-
Posts
2,286 -
Joined
Content Type
Forums
Blogs
Downloads
Events
Gallery
Everything posted by Sparky74
-
Carnival Cruise Line to Absorb P&O Australia
Sparky74 replied to boeckli's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
On our Carnival Splendor transPacific cruise in 2022 the staff were continually telling me to use the app. When I explained that I’d left my phone in Australia they would grudgingly find a workaround. From knowing what was happening around the ship to looking at a menu, everything seemed to require the app as default. Even each morning when I went to the dining room for breakfast they wanted me to book in with the app. Eventually the maître de cottoned on and would see me coming and book me in but it took several mornings to train them. I must admit a certain amount of smug satisfaction when the system fell over and whole ship reverted to paper. I think the system may have crashed when we crossed the international date line. Anyway, the general attitude of the staff seemed to be that I was an inconvenience. There were lots of other minor annoyances on the ship. It was the first Carnival ship to return to Australia post pandemic and I think at least part of the problem was that it was run as a US cruise rather than an Australian cruise. But the Aussies onboard were far from impressed with the cruise. We ran into a couple of "old hands", previous Carnival staff, who had been brought on to help train the staff for the Australian market. One of them was almost in tears at the attitude of the crew. We've not sailed with Carnival since but hopefully they’ve lifted their game. After we disembarked the Splendor in Sydney we had one night at home before boarding the Pacific Encounter in Brisbane. The contrast was astonishing. Better food, better service… We sailed P&O several times last year, have two booked for this year, and will possibly do a third in November. They’ve become our "go to" and the fact that they sail out of Brisbane year round has been a bonus. But I guess all good things must come to an end. Anyway, thanks for reading the ramblings of a grumpy old man. 😁- 428 replies
-
- 11
-
Carnival Cruise Line to Absorb P&O Australia
Sparky74 replied to boeckli's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
Q. How many cruisers does it take to change a lightbulb? A. Change?! Who said anything about change?! Blesséd are we who can laughter at ourselves as we shall never cease to be amused. -
Carnival Cruise Line to Absorb P&O Australia
Sparky74 replied to boeckli's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
My initial reaction is to clutch my pearls, metaphorically speaking. DW and I have grown to appreciate the "cheap and cheerful" P&O cruises. We’ve actually been quite impressed with them lately even though my first cruise with them almost turned me off them permanently. We’ve not been back on a Carnival ship since our 2022 transPacific cruise as part of our infamous "Are We Mad?" trip. Along with many of the Australians onboard we were less than impressed with that cruise. I have lots of questions: 1. Will Carnival commit to multiple ships sailing in Australia year round? We currently live within driving distance of Brisbane so a ship based in Brisbane is important to us. 2. Currently P&O cruises count towards us edging towards Elite Status on Princess but Carnival cruises don’t. Are they going to change this policy? 3. Recently Carnival fares seem to have risen significantly while P&O fares have remained reasonable. What pricing structure are they going to implement going forward. 4. We enjoy sailing on slightly smaller ships even if they are a bit older. Will they be replaced with Mega ships? 5. Is there any chance they will tone down the garish decor for Australian tastes? I’m really not a fan of pink donuts on the walls and fried eggs on the ceiling. 6. Carnival wants me to carry my mobile phone with me around the ship. P&O is happy to accommodate a Luddite like me. What are the chances? 7. P&O still cleans staterooms in the morning AND offers a tuner down service. Is Carnival going to reinstate this? I fear I already know the answer to most of these questions. 🤷♂️ But at least I’ve had an opportunity to vent. I guess I'll get over it.- 428 replies
-
- 12
-
Princess Brisbane cruise VS Sydney cruise
Sparky74 replied to JohnGc's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
My bladder usually gets me up around 4:30-5am. Occasionally I manage to nod off again but mostly that’s the end of my sleep. But if I sit in the lounge mid afternoon… 😴💤 For our "Are We Mad" trip we took out insurance through CoverMore as we were doing a helicopter flight in Alaska. If you read my half a review, you know that the helicopter flight was cancelled. 🤷♂️ (Maybe I should try to finish that review one day.) Under the terms of the annual multi-trip policy we had purchased, we were able to do a longer trip because we returned home in the middle of it. If we returned to our home or place of business that ended a "trip" and we could start another one immediately! As it was we stayed at home for one night before commencing our next journey. YMMV -
Princess Brisbane cruise VS Sydney cruise
Sparky74 replied to JohnGc's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
That’s crazy! -
Princess Brisbane cruise VS Sydney cruise
Sparky74 replied to JohnGc's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
We were looking at New York to Sydney for 2025 but balked at the price. HAL has a very good price for Seattle to Asia. And some of the cruises from Europe to the US are very reasonable. -
Princess Brisbane cruise VS Sydney cruise
Sparky74 replied to JohnGc's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
The Crown Princess sails from Dover on 30th July 2025 and will bring you all the way to Sydney. That would mean no jet lag. 😁 -
day trip from Sydney to Blue Mountains
Sparky74 replied to jjduck's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
https://transportnsw.info/routes/details/blue-mountains-buses-network/686/64686 -
I would be a bit nervous about missing the connection in Auckland if it wasn’t in the same reservation. JMHO In 2022 we flew Coffs Harbour to Sydney (domestic flight) to Vancouver to Seattle. Fortunately it was all on one reservation. Our Coffs Harbour to Sydney flight was delayed so we missed our connection. They rebooked us. Our new flight from Sydney to Vancouver was also delayed so we missed our next connection. We received a complimentary overnight hotel in Vancouver (including dinner) and eventually arrived in Seattle. Initially our bags were booked all the way to Seattle but as we had to stay overnight in Vancouver we got our bags for that night. 😁 Lessons learned from this experience. 1. Expect delays and disruptions when you’re travelling. 2. Always fly in the day before the cruise. In this instance I’d allowed two nights in Seattle before our cruise. Flight delays reduced this to one night but that was OK. It really reduced my stress knowing we had an extra day up our sleeve. 3. For me it’s worth paying extra so a multi-flight itinerary is on one reservation. It was their problem to sort out our connections. This also reduced my stress level. We were really pleased with the customer service from QANTAS and had no out of pocket expenses nor did we need to claim through our travel insurance. As always, YMMV. 4. Never forget to take your PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) when travelling.
-
We are not retired but put everything on the CC. I used to pay it in full every fortnight when our pay went in the bank. Occasionally I’d get busy and forget if it was a pay week or not so I’ve moved to paying the CC every week. It’s a great way to keep an eye on our expenses and we never pay interest or overdue fees. I also have an automatic payment sent up just in case I slip up, or get hit by a bus (unlikely), or we are away on a cruise without Internet (more likely). I know that a lot of people live from pay cheque to pay cheque (or pension to pension). I’ve always lived below my means, making sure that something went into savings from each pay. I guess that’s because that’s how I was brought up; not to live on credit but to live within your means. My father tells the story that when he was a boy there was only one thing his parents bought on a payment plan: a piano. And that was because if they had saved up for it his sisters would have missed out on a few years of lessons. Oh dear, I think I’ve got off topic again! 😱 What was this thread about? 🤔
-
This morning there was a sponsored post on "antisocial media" advertising a P&O Flash Sale which ends on 31st May. However when I follow the link I’m informed that that ship has sailed and the sale is over. 🤷♂️
-
Princess Refundable Credit at end of cruise
Sparky74 replied to BuzzBuzzen's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
I wonder if using it to boost gratuities is an option. I’d be more inclined to make a donation to the crew than to consolidated revenue. -
Princess Refundable Credit at end of cruise
Sparky74 replied to BuzzBuzzen's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
And buy things you don’t need. 🤣 -
Townsville is featuring in new itineraries
Sparky74 replied to arxcards's topic in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
Took me a moment to realise that WC means World Cruise rather than Water Closet. 🤣