Sarah Jane Smith

Possibly it is best to think of the application as a two step process. Follow the links above to "apply" for your visa. You will get a return email that your application has been received, with a reference number. We need to show that email to the ships staff when boarding. Once inside the 90 day period, hit reply on the email with a request to "finalise" the visa.

My email read thus:

From: Consulado General de Chile en Sydney <sydney@consulado.gob.cl>
Sent: Tuesday, 16 May 2023 11:12 AM
To: me
Subject: Transit Visa for Chile
Dear me,
Your 3-days Transit Visa application for Chile has been successfully received at this Consulate General.
Reference No. SAC 318###3.
Once your Visa has been issued you must enter Chile (Easter Island) within 90 days. Therefore, you must send us an email (with your passport number and the above reference number) requesting we issue the Visa at a date closer to your arrival in Chile.
Please show the cruise company this email informing you that the Visa has been authorized in
order to board the ship.
Kind regards,
Consulate General of Chile
Level 18, 44 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: (61-2) 9299-2533

We did this tour when it was cheaper from a Princess ship and thought it was value for money. The drive / scenery from Milford Sound through Fjordland National Park was spectacular. The bus stopped several times for quick walks and photo opportunities (waterfalls, wildlife, lakes, etc). Lunch at a nice pub was included. In Queenstown overnight we were escorted on the steam powered paddlewheel to the sheep farm across the lake for an included dinner and sheep dog performance. The following days' bus trip was similar with frequent tourist stops and we arrived at the terminal at Port Chalmers just in time for sail away.

We would recommend this excursion if you have already sailed through the fjords and around the coast of southern NZ.

We were in the same predicament for the 2023 world cruise. The steps were as per the letter above:

"Guests can apply for a Transit Visa via the below websites:

- NSW, QLD or NT - Sydney - https://serviciosconsulares.cl/tramites/visas
- ACT Canberra - https://chile.gob.cl/canberra/

- VIC, TAS, SA or WA – Melbourne - http://www.chilebroad.gov.cl/melbourne

You will receive an email advising the visa has been authorized, which must be presented at cruise check-in. Once on board, you will be notify to email the Chilean consulate to finalize the visa within the 90-day window."

The internet links above are in spanish, but you will get there in the end with a confirmation email.

One complication was, when on the cruise, passengers were specifically told NOT to email the consulate to finalise. We were told that Princess would sort it out as a bulk finalisation. This was fine until about 2 weeks out when we started getting letters stating "you don't have your visa yet!".

So, follow the advice in the letter above. If you don't have internet on the ship, ask guest services to send the email, or buy one days worth of internet half way 'round the world and send the email then.

In 2023, it all worked out in the end 🙂

Hi K. We are in the same situation. Our cancelling email said "45 business days". Given the number of public  holidays, by my count, P&O are still within their commitment 😞 but their window is fast closing. I'm not really anxious yet, as November is a long time away.

We emailed benefits@princesscruises.com.au on 26 Mar 2022. When no result by 8 April, we forwarded the same email to shareholderbenefit@carnivalaustralia.com.

reply was received from solutions@princesscruises.com.au (via the princess cruises email, not the carnival one) and OBC applied 22 Apr 2022

Pity it takes so long, but as our cruise is not until June, we are still happy with the result!

8 hours ago, Reina del Mar said:

Just wondering whether anyone has heard anything about Coral Princess cruises in Australia for Spring 2022. ....

 

Princess may not take Coral Princess to Australia for half a season

....

 

Thanks in Advance for any confirmed news…speculation not helpful.

I have absolutely no idea when cruising in Australia will resume. I live with my fingers crossed.

I did want to point out that one of your concerns might be able to be removed from the list. The Coral Princess will be Australia's full-time ship, cruising from Australian ports all year round (of course this includes the world cruise, etc). So. no reason for them to not come to Australia at any particular date - no "half season". Princess did make that call last month regarding Sapphire Princess.

Let's keep dreaming 🙂

Just wanted to give some hope to others waiting on their refunds.

We got off the Ruby Princess in Sydney on 11th February  and just received a cheque today for our refundable onboard credit. It arrived in a mark envelope from Carnival Australia. I did send an email on 01 May to Department, Customer Relations (PCL) <customerrelations@princesscruises.com>, to which I received an automatic reply, and nothing else.

Much slower than expected, but it has arrived, and I know they are dealing with lots of refunds at the moment.

8 minutes ago, paradiselivin1 said:

I'm a bit confused. If you're truly trying to buy gin to take home; Princess will take if from you (if declared) and return the night before you leave...

This has been our experience bring spirits onboard when boarding and at ports in Australia / New Zealand.

6 minutes ago, icat2000 said:

Thanks 

SapphirePrincess.pdfUnavailable

 

Can anyone open this one.

no 😞

On 2/18/2020 at 12:49 PM, Sarah Jane Smith said:

This is what we received on the Ruby Princess this year (without the mitt). We received everything in the photo on the Majestic last week, and 2 sleeping masks were also included.

CORRECTION: on both cruises it was another tube of "lotion" not conditioner.

On 1/21/2020 at 3:59 PM, MsSoCalCruiser said:

This is what I received on my September and my October cruise...

 

 

 

This is what we received on the Ruby Princess this year (without the mitt). We received everything in the photo on the Majestic last week, and 2 sleeping masks were also included.

22 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

 

My wife & I have the same CC number followed by A for me & B for her...maybe JF & spouse have different CC numbers? 🤔

22 hours ago, Near PDX said:

My DW & I always each receive the loyalty reward payment from our first qualifying time to our last cruise. We have the same CC #’s A/B but she uses her maiden name and has a different mailing address than me. 

9 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Completely different numbers, no A or B.

4 hours ago, memoak said:

This has always been the case. Totally different numbers and different last names same address. We have always both gotten the credit

So, thank you for your responses....

Astro - same number with A&B - same name and same address - single credit per cabin

NearPDX - same number with A&B -  different names and addresses - two credits per cabin

JF - Completely different numbers, no A or B - same name and same address - two credits per cabin

memoak - Completely different numbers, (no A or B ?) different names and same address - two credits per cabin

I'm not seeing an obvious answer here! except the more differences (number, name, etc) the more likely Princess will consider you separate and the more information that is the same the more likely Princess will consider you both to be a single customer.

The reason for my interest is DH (18 cruises) and I (20 cruises) are looking forward to this additional perk this year (and not looking a gift horse in the mouth, just curious). Our situation is ....different numbers WITH an A & B, same last name and different mailing address. Anyone care to guess? One credit per cabin or two? I guess we won't know for sure until DH catches up. Haha 

4 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

One booking number for each cruise. Husband and wife: same last name, same address.

If it was a lucky mistake, it's happened 6 times. Since we qualified for loyalty credit, we've each received $25 on every cruise (now 21 thru 27).

2 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

 

We’re at 42 credits but have only received one per cabin during our 20 cruises eligible for Loyalty credit.  Like you, married couple with same last name & address...hope your lucky streak continues.

Out of interest please 🙂 in each instance JF and Astro, could you please check your "member number" / unique identifier for husband and wife? Is the number the same with an "A" / "B" the only difference? Or do you have completely separate numbers without an "A" / "B" at the end?

1 hour ago, By The Bay said:

Thanks for that Sarah. I wondered if sending a fax to the USA office would work. Plenty of free fax online services, but the ones I found are only free to send to USA numbers.

I used a free online service to fax within Australia, but found the same issue faxing to the US. Remembered that the "multi-function" printer also claimed to be a fax machine, plugged it into the land line (yes I still have one but don't usually use it - hahaha) and sent said fax. Even remembered that the international dialling code was different for faxing! 0015 instead of 0011.

1 hour ago, nnps said:

Hi Aus Traveller,

I share your frustration with the inconsistencies of Princess. I have an upcoming cruise in Japan with Princess and was wondering, do you send the shareholder benefits request to the Princess Australian or U.S. office?

 

 I tried calling the Sydney office with the same question but got nowhere.

Hi nnps

I sent the required info for a Japan cruise to Sydney office, on the same fax as info for an Australian cruise. The Shareholder credit was applied for the Australian cruise within a day but the credit for the Japan cruise was not. A fortnight later I faxed Japan cruise info to US. Within a day the credit was applied for the Japan cruise. The Sydney office never responded as to why they did not apply credit for Japan cruise.

Hi beachgirl

Brisbane Ubers are very reliable. There are also several taxi cab companies. 

Alternatively, you could investigate the Brisbane "ferry" call City Cats. There is a jetty a small walk from the Brisbane Cruise Terminal (Brett's Wharf):

https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/timetables/ferry/T/citycat

(I don't know if your Celebrity ship fits down the river? or is it too large to fit under the bridge? In which case you will be further out than the city cats go.)

2 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

They don't offer it on embarkation days. 

Thank you OzKiwiJJ. It is listed in the Cruise Personalizer’s “Onboard Services” & then “Culinary Delights” for embarkation day, but I thought that would be a stretch 🙂

On 1/2/2020 at 3:34 PM, Astro Flyer said:

 

It’s listed under the Cruise Personalizer’s “Onboard Services” & then “Culinary Delights”.  Booking in advance requires payment by chargecard & we’ve never had a problem booking them onboard to use OBC as payment.

 

 

Thank you Astro Flyer for your advice. Have you ever booked onboard for the first night? i.e. the day of embarkation? We are not boarding until 4pm and I am concerned it will be too late. Hoping to be enjoying dinner on the balcony as we sail out of Sydney Harbour.

Thank you geordiebing for starting this thread. Unfortunately I cannot answer your question regarding the Diamond Princess, but I thought I would add information on a couple of other ships and hope others can fill in for the whole fleet 🙂

Sea Princess - free sauna and steam room inside the ladies (assume gents too) toilet deck 12 aft

Sun Princess - free sauna and steam room inside the ladies (assume gents too) toilet deck 12 aft

Golden Princess - free sauna and steam room beside lap pool and spas deck 15 forward

I found this also: " #On Golden Princess, Sapphire Princess and Star Princess: guests receive 5000 minutes of internet access per person per cruise across multiple devices. On Sea Princess, Sun Princess, Majestic Princess, Diamond Princess and Pacific Princess: the Premium PrincessCONNECT Internet Package applies and usage is unlimited across multiple devices in a stateroom (accessed through one device at a time only). All Medallion class ships: unlimited MedallionNet package applies, which is limited to 1 device per passenger and up to 4 passengers in the stateroom. For full conditions including usage limitations, visit the Ocean MedallionNet page. 

I have been in mini-suites on the Sea Princess, but I think the Sun Princess would be the same (some-one jump in if I am wrong).

The mini-suites mid and mid-forward have a separate shower (and are lovely!) (photo of tub no shower with "stain" window panel)

The aft facing mini-suites have a shower over tub (still lovely). (photo of tub with shower with plain light window/light panel)

As waltd says above, they are definitely different than the mini-suites on the Grand Class.

1 hour ago, Aus Traveller said:

This thread has two different versions of the loyalty credit and I don't know which one is correct. They are

 

version 1 - 20-31 cruises     $25                        version 2 - 21-30 cruises      $25

                   32-41 cruises     $50                                             31-40 cruises     $50

                   42-51 cruises     $75                                             41-50 cruises     $75

                   52 (& onwards) $100                                           51 (& onwards) $100

 

Version 2 sounds more logical to me, with each category ending on a 'round' number.

Aus Traveller, would you know (or another Australian traveller LOL) if P&O Australia cruises count towards this benefit?

Thank you Sarah for your review and answers to our questions 🙂 Did Golden Princess have any theme nights? White night, 60's, etc? Princess have not done this type of thing on the ships I have been on, but I read a recent review of the Ruby Princess where they apparently did?

18 hours ago, geoherb said:

 

There's not a limit of one loyalty OBC per cabin. Some folks get one per qualifying person. But couples who have just a letter's difference in their Captain's Club numbers get just one.

geoherb I am interested in these differences with benefits (DH and I are about to be elite). We have been cruising for over 20 years and were not married for our first cruise. Our member numbers (is this the same as the Capt Circle number?) are different. Mine has a B at the end and DH has an A - but definitely different numbers. So you are advising (when the time comes) we may get 2x loyalty OBC? TIA for the clarification.

Thank you gbenjo 🙂