Worldtraveler 4727

4 hours ago, PerfectlyPerth said:

My pleasure. 
I have lived & worked in the US in my late teens in the 80s and even then I found the tipping culture simply bizarre. It's like a slave/master power imbalance. 
 

I remember a few years ago telling a visiting US friend as they were trying to press a $20 note into the hands of someone who earned twice what they did, that perhaps they should think about how insulting that was and how it was perceived by the recipient who then had to embarrass themselves by refusing the money. They agreed it was ingrained into them to believe anyone performing any kind of function for them was "in need". 
 

I'm happy to continue answering the question if it means we keep our culture as our own !! 

Enlightening! 👍🏻

10 hours ago, possum52 said:

End of October means only another month of spring is left south of the tropics. It is really going into summer as the weather will becoming warmer in most localities and more humid in the tropics and sub tropic regions.

Australia is a vast country with  different climates.

 

This link may explain - Australian Climate

'Given the size of the country, the climate in Australia varies greatly from one region to the next. Generally speaking, there are four seasons across most of the country while the Top End (including Darwin, Katherine, Kakadu and Arnhem Land), Broome, the Kimberley and Tropical North Queensland (Cairns, the Whitsundays and the Daintree Rainforest) experience a ‘wet season’ (November to April) and a ‘dry season’ (May to October).'

 

Thank you. I will re-think my packing.

12 minutes ago, Wookie01 said:

You should be fine with credit cards etc in those locations.

Darwin and Cairns will be hot and humid, Uluru will be warm to hot and extremely dry.

If astronomy interests you then I believe there is a great tourist nightsky facility at Yulara. I was lucky enough to spend 6 weeks working as an amateur astronomer at Yulara during the Halley's Comet visit in 1985/86.

Enjoy the cruise and your land content 🙂 
 

Oo thanks for the heads up on the weather! I was thinking since it will be the last week of October, heading into your spring, it might not be hot/humid/dry.

And thank you for the suggestion on Yulara. That sounds like something we would love! I will research that. Much appreciated. 

1 hour ago, Wookie01 said:

To some extent this also depends on where your land tour is going.
If it is going to very remote locations then some cash may be wise for 'just in case' situations, but as others have said you can put virtually everything on card for the vast majority of situations. 🙂

Wookie01, we are headed to Darwin, Cairns, and Uluru. So not really "remote," I don't think 🤔

43 minutes ago, PerfectlyPerth said:

I use credit card (tap and go) or Apple Pay for things as small as a newspaper or bottle of milk at 7/11. I've not used cash anywhere for ten years. 
 

As for the tour guide stuff. It looks like standard Princess text for any tour and they have just inserted the word Australia into it. Ignore it. My friends are tour guides and they are on a 6 figure salary and refuse offers of tips as they find them demeaning. 

Well! There you have it! 
I consider this to be the definitive answer to both of my questions.
Thank you so much!
Our cultures are so different in this respect, and I appreciate you and others on this site being straightforward, helpful AND patient with us by answering the same question multiple times! (NOT always the case on Cruise Critic)

Thank you for taking the time to answer my particular concerns. 
 

8 hours ago, yarramar said:

I have used a card to purchase a coffee for $1.00 at a service station. They have since gone up to $1.50

Thank you! 🤣😂

Thank you, yarramar.

 I was really mainly wondering if a credit card would suffice for even the smallest purchases like a coffee or ice cream cone etc. And wondering if that would also be applicable in NZ as well.

Thanks!

2 hours ago, possum52 said:

No need to tip at all. The tour guides and driver will be well paid. I'm afreaid that the information is from a US point of view and not Australian or New Zealand. In saying that, there are sure to be people who will tip though because that is what they do.

Thank you to all who helped clarify this--once again!

We in the US are very slow to change and accept this. But the tipping is out of control here, and we are finally hearing the rumblings of "that's enough!" You all have had the right idea for a long time. Bravo!

Thanks for taking the time to help us understand how things work in your part of the world. 

You've been very patient with our asking the same question over and over. 😵‍💫

2 hours ago, Kristelle said:

World traveller - it is probably possible to use a card exclusively.

 

I would probably get a very small amount of cash for the occasional place you may not be able to buy small things on card.

 

perhaps $40 of each currency just in case?

I am so hoping I can just use a credit card.

What do the rest of you think??

I would like to thank all the Australians and New Zelanders who have helped to clarify (over and over!) that there is NO TIPPING in either country. I appreciate your patience. It is such a different culture here in the US, and honestly, we all just want to do the right things when we visit your wonderful countries.

If I might ask for clarification on one more example, please?

This is the statement printed in the itinerary for the 7 day land tour of interior Australia before a 13 day cruise around New Zealand this next Oct/Nov on Princess.

Farewell to your Tour Director Today you will say goodbye to your tour director and conclude your Princess escorted tour. As traditions and customs vary widely across the globe, we often have guests ask what gratuity guidelines are appropriate for the region they are touring. It is our belief that gratuities are a direct reflection of the level and quality of service received. It is customary to extend gratuities as a sign of appreciation on the last day of your land tour. The following is the recommended industry standard for tour directors in Australia:   Tour Director: 5.00-7.00 USD per person per day   Extending gratuities is a personal matter and should be distributed on an individual basis without solicitation and not on behalf of any group.

What is the appropriate action here, please?

Also, I would LOVE to not have to get any Australian or New Zealand cash. Is is possible to use a credit card exclusively?

Thanks so much for helping us --once again!--understand and act correctly according to your customs!

5 minutes ago, 1982CruzStart said:

I believe they said that the 1 companion was in a Concierge suite which gives them the same booking time as gold. 

Ahhh. Thank you for the clarification. 

I’m looking for a definitive answer on whether I can book first time Regent cruisers, along with my earlier booking status. 

Was the first single traveling companion you were able to book at the time of your booking a gold member as well?

I will give it a try when the reservations open for me. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Thank you. 

Will I be able to do this if I have an earlier booking date for the restaurants than the couple we are traveling with?

Thank you.

We are headed to Australia and New Zealand this fall.

I would love any and all information on VISAs needed for both countries from people who have done this recently regarding details on the application process, the cost, and how far in advance this needs to be done.

Thank you!

1 hour ago, wcsdkqh said:

Yes, you are misremembering.

👍🏻 I will be prepared when reservationS open in November! 👍🏻

"Guests may pre-book one dinner reservation in each specialty restaurant prior to sailing..."

I was not aware that guests may book one dinner reservation in EACH specialty restaurant. 

If I remember correctly, there is only one slot that can be filled in for a specialty restaurant reservation. 

Am I misremembering?🤔

Thank you for the added information and the beautiful photo!

On 3/30/2023 at 1:10 PM, Princess Cruises Fann said:

We did the Ultimate Australia land tour in January 2023 before getting on the Majestic Princess for an Australia and New Zealand cruise. It was fantastic. 

Another couple and my husband and I are going on the Princess AU land tour the first week of Nov and then the cruise around NZ.

ANY and ALL info you would care to share would be so appreciated! For example,

Can you tell us if there were meals other than breakfasts included?

What was the Uluru Sunrise Tour like?

When you had "evening at leisure" what did you do?

Anything you'd care to share would be wonderful.

Thank you!

20 hours ago, Jakdgr said:

Totally agree with what PurpleTraveller has said re tipping here.

Thank you, Jakdgr.

Thank you so much for your explanation. Your comments are in line with what I have heard, and so different from the tipping culture in the US. We want to be appropriate and follow local customs, so we appreciate your clarification. 

Purple Traveller, you have the "magic touch!" I thought I did look all over on the official website, but apparently I did not. Your link took me right to what I needed. Thank you.

Thank you, too, for your willingness to answer questions for us. We have another, if you don't mind. 

As an Australian, we are hoping you can give us your take on tipping in your country and NZ. For example, we are taking a full day tour from Sydney out to the Blue Mountains (before the Princess land portion begins). Is a tip expected for the person leading this tour? For the bus driver, if that is a separate person? 

We've been told by Princess to tip our Land Tour Director before we head to the 13 day cruise portion:

GRATUITY INFORMATION  

Farewell to your Tour Director Today you will say goodbye to your tour director and conclude your Princess escorted tour. As traditions and customs vary widely across the globe, we often have guests ask what gratuity guidelines are appropriate for the region they are touring. It is our belief that gratuities are a direct reflection of the level and quality of service received. It is customary to extend gratuities as a sign of appreciation on the last day of your land tour. The following is the recommended industry standard for tour directors in Australia:   Tour Director: 5.00-7.00 USD per person per day   Extending gratuities is a personal matter and should be distributed on an individual basis without solicitation and not on behalf of any group.

We would appreciate your thoughts. Thank you!

3 hours ago, Jakdgr said:

Last year we did a 8  day bus tour to Alice Springs (as part of The Ghan train Darwin - Adelaide). While not sure what tour you are doing might have some info/photos of interest.

We were there late April and didn’t have any issues with flies (albeit maybe I’m just used to them😁)

Uluṟu is such a spiritual place I feel, Kings Canyon is a work out but exquisite scenery of the bush and well worth it, Simpson Gap is great. Million star dinner is unforgettable … but subject to cloud cover on occasion.

Alice Springs has a few nice hotels.

That sounds lovely. We are really looking forward to Cairns, Darwin, Uluru (Ayers Rock, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park)