OzKiwiJJ

Didn't they have the On the Bayou show on your cruise? That uses the revolving stage to good effect.

Usually buying $US cash isn't a great idea either as most places that sell cash have poor exchange rates. It really does pay to get a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees and that offers up to the minute exchange rates without too much markup. We've found Latitude 28 degrees to be excellent in this respect. It's probably saved us hundreds, maybe even thousands, of dollars since we've had it.

We took and uploaded photos before our previous cruise then they took new photos when we boarded. However there was one difference. When we took the photos we left our glasses on, we had to remove our glasses for the photos they took.

Yes, about 90 minutes ago.

Do you know what sort of conversion RCL uses? Hopefully not Dynamic Currency Conversion https://www.investopedia.com/dynamic-currency-conversion-dcc-term-4769305. If that is a possibility ask for your card to be charged in US$. Your bank or credit card company will usually have better exchange rates and some credit cards don't charge foreign conversion fees.

I didn't have any problems when I went into the Personalizer to print our travel summary and luggage tags.

Sauce, gravy or mayonnaise for chips should always be served on the side, for dipping, otherwise the chips just go soggy. I like Dijonnaise - a blend of Dijon mustard and mayonnaise. Some years ago a local food court outlet used to make matcha chips - chips dusted with green tea powder, with curry sauce for dipping. They were sooooo yummy. They also made ramen burgers - rounds of ramen noodles instead of buns - and also bao buns. Unfortunately they were all a bit too expensive so they didn't last long.

You can just use your drivers licence for that cruise as it doesn't go to any international ports.

I'll let you know after Saturday how the OPT is handling the embarkations. It was a bit chaotic in Brisbane but very quick.

🙄🙄🙄🙄 we do have such "helpful" members here at times 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Don't panic, Les. Print your travel summary from the Personalizer - that's your boarding pass since you don't have a smartphone. You'll need your photo id, and a printout of your vaccination certificate which they will ask to see. Then you attest your RAT was negative. You'll then get your medallion and go through the security screening as usual before boarding. You "ding on" with the medallion. Easy peasy!

We'll be on the first SA port visits, I think, on Coral Princess. Weather and seas permitting, of course. It could be an interesting cruise! 🤣

But surely mask wearing would only be required when moving through the interior of the ship which is air-conditioned. Mask requirements are already in place on Coral Princess and it's no big deal.

RCI's onboard currency is always USD. I think you will have to pay additional gratuities but am not sure on that. Check your bookibg confirmation, there may be something in the fine print about gratuities, or look at your booking on the RCI website.

Unfortunately on some of their cruises Princess has been showing Yorkey's Knob on the itinerary map even though the actual itinerary says Cairns. Talk about confusing!

Nooooo! DO NOT SAY THAT!!! I have been very carefully trying not to be tempted by that idea! Especially since I discovered the Princess Love Boat Dream pairs beautifully with the Merlot on the Plus wine list.

Unfortunately not! 🤣

Oh, did you get a cabin without an automatic door opener?

Check if the major rental car companies have depots in the CBD. Many of the smaller companies only operate out of one location which might be city or airport but not both.

They could be doing a one way cruise to Auckland, staying a few days, then flying home.

Although it's a few years since we did a Xmas cruise on Princess the Christmas menu was pretty much as Roatanfans described. Princess doesn't really alter its menus much for our local Australasian itineraries. Christmas here is a mix of traditional British cuisine (despite it being summer) of turkey and steamed fruit pudding, or seafood and pavlova. And I won't tell you what I think of the pathetic things Princess calls pavlova - they'd ban me if I did! 🙄😯🤣

Sydney Airport is about half an hour or so by car or taxi to the Overseas Passenger Terminal (OPT) where the Princess ships depart from. There is also a train and the OPT is only a short flat walk from the Circular Quay station. I would recommend staying somewhere in the city, near Circular Quay if your budget permits. Sydney is usually fairly pleasant in early April, warm but not too hot or humid but this year was much cooler and wetter. NZ will be getting cool so pack layers. Auckland should still be pleasant but it will be colder further south, and very chilly first thing in Fiordland for the scenic cruising.

Fly first, cruise home. Take an extra bag for the shopping that can be packed in a suitcase for the flight.

Put it this way, if they have reduced the value then they will experience me throwing the biggest hissy fit they've ever seen. I threw a big enough one in June when I discovered the pathetic Plus wine list but if the values have been reduced it will be an earthquake level hissy fit!!!! 🤣🤣🤣 But I'm 99.9% certain it's still $16.

The Plus Sauv Blanc is a Sauv Blanc / Semillon blend that is best descibed as a generic dry white. I can't drink most Sauv Blancs as what gives it that characteristic taste also gives me severe reflux but that one is so bland I could probably drink it. The Premier Sauv Blanc is Cloudy Bay - I believe in the ABCB of NZ wines, Anything But Cloudy Bay! There is a very nice Merlot on the Plus list, and it goes exceptionally well with the Princess Love Boat Dream dessert as well as red meats. The Pinot Noir is fairly boring and the other two reds are Cab Sauv blends so I can't drink them - I also react to most Cab Sauvs, headache material for me. The Rosè is very nice. I drink that instead of the whites. The variety of wines is disappointing. They promised 25 wines by the glass for Plus but there are only 9! 🤬 I like Rosè, dry Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Grüner Veltliner (my new fav), lightly oaked Chardonnays and a few of the lesser known Italian whites. For reds it's Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Nebbiolo, Barbera, and some lighter Shirazes. We discovered a very interesting cellar door in Hahndorf last year - Landhaus Wines. They make their wines in the European style rather than classic Australian which really suits my tastes.

Then I'd go for a Pinot Noir.