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Everything posted by OzKiwiJJ
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Is there Covid on Grand Princess
OzKiwiJJ replied to JohnnyG7's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
If masks are worn by everyone the spread would be significantly reduced. Masks are most effective at reducing aerosol transmission from an infected person, and people are usually infections for around two days before developing symptoms. But since far too many people either don't wear properly fitting masks, or wear them incorrectly (noses poking out, big gaps at the sides etc) then Covid spreads far too easily. -
Is there Covid on Grand Princess
OzKiwiJJ replied to JohnnyG7's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
Yes, there will be overlap so Covid might stay onboard. Also I just discovered what the R0 factor is for the latest variants of Omicron. No wonder it spreads like wildfire onboard, especially with so many idiots onboard not wearing masks properly. -
Report on my first cruise, on Coral Princess
OzKiwiJJ replied to cruiser3775's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
It's best to take wine in your carry-on. There is usually a table just after the security scanning where you declare your wine, if you have more than one bottle per person, and pay the corkage on the extra bottles. -
Is there Covid on Grand Princess
OzKiwiJJ replied to JohnnyG7's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
1. There will be very little Covid onboard when you embark as most, if not all, passengers from the previous cruise will have disembarked taking most, if not all, Covid cases off the ship. 2. New passengers will bring Covid onboard - unwittingly in most cases but possibly deliberate (faking their pre-cruise RAT) in some cases. 3. If everyone wears masks properly and reports to the medical centre at the slightest onset of any symptoms then Covid will not spread. However pigs will have to fly for this to happen! 4. Be sensible, wear a good quality mask when moving around the ship and in theatres, wash your hands regularly and use sanitizer when needed, and have a great cruise. -
Princess 'Plus' and 'Premier' packages
OzKiwiJJ replied to Aus Traveller's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
So far we've booked at $30 (unbelievable value), $40 (still very good value), and $50 (OK but the limited selection of wines gets very boring). I think $65 will be too borderline for us. On Sea Princess in 2019 our average drinks cost pp per day was under $54 and we didn't stint on the wines we bought by the bottle. Add in $7.50 or so for internet and that's only $61.50. Plus we're spending $5-7 pp per day extra for decent wines occasionally and other drinks over the Plus limit. I think wine by the bottle is more expensive now but even so it won't be worth getting the Plus fare. -
Princess 'Plus' and 'Premier' packages
OzKiwiJJ replied to Aus Traveller's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
We've got the Westerdam cruise coming up so we'll see how that suits us. They had reasonable fares with drinks packages, internet, excursion credits, and speciality restaurants included. Not gratuities though unfortunately. It's a shame as Princess suits us in so many ways. -
Princess 'Plus' and 'Premier' packages
OzKiwiJJ replied to Aus Traveller's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
I've already got enough cruises booked between now and the 2024 world cruise, thank goodness. -
Princess 'Plus' and 'Premier' packages
OzKiwiJJ replied to Aus Traveller's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
I just read the email. It's $65 pp per day here. We won't be getting the Plus package on any new Princess cruises we book. We'll stick with the ones we already have booked - which includes the 2024 world cruise at the original $40pp per day. It might be time to start looking at the luxury lines. -
Princess 'Plus' and 'Premier' packages
OzKiwiJJ replied to Aus Traveller's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
It was. At $50 it's still a reasonable deal unless you like decent quality wines with meals. They haven't honoured the "25 wines by the glass" that the drinks package is supposed to have, there are only 9. At $60 it starts losing it's value and offering "premium desserts" that look like something that would more suit a children's birthday party is almost an insult. -
How late in November? I think most of the cruise lines wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas.
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What is it with people who do that? It's happened to me twice now: - In 2019 we stood outside the OPT in heavy rain for an hour waiting for Border Force to allow embarking passengers into the terminal. The delay was caused by four passengers deciding that they didn't have to go through passport control. - In September this year, on a B2B, we sat in the cruise terminal for over an hour before being allowed back onboard because two passengers decided that they didn't have to leave the ship to clear Customs. At least that time we didn't have to wait outside in the cold.
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The other point to remember is that in terms of numbers Tier 2 and Tier 3 are different for each ship as it is a percentage of passengers and crew, not a fixed number. So for Coral Princess Tier 2 kicks in at around 87 cases, Tier 3 at around 290 cases, based on lower berth and crew counts. Majestic Princess is 147 and 490 cases respectively. Ovation of the Seas is 164 and 548 cases respectively.
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sydney international cruise terminal car pick
OzKiwiJJ replied to freanesi's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
Sorry, mate, but this is totally wrong. -
sydney international cruise terminal car pick
OzKiwiJJ replied to freanesi's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
There is a drop-off / pick-up area right outside the terminal. The tricky bit is getting to it especially on a weekend when the markets are open. It's well organised but isn't a big area. I recommend getting whoever is picking you up to wait somewhere on the way to the terminal until you contact them to tell them you are outside the terminal.