Live from the Sun Princess

[gooch47]

Princess apparently has never heard the one about "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

 

We think that drydock broke more than it fixed.

 

This is the first that the internet has been up. The room was flooded, or so we heard.

 

Our HVAC wasn't working the first night. It sounded like a hurricane going through the room and there was no heat at all. Yes ... we needed heat. It was chilly and wet in Sydney. We also heard that one section of one deck was without toilets the first night.

 

Getting on the ship was rough. They only had one x-ray machine so the line was terribly long. Once through that, though, it went well. Sailing was delayed until 5:30 which coincided with first seating. So we ate at the buffet the first night.

 

We encountered a very rude person in the casino. They wouldn't let us in even to look around the first day. She literally ordered us out.

 

One big shock: none of the duty-free shops will be open at any time during this cruise. Something to do with Australian commerce laws.

 

We went to the Australia Zoo today which was great. We also went to an artsy mountaintop town ... the name escapes me. That was a waste of time.

 

But we had a great time in Sydney.

[kaseyoz]

Hi Linda, glad you could finally check in.

the cruisers on the dawn left later too 7pm today instead of 4pm.

 

I hope they get all the bugs out of the system for you as it sounds like you have had a rough start to the trip.

Aussies cruises usually cannot sell duty free which is why they usually anchor at willis island. Hope they do that for you.

 

was the mountain tambourine mountain. Please check in again if you get the chance.

thinking about you and wishing you better times.

[matmar]

We were down at Portside today to see the Sun Princess sail off. Got some pics to down load soon. Hopefully they are OK, new camera!

[Star-Man]

One big shock: none of the duty-free shops will be open at any time during this cruise. Something to do with Australian commerce laws.

 

Yeah, because she doesnt technically leave australian waters, they cant offer duty free stuff. It would be fixed with a quick diversion to willis island between Cairns and going around the cape though...

 

We also went to an artsy mountaintop town ... the name escapes me. That was a waste of time.

 

Mt Coot-tha? Its really just a lookout on top of the mountain with an overpriced cafe...

[Guest012]

Hi Linda hope things get better...sure they will..you were in my backyard today i live about 5 mins from the Zoo.. glad you enjoyed yourself....if it was an artsy mountain top place here on the Sunshine Coast about 12mins from the Zoo is Montville... used to be a quaint little mountain village....not so much now.. look forward to your next instalment......cheers shiona

[MsMinx]

Hi Gooch! We just got back from waving you goodbye at Portside! :D I've got some video to edit and upload later.

 

The artsy mountain top town you went to could be either Montville or Maleney. If it was really artsy it was probably Montville ;) Was there a little cafe with a big water wheel out the front?? That's Montville.

 

Shame you don't have any duty free :(

 

Hope the rest of the cruise goes well :D

[arxcards]

Hi Linda,

Nice of you to say hello from onboard. Pity about the early problems. You would think a simple diversion out of Australian waters would keep cruisers and the duty free onboard happy.

 

Looking forward to better updates.

 

Cheers

Geoff

[CruiseW827]

We went to the Australia Zoo today which was great. We also went to an artsy mountaintop town ... the name escapes me. That was a waste of time.

 

But we had a great time in Sydney.

Australia Zoo is awesome isnt it. Just the way the work with those crocs is incredible

Sorry to hear of the hiccups you have had hope it is smooth saiing now.

[kaseyoz]

LOL we certainly gave her a few clues about different mountain towns, I didnt realise there was so many. I could only think of tambourine which is more GC than brisbane

[arxcards]

Hi Linda,

Nice of you to say hello from onboard. Pity about the early problems. You would think a simple diversion out of Australian waters would keep cruisers and the duty free onboard happy.

 

Looking forward to better updates.

 

Cheers

Geoff

Better - I mean good news updates

[Skyrules]

Princess apparently has never heard the one about "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

 

We think that drydock broke more than it fixed.

 

This is the first that the internet has been up. The room was flooded, or so we heard.

 

Our HVAC wasn't working the first night. It sounded like a hurricane going through the room and there was no heat at all. Yes ... we needed heat. It was chilly and wet in Sydney. We also heard that one section of one deck was without toilets the first night.

 

Getting on the ship was rough. They only had one x-ray machine so the line was terribly long. Once through that, though, it went well. Sailing was delayed until 5:30 which coincided with first seating. So we ate at the buffet the first night.

 

We encountered a very rude person in the casino. They wouldn't let us in even to look around the first day. She literally ordered us out.

 

One big shock: none of the duty-free shops will be open at any time during this cruise. Something to do with Australian commerce laws.

 

We went to the Australia Zoo today which was great. We also went to an artsy mountaintop town ... the name escapes me. That was a waste of time.

 

But we had a great time in Sydney.

 

That would be Maleny... Not the most exciting of places on the Sunshine Coast, I have to agree.

 

Where you out on the deck on Sailaway from Brisbane?? There were quite a few of us Brisbane CC'ers on the Observation Deck... I hope you weren't the passenger who delayed departure ;)

[Skyrules]

Hi Linda, glad you could finally check in.

the cruisers on the dawn left later too 7pm today instead of 4pm.

 

I hope they get all the bugs out of the system for you as it sounds like you have had a rough start to the trip.

Aussies cruises usually cannot sell duty free which is why they usually anchor at willis island. Hope they do that for you.

 

was the mountain tambourine mountain. Please check in again if you get the chance.

thinking about you and wishing you better times.

 

 

No, Mt Tamborine is inland from the Gold Coast, she probably went to Maleny, which only about a 1/2 hr drive on beyond Australia Zoo.

[katkell]

Princess apparently has never heard the one about "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

 

We think that drydock broke more than it fixed.

 

This is the first that the internet has been up. The room was flooded, or so we heard.

 

Our HVAC wasn't working the first night. It sounded like a hurricane going through the room and there was no heat at all. Yes ... we needed heat. It was chilly and wet in Sydney. We also heard that one section of one deck was without toilets the first night.

 

Getting on the ship was rough. They only had one x-ray machine so the line was terribly long. Once through that, though, it went well. Sailing was delayed until 5:30 which coincided with first seating. So we ate at the buffet the first night.

 

We encountered a very rude person in the casino. They wouldn't let us in even to look around the first day. She literally ordered us out.

 

One big shock: none of the duty-free shops will be open at any time during this cruise. Something to do with Australian commerce laws.

 

We went to the Australia Zoo today which was great. We also went to an artsy mountaintop town ... the name escapes me. That was a waste of time.

 

But we had a great time in Sydney.

 

I hope they get it all sorted, we are on the next one, and I love the Casino.

What is an "HVAC", I am thinking airconditioning. Am I dumb?

When we went to the Med last year with Celebrity, the Duty Free booze shop & cigarette shop was closed the whole time, some Euopean rules happening there. Have you ever tried to buy you preferred brand in a country that sells them in a 20 pack and isn't anything like the brand you smoke? Not doing that again.

Hope everything else goes smoothly, and remember you are in Australia, so everything is "ALL GOOD"

[AuzzieCruiser]

Glad you are enjoying yourself nonetheless Linda. Just go with the flow.:)

Stupid question time....On our 35 night cruise, will the Duty Free shops only be open when we leave Australian waters to PNG and NZ, or will they be open the whole duration of the cruise??

[matmar]

Some pics I took at Portside this afternoon/evening.

 

[Star-Man]

Stupid question time....On our 35 night cruise, will the Duty Free shops only be open when we leave Australian waters to PNG and NZ, or will they be open the whole duration of the cruise??

 

Going by my own experience, id say they would be open when ever you arent in port. Dont know whether RCI would do things any differently

[arxcards]

Some pics I took at Portside this afternoon/evening.

 

 

:) Cool pics - Thank you! :)

[Skyrules]

Glad you are enjoying yourself nonetheless Linda. Just go with the flow.:)

 

Stupid question time....On our 35 night cruise, will the Duty Free shops only be open when we leave Australian waters to PNG and NZ, or will they be open the whole duration of the cruise??

 

 

Because you are leaving Australian waters to go to PNG and NZ, the duty free will probably be available for the whole cruise. I believe that's the way it works on the Qld Coastal cruises that go to Willis Island. Someone who's done that cruise might be able to tell you.

 

I would have thought it wouldn't have been that difficult to arrange for Sun Princess to leave Australian waters - either at Willis Island, or maybe between Darwin and Broome.

[kaseyoz]

would that affect immigration if they left aussie waters? not sure about that.

 

it does seem silly for a cruise that long and probably with lots of americans on board who were told not to take alcohol with them like they do back home. Then be told sorry you cant even buy it. It all seems very odd especially when it could be easily fixed with a quick detour

[SouthAussie100]

fabulous to hear from you on board Gooch !

Hope the rocky start is over and much better times ahead :)

What cabin are you in (doesn't have to be the exact number just up or down or front or back)....just doing some homework for hopefully a trip on the SP next year.

 

cheers

nessie

[Star-Man]

it does seem silly for a cruise that long and probably with lots of americans on board who were told not to take alcohol with them like they do back home.

 

speaking of which, i noticed alot of people walking onto the ship yesterday with bottles of wine in their hands.

[kaseyoz]

Maybe they are turning a blind eye to it seeing as they know they are used to doing it in america and no duty free on board

[arxcards]

Maybe they are turning a blind eye to it seeing as they know they are used to doing it in america and no duty free on board

Karon,

Could also be the same as if duty free was available onboard, where a nice person will take it off your hands and put in bond till the last night of the cruise. Duty free onboard purchases of alcohol are handled that way. They can purchase bottles of taxed alcohol onboard for consumption. Maybe Linda can confirm next time she is online.

 

Cheers

Geoff

[Guest012]

Wine might be a gift from Princess for the passengers on the first cruise......

[SeaDog-46]

Earlier this year we had friends do the round Oz trip on Pacific Princess.

They said that a limited number of wine was allowed onboard at each port of call.

No duty free was available as the SHIP did not leave Australian waters.

 

Gooch - after a docking it is often the case that many things that were repaired - do not work properly. The ship's staff will soon have everything working.

Enjoy the trip & especially the smaller ports.