pompeii

We will be stopping twice in both Tauranga and Bay of Islands on upcoming b2b cruises in Oct/Nov. Wed like to see the glow worm caves in either Kawiti from Bay of Islands, or Waitomo from Tauranga, or both. The tours we're considering include other things besides the caves, so that's not the only thing we'd see on our day out. I've read that Waitomo is more impressive but also more crowded. Are they unique enough experiences to warrant visiting both? Since we have two days in each port, we have another day to spend on other things, like Rotorua from Tauranga and snorkeling in B of I. Can those of you who have seen the caves shed some light on the glow worms? Thanks.

I’ve also found that if I just click on a tab while the log in circle is spinning, it takes me there and seems to log me in because My Account shows up at the top. I still can never get my list of saved cruises to show up though. I get an error message and have to search anew every time.

The only ship I’ve been on that exchanged dollars for euros at passenger services was the Enchanted TA this past March. Other than that, I’ve never seen it so I wouldn’t count on it. My best suggestion is to open a checking account that has no foreign transaction fees and doesn’t charge for using an out of network ATM, like Schwab. My Schwab debit card has worked perfectly everywhere I’ve been.

If you look under the Payments tab on the website, the section for credits is at the bottom. It would be listed there.

We're going to be in Auckland in October and wondered if you would share the tour company you used? Thanks

If anyone is currently on the Royal, can you report if there are Lavazza dispensers in the buffet? And if you're a coffee drinker, can you tell us if it's any good?? I'm sailing in September and would love to know if there will be decent free coffee. I don't get plus or premier so IC coffee is $$$.

If you don't bid on the first offers you get, does Princess send better offers closer to sail date if there aren't enough takers on the first batch? I'm on a 2-day Seattle to Vancouver and the minimum offer from an inside to a balcony obstructed is $75 per person. For a standard balcony, the minimum is $150 per person, for just the bid...on top of your original fare. For a two day cruise! That seems insanely expensive, especially considering that very, very few cabins have sold except for interiors. Do the bid offers get better closer to the sail date?

I can sign in under my account but it rejects my husband's log in credentials, even though I know they are correct. My biggest frustration is that for months and months, I can't view any of my saved cruises. I get "We Apologize for the Inconvenience. We were not able to continue to the next step. Please try again or revisit us later this evening." So if I want to check prices or airfare or cabin availability, I have to search for the cruise every time. Very annoying.

Take a look here for the requirements on the Princess site: CruiseHealth™ FAQ: Sailings from Australia & New Zealand - Princess Cruises

AFAIK, neither Australia or NZ requires a covid test to enter...I wonder why Princess still has this stipulation. I'm okay with it, I don't mind testing, but since they want to make cruising easier I would think they'd do away with it if weren't a necessity. I'm basically wondering if the ship will want to test us themselves or if we'll be able to use our own tests on the b2bs.

We're doing a similar thing, going in September from Seattle to Sydney, then 2 more to Queensland and NZ. I was wondering how the testing would work on the b2bs.

Ok, thank you for the information. That's very helpful to know.

They beat syrup-based coffee, that's for sure! No, they don't take up a lot of room but we're on a b4b for about 7 weeks, so if I can count on the coffee on the ship being good enough I'd rather use that room in my suitcase for something else.

If you'll find out in August because you're going to be on a ship, would you please report back? I've been trying to find out about the status of the Lavazza partnership but nobody seems to know. I'm trying to figure out if we should bring our packets of Via on the Royal in Septmeber, or if Lavazza brewed will be available in the buffet and dining rooms. Thanks!

I just refared EZAir on a booking I had paid in full, largely with aarp gift cards, resulting in a small overpayment. I'd be happy to just transfer the extra to obc, but I'm not sure that's an option. Do I have to contact Princess to get that back on one of my gift cards, or should it happen automatically?

That's awesome! Had you booked the Princess transfer as part of your transportation? I wonder how it would have worked out if you hadn't and were planning to take a private transfer to the port... When we have to fly in the day of the cruise, we always book EZAir and the Princess transfer, just in case of a situation like this. In that scenario, I want all transportation to be through Princess.

I can't seem to find the health tool on the Princess site where you put in your voyage number any more. I find the list of enhanced voyages, but not the tool where you put in your voyage number. Do you have a link? Thanks

Since we're sailing over from the US, the snacks will already be in Australia. Is it likely that the port personnel will check backpacks when leaving the ship on port days?

Please let us know where you get with this. I also wrote my cvp yesterday asking if we could use it on any of our existing bookings since the email doesn't specify new bookings only, and received the reply that no, it is for new bookings and only certain sailings. So I'd love to know if you get a different response. Thanks.

Does anyone know if they've started serving Lavazza coffee yet?

Our cruise leaves from Seattle so getting them in won't be a problem. I don't want to spend port time shopping for snacks so we always just throw a dozen or so packets into the luggage and we're good to go.

I *think* the answer is yes after doing a google search, but I wanted to check with you all, the experts. We like to throw a few trail mix packets into our backpack for port days and I know that Australia and NZ are strict about food items coming in. The trail mix includes nuts, M&Ms, and raisins. Will it be a problem? I know I can just wait and see but I don't want to pack the packets if I won't be able to use them. Thanks.

We're on the Royal Princess stopping in Papeete overnight October 10-11 and I want to take an early ferry over to Moorea the 2nd day. Does anyone know how early they open the gangway in the morning for people to get off? I want to know if I can catch the ferry early enough to meet an early snorkel tour. Thanks.

Has anyone been on a ship recently that has the new Lavazza coffee? The Lavazza partnership was supposed to roll out this spring. I’m wondering if you get Lavazza just at the IC or everywhere on the ship.

Has the new partnership with Lavazza started? All it says in the news release is that it Princess will begin offering Lavazza products this spring. If anyone's been on a ship with Lavazza, could you post your experience, ie is it only at the IC or in the MDR and buffet as well?