Kiwi Kruzer Posted June 14, 2010 #76 Share Posted June 14, 2010 Just had an amazing experience through Asia with Azamara Club Cruises. The best crew ever. I have heard a lot about Azamara. They are the same ships as Pacific and Ocean Princess. Glad to hear you enjoyed your cruise.I wish they would bring Azamara down here. I think they are part of RCCL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Big_M Posted June 14, 2010 #77 Share Posted June 14, 2010 Don't think we'll see Celebrity here again because we have RCCL here. Never say never :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor@cruisecritic Posted June 15, 2010 Author #78 Share Posted June 15, 2010 Thanks for all the insightful posts. Here's another question. If you have a friend who's never cruised (should I do this in a new thread by the way?), would you recommend: *short cruise from Aussie home port *Europe cruise *Pacific crossing? Carolyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cazz0069 Posted June 15, 2010 #79 Share Posted June 15, 2010 Thanks for all the insightful posts. Here's another question. If you have a friend who's never cruised (should I do this in a new thread by the way?), would you recommend: *short cruise from Aussie home port *Europe cruise *Pacific crossing? Carolyn Hi Carolyn, i would suggest a cruise from an Aussie home port. I think big ships, long cruises, overseas destination, could be a little overwhelming for a first time and i wouldnt want to scare potential cruisers off...Our first cruise, was 12 nights on Princess, just up the coast of Australia and that was a fantastic choice :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Kruzer Posted June 15, 2010 #80 Share Posted June 15, 2010 *short cruise from Aussie home port*Europe cruise*Pacific crossing?Carolyn For me there is only one answer..... as long as time and budget allow..... *Pacific crossing. preferably one that included Hawaii and Tahiti. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STKI Male Posted June 15, 2010 #81 Share Posted June 15, 2010 I have sailed with P&O, Princess and RCI and find that Princess suits me best for a number of reasons. Laundry's Great World Wide Itineraries Any Time Dining on most ships. Good loyalty benefits such as free internet, and free washing and dry cleaning to elite members. Fairly modern ships. Great Staff. Needless to say I do keep my options open and will sail with anyone that has the right itinerary and price when i'm looking for my next cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ging466 Posted June 15, 2010 #82 Share Posted June 15, 2010 My favourite line is Silversea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Kruzer Posted June 15, 2010 #83 Share Posted June 15, 2010 Has any one cruised with Seabourne? We are getting a lot of ads for the Asia season. Yes they are still pricey, but for what you get with some of the deals, they look amazing, and would be a once in a lifetime experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sachiboo Posted June 15, 2010 #84 Share Posted June 15, 2010 Oceania gets my vote!!! Nautica does Australia/NZ cruises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Australian family Posted June 15, 2010 #85 Share Posted June 15, 2010 Princess popular with Aussies An online poll has revealed Australians’ favourite cruiselines - and the features theymost dislike. THE WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL CRUISE community website last week asked Australians to choose their favourite cruiseline, resulting in a close competitionbetween Princess Cruises and RoyalCaribbean.At last count, the Cruise Critic poll hadPrincess on top with 46% of votes, followedby Royal Caribbean (36%) and P&O (13%).Holland America Line and CelebrityCruises made a smaller splash, each with9% of votes.Voters also used the opportunity tocomment on their least favourite aspects,such as the age of ships in Australian watersand the cost of fares compared to discountsoffered to Americans.Royal Caribbean also came under fire forits lack of laundry facilities, while Princesswas praised for its cheap laundry and fridgesin each cabin.However, Princess was attacked for itsrestrictions on Australians who try to bookcheaper cruises through US-based travelagents. (See ‘This Week At Sea’, page 3.)Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor in chief,Cruise Critic, told CW that two factorsinspired the decision to conduct the poll.“One is that it’s very clear that cruise linesare really intrigued by the Australian marketbeyond Australia’s home-grown options,”she said.“For the first time, we’re seeing cruiselines acknowledging that rather than simplyput a ship in your market and hope NorthAmericans and Europeans will show up thatAustralians (and New Zealanders, too) arereally gung-ho about cruising.” “It’s very clear that cruise lines are really intrigued by the Australianmarket beyond Australia’s homegrownoptions”. H E O R L D ’ S L E A D I N G R I V E R C R U I S E L I N E . . . B Y F A R ® Spencer Brown noted that P&O, Princess and RCC had recently committed furtherresources to Australia - not to mentionHolland America (see story at right).“So that’s exciting – that’s a sign that themarket is growing, and when the marketbegins to grow, as we are seeing in the UKand in Europe, cruise lines start to offer thespiffiest ships rather than hand-me-downs,”she said.The second inspiration for the poll wasthat Cruise Critic’s Australian members were“incredibly vocal”, Spencer Brownexplained.“I love that I get a half dozen emails aweek from Australia-based travellers asking various questions – and I always answer Source: Cruise weekly Goes to show that these pages are read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Australian family Posted June 15, 2010 #86 Share Posted June 15, 2010 When Cruise Critic asked Australians about their favourite cruise line (see story onpage 1) it received many complaints aboutunfair pricing and the lack of new ships.Voters on the website used the opportunityto vent their feelings about cruising inAustralia.The first comment posted on the forum,by Cruise Critic member ‘Eileen’ said: “Ivoted for Princess because I do love thatline, however, I will switch soon if theycontinue their present stance in regards tobooking overseas.”This complaint referred to non-US citizenswho try to obtain cheaper cruise fares bybooking through a US-based website.Australian travel agents are always quickto warn customers that you may be deniedboarding if you are found to have boughtyour cruise online from an American travelagent, scoring a discount that was valid forAmerican passengers only.But many Australians have taken the risk,saved the cash, and got away with it.This has long been a contentious topicamong Aussie cruisers – not to mentiontravel agents – and I’m curious to hear yourexperiences.Have you booked a discounted cruise witha US agent and been caught? Or did itwork?Another Cruise Critic member, ‘David’,was critical of the value of local lines,particularly P&O.He said Australians should “compare thevalue of what you are getting [on anoverseas cruise] with what you are chargedlocally for the privilege of taking a cruisewith the local product”.He was quickly shot down, however, byP&O fans.‘Australian family’, one of several peoplewho resented the “old” ships in local waters,said: “It annoys me that these cruise linesonly send their older ships here. Do we notdeserve the right to have the newer shipssailing on our waters?”Age was irrelevant for other passengerssuch as ‘Mabel58’ who said “the poor old Pacific Sun is a bit dated but the crew were superb on my last cruise” and added that“some of the new mega ships in Europehave all the gimmicks but feel soulless tome.”It’s all very interesting!So what’s your favourite cruise line, andwhat do you dislike about cruising inAustralia? I’d love to know! Email me: louise@cruiseweekly.com.au Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Kruzer Posted June 15, 2010 #87 Share Posted June 15, 2010 I just recieved the weekly newsletter as well. Thank you Carolyn for this poll, its looks like its woken a few up down here, and we are being listened to. What I find amazing to come out so far, is that there is a big market down here looking for something other than the local product can provide. And why not? I am not surprised that Princess is ahead..... I relish the choices we have now , and the ones that are coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Australian family Posted June 15, 2010 #88 Share Posted June 15, 2010 I have just read the articles in detail and it is interesting that they have quoted a few us in this article, including myself. I wonder what Ann Sherry thinks about this. It is also interesting that Louise Goldsbury the editor is wanting to hear from cruisers: So what’s your favourite cruise line, and what do you dislike about cruising inAustralia? I’d love to know! Email me: louise@cruiseweekly.com.au Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor@cruisecritic Posted June 15, 2010 Author #89 Share Posted June 15, 2010 Thanks, David -- and all for being such a great community of cruise travelers. We're definitely listening! Carolyn I just recieved the weekly newsletter as well. Thank you Carolyn for this poll, its looks like its woken a few up down here, and we are being listened to. What I find amazing to come out so far, is that there is a big market down here looking for something other than the local product can provide. And why not? I am not surprised that Princess is ahead..... I relish the choices we have now , and the ones that are coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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