OzKiwiJJ

It was $50pp per day in August last year. It was $65 last week when a friend added Plus to an upcoming cruise, so you'll pay $15pp per day extra. Whoops, I misread your post. $85pp per day for Premier I think.

Next time maybe. The cruise lines sometimes offer some very cheap deals on some airlines - not the premium ones but still good quality ones. Sometimes you can get a one way business class fare cheaper than a premium airline economy fare.

Are you going to book through HAL? If not have a look what their fares are like. If they are comparable or cheaper book through them. Then if there is a major delay docking I believe the onus is on them to get you to the airport on time or provide you with an alternative flight. We booked through HAL when we flew SYD to AKL last December. We got a very good deal.

That's one change they should grandfather in to all Plus and Premier fares, regardless of when it was booked. It's annoying to find you've booked something in good faith a year or so ago then they change the rules so what you think you've paid for isn't what you'll get. And don't get me started on the wines again ...

Whichever you choose you will probably end up on a big catamaran with hundreds of other cruisers going to a specific fixed(?) pontoon that may or may not have really good quality reefs nearby, and those hundreds of people will all be trying to snorkel it at the same time. If you seriously want to experience the GBR then go to Port Douglas for a few days and go out with one of the smaller boats like Wavelength. That way you'll see three of the best outer reef locations at the time.

Bear in mind that the FAQs typically relate to US cruises. There can be variations in our region. Also the FAQs aren't always up-to-date The clip from the Passage Contract I posted above is dated June 2023.

This is what is in the Princess Passage Contract: 25. Smoking Smoking is not permitted indoors on any of Our ships. This includes in staterooms and on private balconies. For those who smoke, there are designated outdoor areas where smoking is permitted and this information will be communicated to You onboard. The use of electronic cigarettes is allowed within the confines of the guest's stateroom (balcony not included) and within designated smoking areas only.

Quite possibly. And will the pizzas still be free in the pop-up Alfredos held in Sabatinis on Coral on some sea day lunchtimes? The whole announcement seems to be very confusing and messy.

I'm sorry to hear that, Les. {{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}

I'd be even angrier with Princess than I was after the corkage fee increase except for one fact. In 239 days of cruising on Princess we've used room service on no more than 10 of those days, and 6 of those were when we were in isolation with Covid last year. Neither of us finds the room service menu appealing so if one of us is feeling unwell the other goes to the buffet and brings more palatable food back to our cabin.

I never managed to get the app to allow me to book an included speciality dinner pre-cruise without charging. So you have two choices: - leave your booking as is and get the OBC which will be refundable at the end of the cruise. - cancel your prebooking and wait until you board. Tip: if you have problems booking through the app go to the speciality restaurant on the first night and make your bookings in person.

Since I've never heard of any ships having outdoor casinos the no smoking indoors applies.

Post #93 has the current prices. The "champagne" is a Tasmanian sparkling and is a very nice drop. As good some lesser label Champagnes I've tasted in the past.

It is not permitted inside the ships but is allowed in specified outdoor smoking areas.

$7.50 and around $22 AUD.

No, Alfredos is one of the "casual dining" restaurants. If you want a pizza at Alfredos it will cost around $22 if you don't have the $65pp per day Plus package. Alfredos pizza isn't worth that much!

It would be good value if they had decent wines by the glass. They promise 25 wines under Plus but only have 9 available so not a good selection ie there are only two white wines - a semillon/sauvignon and an oaky chardonnay - neither of which I can drink.

Cutting back on the basics to "encourage" people to book the Plus or Premier fares. I wonder how long it will be until there is another price hike on those. The luxury lines are looking more and more competitive these days.

That's tUtheSD limit. The AUD limit is $22 still, I think.

Except they don't have reliable supplies. In the cruises we did in the past year Coral Princess (on a couple of the cruises), Grand Princess and Westerdam ran out of English Breakfast tea a few times, especially in their buffets.

I've tried regular Assam but not the Bold. But I'm happy with the Ceylon Supreme I use now and it's easy to order it online. But again, the chances of finding Assam Bold on a cruise ship would be zero to none too. Fair enough, I guess, they cater for the lowest common denominator not those of us who like different teas.

And if Rolf doesn't get a decent espresso or two in the morning you don't want to be on that ship either! 🤣🤣🤣

Put it this way - if I don't get my pot of decent strong tea first thing in the morning you do not want to be on the same ship!!! 🤣🤣🤣

Twinings English Breakfast is a reasonable tea and I'm OK if that is regularly available but the Dilmah usually found on cruise ships is just the basic Dilmah tea, not the one I like. Liptons is blah and their English Breakfast isn't as good as Twinings. The only time I had Yorkshire Tea (in Yorkshire) it tasted horrible!

Because we like Sabatinis for variety! 😁 And the Italian wines. Not a fan of the Bayou / Stirling Steakhouse / Crown Grill though.