nzrainbow

Dropped off at Anzac Square so nice and central.

The shuttle dropped us off at Anzac Square so nice and central and for a solo traveller at $25 AUD its by far the cheapest transport into the City return.

It cost $25 AUD about a week ago for the Princess shuttle bus, return trip. Book on board, they hand out a request form a couple of days prior. Journey can take up to 1 hour depending on traffic. Through industrial area so definitely not at all scenic lol. Only other option seems to be a taxi or ride share car. No suitable public transport and nothing whatsoever to see or do in the Port area. Hope this helps a bit.

It cost $25 AUD about a week ago for the Princess shuttle bus, return trip. Book on board, they hand out a request form a couple of days prior. Journey can take up to 1 hour depending on traffic. Through industrial area so definitely not at all scenic lol. Only other option seems to be a taxi or ride share car. No suitable public transport and nothing whatsoever to see or do in the Port area. Hope this helps a bit.

I tried that option initially but as my 4 seperate segments are being classed as ONE voyage that didn't work for the whole voyage internet pricing and I would have been charged at the more expensive daily rate! And yes, I was charged in AUD as I embarked in Australia, only the final segment is in USD as that ends in the USA 🙂

Oh Thank you so much! That makes it so much clearer.... my assumption was that seeing my original USD OBC offering was credited to my Folio in AUD at a DollarforDollar amount for the first segment the same would apply for the outstanding folio amount at the end of that segment and this would be rolled over into a DollarforDollar USD amount thus leaving me out of pocket! 🙂 I'm sure my inability to explain this all clearly hindered Guest Services ability to explain what would really happen.... the result being a shrug of the shoulders and the answer that "its just the way things are done...." 🙂 I've done plenty of Back2Backs before but this is the first time my Folio has rolled over like this and the first time I've purchased internet for the entire voyage rather than occasional days here and there. Once again thank you for your explanation 🙂

No, my Folio rolls over each segment and my OBC for the following segment is then added. The internet bill for the entire cruise was charged in full at commencement of the cruise in AUD. In total for the Cruise I have OBC of $1050 made up of $500 AUD and $550 USD. $1050 less the $936 internet charge leaves $114 OBC remaining. But if the internet was charged separately for the 2 sections (One in AUD and one in USD) I'd be left with $235.70.... I.e $60.70 plus $175 = $235.70 Sorry I'm unable to explain any better and I'm really struggling to get my head around the apparent difference 😞

They seemed even more confused than me lol so weren't a great deal of help.... at least I tried!

Hoping someone with a better "Math" mind than mine can help with this query.... I am cruising 4 Back to Backs for a total of 49 nights. I'm on a Standard fare as I dont drink alcohol so the packages are not good value for me. Each section of my cruise has its own booking # and the bookings are linked. The first 3 legs totalling 23 nights are billed in AUD. The final leg of 26 nights is billed in USD. My booking was made in USD. My OBC is credited to my folio in either AUD or USD depending on which currency the ship was billing in for that section of the overall cruise. USD OBC was credited for AUD cruise sections at a DollarforDollar rate. I.e USD $100 became $100 AUD (not taking into consideration the current exchange rate) I have AUD/USD $500 OBC for the first 23 night section of the cruise and USD $550 OBC for the second 26 night section. My question lies with the billing for internet. I purchased an entire cruise internet package for 1 device as soon as I got onboard as I wished to use my OBC for this. My status gives a 50% discount on internet price. I understand the current price for internet access is $24.99 USD per day. A 50 % discount should see me paying $12.50 USD per day for the 26 days I'm billed in USD and approx $19.10 AUD per day for the 23 days I'm billed in AUD. So my math says 26 days × $12.50 USD = $325 USD and 23 days x $19. 10 AUD = $439.30 AUD. I was billed a total of $936 AUD when I purchased the package at the start of the cruise. My understanding is that if the first 23 days was billed in AUD at $439.30 and taken out of my AUD OBC of $500 I'd have $60.70 AUD OBC remaining. Then the remaining 26 days billed in USD at $325 taken from my $550 USD OBC I'd have $175 USD OBC remaining. In my mind it appears I've actually been charged a total $19.20 per day whether my folio is in AUD or USD since $936 divided by 49 is $19.10 per day. Thanks for your assistance:)

Yes, that's exactly why I originally made this post, hopefully it helps others who aren't aware that some interior cabins aren't able to be successfully configured for a queen bed. I agree that it's not necessarily made very clear on the deck plans or by Princess when booking unfortunately.

No, all the Interior cabins certainly don't have the intrusive side beds... its the first time I've been allocated an interior cabin like this.... and I've occupied many interior cabins on the Grand Princess. Possibly all the 4 Berth ones do but I certainly didn't specify I required a 4 berth! The std twin/queen interior cabins are generally very nice and I'm perfectly happy with them on some cruises. Depends upon the itinerary, the season, the price and the availability as to what I require when I'm cruising solo.

Yes, on many ships they do drop from the ceiling and are pretty much unobtrusive, unfortunately on the Grand which is my favourite Princess ship they really intrude from the side walls and that is exacerbated by the narrow width of these cabins. The bed works fine pushed to one side for a solo cruiser but it has its limitations as the cabin isn't meant to be configured like that and I feel sorry for the cabin steward who has to deal with it. Makes the cabin a bit ugly too as there's not even a picture on the wall to brighten it up! There's a LOT of much nicer interior cabins on the Grand.... Fwd, Aft and Midship on most decks so there is a choice.

Brilliant idea.... I'd have nothing to complain about then lol. I paid full single supplement for this so I rightly expect to be able to get into bed from either side should I really wish to do so.... 🤔 😅 🙃

Me too! But with a queen centered in this cabin you'd pretty much have to exit and enter the bed by climbing over the foot of it lol.

It would actually probably work OK as a quad although a little cramped. I guess if you needed a quad you'd be expecting that but I booked an Interior with a queen bed! As I said, it was a Guarantee Interior, but booked as a queen so thats what my expectations were. I'd have been happy with any Interior as long as it was able to be properly configured as a queen 🙂I was aware the additional berths were attached to the walls as I've had a similar cabin before on Grand but as you say the issue with these ones is that they are definitely narrower than standard and as such aren't able to be configured successfully as Queens! It would have worked just fine as a twin single too but that's not what I booked.

I booked an Interior Guarantee Cabin aboard Grand Princess recently. I've booked Interiors many, many times before on a range of Princess ships and have never before had an issue with the layout. I was initially advised that ALL the Interior cabins on the Grand could be configured as twin singles or queen bed and also that some had 4 berths... 2 of which dropped down from the side walls. My booking was for a queen bed configuration. When I embarked the Cabin (Plaza 227) was configured as a twin bed bunkroom i.e 2 singles made up with 2 drop down beds folded away. I advised the Cabin steward and housekeeping steward that I required a queen bed and was told that the room couldn't be successfully reconfigured to a queen as I'd hit my head on the bunk beds when entering or exiting the bed because there was insufficient accessway either side of the queen bed. Also that there was only one bedside cabinet (with 2 fixed bedside lamps) designed to go between the 2 single beds..... pushing the 2 singles together in the centre of the cabin meant there was insufficient room to one side for the single bedside cabinet which would then have to be placed sideways meaning the drawers could NOT be opened! The option of a single bed, potential brain damage from bashing my head on a protruding folded bunk and an unusable bedside cabinet resulted in my agreeing to have both singles pushed together hard against one wall beneath the overhanging bunk. This allowed a wider walkway down the other side of the bed and also gave sufficient room to have the single bedside cabinet facing the correct way. This left it almost impossible for the poor steward to make the bed without climbing all over it and of course allowing entry to the queen bed from one side only! Definitely NOT an ideal situation and I don't believe Princess should be marketing these particular cabins as suitable for a Queen configuration so have posted this in the hope that it may help someone else in the future 🙂 The first pic shows the cabin with the queen bed centered and the second with the bed pushed to one side to allow better access (for ONE person) and the use of the bedside cabinet drawers!

I second the ghastly Christmas Cruise experience.... lesson learnt..... things have changed and it's NOT for the better 😞

Glad to hear that I am not the only person that has these issues. My biggest disappointment in the room service breakfast is the "coffee flavored" hot water 😞 As a tea drinker (I detest coffee and even the smell of it makes me me feel ill) waking to a cup of coffee tainted tea because they put the hot water into a jug that that previously held coffee is foul. I write clearly on the card requesting that they don't do it and have given appropriate feedback every time I cruise but to no avail 😞 I'll try your method this time but it really shouldn't be so difficult. The water and coffee jugs are usually labeled..... recently on the Grand a couple of the large hot water urns in the Buffet drinks section had also had coffee in them. They argued the point until I poured a fresh cup and it not only smelled like coffee it looked and tasted of it too! The Supervisor was called and sent a Crew member to get me untainted hot water which was much appreciated. It doesn't happen in the MDR, they serve the hot water in the silver teapots or jugs.

I recently applied for my CCL Shareholder OBC for my 5 upcoming Princess cruises by emailing hello@stockperks.com. I don't use an App and live in New Zealand. I supplied only the basic information required, name, address, booking # and a screen shot of my current CCL shares holding. I received an immediate response that they had received my request and in approximately 24 hours my OBC had been applied. Quick and easy for a Techno Dinosaur like me! Well done 🙂

Ha, we did too..... and I just so happen to have several hours layover at the airport waiting for the next flight so I'll be able to give a VERY detailed survey review! 🙂

I'd just about mirror the comments and reviews of Charliedalrymple. Advertising the Hollywood Conservatory as a "Quiet Area" certainly wasn't true on this cruise! Unfortunately we've both left the ship with a hefty dose of Covid as did many, many others..... 😞 We found the Internet worked well for the entire voyage. We enjoyed the majority of our meals. The service was hit and miss at times..... often seated at an un-set table, some long waits for service, pepper only offered occasionally, we had made a reservation each evening although not at a set table. Our Cabin steward was amazing! The App is a bit of a disaster..... both the old and the new 😞 The Medallion worked well once it was replaced part way through the Cruise. We found the Spa pools were only luke warm early am. There are insufficient general public seating areas indoors which makes the Buffet etc unbearable during inclement weather. I'll be interested to see if we receive a survey by email, on my last Princess Cruise it arrived prior to departure from the ship.

Yes... the endless circle of doom all day 😞

We agree wholeheartedly, the Surf and Turf meal in the MDR was lovely, beautifully cooked and a generous portion 🙂 We also really enjoyed the Production Show "Fierra". I could happily watch it over and over and see new things on each occasion. Didn't stay up to see in the New Year as we were unable to find anywhere that was quiet enough to be enjoyable for us but imagine it went well for others as there seemed to be plenty out and about.

Agree wholeheartedly regarding the Library lol, I'd be a little embarrassed to even call it that! We try to avoid the Buffet where possible but sometimes it's the only realistic option. I've washed and sanitized so much my skin is starting to fall off.... I swim at 0600 to 0630am which has proved to be nice and quiet but I'd probably prefer to sleep in while I'm on holiday. Enjoy the remainder of your Cruise. We will return to the likes of the Grand and Diamond for our next cruises as we've really enjoyed them 🙂