sayaguru

We were on that cruise. One night there was nothing scheduled. Then the announcement that the piano player would play due to popular demand HAHA!! NOT!! There were 3 dancer shows scheduled. I'm thinking maybe there was a COVID Issue as the dancers did Night 2 and Night 12 only. After 17 cruises on Princess I have to say this was the worst. The only cruise (in 38) that I've not been sad to get off. Severe lack of activities for the first half of the cruise. ON Coral last month the were 2 shows nightly plus things in the Universal Lounge. Last 3 days they added more activities during the day. The Vista lounge on Grand was used for a talk and Bingo. Empty!!! While people crammed into the Explorers lounge for trivia etc. Food ion the restaurants was same as normal. I found the buffet very limited though (compared to Coral).

I use a Canadian agent. Princess changed the rules a few years ago and you can only book with an overseas agent if you have previously booked a Princess cruise with that agent. Just be aware that prices on the websites often don't include taxes. In Australia the price you see is the total fare. Cruises from Australia also have port charges and gratuities included. If you book in US or Canada gratuities are added to your onboard account.

Masks compulsory in Buffet. Highly recommended at all indoor areas. Sip and Cover announcements in bars, lounges.

Thanks for the review. I find Carnival good for the price point. I love the comedy club. I find the PG rated ones not so good. You see the comedians ready for a comeback then have to stop themselves due to kids in the audience. On Coral I loved the first 2. Of the second 2 one was OK, and I wasn't impressed with the other. I liked the way the dining worked as you never had to line up, just book then turn up when your table is ready (unlike Princess). I thought the food was OK but obviously not to Princess standard. I really noticed the difference as I went on Princess a week later. I don't know how anyone drinks that "juice" it's so sickly sweet. Even if you dilute it by half with water it's still horrible. I gave up on that.

There must be a way to buy tickets. I'd say they have monopolised the train for cruise passengers but they would still have tickets for people staying in hotels. We found this overseas. We were on an independent bus tour. We stopped at a zipline place. They asked if we were off the ship and when we said yes they said sorry we signed a deal with the cruiseline and we can't sell to you.

Thanks for the review. I've been meaning to do one as I recently went on Carnival Splendor then Coral Princess. Will wait until after the next one. We are on Grand on Thursday from Melbourne. Looking forward to it as I haven't been on that ship. If you are on that one we are meeting at the bar on Sun deck at 2pm on the first sea day if you want to join. I've posted it on Cruise Critic meetup. I'll have a green fleuro hat for identification. Cheers, Lynne (and Ian).

Yes I was on Splendor for the Melbourne Cup cruise. The dining worked well. It was great being able to look at the menu beforehand.

Oh no you poor things. We are on Grand on Thursday. Fingers crossed. Will report back (hopefully Covid free).

About bloomin time. I've written reviews twice alerting them to the failure of the system. The app states you can book and avoid the queues but in reality when you turn up and say you have a booking they tell you to join the line (on Coral anyway), I just turned up each night, never waited long but I was a single and happy to share. The line was ne3ver very long anyway. I'm on Grand next week and was waiting to see if that was any different. I suggested they use the system Carnival uses. Easy and efficient. Sit in a bar, have a drink, book your table, they message you when it's ready with a table number. Walk up, tell them the table number and they take you straight there.

Actually there were loads of people getting taxis to train station. From the Gold Coast and outer Brisbane. If you don't have a car or transfers you have no option but to get a taxi/Uber but it's a bit cheaper if you train it first. Even the closest train station is $40 in a taxi.

Think outside the box. Lots of people have family in Sydney. I would visit my kids before or after the flight. Kills 2 birds with one stone.

Mines not showing Arrivals on the list . It's only a week away. I will post about the difference when I get back.

I just got off Coral. I got an Uber ($32) to Eagle Junction station. Taxi is $42. You can get the train from there to the city. Don't go to the airport (roughly same price in taxi) but you pay $30 if you go to or from the airport on the train. The ship had shuttles but $40pp. It is the most ridiculous setup. Lots of people on the ship said they'd rather cruise out of Sydney. I'm on the Gold Coast and that will be my preference from now on.

The website says most people have to be paid in full before they can make reservations. Platinum and Elite members can make reservations before full payment. If Coral is anything to go by it's a waste of time anyway. I just turned up whenever I liked and got a table easily.

Hi, when i went on Coral in June I got a boarding time which I chose )10.30. Yeehah). On Coral in November it wasn't working. Found out the day after departure that I needed to update the app. They really should tell people to check the app is updated before boarding. Anyway I'm on Grand next week. Green lane for both of us but can't find where to choose boarding time. The website says it's on the medallion app but I can't see anything. Can anyone help? Thanks.

I'll be interested to see what it's like on Grand. I've done 2 on Coral recently. One restaurant was my time. Making a reservation is useless (even though they advertise to book to avoid wait times and queues). When you arrive and tell them you have a booking they say - join the line. this was in June and last week.

Aren't they running the ferry from Circular Quay to White Bay anymore? They used to run it the days ships docked at White Bay. Years ago,.

It is different for every cruiseline so do not assume it is the same. Friends are going on Azamara in Feb and at the moment they have been advised they need the booster as well as the first 2 shots. Other cruiselines do not require this. So PLEASE get the information from Azamara.

I had a problem with carnival and the problem was they had a fullstop at the end. Crazy! Try that.

I'm on Coral tomorrow. My husband is in hospital. I rang Princess and they said I can change the name. I was surprised as it was FCC. I rang my agent and they changed it, no charge. If you have no one to take I'd just turn up. I also just got off a Carnival cruise and my husband didn't go. I just turned up by myself. I'm ringing them now about port charge refunds. I asked on the ship but got no answer.

Yeah I have a thermomix so make lots of stuff I used to order at restaurants. Burleigh Waters Moved here beginning of Covid. Nice place to spend a pandemic. HAHA! better than in the suburbs of Sydney, which is where we moved from.

We never had a problem on Coral in July. One person said they were charged wine they didn't order so check your bill. I liked the fact that you could just sit anywhere and order and not have to wait for a waiter or go to the bar. We did have a few charges go on for coffee even though we had the card. Easily fixed though.

I don't go to fancy restaurants off ship. I love eating local when I travel. All ships have fresh fruit. You'll find food you like. There was nothing wrong with the Carnival food. There is a good choice so never had trouble choosing. There were always a few options that I liked. One time I had 3 entrees and no main as they sounded great. I thought the buffet for breakfast had a great selection. I only have fruit and yoghurt for breakfast but did have eggs benedict one morning. The Indian on Carnival was good. You can get it at the buffet and they have a vegetarian Indian meal on the menu in the dining room.

Yes. I agree. I equate P&O food to pub food at best. Carnival better but definitely not fine dining. I've never been tempted to photograph a meal on P&O or Carnival.

Yes. I heard that. The time restrictions annoy me. apparently they've extended lunch to 2.30. I just got off Carnival Splendor. The food was OK. Nothing startling. I like that you have many options included (pizza, Hot rolls and sandwiches, Indian, hamburgers, as well as the buffet and restaurant. The layout is a bit add hoc, with the restaurant in the middle of deck 3, thereby cutting it in half. I had an oceanview on deck 1 and was pleasantly surprised by the size. 2 of the comedians were hilarious. The last 2 were OK. There were a few bogans though that think it's about them. I enjoyed the cruise. Back to Princess this week.