Worldtraveler 4727

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.

“Yes…get the information and you do the bookings for both.” “No. You'll have to wait until both are eligible to book both.” 🤔🥴

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!

👍🏻 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!

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!

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!

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

Purple Traveller, Thank you for the link! I very much enjoyed your trip report! So sorry you didn't get into the fjords again....we will be there the first week in November. Fingers crossed! Thank you for the offer of help....I cannot seem to find any definitive information on how far in advance one can buy tickets to a performance in the Opera House, and what the offerings might be --specifically October 26 or 27, 2023. I did read that for "popular performances" it's best to book 6+ months out, but I can't find any links that list what the various offerings will be.

Thanks for the heads up on that!

Thank you! Most helpful!

Thank you for the information. Any other details you'd like to share about the land portion or the excursions you took in NZ would be greatly appreciated! Also, may I ask, especially since you indicate many meals are on our own, did you need AU and NZ dollars?? If so, how much would you recommend? A friend is there right now and says "everything" is credit card friendly.

Thank you for the information. Any other details you'd like to share about the land portion or the excursions you took in NZ would be greatly appreciated! Also, may I ask: did you need AU and NZ dollars?? If so, how much would you recommend? A friend is there right now and says "everything" is credit card friendly.

This is one comment I read from someone on CC about a tour at Ayers Rock:"One thing to do is to get one of those screen thingees that go over your head. The flies will carry you off during the day time. At night, they must go to sleep because they were not a problem at the sunset dinner." Were flies a significant problem when you were in Uluru enough to purchase and to take along an overhead fly screen? Also, can you tell me how your accommodations were? How was the food? On your arrival day in Sydney, what was planned for the group? We are flying in 2 days early, and I am trying to figure out what time we will have available to plan things. For example, on the next day after arrival, there is Sightseeing Tour for the group, and the itinerary states afternoon and evening at leisure. We would be interested in any details you could share. Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you very much!

This is one comment I read from someone on CC about a tour at Ayers Rock:"One thing to do is to get one of those screen thingees that go over your head. The flies will carry you off during the day time. At night, they must go to sleep because they were not a problem at the sunset dinner." Can any Australian tell me if that is needed there--or in Cairns, or Darwin?? Thank you! In addition, we will cruise Dunedin (Port Chalmers), Christchurch (Lyttleton), Picton Wellington, Tauranga, Auckland, and Bay of Islands, so if anyone has any "must see" private tours they would recommend and provide a link to, we would be much obliged.

Someone on the AU/NZ boards answered. If anyone here is interested, here is the link: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

THANK YOU! I just read the 31 pages Terry posted 🙀 and was able to take notes and get some great ideas. Thanks for the link!!