phoenixxx

10 hours ago, Tripmode33 said:

Would definitely help to know the month of travel. Best to avoid the heat and humidity of the north in our summer, say October to March. In Darwin, they refer to November as 'suicide month' for a reason.  Also cyclone season in the the north, December to April worst period.  If hoping to swim, snorkel or dive in the top half of Australia, including our Great Barrier Reef, research head to toe stinger suits due to Box Jellyfish in warmer months and Irukandji all year.

If I was planning the timing, I would choose April/May for bottom half into May/June for top half.

Of course if outside optimum seasons, you have the benefit of an air-conditioned ship, but shore excursions will be more uncomfortable up north in our summer.

The posters on the Australia/New Zealand forum respond readily with lots of helpful information.

Sorry I forgot to put the month. End October Sydney to Brisbane clockwise.

7 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Having steamed around Australia both directions a few times, I'll suggest it is personal preference, with the 3 key differences being the predominant winds, temperatures and the itinerary to be more intensive at the beginning or end of the cruise. Assuming a R/T from Sydney.

 

Crossing the Great Australian Bight you are in the roaring 40's, with predominantly W'ly winds, so anti-clockwise you would have these winds astern (following winds), with less apparent wind over the deck. A clockwise sailing will have the winds ahead, so more apparent wind over the deck. The ship's movement is completely different with head or following seas, more pounding with large heads seas, whereas with following seas the movement can be uncomfortable as the wind grabs the stern. On the East Coast you can also experience SW Trade Winds, which will be following seas going counter-clockwise and head seas going clockwise.

 

Temperatures may depend on the time of year and whether you want to experience the worst heat/humidity early or later. If it is a late summer (s/hemisphere) to avoid some of the heat, you could do a clockwise, as it delays the transit through the tropical waters. If it was Spring/ early Summer, a counter-clockwise sailing will get through the tropics before the height of summer.

 

Going up the East Coast can be more port intensive until Darwin, whereas crossing the Great Australian Bight can have more sea days.

 

Personally, I prefer departing Sydney and heading North for a counter-clockwise sailing.

Looking at clockwise Sydney to Brisbane end of October 

On 5/25/2023 at 12:39 AM, Expat Cruise said:

The simple answer is book the cabin for two guests, and when the second guests do a no show, the port fees and taxes will be refunded. It works out the same as booking a single passenger in the end, or every close. 

What happens to the second persons deposit in this instance?

On 4/5/2023 at 3:04 AM, Cruise Junky said:

Nice to see they’re breaking up the Transpacifics too with a Honolulu and Auckland as options.  

It's that to disembark in Auckland? Do you miss a few cruise days?

On 5/3/2022 at 8:35 PM, OzKiwiJJ said:

It will be Coral Princess.

 

They might not release that itinerary until later this year - October or November.

Does anyone know if the October 2024 circumnavigation has been released yet, I can't find it on Princess website, the dates to filter for Oz cruises only go up to Aug 2024?

Thanks

20 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

March is autumn here. Usually warm to hot. It will be very humid in the northern part of Australia and Indonesia. Very few cruise lines operate here during our winter which, of course, is the best time to do the northern region. The luxury cruise lines such as Viking tend to move through our region in the peak of summer so that they can include NZ in their itineraries before heading north again. 

 

Princess operates Round Australia cruises in spring and autumn which is the best time to strike the balance between not too humid up north and less likelihood of nasty weather/seas in the south. However these cruises book out very quickly.

Is spring or autumn better if you don't like the heat?

20 hours ago, eddieg07410 said:

Just booked a viking cruise that begins in New Zealand mid February and slowly finds its way up to northern Australia and finally to Bali and other stops in Indonesia. I thought March would be more Spring like. Our other option would be to do the same cruise beginning mid  November. We are a couple in our seventies who do not do well in the heat, so what would be the better option, thanks in advance.

March down here is towards the end of summer.

2 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

If you book with Princess and the fare drops after booking Princess will usually honour the fare drop if it's before final payment, as long as there are still cabins available in that category. 

 

I think RCI have just started doing this as well.

Why do there need to still be same category cabins available if you're just asking for the price drop, it's not a rebooking is it?

3 hours ago, Russell21 said:

Our 35 day trip to Hawaii in 2023 is on the Coral Princess which is a swing back to the smaller 2000 passenger ships like the older Dawn Princess and her sister ships. Maybe they listened to the people who prefer the smaller ships.

Is that September 2023? I'm booked on that one 😀

Can't see this going ahead sorry

Sorry but imho there is no chance of your cruise happening. 

16 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

You'll love the Hawaii/Tahiti cruise. We did it in 2019 and it was one of the best cruises we've ever done. It was so relaxing. We liked it so much we've booked it again in 2023 so might see you onboard.

We can meet for a 🍹🍺

Only 920 days to go 🤣🤣

14 minutes ago, NSWP said:

Strange how you got your deposit refund today, you trod on the right toes.

Yeah but I didn't want my $200 back, I wanted my Cruise 😥

19 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

Go for the throat phoenixxx,    LOL

I haven't minced my words, he'll be in no doubt about my feelings 😥🤣

4 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

That’s a good point, I’m glade you bought it up.

 

 

Here’s the Royal Caribbean Group’s big boss email. mbayley@rccl.com

Thank you @Chiliburn, I have sent an email, wonder if I'll get a reply.

10 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

It wasn't long ago, passengers would be given OBC for the inconvenience of a Sydney to Brisbane return flight!  Follow up re transfer to Brisbane departure with no extra cost!  Right is on your side!

I'm in Auckland so it to matters not to me that it's sailing out of Brisbane, it's the clear price gouging that I have issue with! FFS it's the same Cruise, just different departure port and they expect us to believe it's been cancelled! It's even leaving on the same day!

3 hours ago, MMDown Under said:

I can understand why you are both disgusted and angry

I would phone the cruise line again and ask for a transfer to Brisbane departure free of extra charge.  I would also write to someone in charge.  They are burning good will.  People won't forget this price gouging in relation to cancellation of cruises when departure port is changed from Sydney to Brisbane.  Is it the same cruise, except from Brisbane?

It is exactly the same, except departure port. Can't understand why they are willing to alienate their customers like this 😡😡😡

Quantum Transpacific April 2022 is now sailing out of Brisbane instead of Sydney. My Cruise has been cancelled. No option offered to still sail with the different departure port. You have to make a new booking, price is now NZD2200 MORE than I paid. Or I can sail on Ovation out of Sydney for $2800 more!

This can only be a money grabbing exercise. I am disgusted by this. So angry😡😡

58 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

I appear Royal Caribbean has announced for 21/22 season  that Quantum is going to Brisbane and will be doing Radiance cruises.

Sydney gets Ovation and  serenade (serenade is still in the Caribbean)

and Radiance goes to the Caribbean. 

 

Just got an email this morning, my April 2022 Transpacific Sydney to Honolulu on Quantum has been cancelled 😭😭 why would they not run it out of Brisbane? Would it not be returning to US?

Thanks cheznandy, yes it's as I thought, I've got an obstructed pretty much with no obstruction :D

I'd love to hear your report and pics if possible when you've sailed on her?

wishfulone yes I'm really excited first time on a balcony!! Even just to get the fresh air will be amazing. I presume we can we have the door open at night?

I will thanks OzKiwi, and lucky you having so many cruises to look forward to! :cool:

We've booked D424. The biggest angled BA balcony on the port side. We're going on Royal Princess in September, in a regular balcony cabin, so I thought it would be interesting to see how one of those extended balconies compared.

Hi OzKiwi and also CheznAndy,

I'll be really interested in your feedback from these cabins. I've booked the 2nd march 2019 Auckland to Sydney (such a long time to wait!) in E425 which from the website I think you are referring to is a similar cabin to the ones that you've both booked (also not obstructed if my research is correct). I'm so excited, first time on Princess and first time in a balcony!!!!!

If either of you have a moment can you look on the plans at the cabin number I've booked and tell me your thoughts, thanks so much :)