Over from NZ

Has been the case for many, many years! No smoking indoors that is. Contrary to the wailing from some in the Northern Hemisphere.. it hasn't killed off cruising. And you would even be hard-pressed to find a smoker that doesn't think it's a great thing! They don't smoke inside on land.. or generally even in their own homes.. so they wouldn't think to start doing it on a ship full of non-smoking passengers. Hmm. 🙂

You actually been there.. or just "sharing the news"? 🤣

Yeah it all sounds like a tall story..

Because we've cruised ourselves with a teen out of Australia over school holiday times (in the 8-14 night range) quite a few times. Those cruises are very family oriented.

Yes, there will be plenty of teens.

The itinerary will determine. However making assumptions.. you're from Australia.. if we assume you're travelling out of Australia over the school holidays to the Islands etc.. say 7-14 nights.. then - YES, there will be lots of children onboard! 🙂

To eliminate the standard option means an increase in price for us - you're asking us to subsidise you?

Exactly! 😁

It's always been the case Down Under.. nothing new. The way I look at it.. it may cost 1.1% more (I thought it was more than that).. but the rewards scheme offers .9%.. so really it's only costing .2 of a percent. So if my onboard cost is $1,000 - it costs me $2. Plus I don't have to pay the bill till the following month. So I'm not going to muck around going to reception.. carrying cash etc just for that! 🙂

Pancakes in paradise on the GC! All you can eat - $11.99! lol!

We used this company on our first visit there and they were excellent - https://www.santorinidailytours.com/?service=private-bus-tours I think we did the 6-hour excursion, although the 8-hour one looks great. We teamed up with some American's via the roll-call on here.. and it then becomes extremely economical with say 4-6 of you.

Yeah but to be fair.. Many American's think Starbucks is good coffee.. haha 🙂

That's ok. They'll gain more people that they'll lose. It's almost 2024 - it's long past time where you should have learned how to stroll outside for a smoke. Who still smokes inside in this decade - how backward would that be?!

We've used these guys half a dozen times in our last two trips over there - https://italytoursharing.com/ports/naples-port I don't know if they're that cheap - but they do a great job! And by the sounds of the tipping story going on.. doesn't seem that cost bothers American's anyhow!! lol!! The one's we've done specifically from Naples were - "50 shades of lemon" and "Pompeii with guide/Amalfi/Positano". They were great.

Yes - join your roll call! Both on here.. and any you can find on facebook. Pester the ***** out of the roll-calls and you'll get takers lol. 6-8 people usually perfect. 🙂

We've done Iririki Island for the day twice. Loved it! Nice to have the large resort pools (and they were basically empty). Also had use of the kayaks, catamarans etc. Had lunch there. It's gone up a wee bit.. but still an inexpensive day. $5 to catch the water taxi direct to the Island from next door to where the ships dock. The water taxi will also detour on the way back.. and wait for you.. while you stop at the cheapest duty-free store in the South Pacific. 🙂

Out of Australia.. ones' for families and old people. The other is for their parents. 🤣

Ok. There was 3 ships in our last time and 2 the previous. We went ashore as early as possible and had no problem.

Getting up the cable-car isn't a big problem.. it's coming down later in the day that can be a delay (we've never had a long wait though, even with a few ships in port). However, getting down via the donkey-trail as an alternative if the cable-car is busy.. is a relatively easy scenario unless you're elderly.

I agree wit most of what you've said - apart from the part about skipping the inside of Sagrada Familia. It's phenomenal we felt. The solution - book for 9am. We were the first people in! By the time it was starting to fill up.. we'd already had a decent wander.. taken all our pics etc with not too many in there.. and were ready to leave. 🙂

Exactly. Underwhelming very much sums it up. Forget the specialty restaurants.. splurge on a nice restaurant on one of the shore excursions. 🙂

It's actually real simple. You'll get away with shorts and t-shirts in the MDR. Even on formal night. The days of them turning you away are in the past. However.. simply pack one pair of jeans or long pants in your luggage (who doesn't take one pair of long pants away on holiday with them.. even in warm destinations for just in case).. and then you're covered if the unthinkable happened and you found some Maitre-D trying to reinvent the past! 🙂 Simple! Next! 🙂

I guess the OP is still too busy laughing to drag themselves back to the thread? 🤣

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/301015149/passengers-furious-after-cruise-rejected-at-new-zealand-border You would have to be pretty wild. A decent refund only goes so far if you've travelled to join the cruise.. got limited leave.. etc.

Princess IS the appropriate cruise line for those people... 🙂