aussielozzie18

The problem with being a solo diner is the waitstaff bring out your food too quickly (this has occurred on other lines too). Because you are not chatting, you finish your dish quicker. I now know to ask the waiters to give me a break between serving each course. Holland America (Noordam) had nice gaps between private tables in the area I was seated on the first two nights. Rest of the cruise was spent on a table of four with another couple.

Sounds wonderful. Look forward to doing it ourselves in 2024.

Being new to the ship and a short cruise, I really struggled with orientation. I actually only discovered that whole area that had the International cafe, Effys, the photo displays and the desk selling the medallion trinkets - the night before we disembarked... Many thanks for answering my questions before the cruise and for that valuable info you just provided. in August 2020, we were due to do our first Princess cruise as a one way from Vancouver to Whittier then a road trip around Alaska. That is back on the agenda. I book for itinerary & price. If Princess offered me an interesting itinerary and a decent price, I wouldn’t hesitate to book with Princess Australia again,

Didn’t have to go to guest services on the night before disembarkation to pay final bill. It was charged automatically to card linked to my account. Woke up to my emailed account statement this morning as well as a comprehensive post cruise survey to complete which I have done.

An upgrade to be a big balcony would be wonderful! I know what you mean about the look of the balconies. Photo of the AFT balconies. You can see the entire row where my cabin was located had no cover.

Next cruise with be with my young adult daughter on the “new” Carnival Luminosa from Brisbane to the Great Barrier Reef. I selected an AFT balcony cabin each for us on that one 🤣. Going to study the floor plan so I don’t get lost so much on that one…. Thanks for following my TR. Hopefully it was been useful for any other Princess newbies out there.

Despite the weather on the way down, had a lovely cruise. 3 nights and one port day was a really good first cruise back experience. I didn’t make full use of the Medallion. I couldn’t get it to work on my phone. My dining companions also first time to Princess loved ordering their drinks & room service on it. I am sure next time I cruise with a family member who is app smarter than me, I will make full use of it. Certainly it automatically unlocking the cabin door on approach was cool and not having to go to guest services when your room card stopped working was great. Only time I needed to go to guest services was to hopefully retrieve my jacket that I left behind during the boarding x-ray and thankfully they had it in lost property. I did this cruise after a bad few months of vertigo earlier in the year. Despite the bad weather, I found the Coral Princess very stable. Only time I noticed movement was at bedtime and It was a lovely gentle rocking me to sleep feeling during the trip down to Eden.

Before the cruise ships returned to Australia I said I wouldn’t do a cruise if I had to wear a mask all the time onboard and I didn’t actually realise before we boarded thatwe had to wear a mask all the time except when physically eating/drinking. But because I an fortunate not to have tested positive for Covid since the pandemic I ended up being appreciative of the mask requirement and really it was no hassle at all - except for the first afternoon when I exited the second lift and realised I wasn’t wearing my mask and had to walk all the way back to the AFT cabin to retrieve it. Didn’t do that again!

AFT means you do a lot of walking. I like walking but I probably won’t voluntarily choose an AFT if it’s the first time on that ship. Despite the walking and the lack of balcony cover, I was really happy with my cabin. Lifts were fast, never had to wait long (except for return from port day which is to be expected), often had lifts to myself but when others were in them everyone was very friendly and wearing masks. Only time there wasn’t a mask worn was a young girl about 11 and her mother was extremely apologetic saying her daughter had just broken the mask and they were heading back to their cabin to get another one (not that anyone said anything to the mum).

Balcony had a glass sliding door (so much better than a door that opens outwards). Two chairs & a table Size of balcony would be fine for two per below photo. It had no roof to protect from sun or rain or provide privacy from walking track above. I could also see into the balconies of the people below me. Three people standing on their balcony in bathrobes as we sailed into Eden.

The room came with a small bar fridge that actually keep items inside cold. Four small tumbler glasses in cabin. Flat screen tv opposite bed with a good choice of free movies/documentaries and tv shows. Plug for charging phone was on desk. Room came with desk & chair & nice glass circular glass table but no couch/sofa.

Finally cabin info: My guarantee cabin was a BE balcony located on Deck 12 Aloha Deck AFT. Cabin A632. This is the only cabin photo I took because of all the mirrors. Hard to avoid your reflection! Had a Queen bed (very very comfy). Bedside tables on either side with two small drawers. Storage was 4 small drawers, this wardrobe section & the adjacent cupboard. Shower had a curtain and body lotion + combined shampoo & conditioner Hair dryer was next to sliding door going to balcony.

Lunch at Horizon Court Also, a section of hot dishes & plenty of fruit (neither options I photographed)

Breakfast at Horizon Court (Buffet) Made to order omelettes were popular (above photo sign) under the paper is French toast, pikelets

Entry to Horizon Court (Buffet). You must wash your hands & wear a mask. Photo taken at entrance to Horizon Court.

Free ice-cream near pool deck

Free pizza above pool deck

Sabatinis - Speciality Restaurant - additional charge ($34pp). Tried my best to photo from menu display outside restaurant

Room service breakfast menu

Confirming price of Whale Watching Cruise - $129.95pp Depart 11.45am. Return 2pm Excursion “Whale Watching in Twofold Bay” at Eden.

Ok, more photos for you. International Covid Vaccination certificate that I had to show a physical copy of on boarding. Obviously I have covered my personal details & a large QR code on the left hand side.

Glad it has been helpful. Enjoy your cruise.

Love the gentle sway you get all day when you have disembarked from the cruise. Makes me feel like I am back on board….

Thanks for the heads up re the shower. I only saw my room attendant twice. Once on boarding day and the night before departure. Pre-medallion on other cruise lines you would always see them in the corridors so it never occurred to me until now that I could actually call him from the cabin phone with requests (I wanted a wine glass in the room too)….

Woke up 7am. Second morning attempt at shower and no hot water. No breakfast. Just packed suitcase & out the cabin door. Exited the OPT at 7.35pm. Back to work this morning. Horizon Buffet photos & final thoughts after work tonight.