Christmas cruise?

[sprout76]

Has anyone taken an AUS/NZ cruise over the Christmas/New Years holiday? My husband and I are contemplating doing this cruise next year (2011) and was curious if anyone out there can tell me their experiences. Where there more families/younger couples than what are normally on this cruise?

 

Thanks for any input you can provide.

[kuldalai]

Yes, there will be more family groups on board but don't let that put you off .(Families generally tend to go for the P & O cruises out of Australia, which are aimed specifically at the budget conscious family market . )

 

 

Itinerary wise Australia / New Zealand you have several choices :

 

PRINCESS offer two week round trip cruises from Sydney in 2011/12 on SEA PRINCESS ; and from Melbourne on DAWN PRINCESS, and from Brisbane on SUN PRINCESS . Additionally DIAMOND PRINCESS offers a number of one way voyages between Auckland and Sydney covering all major NZ sights then heading to Tasmania and Melbourne and finally Sydney . (Operates in both directions multiple departures.)

 

Others offering similar itineraries are Holland America line and Royal Carribean . The dates and itineraries are all out for Summer 2010/2011, but not released as yet for 2011/2012 .

 

Qantas and UNITED fly direct daily from LA to both Melbourne and Sydney . Qantas also fly several times weekly from San Francisco to Sydney, and from LA to Brisbane.

 

The DIAMOND PRINCESS or Holland America line one way itineraries are probably the best option as they also take in Tasmania and Melbourne .

[sparky-elpaso]

Royal Caribbean has their itineraries out thru the beginning of 2012.

 

We just booked a B2B in starting Feb 19, 2012 (Sydney to Perth) and Mar 6 (Perth back to Sydney).

[Motnyl]

Hi, Just gathering info, and came across your thread, I had heard a rumour that the Sea Princess was coming over to Oz for a season, just wondered where your info came from, as would like to peruse sailing dates etc. Thank in anticipation.

 

J

Yes, there will be more family groups on board but don't let that put you off .(Families generally tend to go for the P & O cruises out of Australia, which are aimed specifically at the budget conscious family market . )

 

 

Itinerary wise Australia / New Zealand you have several choices :

 

PRINCESS offer two week round trip cruises from Sydney in 2011/12 on SEA PRINCESS ; and from Melbourne on DAWN PRINCESS, and from Brisbane on SUN PRINCESS . Additionally DIAMOND PRINCESS offers a number of one way voyages between Auckland and Sydney covering all major NZ sights then heading to Tasmania and Melbourne and finally Sydney . (Operates in both directions multiple departures.)

 

Others offering similar itineraries are Holland America line and Royal Carribean . The dates and itineraries are all out for Summer 2010/2011, but not released as yet for 2011/2012 .

 

Qantas and UNITED fly direct daily from LA to both Melbourne and Sydney . Qantas also fly several times weekly from San Francisco to Sydney, and from LA to Brisbane.

 

The DIAMOND PRINCESS or Holland America line one way itineraries are probably the best option as they also take in Tasmania and Melbourne .

[kuldalai]

Princess put out a Press Release re fleet deployment for Australian Summer:

 

http://www.princess.com/news/article.jsp?newsArticleId=na1090

 

No itinerary dates yet for SEA PRINCESS but she will be sailing out of Sydney.Port of Sydney Cruise data here shows dates she is booked in & out but no destination information .

 

http://www.sydneyports.com.au/port_operations/cruise_schedule

 

If you are coming from the US don't lock yourself necessarily into cruising out of Sydney; as DAWN PRINCESS is based in Melbourne and sails similar itineraries . You can fly from LA direct daily to/from Melbourne with Qantas & United .

 

http://www.portofmelbourne.com/cruiseshipping/cruiseschedule_2.asp

[LouCru1033]

Royal Caribbean has their itineraries out thru the beginning of 2012.

 

We just booked a B2B in starting Feb 19, 2012 (Sydney to Perth) and Mar 6 (Perth back to Sydney).

 

We also booked the Feb 19 2012, Looks great! Louise in Wisconsin