cheznandy

Have a lovely cruise Julie, I have never been on the Grand either, I think it's more Star/Golden with the one less deck so less crowded?

John and Nancy, that is so lovely. There are so many people on here happy to share their info and experience. We too have met some wonderful Canadians, some have stayed with us when they travelled to OZ. Others led me astray on a Asia to Alaska cruise and introduced me to a Rusty Nail haha But embarrassingly I still cannot tell the difference between an American accent and Canadian! I guess we get confused for South African/New Zealand. Enjoy your holiday and catching up with you friends.

Fingers crossed, let me know how you go.

I gather you are flying back into Port? We have a few flights Port /Sydney booked this year and can only seem to get the 3.10pm flight using points, but that's ok as we have a couple of Qantas lounge passes saved, so will dawdle off the ship, get a coffee at City Extra, people watch, train, then hang in the lounge. Andy is always happy to get there at lunch when they start serving beer n bourbon😀

Cheryle, we got a taxi a couple of months ago, Domestic Airport to Darling Harbour $43. Coming home we got the train and to be honest it was the easiest and cheapest. Easy walk, used the lifts, train 5 minutes later and you get off and can use lifts and escalators in airport. For $18 each we are doing that from now on. The shuttles at OPT wait to fill their buses usually, and you never know the delays in traffic to the airport. I have messaged a driver we used to use, but as we havent used Jim for over 3 years of no travel not sure he is driving anymore, will let you know. Chez

Thanks Sarah, would the sectors be Syd/Rome Rome/London London/New york New York/Syd? Wouldn't mind London to New York, can only dream😛

I really like the look of the new Sun Princess, really different, but doubt we will see that ship here for years!! Do you have a travel agent or Princess planner? Perhaps they can send you the itineraries when they are released so you can grab the cabin you need. Yes, will be interesting with Crown doing the world cruise, some like the Crown class (Ruby/Emerald) some think the extra deck with more passengers make it crowded. I guess the good about a W/C is the cabins are mostly only double occupancy.

Good work Sarah, I guess we can be sure that Crown, Diamond and Royal are going somewhere. We have to fly to Syd, Mel and Bris anyway, how was the Grand and your cruise?

No face cloths on Adventure 6 weeks ago, no tissues either. An all in one body wash/ shampoo in shower. No hand soap for sink. We never use the supplied in shower stuff, but would have appreciated a couple of face cloths and would have bought our own if we had of known.

Well that sounds more logical🤣 Those Princess Circle OZ sell quick and are great for those that do not wish too travel overseas and don't have time restrictions, especially when they break them into sectors and people can board from their states.

Ha, know the feeling, I have spent all hubby's annual leave until late 2024, which is my ******eth birthday. and our ******eth wedding Anniversary, and there are going to be too many off our fav ships here with not too much leave left🥲

Sparky that sounds like a great idea, always feels good to be staying on when everyone else is getting off!!

Yes, although not retired and have the income to apply for others, we will keep our card when we get to that stage, having read on here about those that can't apply. It isn't about the assets for banks, it's about the income. Our children can borrow more than us due to their higher combined income and ability to pay their loan off for 30 years. Don't worry about owning a home, two cars, a caravan, timeshare, investments, super and shares!!! Banks def don't like us anymore either, we pay our card off as we put stuff on it......we only have it for the QFF points....and the travel insurance, and the two free Qantas lounge passes. We haven't paid interest on that card since we got it over 15 years ago.

Oh no, bugger, better to be in Alaska though😉

Haha just joking.....any idea where it will be 16th Oct to 23rd Oct , 23rd Oct to 30th Oct, and then 30th Oct to the 7th November when it departs north, can't see any other itineraries unless its a charter. Could do a melbourne cup for the 30th/7th Nov?

Oh....where did you find it? whoops ok, found at carnival. Thanks!

Your welcome🤣

Just had a call from an "agent'" in relation to another booking. Confirmed that something will be released next week as Aussiecruiser stated above, looking like Royal/Crown from Sydney at the moment. When I get the email will post here.

Let us know here if your contact finds anything out so we can stop speculating😀 It has usually been the Sapphire, Diamond and Majestic that have been based in Asia. The Diamond changes made for the Japanese market and the Majestic the Chinese. All of them finish their 2024 season in Seattle and Vancouver so who knows......

Perhaps CCL hasn't notified them of the change, not peak time and only P&O and Carnival there. I think they are pretty accurate re dates, just the cruise lines don't give the correct ship🙃

Here is my take on Crown Princess. (if it is Crown) Last noted cruise ends in San Fran on Sept 2nd 2024. Could it then do a pacific crossing to Singapore for a dry dock to be OZ ready? There is a booking in Darwin for Crown on 14th Nov, then Sydney on 23rd Nov, so 7 days from Darwin to Syd. I know there is a booking for Crown in Sydney on 26th Oct, but don't think it is for Crown, possibly Royal which has a booking for 28th Oct. Crown then does cruises from Syd. 19th March 2025 looks like circle OZ, going south first as port bookings match up. (17th March Crown is in Brisbane, so a pick for this cruise there) Melbourne 23rd March, Adelaide on 25th March, Freemantle 30th March, Darwin 6th April and Brisbane 14th April, returning to Sydney 16th April. Then I thought perhaps it is doing a 35 night Hawaii as next booking in Sydney is 20th May, but there is 25th April Darwin, a turnaround in Freo 3rd May which all makes sense for half circle, with another one in Darwin for 11 May but then Brisbane on 14th May, not enough time to get there, and Sydney not till 20th May, so I think a 35 night Hawaii, then a World cruise. Any thoughts?

Les, I know a lot of people that insure as soon as they book, not sure what the other poster meant regards pre existing are not covered though. Do you remember Tom "Welshfargo' or the Welshies as we called them, they are 87yrs now and have stopped cruising, so sad as we had many great cruises with them as did some others on here.🥲

John I can't advise you re insurance, looks like others have given some good ones. Just wanted to say glad you are both still out there cruising and hope you are well enjoying the Mid North coast rain!!

Better put this in the right place.....copied and pasted from the other one. Any thoughts on what ships will arrive? Been looking through the ports bookings for Princess 2024/2025. Looks like Diamond will come from Asia, last cruise ends in Tokyo on Sept 4th 2024, Tokyo to Australia via Darwin (18th Sept). Brisbane 24th Sept Sydney 26th Sep Melbourne 28th Sept. Will then do a couple of 14 nighters and 7 nighters, looks to be South Australia ports and Prob NZ. Departs Melbourne 7th Dec Sydney 9th Dec Brisbane 11 Dec where there are bookings until 17th Feb 2025. A booking in Sydney on 21st Feb then possibly a trans pacific as there are no Darwin/Brisbane bookings going north, or maybe heading around the bottom of OZ but can't find anything from there. Looks like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane all get some departures. I know, too much time on my hands.....it's raining here today😛 and we have a couple of special birthday/anniversary's in October 2024, so get those itineraries out!!

Crown and Royal have bookings in Sydney, and can' work out what the Grand is doing as Melbourne has random Princess ship bookings......and since this is a "Royal" thread, wish the Brilliance/Radiance were coming back. Been on Ovation and have a Quantum booking for Xmas as we got it really cheap and have compulsory leave.....but they are just too big for us, but I do love the Solarium area🥰