Aus Traveller

What cruise line are you booked with? If it is Princess, then 'No' they no longer have a bottled water package. You can buy bottles of water. Another option - the tap water on board is drinkable. Some people take their water bottles to the buffet area and fill them from the water dispensers BUT you must not put the water bottle up to the nozzle. You have to use a cup to transfer the water.

Phillip Island has the most famous 'penguin parade' in Australia. We first went there in 1965 and were the only people on the beach. In more recent years it has become really big business.

There is a bit more to do at Lifou and Isle of Pines, both of which are larger than Heron or Lady Elliott. Mystery Island is very small with not much to do other than have a 'beach day'.

I regard the smaller ships (100-800) as expedition ships, not as cruise ships. The way I see a cruise ship, the ship itself with its entertainment and activities, is as much a destination as the ports. I have been on an expedition ship (99 pax) to Antarctica, and it was a totally different experience on board compared with all the cruise ships I have been on. If the larger ships (say 1,900 passengers +) aren't cruise ships, what are they?

Islands like Heron and Lady Elliott won't ever be suitable for visits by a cruise ship. By a 'cruise ship' I mean those currently operating here with 1,900 passengers plus. What would they all do? The only activities are snorkelling, diving, coral viewing by glass bottom boat, and of course, it would be a tender port. When passengers visit Port Douglas (for instance) there are multiple options for tours.

Heron Island is 2.5 hours by boat from Gladstone. The ferry leaves Gladstone at 9.30 and leaves Heron Island for the return trip at 12.45. The timing means it wouldn't work as a day excursion.

That's exactly my point. There isn't much in Gladstone for a tourist.

With some small towns, there mightn't be much to interest tourists within a reasonable distance.

Quite a few years ago we went into Townsville on a P&O cruise, but the ship was anchored out beyond Magnetic Island. It was a very long tender ride.

Latest boarding is probably an hour before departure, but I wouldn't risk planning 3pm boarding for a 4pm departure. I suggest that 2.30 would be the latest that you should plan for. You wouldn't want to miss the ship by being five minutes late and they can't wait. The ships have a curfew. If they aren't ready to go by that time, they have to wait two or three hours until after peak hour and they are not going to do that just to wait for a couple of passengers.

It is easy to use OBC for excursions or purchases after you board, but it isn't so easy before the cruise. The problem with waiting to book excursions is that many of them sell out well before the cruise starts. I bought internet for the world cruise and had to pay immediately. I couldn't pay for it from my OBC. If I waited until I boarded the ship I could do that, but I was pretty sure the price was going to be increased. It was.

That is what I would have done. I would have insisted that they wash the clothes in the evening - maybe every second night - and return them to me in the morning. I wouldn't sit around for three hours every morning waiting for my clothes to be washed. It makes me wonder if she was building up a good 'story' and not trying to work around the problem constructively.

Surely the lady could have washed her undies each evening. They would be dry the next morning. As for her outerwear, surely she didn't have to wash it every day.

May and June would be a ideal time of year to cruise off the Kimberley Coast. $7,500 for a 10-night cruise demonstrates how expensive it is to cruise on these small ships.

MMDownUnder said she hadn't heard of the port. She would have heard of Thursday Island.

Would it have been Lizard Island? It is on the reef but it is so small I can't see it being any good for a reasonable size ship.

I got that email. The one to Norway is interesting but I wouldn't get my husband to agree. I looked at the South Pacific one but it is very close to one we have already booked to Vila.

North of Cooktown? There aren't any ports north of Cooktown and it is a difficult place for ships to tender into. Maybe the reason you hadn't heard of the place is that the crew member was confused about where it is. 😁

It is long, long way to drive right around Australia. We have done it a couple of times, plus other long trips like the East coast and the Stuart Highway down the Centre. We enjoyed those trips, but wouldn't do it again. There is a long way between attractions on many of Australia's highways.

If all the MF cabins are sold, maybe some of the people who have booked on that fare will be up-graded. I think that is likely.

I don't know why that is. Maybe if you phone Princess tomorrow they might be able to sort it out for you.

I did this for the World Cruise on the Coral Princess leaving in June. After I selected my tours, when it came to the payment option I selected 'pay from OBC'.

Agreed. I wouldn't like to sail out of Port Phillip Bay into Bass Strait in winter when the overwhelming odds are that it will be very rough.

When the extras are added, I don't think it is priced any lower than Aussie cruises.

Is the US$3499 (AUD$5215) plus fees and taxes and gratuities? Cruise prices in the US usually have these added. Is it any cheaper than a 25 day cruise in Australia?