Tripmode33

I now see Ozkiwi Travel Summary above, and appears not updated for new items. What was the $13.05 charge for? Is this related to Package?

Thanks for information on this topic. Do you know if, for the people who bought their package after the magic date in December, whether their Travel Summaries have been updated yet to show new recent inclusions? Or still showing item list from time of purchase, even though they'll have the benefit of the new items.

I love New Zealand in any weather. A country truly blessed with natural wonder. We try to do a small land-based area each year. We'll never run out of areas to explore. It's a lot bigger country than most visitors imagine!

Similar. App says we have no packages. I'll check personaliser tomorrow. Hopefully we won't need to upgrade although I seriously doubt that we'd be that fortunate.

Actually the one that ended in New Zealand was the Pacific Explorer (P&O Australia) leaving early June 2024. 32 nights. While June is perfect for the Australian portion, landing in New Zealand early July is not ideal temperature for touring New Zealand. If preferring Princess, Coral Princess connects an around Australia itinerary with an embarkation in New Zealand in August 2024. The Australian portion only does Sydney to Fremantle (Perth) anti-clockwise so misses the Southern Coast I believe. I haven't looked at adjoining back to back options. With this, again starting in New Zealand in August is not ideal timing for NZ, but nice weather for most of Australia, particularly northern half as approaching Spring.

It has come to be quite a popular itinerary. As well as Princess, we're now seeing other lines such as Cunard, HAL and P&O Australia offering it - the latter choosing June when all the other ships have left and June is usually nicer weather up north - less humid and hot. The flexibility of starting and ending points is also improving, allowing for some land based sightseeing if time allows. One itinerary even ends in New Zealand, if combining the two countries in one trip. As to clockwise or anti-clockwise, there is some good information on seas across the southern bite on the Australian forum in recent posts. I notice the next Coral Princess this October is going anti-clockwise but often it is clockwise. I wouldn't let the direction sway your decision. In my opinion the weather would be a bigger issue. But whichever cruise fits your schedule, I'm sure it will be a memorable trip.

Would definitely help to know the month of travel. Best to avoid the heat and humidity of the north in our summer, say October to March. In Darwin, they refer to November as 'suicide month' for a reason. Also cyclone season in the the north, December to April worst period. If hoping to swim, snorkel or dive in the top half of Australia, including our Great Barrier Reef, research head to toe stinger suits due to Box Jellyfish in warmer months and Irukandji all year. If I was planning the timing, I would choose April/May for bottom half into May/June for top half. Of course if outside optimum seasons, you have the benefit of an air-conditioned ship, but shore excursions will be more uncomfortable up north in our summer. The posters on the Australia/New Zealand forum respond readily with lots of helpful information.

Those routes are all flown by full size domestic aeroplanes. Here in Australia the three main airlines doing those routes are Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar. Jetstar, being the budget arm of Qantas, is most restrictive in it's carry on rules. Perhaps check out their website. They have a strict 7kg carry on (and this includes anything you're carrying such as handbag). They often weigh carry on luggage at the boarding gate. On their site, they state the dimensions as maximum 56cm X 36cm X 23cm including wheels and handles. I've never seen them measuring cases, but definitely very strict on weight! We've often carried a coat with big pockets!!! Just in case.

Our golden rule is domestic flight not before 1pm. We prefer 2pm just to be sure. Only time we've been delayed in recent years is coming back from NZ cruises. Not worth the stress of booking earlier flight.

Thanks. So is this after you've booked with Princess as a standard fare, or during the initial cruise booking over the phone with a Princess rep?

Interesting comment. For the cruisers on standard fare or Plus/Premium purchased before December on old pricing, who may now choose to avoid using app or room service phone to avoid new fees - they will no longer have the option to request dirty dishes to be collected. That leaves two options. Leave outside door (which I personally never would do) or leave inside for cabin steward who is probably already overworked.

I notice on the main Princess Forum, the Princess cruisers in the USA are of the opinion that you can't take the Plus or Premium package for only one member in cabin. How do you book this. Through Princess direct? I know our independent travel agent recently started offering this to us - one member of a couple. Strange that it's different in USA!

Can you please tell me - are you referring to the mini bar size spirits or the half bottle size (375ml)? When we have excess OBC, we often phone room service for the half size spirits, which we then take home. However that action now will cost us $US5 ($7.50 charge here in Australia). I don't know if they'll allow you to purchase multiple in one transaction. These type of room service items cannot be ordered on the Ocean Now App on phone or TV. There are probably other room service items not on App and $7.50 per call will soon add up. Interesting to see if you can pay for bigger quantity in one call and get delivered every few days. Unlikely as you're still taking crew time for delivery.

Thinking of you Les. Take care. And we're still enjoying your input on this forum - appreciate your contributions as a very experienced traveller.

We're also on that cruise and experiencing same problem when booking speciality restaurants. Strange, as we had booked one in Crown Grill many months ago on the App. Now it says come back later!

Let's hope sense prevails. Re the suite flyer pdf, I also have a printout of it dated March 2022 and that version rules same as current. So they have chosen not to apply it to the letter up until now, and most likely they'll still be staying with that. You may still benefit from the 1st night SD. For our three night cruises, we booked using the App before cruise at no charge, and when we boarded there was still the voucher for first night in suite to take to your choice of speciality restaurant. Even if booked out, just mention suite and they'll find a table. They must keep some aside.

I like the 'escape completely! Pun ☺️ Just looked up the "Suite Benefits PDF" on the Princess site and it does indeed refer to both the complimentary first night SD and the complimentary Mini Bar set up as only being applicable on cruises 6 nights or longer. Let us know after your next cruise if they apply that. Also good to know for those in suites without a Package, or a package not upgraded, whether they charge room service charges for delivery to suites. For example, suite guests can order anything off MDR menus to their suite, but are they now going to charge room service fees each time?

I'm sure there's fineprint in contract to say they can change conditions. We're also cruising early next year on $30 Plus and I'm sure we'll be paying the room service fee or Ocean Ready activation fee if we order a coffee or tea (unless it's on the room service breakfast hanger as that remains free for everyone). We will not be upgrading Plus package.

Maybe they're testing the change here. Hopefully permanent as suits a lot of cruisers. Let's hope it is adopted by the wider Princess fleet.

That's a shame to hear that they're now enforcing that rule. We enjoyed the free first night speciality dining on two three-night cruises this past year when in a suite. I wonder if the free suite minibar (making it two setups for Elite) comes under the minimum six night cruise rule. Our next two Princess cruises are not in a suite.

No. I realise that one member of a couple could buy a stand alone beverage package - this has been the case for many years. I am referring to the Plus Package and recent changes - the past couple of months. We can definitely, through our long term very experienced TA, now purchase a Plus Package for only one member of a couple - the other member going standard without a package.

Majestic has the extended menu at Alfredo's - starter, main including pizza, and desert. The new system price if ordered separately for the Tiramisu is $US3. So I guess about $Au5. Starters are $US5 and Pizza or other main $US12.

I'm not sure about this elsewhere, but here in Australia over the past couple of months, our travel advisor who has booked dozens of Princess cruises for us, advised the system has changed so that only one person in the cabin need purchase the Plus or Premium package, rather than the former rule of both needing to purchase it. She has just booked two cruises on this basis for us, with only one in cabin purchasing Plus Package.

Can anyone tell me if this $5 per room service and $14.99 Ocean Now activation prices are is USD? Have they quoted a AUD figure? I understand the $5 charge is if you phone through a room service order. Is using the Stateroom TV to order considered Ocean Now or just your mobile phone app? All very disappointing for my upcoming Majestic Princess cruise later this year. We were looking forward to using Alfredo's but will probably now hesitate. We found Majestic Ocean Now ordering not timely enough compared to smaller ships.

Princess has this concept on board their ships with Vines wine bar. We recently did it on the Grand. Group of ten. Not expensive and very enjoyable way to spend a couple hours on a sea day afternoon. Elite on Princess but having great fun getting to know Carnival. Our next two cruises are on Carnival Splendor and really looking forward to them.