Aus Traveller

Absolutely no traffic holdup. Because no traffic was coming i from side roads, the traffic flowed very well in just a steady stream. The issue of waiting for the shuttle bus concerned me. With 15-20 minutes drive to Portside Parking's facility, then time to load and unload, there would be a turn-around time for each bus of maybe 50 minutes or so. They would hire a few mini-buses, but there would still be quite a wait.

You were smarter than we were. 😁 After the trouble I had in getting out of the bath, I can't work out why Peter got in.

We liked the convenience of having our car parked close to the terminal. We didn't have to join the queue for the shuttle bus to Portside Parking.

The statement from the Vanuatu government indicates that the first cruises will be P&O, with the Pacific Encounter arriving on the 9th November. P&O has had a very long history of collaboration and support for the Vanuatu government. I am not a betting person, but I feel the odds are that the Quantum cruise won't be calling into Vanuatu.

My husband is mainly concerned about the possibility of a hail storm while the car is left for a week or so. He was OK with parking under the solar panel awning. It would give reasonable protection from hail. We don't care if a bit of wind-driven rain hits the car or if there is some sunlight on it.

We found that minisuite bath to be a 'trap'. On the first night I looked at it dubiously and wondered aloud if I should have a bath as a novelty. At home we are on our own water supply so only have showers. I enjoyed the soak and everything was good until it came time to get out. The bath is very narrow and has very high sides. I had difficulty in turning over to get up and only managed to get out with my husband hauling me up by the arms. Then foolishly, he decided he also would have a bath. Getting a 110kg 6'3" man out of the bath was a mammoth effort! It wasn't pretty to watch but we were fortunate he didn't have to spend the whole cruise in the bath. We were telling someone on board the story and they said they also had trouble getting out. Just to be helpful, there is an emergency cord hanging beside the bath. Maybe Princess has had people stuck there before. Anyway, this other couple told us that while the husband was thrashing around and doing contortions trying to get out (and thinking he never would) the phone rang. I laughed and asked "How would that help? The phone is in the main part of the cabin, not the bathroom". He said his wife picked it up and someone asked if there was an emergency because the cord was pulled. His wife was now alerted to his problem and with her help, he got out of the bath. For the rest of the cruise, we only had showers.

That is so. When there are a few ships operating out of the terminal, the cars from passengers on the cruises currently under way will still be there.

There are three sections to the carpark - two of them open air. Combined there would be several hundred parking spaces. On our two cruises (end June and end August) the vast majority of people were either lined up for taxis or seemed to be going on a shuttle bus. Before our June cruise, I was concerned that we might not be able to get an undercover space. I need not have worried. When we arrived there were only literally four or five vehicles in the vast P1 area. As cruising picks up pace and with the size of Quantum, there won't be so many spare spaces, but I am sure you will find a good spot. This would be more likely if you arrive at the start of the embarkation time or a little bit earlier. At that time, the disembarking passengers will have already left.

We are booked on the 5th November cruise. Our 27th August cruise was 'converted' into a Q'ld coastal one so I hope the November cruise actually gets to Vila.

We have used the BICT parking for two cruises so far and found it to be excellent. We booked a few weeks ahead, but that wouldn't be necessary. On both occasions there were only around a dozen cars in an area that could hold close to 200 cars. I did check out the number on line months ago and seem to recall it was 192. A small number of the spaces in P1 do not have any cover. You don't book a specific space, but choose the best one available at the time. On both occasions we were able to park under one of the shade sails and quite close to the terminal. When we returned from our last cruise it was raining fairly heavily so we were very glad our car was as close to the terminal as was reasonably possible. As debmm said, there was someone at the entry boom gate who helped check us in. Parking at the BICT is the cheapest option at the moment. We like it because once we are in the car with our luggage, we almost feel like we are home. I certainly wouldn't book an extra day, just in case. In the unlikely event that you were delayed by a full day, I'm sure Wilsons would either let you pay for an extra day or not charge you for it. After all, the delay would be caused by circumstances beyond your control.

I wouldn't consider going to a performance in the Opera House unless I was really keen on opera. See about a tour of the Opera House instead.

Glad you had a great day. Happy birthday!🙂

You should load your info before the cruise if you can This will make embarkation faster. If you can't do that, you can turn up at the terminal and do more at check-in. Princess reps have said it can be done that way.

That's funny.😁 I am currently at 967 with three cruises booked before the WC next year.

It would be OK if they counted the Arabian-nights version, but my history shows zero. ☹️

The latest chapter in the on-going saga of the price of the internet on the Coral Princess. Yesterday afternoon I worked out why I was being quoted such a high price. The Princess Medallion system has an error in my account. Yesterday afternoon I noticed that the little medallion symbol attached to my profile picture is in blue, not black. Before our cruise last June, I was told that this doesn't matter - but it does. Yesterday in one of my several phone calls/live chats to Princess, the agent commented "Your cruise next January will be your first Princess cruise". Gr...... I am coming up to what I call my 'Scheherazade cruise' (1,001 nights). Because I am shown as not having cruised with Princess, the system is quoting the internet for my World Cruise booking next year at the full price (not 50% discount). That is too much difference on such a long cruise. When I told the Princess agent that we have been Elite since 2008, she looked elsewhere on the system and said "Oh yes. You are Elite. You should be getting the 50% discount" but she couldn't apply it. It is now over to the Technical Department of Princess - not the Technical Department of Windows nor the Technical Department of NBN who keep phoning me. I phoned Princess again this afternoon. The agent could see the problem and said "they are working on it".

I stay with my trusty old double adaptor and juggle the devices that need charging.

That is what I got suspicious about. However, the man at Princess I spoke to a few hours ago told me the discounted rate was $13.49. In a rather incredulous voice I asked him if the full price was $27 and he confirmed it!!! I don't want to speak too soon and jinx it, but I think I have it sorted now. I am on the phone at the moment and will post again when I have completed this call. I hope I have good news. 🤞

No. I haven't purchased yet because the Medallion app showed a total price that worked out at $13.49 pd. My experience with Princess on phone calls and live chat got even more crazy with different prices. I am trying to get it sorted out.

The Medallion app is quoting $12.99 a day for Elite! It gives this price for two different cruises.

Bob, where do I find this on the Medallion app? By the way I did a live chat and got different prices altogether - $7.50 to pre-purchase for a cruise or $10 per day on a day by day casual basis. I seem to have found the right place on the Medallion app, now I just have to move forward to the cruise I want to buy for then buy it

I am going to try that in a minute. The telephone seemed easier. 🙂

The internet pricing saga gets even more insane. I phoned Princess, hoping to get the price that SinbadThe Porter did. But no. I was told that the price for one device is $27.00 per day and that with the Elite discount it would be $13.49 per day. This is even more than Julie was quoted on board. When I queried this price I was told "the price changes". I will have to keep checking.

I agree. We have never caught public transport to go to a cruise terminal. It has been either a taxi or (on a couple of occasions) a shuttle bus.

I'll try that. Thank you for letting us know.