prerel

Please be aware that Aria have mainly baths not showers in the cabins, so if you have mobility issues you may want to check for disabled cabins. We have been on Her several times and have to be careful getting out of the bath, more so than getting in.

She also has a small theatre for movies. I think the casino is open on coastal cruises.

P&O never seem to be cheap in QLD for anything other than an inside. If you stay in a balcony or above and buy a drink package, they end up being dearer then the other lines.

Unfortunately we don't have much choice out of Brisbane, and with the Jewel joining the fleet later this year,we can hope for a few bargains.

No! P&O give away nothing or sell cheap!

If you know your cabin number, you could try this website.

https://sites.google.com/site/cabinviewbyrenmar/home

Just click on the relevant ship on the left side of the web page. You might be lucky to find your cabin photo.

Good Luck! We have always ended up in a better category than what we paid for. Our last cruise was number 29.

If the sales person said "getting a really good deal" I suspect it could be a guaranteed cabin as an allocated one would have come up on Cruise Control. That is one reason I use an online agent that has available cabins listed for you to choose from or the cheaper way is a guaranteed cabin and take pot luck at what you get. I have booked a guaranteed cabin in the lowest outside unobstructed category and received a balcony on the upper decks.

If you booked a specific cabin,you would already know the cabin number, but if you booked a "guarantee" cabin, you won't be allocated a cabin until near departure date.

We were on the Dawn at the end of March and in cabin 11165. NEVER AGAIN, the cabin vibrated so much it was hard to get to sleep and sitting on the toilet gave one a good massage. Walking back to our cabin one day, there was an awful smell. It turned out the drainage from the pantry kitchen was leaking into the passage way. They had buckets to catch the leakage for a while, then brought in an industrial bin to take the leak. It took them 3 days to fix the problem. We had to jam the balcony door open a bit to blow the smell from the cabin. We thought we'd treat ourselves to a mini suit, what a disaster.

We did a p&o cruise there in 2015 . Took ships tour to Borobudur definitely worth the trip. Quite a long drive and we had a police escort all day . Would not have made it through the traffic without them. Not a place for an independent tour

Very true. We had a private tour,what a disaster! The traffic was horrendous.

I tend to disagree that it is a cash grab by P&O . On board credit is as the name suggests funds to be spent after boarding. It is very rare that any passengers board without OBC credited at the time of booking. I agree that it would be a benefit if you could use OBC prior to boarding but as I said the name says it all. Personally I have never missed a shore excursion I wanted to go one if I booked on board at the first possible ocassion.

We booked a tour with Princess last Nov-Dec cruise to NZ online and used OBC for that with no problems. We have $550 OBC on the P&O cruise of 7 days and only 2 ports,so will have to take pot luck.

We are booked on the Aria in May and tried to book shore tours online. Went through the process only to find they want payment immediately. We have a big onboard credit that we would like to use for tours. We called P & O and were told that we could only use the credit once onboard so we could miss out on tours we would like to do. Another p&o way to extract more money from passengers. Not happy!

The Sydney memorial usually has volunteer guides when a ship is in port. It makes the visit more interesting with all the background facts the guides tell. The museum is well worth a visit. We walked everywhere but be aware the memorial is on a hill.

Whenever a ship is in port,the shops, especially the duty free will be open, the locals wouldn't want to miss out on all that custom.

We were there 3 weeks ago, and yes, the taxis have organised themselves so there is not the free for all at the port gates. There is still a small crowd touting for business and the buses and taxis are lined up the road to Vila with just a few on the road above the port. It is $5 pp for a bus ride to Vila and the buses have produced a pricing pamphlet for hiring on a half and full day per bus. A 4 hour tour is charged at $250 per bus so the more passengers the cheaper it gets. We negotiated a tour for 4 of us for $200 so they will bargain. There are also water taxis available for $5pp to Vila, makes a pleasant alternative to a bus.

The stalls are still on the road to Vila, so nobody allowed inside the port, although there is sometimes an overflow from the entrance.

When we went to these New Guinea ports, our first stop was in Alotau where there was money-exchange available on the dock. :)

We have been twice to PNG. There was a Westpac tent for money exchange on the dock the first visit, but last February on a Friday there was none,you would have to go to town.

Also if you cruise regularly on lines, like Princess, that have Future Cruise Credits (FCC), they are worth investing in. Each credit is $100pp but you can buy more.

 

On Princess when you book another cruise you only have to apply a $100pp FCC as your deposit and you get $125 -$150 OBC depending on the type of cabin you book. You can cancel anytime and your $100 FCC goes back ready to be used again. You will also get any price drops that occur before final payment date - if you book directly with Princess you can phone them before paying the balance to check if there were any price drops.

 

You have two years to use the FCC, after that it is credited back to your credit card. I think you can get the time extended as well.

P & O have changed the FCC rules, if you don't book in 2 years you lose your money. I have yet to find out if Princess has changed.

Any suggestions for do it yourself sightseeing in Airlie Beach and surrounds. Active but not into water sports, also any good food suggestions have heard the sailing club is good particularly like seafood.

The last time we were there,we caught the local bus at the cruise terminal and went to Proserpine to the museum that had some very interesting films and exhibits. The bus driver will tell you where to hop off to walk to the museum and where and when to catch the bus for the return trip.

Luxury Singapore to Sydney Fly/Stay/Cruise

12th March 2016 - 17nts - Celebrity Millennium

17nts from only $ 1499pp

Fly to Singapore and stay 1nt pre cruise before embarking the Celebrity Millennium for your 5* full board cruise visiting Benoa, Bali (overnight stay), Darwin, Cairns and Brisbane before disembarking back in Sydney.

WHATS INCLUDED: One way flight from Sydney to Singapore (call for regional departures) - 1nt hotel stay in Singapore - 16nt sailing onboard Celebrity Millennium - All port fees and taxes - All food and entertainment onboard

Going on my first Princess cruise in January and have been reading through this thread but am a bit confused. Is the 'brewed coffee' which I think people are saying you get free by having a card different from the 'road tar that Princess serve up as free coffee'? Thanks!

We have just returned from a Sea Princess cruise and the Coffee Card is now $36 and is good for 15 coffees and unlimited hot chocolates and if you don't use them all, it will carry over to your next cruise.

You can swim at the beach right where you get off the tender wharf. There are turtles in the water - you see them while waiting to reboard the ship at the wharf - so you may be able swim with turtles nearby. Note you need reef shoes for this beach because the sand is quite harsh on feet.

 

Other option, is fabulous snorkelling at Jinek Bay. This a short walk from the tender wharf. You head upwards from the tender wharf, thru the sandy "car park" to the road. take a left and follow the road along til to get a junction and then follow the path down to a sandy/grassy area that has black steps leading down to Jinek Bay. When we went in 2013, we paid $15pp each AUD to the locals to be able to enter the water and snorkel. They were at the top of the steps and gave us a wristband each. One local paddled around on a surf ski to keep an eye on everyone.

 

Royal did not advertise/notify anyone of this on board btw so there were alot of disappointed/angry cruisers who were not aware/prepared to pay $15pp to snorkel here. I was aware beforehand thru what I had read here on cruise critic.

 

Anyways, Jinek is a lovely spot to snorkel and worth the money imo.

We were there last week and they have improved the road at the jetty. It is now a circular tar road not long finished by the looks of it. The other time we were there, the locals were charging for Jinek Bay but they are not now and the steps have been rebuilt with a small landing. The Notre Dame church on the hill is worth a visit but it is a steep climb on rough steps. There are local tours, as mentioned, but no commentary by the drivers.

We have not long come off the Pacific Jewel and there duty free is a lot cheaper than Princess. Were on the Sun Princess in June and the Jameson 1lt was $45.99 and 2 for $79.99.

P&O Jameson was $30.99 per LT.

I bought both price lists home so I can compare on the next cruise in November.

Villa is a lot cheaper than the ships but both have a price match guarantee. Taking a photo of the prices in Villa is all the ship requires as evidence.

Hi! We were last in Port Vila in 2009 and will be returning by cruiseship in February next year. We are wanting to go back to Cascade waterfalls and want to get a bus - in 2009 it cost 2000 vatu ($20) return. How much would we expect to pay nowadays, for a return trip to Cascade waterfalls? Thanks! :D

We were in Villa last month and the bus operators have organised a price table although negotiation is still available. A trip to town is $5.00 pp one way, a 4 hour tour is $250.00 per van. I would think a trip to the Cascades would be double the town trip. If there were more than 3 persons in might be cheaper with a taxi as they charger $15 per ride to town.

Hope that helps.

The footpath is not paved down from Nudgee Rd, so you have to drag the suitcases on the grass or go on the road. We catch a bus (300) to the last stop on Racecourse Rd then walk to the port via Harbour Rd and Hercules St via a shortcut through the "shopping center". About half a Km walk and paved all the way. Catching a bus would open up your options with accommodation.

Does anyone know of any cheap cruises going for 2015?

Just booked Pacific Dawn 10 March 4 nights Brisbane to Newcastle OH outside twin $389. Also Inside $349

Do any of you remember how much the cruise ship charged for the visa?

The information gbenjo posted is the same as the notice from Princess. In our case our TA sent the first notice about PNG declaration form and having a photocopy of their passports which were collected at check in, but no mention of charges. We received a later notice that also included the $6.00 "Quarantine fee" to be charged to the OB account. Maybe PNG needs some more cash from the tourists!!