Shiraz49

Cruising soon on the Pacific Explorer ..... I notice that P&O offer various "P&O Edge" experiences from basic to Extreme.

The "Extreme" lists 19 "adventures" to choose from ..... sadly only 10 of these are available on the Pacific Explorer !!!!

So, do they discount the price to make up for what's not available?

Can anyone share their experience on any/all of these adventures .... especially curious about the 2 Titanic experiences mentioned.

Cheers Tom

Latest Travel advisory info (Aust. Gov) for travel to Japan. Cruise lines of course will have their own embarking rules. Good thing for me is that they have withdrawn the visa requirement for Australian travelling there. Again the important thing will be to register via the visit Japan website.

12 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Another issue about Japan is that wearing masks is still the norm in that country, so that is another hassle that seems to continue forever.

Hank

Strange but true, "mask wearing"  in Japan is not new ..... even pre covid most Japanese would wear masks both at home or when overseas .... we then used to comment on their mask wearing obsession ...... little did we know that covid would stake and we've all been wearing them.

5 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

 (his Medallion had been deactivated while he was quarantined) 

OK, I realise you may still have had an "active" medallion ....... if you decided to got for a wander how was your partner meant to order any food/drink ..... assume phone be the only alternative, sort of defeats the purpose of the medallion.

4 hours ago, Roberto256 said:

 

December 14th is 10 days from now, and I don't know when the the comment was posted.

To me, 10+ days is more than a few.

 

Probably a typo, probably meant November (as that cruise had just finished) ... query was looking for others experience with either full cruise FCC or isolation days FFC.

7 hours ago, eclue said:

I cannot understand being compensated for getting covid. It was your choice to travel and Princess did not make you do it.

Did you actually read my post .... I'm not getting compensated, just reporting what someone else had written !!  And as for Princess offering compensation ... THEY DO (read the attachment).

This article appeared in this morning Herald Sun newspaper (Melb. Vic. Aust.) the writer is claiming a "free" cruise as compensation for a few days in isolation due to a positive covid test.

I thought that Princess only compensated for actual loss due to actual days in isolation either with FCC's or refund (probably depending on local laws).

Anyone with any "compensation" experience able to comment, just curious at the (potentially) different interpretation.

Interesting that Princess "denied" my posting .... as they have with at least one other where I was commenting on my love of a good Bloody Mary ...... even though it's a drink they serve and list on their drinks menus apparently you can't say "bloody" on their FB page.

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Thanks everyone will keep trying, or just enjoy it in the main dining room.

We're sailing Grand Princess Melbourne to NZ over Christmas/New Year .....

Hoped to be celebrating my daughters Wedding Anniversary as a group of 8 ......

Sadly Princess advise that max. seating is for 6 but we could have 2 tables if we wanted ..... WE DON'T.

Just want 1 table to seat the group.

Has anyone had any experience with them in getting extra seating.

Thanks for your feedback rkccruiser & norboy76, much appreciated.

Would be easier if my German where better, surprising how quickly language skills come back .... managed quite well on a return to Germany after an absence of 65 years, reading however is a bit more difficult.

Just another couple of extracts .... haven't worked out what the Florida/Cuba coast implications are, the other is his representation on roasting a pig in a fire pit (referred to as a hangi in Aust/NZ).

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In the process of trying to translate my grandparents travel diary of their round the world voyage onboard "MS Johan van Oldenbarnevelt" back in 1960 (they stopped over to visit us in Australia for around 2 months). Translation will be difficult both in understanding his writing and my limited german language skills.

At the time it was part of the what is now HAL fleet (I think) before being sold to a geek shipping company and sadly catching fire with the loss of 100 lives (may they RIP).

Just wondering if there are deck plans of the ship from around that period (1960's), they had stateroom 69on the outward leg of their voyage and stateroom 20 on the homeward leg.

Any info of that period appreciated,

Cheers Tom

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Found this recently in a travel diary my grandfather kept on a around the world cruise, tours were limited (but cheaper than now).

Although the cruise may have been before a lot of CC members were born there may be some that can recall the "places of interest" featured on the tours ......

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We have the ability to send a message to our politicians via the cruising.org.au website .... has a link to "ReadySetSail" very simple takes a couple of minutes.

Get on board and send our poles a message .... we want to cruise.

Message should be shared and spread far and wide to any Aussie/NZ cruisers who want to cruise local or further afield and similarly Overseas cruises who want to cruise to Aust/NZ.

Cleaning out my deceased mother's documents and came across an interesting Diary that my Grandfather kept of a world voyage during 1960 in which they stopped over in Australia fro a few months.

Vessel was the M.S. "Johan Van Oldenbarnevelt" .... run by whatever HAL was in those days.

According to his records it sank following a fire with over 100 lives lost.

Reading the tour options in Miami was a bit of a giggle.... place names that remind me a Tim Dorsey novel, Coral Gables, Ester Williams swimming pool, Coconut Grove and Jordan Marsh department store ???

Obviously the prices were a bit cheaper for a "tour" in those days.

Cheers Tom

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Thanks Viking but of little use/benefit to us, as stated travel insurance costs become prohibitive with age so overseas travel apart from the next 2 covered by a 12 month multi trip policy will in all probability be our last.

Previous compensation by Holland America, due to missed port caused by windy conditions (not their fault) were met with an IMMEDIATE CASH refund before the cruise was even completed .... great customer service unlike a useless Viking offer ...... 

Sailed with Viking on their Romantic Danube/Christmas Markets cruise from B'pest (25/11) to Nuremberg (1/12).

Low water levels meant 3 ships were utilised (in B'pest just to sleep on for 1st night).

We were advised pre cruise of 1 change.

Acknowledging that river levels are beyond their control Viking offered a 25% of cruise payment as a credit for future river/ocean cruising with Viking to be taken with 12 months ....... they confirmed this in a post cruise email saying a voucher would  be issued.

Found this to be totally useless to us.

1 We have already booked Cruises/trips for the next 12 -18 months. Similarly a lot of these cruises are already heavily booked.

2 Overseas travel insurance becomes too expensive due to insurers age restrictions.

3 Not sure 25% is a universally acceptable offering based on some passengers comments.

Would have been more acceptable to receive an immediate 25% refund.

Had written to Viking advising them of this ..... zero response (or voucher) to date.

Anyone else have similar experience with Viking "refund" offers ??

During "normal' conditions I'm sure Viking would offer and provide a wonderful experience.

Cheers Maureen & Tom

Admittedly we were cruising during low water level (3 ships were utilised), frustrating not having more precise arrival/sailing times and some locations they just sail a few km  from main port to tie up overnight at some out of the way location. Had planned to visit friends we hadn't seen for 50 years .... all fell through due to lack of accurate info.

The offered tours were good, the staff were good (we had heaps as we kept changing ships), the food was good, entertainment was ordinary and not fair to the entertainers as the "shows" were always in the lounge where everyone congregates after dinner. While it was meant to be a relaxing week after 5 weeks touring Europe and living out of suitcases but ended up being more of the same ..... still we managed to get the Christmas Markets off our bucket list.  You'll enjoy it.   (Oh, we were the only Aussie on board, a couple of UK couples otherwise all American).

Thanks, seems it's just a glitz at my end based on others receiving them promptly, might make a call and get it resent.

Cheers T&M

Think the classes were offered on the QE last November but couldn't make it for some reason.

Have done them on every HAL cruise that we've done, fun with a capital F .....

Originally the guests were allowed to make the actual cocktails under direction of the bar staff, goes without saying that some may have been a little heavy on the alcohol side ..... last trip made by bar staff for OH&S reasons.

If you get the chance do it.

Cheers Tom & Maureen

Wow ..... for 2 of us, we like a few coffees, martinis and cocktails at US$69/day for a B2B 28days we'd be forking out $3864 .... that's US dollars ... in local Australian currency that's $5483.

NO THANKS

Thankfully we noted on our last cruise (Canary Is. Nov 18) that they did NOT stop people bringing back wines/spirits or soft drinks/water ..... hope that's still the case when we go B2B next August.

Cheers Tom

Pretty sure that while there was an on-board survey sheet that could be completed they also indicated that a post cruise survey would be emailed.

To date this has not been sighted, our cruise on the QE was the last before its scheduled refurbishment (1st - 14 Nov), surely it should have arrived by now.

Wonder whether others on that cruise, or any others, have received their on-line survey?

Perhaps they're too concerned about the feedback?

Cheers Tom

We were advised that a "Wine Package" was available, details to be available during 1st dinner ..... this never eventuated, we were never asked and just settled for a purchase when 1 bottle was empty (even that was a chore for them).  The dress standards are strictly adhered to (QE Nov 18) and was refused service without a jacket, despite it being OK on 5 previous evenings. Not sure how this will go down with Aussies during her (QE) Australian season.

Cheers Tom & Maureen

On 12/11/2018 at 8:11 PM, Krisflyer1 said:

 

 

We are boarding her in Melbourne March 2019 cruise Q911 to South Island New Zealand.

We were on the last sailing, Canary Is. 1-14 Nov and before the cruise ended they were already tearing it apart, disembarkation was chaotic with workers trying to board as we were disembarking.

Really interested to see how the Australian cruise fraternity take to their dress standards, may be OK for a mild northern hemisphere summer but don't know how the strict "no jacket no service" policy will be greeted by a largely Australian guest list. 

Melb - NZ is a great cruise, loved it when we did it with Princess.

Cheers Tom & Maureen.

Cunard provide a few transfer options, we wanted one to St Pancras but couldn't find it on the Cunard site (although some indicate it would be there ??). TA confirmed that yes St Pancras transfer is available latest it would leave is 9:30. Have made Eurostar booking based on that info. The attached was provided by someone off an earlier QM cruise and details the type of services offered (but that sheet is only issued on board the day before departure (??). not sure if it helps or just causes greater confusion.

OK ... no attachment can't quickly work out how to insert a photo, will try to find the link.

If you check the thread ....Arrival Time of Coaches Southampton ....... you'll find a copy posted by "Hostie Hattie"