resordanis

20 minutes ago, cheznandy said:

Either Merure Icon or Mercure Bugis...ATM.

Don't do FB but will catch up with you on board.

Still in Sydney....broken seat....all off plane. Bloody Qantas.

It will be worth it in the end Chez🤔

1 hour ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

There is a lift to get you up to the ticket office level -  there is an entrance to it at the Circular Quay corner of the building - then escalators up to the next level. I believe they have made some changes inside the main part to provide easier access to those who need it but I'm not sure what that entails.

You are definitely right for access to the Opera House, but for the tour, there is unfortunately still stairs.

21 minutes ago, jamscckmc said:

Thank you both. I’m not disabled but have two bad knees and those front steps do not look like fun!

Husband has knee issues too and he didn’t have any problems. You can take it slowly and there are rails. Plenty of stops along the way too.

4 hours ago, jamscckmc said:

If anyone has been inside the Sydney Opera House is there an entrance that doesn’t require climbing up stairs? We plan to do a tour of the Opera House but looking at pictures it looks like there are many stairs to the entrance. Is that where the tours enter or is there a side door without stairs? Thanks!

We did the Opera House tour late last year and definitely worth it, but there are a lot of steps. If you look on the website I think you will find that there are a few tours for people with disabilities that limit the steps.

11 hours ago, yes!yes!yes! said:

One thing I forgot to mention. They are getting pushy with the on sale of "the crab shack" pop up restaurant and the Sabatinis lunchtime degustation. They must get a commission as our dining room waiter asked us to book thru him if we decide to try it. Whenever it was quiet in the buffet the servers were constantly asking you to sign up for it. It was like being on Royal Caribbean.

I also noticed on the second cruise (when I didn't have princess plus) I got harassed by every server I walked past on the first two days to upgrade, it must come up on there medallion machine. 

Have really enjoyed your detailed review and look forward to your next adventure. Your point on the package will be interesting for me. Our cruise next week, we don’t have any package but on one in April we do. I will compare and see if they are trying to entice us more next week. Thanks again.

6 minutes ago, arxcards said:

Only one of the booking needs ID for check-in, whether it be by app or photo ID. Barb has the app, but gets checked-in from mine.

Thanks Geoff, Ralph would have no idea unfortunately.

23 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

I went on a Princess cruise a few weeks ago with my daughter and her family. She hadn't down-loaded the app and didn't have a boarding pass. I had paper copies of the bookings for both cabins so we were allowed to enter the terminal. The person outside the door didn't actually look at them. I just said that I had them and pulled the paper copies out of my bag. When we got to the check-in counter, they had my daughter and her family's info on the computer system.

Thank you that is what I will do.

Another question Re the App. I have both apps and are working fine.Problem is I can’t seem to see where my husbands boarding pass is. I have mine with the QR but not his.,Both sets of documents are in there too.,He actually has  all green ticks but mine hasn’t because I did not give details for shoreside purchases. Does he need to have his own app? I don’t think I have in the past.

Any assistance will help………or perhaps I have to leave him home?🤔🤔🤔🤣🤣🤣

1 minute ago, Cruise Raider said:

Still only $15 per roll and they are enough for one person.  

I think in Australia we pay $25. Last time it was only $15 though. I like the Club sandwiches and they are included.

4 hours ago, HotRoot said:

Has anybody had the lobster roll at the pool grill?  Is it any good?  Pictures?

No pictures, but absolutely delicious. Boarding on the 23rd so I will take a photo, although I understand the charge for one is quite high now.

We have just booked our first cruise on Princess that is supposed to have a couch.Never had one before in a standard balcony. They used to have 2 chairs, which was nice, but unfortunately these two old people, use the bed! As we usually need a nap!

Still like Caribe deck, but minis on Diamond are also very good.

5 minutes ago, cheznandy said:

We really love the standard balconies on Caribe, large half covered half open balcony, they are so good.

Our favourite deck too. Although we have had some very good minis on Diamond and an upgrade to a full suite on a long cruise . (That was in the old days, when they actually upgraded and we didn’t have to bid😩). Caribe Aft the best though for us.

1 hour ago, cheznandy said:

Thanks for the Luminosa update, we are on next weekend. Really loved that ship last time.

 Biggest concern ATM is will the Luminosa do the South Pacific?

Where could it go for 11 nights as an alternative. It's a passport cruise so wouldn't have to stick to OZ ports, but I heard  it would need a hull clean to get to NZ and it hasn't had one lately!!

I read the last cruise on Quantum were told at the port the change of itineraries, fingers crossed this weather system buggers off.

Hope you have a good cruise Chez.

5 hours ago, willsaway said:

Thanks for the info, have you ever travelled in a mini on deck 8 on this particular ship. The ever-informative YouTube features cabins on deck 9, and a (small) downside would appear to be absolutely no cover over the balcony.  Logic tells me that the mini's beneath on Deck 8 would have Deck 9 above as a cover? 

And what passes for a mini on Diamond is really a standard balcony cabin on Royal and Celebrity? Just a chair and a bed is doable for a short cruise, but not 22 nights. 

Deck 8 definitely covered and minis on Diamond WAY larger than a balcony on Royal/Celebrity. They are extremely comfortable. 

1 hour ago, mum and son said:

Ok, so the red crosses being the tenders. You can see the cabins on the "curve" midship. E409 - 425 and E410 - 424 are the picks. This is the curve created by the Sea Walk. There is nothing in front of the BW in brown (Obs Balc) or DW in green (Obs Deluxe) except the curved promenade deck a floor below. The balconies are much deeper due to the curve.

If you search the cabin numbers on Youtube you should find videos and photos.

 

Thank you for the information. What ships?

25 minutes ago, Lanwood said:

Oh no. Someone has found my little secret. 🤫

 

I used to always sail full suite on Princess, but didn't feel I was getting much value compared to other cruise line full suites, other than extra space I didn't really use.

Found my "obstructed view balcony" on Royal class ships some time ago and never looked back since. Heaps cheaper than standard balcony. Is midship, No obstruction (unless you stick your head out and look extreme right) and double or triple depth balcony compared to standard super narrow balcony's. (Note: only a couple of Obstructed views have all this, the others have obstructions and standard balconys).

 

Love doing Ultimate Balcony Dinner and breakfast in these..(Good luck doing that on Standard Balcony 🤣)

 

So any upgrade (that isn't a suite) is actually a downgrade for me.

Are you willing to share the secret cabin numbers please?😀

6 minutes ago, lorri111 said:

We went to Japan a few years ago on the Diamond and loved it.

We have enjoyed Japan in the past too, 

and absolutely love Diamond. Glad she is coming back to Australia.

1 minute ago, lorri111 said:

Enjoy yours too! This is our 1st cruise since Antartica 4 years ago (thanks Covid) and unreasonably looking forward to it!

Cruises are definitely different since Covid, but you will have a great time too. I am on that one to for the 21 nights.

12 minutes ago, lorri111 said:

Really weird, both other legs came up as available this morning but now all 3 legs (including ours) are coming up as unavailable. Don't they normally say "sold out" if it is really sold out?

Changes all the time. People cancel out and cabins become available .i. e. Sickness etc. It is a sold out cruise though. No they seem to say unavailable now. I have a cruise in 2 weeks and this has been happening now for a few weeks. Enjoy your 2 night cruise though.

On 2/3/2024 at 4:16 PM, lorri111 said:

I know the question sounds stupid but the cruises in question were listed as available before. We are on a 2 day seacation  Sydney to Brisbane cruise on Royal on April 6, and our cruise is listed ok but the bigger cruise it is a part of (we are the first leg), 21 days Sydney to Tokyo is now "not currently available", as is the third leg 19 days Brisbane to Tokyo. Of course it is hard not to worry that our little one might be cancelled (though it is in Australia at that point anyway). I am sure I have come across the notation in the past but can't remember what it actually means. Can anyone advise?

The cruise is sold out. That is what that means for the 21 day and 19 days.

2 minutes ago, mum and son said:

That's so strange. I'm a bit like you, even if I'm not interested in bidding I like to know what's on offer and at what price.

I am interested and for 21 nights it might be worth it, just can’t find out. Anyway I said to my husband we could probably eat at specialty restaurants every night for the cost to upgrade. I was happy with a mini when I booked and still am happy! Good luck with your upgrade bid! I bid recently on Royal Caribbean and got a successful bid and it was the best move we made! Funnily enough, it was 5 weeks out and I was considering adjusting the bid higher.

1 hour ago, mum and son said:

Yes, I was lucky enough to grab one of these exact cabins. Can't believe I could select a cabin on the Drop and Go deal but I'm not complaining. I've placed an upgrade bid for a mini-suite only because I'm in a mini for the following cruise. I know that if I got the mini upgrade I'll probably end up in one of those under the Sea Walk that nobody ever books on purpose, but chances are I'll stay put.

If this is the cruise with your parents, are they going to be able to manage the bath/shower? Just a thought even though the mini will give you more room. If not for with your parents, just go,for it!

1 hour ago, mum and son said:

So you booked direct but couldn't put in an upgrade bid? That's very strange. I know some external agents don't participate in the upgrade bid program but I'm surprised that's the case with a direct booking 😱.

Yes, direct. Even cruise planner is “scratching his head about this one”

1 hour ago, arxcards said:

I have the opposite. I don't want to pay an extra $120 each per night for the same sized cabin in a different location - yet I get 3 emails per week reminding me that I should.

I am not sure I want to bid, but as it the cruise is 21 nights, I was interested in the price and options to go to another cabin from the current mini. With the first cruise, a cabin would be nice before I even think about bidding!🤣

8 hours ago, mum and son said:

Hi crew, 

 

I've booked a DW - Deluxe Balcony Obstructed on my upcoming Royal Princess cruise. Strangely it was a "Drop and Go" deal for next month, which are always guarantee category, but I was able to choose my cabin and was lucky to book a DW midship with no real obstruction (the only obstruction is that the promenade deck is below, but no obstruction by tenders etc).

 

I was surprised when it came to upgrade bidding that a standard balcony cabin is considered an upgrade over a deluxe balcony (even with an obstruction). My only bid options were Balcony, Deluxe Balcony and Mini-Suite. I've specifically selected a Deluxe because I want 3 beds at "ground level", no bunks. An upgrade to a Mini is the only other suitable configuration for me. I just figured the order would go from Balcony to Deluxe Balcony to Mini-Suite to Suite.

 

Do you find it unusual that a standard Balcony cabin is considered an upgrade? It's probably valid but I guess it's not what I usually see with cruise lines. It is what it is but I'm just interested in your thoughts.

The bidding system is just weird. On a cruise in April on Royal some of the passengers can bid for an upgrade and some not. I didn’t get the cabin, last minute or cheap, but I cannot upgrade. Same with allocation of cabin (another cruise). Princess cruise planner said he can sometimes allocate a cabin, but not mine! In your situation I would stick with the deluxe balcony as it gives you the sofa bed, now whether you have it as a bed or just a sofa, might be a bit more comfortable.