Jaaaney

On 12/9/2023 at 1:06 PM, yes!yes!yes! said:

Great, I prefer English.

Are her off siders that do the trivias and game shows good?

On the Grand In October, Karen was professional and seemed to be everywhere.  A Brazilian woman took a lot of the game shows, and she was great and with real personality.  She said it was her first trip to ANZ and she'd been with Carnival for some time.  A South African guy also took some shows, I thought he was very mediocre, too forced.  Sorry can't remember their names.  

Cairns Aquarium is the best aquarium I have been to in Australia, better than Sydney and Melbournes.  It was enjoyed by us adults, as well as small grandchildren. It is in Cairns town area which is a few easily walkable blocks.  Plenty of places to eat on the esplanade, particularly at lunch time, as lots of them have lunch specials.  

Thank you for all your opinions and previous experience.  I will investigate and contact a few in Melbourne

I have only been on 2 cruises, one just before covid and one recently.  Like all travel over the past few decades, both times we arranged it ourselves.  Reading these forums I see TA's mentioned a lot.  Looking at booking a few more cruises for next year and after, what are the advantages (or not) of using a TA?  And - do you have any recommendations for good ones, if that is allowed on this board. 

6 hours ago, fabby50 said:

Unless they've changed the veggie burger since my last cruise in May, it's the worst thing I've ever eaten on a cruise ship.  It's basically a mashed potato patty with some other chopped vegetables in it, and it's always been cold.  I asked about a Boca or other similar burger and they didn't carry them.  I doubt if they'll ever get "official" Dole Whip since it's a branded product, maybe some shipboard version, or I think they have sorbet at the gelato station, I'll be looking for it on my cruise (leave on the 4th).  It's just pineapple sorbet, put through a soft serve machine.

I tried the veggie burger and agree, it was tasteless and served with a piece of tomato and lettuce. 

Love the look of the menus that have been posted and look forward to trying them on my next cruise, seems I just missed out on them by sailing last week on the Grand. 

21 hours ago, arxcards said:

For Sydney, Taronga Zoo. It is also a very easy ferry ride from Circular Quay.

For Melbourne, Healesville is a different experience. If you like wildlife, it is worth doing both.

Taroonga Zoo is in a spectacular location, and you can do it yourself.   If you are not from Australia then I would recommend Healesville Sanctuary as apart from the Australian animals you see a bit of Melbourne countryside too.  

On the Grand Princess last week, mocktails were $10.50 and there were 3 or 4 choices, which could be modified on request. We really enjoyed them though the drinks did contain a lot of ice, so I would ask for less ice.   Observation that all drink prices were less than typical Melbourne prices   

19 hours ago, fixi said:

I sailed this past week on the Grand Princess, and...

 

Tangentially, they really should put more front desk staff on during sea days. Even the dedicated 'Suite and elite' line was well past the shop entrance on the second sea day. Saw more than a few exasperated passengers dealing with the front desk (more than one audibly exclaimed how disappointed they were 😛 ), and understandably (we are only human) this negatively affected the customer service staff and some interactions with the front desks were curt and borderline confrontational. Typos on disembarkation information and timing of disembarkation forms added to confusion of customers (for a 5 night cruise, we were asked for disembarkation preferences on the first day after embarkation, with the wrong location for disembarkation printed, and they required the forms to be handed in to the front desk in person, with nary a drop box and couldnt be given to your steward) all of which culminated in quite a frustration experience dealing with the customer 'service' team. 

 

I don't blame the humans who work there, I do blame the poor management.   

That was ridiculous, 2000 people getting off and you couldn't drop the form anywhere, had to line up in massive queues to give it to a customer service person.  I was on that cruise and the line was always long 

I have just come off the Grand today, and was a bit disappointed in the vegetarian options.  There was hardly anything in the Horizon, and even though they were attentive to my needs in the MDR there wasn't much either.  Hopefully the rollout continues to the Grand too.  

I have been through this thread and seen the comments about id photos.  I am sailing next week and think I have the app set up correctly, but I can't see how to upload a photo.  As I am in Australia we will get our medallions on embarkation.  

5 hours ago, chamima said:

 

 

So, because of that "being rolled out" statement I called Princess because we also are sailing in a few weeks.

I hope you get a phone rep who is more knowledgeable than the one I got. I was on the phone with her for about a half hour and she kept "checking" but I never really got an answer.

Thanks for checking.  As I am only a vegetarian I can always find something from the main menu anyway.  

 Being a vegetarian I am interested in this. and I am sailing on the Grand in a few weeks.  I can't see a timeline for rollout,  How would I find out about the vegan menu?  Ask on the first day in the MDR? 

2 hours ago, Over from NZ said:

Aussies are rather "casual" dressers at the best of times. Putting on tidy shorts and a pair of shoes is getting dressed up for an Aussie. The new Princess is a lot different. Wear what you want.. others will be. 

In my experience Australians dress less casual than Americans.  

Thanks,  maybe I will reconsider doing a full day then

There are a couple of full day tours, but I dont think I want the whole day on a bus going around.  The other half day and shorter ones include

Reeves Point

American River

Wines

Cape Willoughby

2 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

What is on offer on Princess?

Haff and full day excursions. Seal bay looks interesting 

I’m going on a Princess cruise to kangaroo island and have heard the excursions book out quickly.  Am trying to decide the best one.