail' promotion, which is not available to us Aussie Cruisers. Do Aussie Cruiser get any decent promos from Princess throughout the year?

Tania

The last 3-night comedy cruise I did on the Pacific Dawn had Blanco and Gatsby. The time before that it was on the Pacific Aria and it was Blanco and Gatsby. The P&O FAQ says that there will be two cocktail/theme nights ... one of them will be Gatsby - https://www.pocruises.com.au/faqs/things-to-know-before-you-go/how-many-cocktail-nights-will-there-be

As mentioned above ... throw in some cheap hats, suspenders, gloves and boas, and you will be covered for Gatsby.

Have fun :)

HI David

Can you add the following two for me:

- 12 May 2018 - Pacific Dawn - 3 night Comedy Cruise (ex Brisbane)

- 1 December 2018 - Pacific Jewel - 7 night Tasmania and Kangaroo Island (ex Melbourne)

Thanks :)

The Aria is a lovely ship. The casino will be operating (and if you are into casinos, the Cairns casino is very good). A 10am flight out of Brisbane is doable - either ask to disembark early or do 'carry-off' where you can leave whenever you want (you just need to be prepared to carry all of your own stuff off). Performances in the evening - there are often two performances (early and late) and I found them very enjoyable.

Enjoy!

So I haven't cruised Princess before, but I'm looking at a PNG cruise out of Brisbane in December 2019. What's the chance of Princess offering a 'perks for free' promo any time soon on these cruises? Does Princess offer these sort of 'free perks' promos often throughout the year?

How much are the drink packages?

There's a soft drink packages which is $7 per day.

A refreshment drinks package which is $19 per day (includes soft drinks, bottled water, juice, mocktails, coffee and tea).

A premium beverage package which is $79 per day (includes soft drinks, bottled water, juice, mocktails, beer, ciders, wine, cocktails and spirits up to $12 in value).

Finally The Lot beverage package which is $99 per day which is all drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) up to a $15 value.

I've done a 4-nighter from Brisbane to Airlie Beach in July previously (funnily enough, I won that cruise too). The weather was excellent - very calm and barely felt the ship moving.

Nice photo :)

I really wanted to be on this cruise, but ended up getting tickets to the Comm Games. Oh well ... maybe next year.

When will P&O release their cruise schedules for the 2019-2020 summer?

"Following Wednesday's culinary announcement from Celebrity Cruises, the company also showed off an updated rendering of the new 2,900-guest Celebrity Edge (pictured above).

The new rendering still hides the bow of the ship (which was pictured during the float out), but does show the new color scheme and livery.

A new blue adorns the bottom of the hull, while a wave motion adds some white to signify the Magic Carpet."

It looks like a cargo ship with the machinery around the hull taking the cargo containers off.

The 'magic carpet' ... wowser!

I am sure the New Zealander's have learn't alot from the online (mostly bumped offline) dramas Australia had in their last census....:rolleyes:

Haha .. yes ... total disaster. Please let them have learnt from our failures.

Santo is the name of the island (actually it’s Espiritu Santo, but often shortened). There are two places most cruise ships go on this island - Champagne Beach (often called Champagne Bay) and Luganville.

If it says ‘Santo’ on your itinerary, it probably means you are going to Luganville.

This town is nice - not developed by any means - but you can easily get to Million Dollar Beach (for snorkeling or scuba diving) or RiRi blue holes from here.

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I concur the duty free is excellent here and you really need to make it part of your stop.

I will also weight in on the quad-bike tour. I haven't done it but I have run into people - on two separate cruises - who did it and came back absolutely raving about it. And one of those times was a couple of ladies who said they spent half the trip covered in mud but loved it none the less. If you want something different ... if you've been their a million times before ... give this one a go. It is definitely one I will be adding to my next trip.

Here's a couple of suggestions for various places in Australia:

- Sydney - head to The Rocks (if you are at OPT, its a short walk up the hill). Lots of great quality Aussie souvenirs here.

- Melbourne - head to the Queen Victoria Markets - not sure if the ship's shuttle will take you there, but once you are in the city you can catch a free tram there.

- Brisbane - there are a few shops around the port here, but best to catch the shuttle into the city. Lots of souvenirs stops in Queens Street Mall - some are 'cheap' stores, others offer better quality stuff.

- Hobart - head over to Salamanca Place - lots of great, good quality shops here.

- Perth/Fremantle - at Fremantle there are the Fremantle Markets which is a great spot to pick up a great local bargain.

- Cairns - lots of shops within close walking distance to the port

Good luck :)