2007 Australia-NZ Just Booked

[midwestsunshine]

This will be our first trip on Princess (previously sailed with Carnival, Royal Caribbean) and we're excited about Australia. We booked for Feb 28, 2007. I couldn't believe the 2007 sailings were opened already! This is on the Sapphire. One question- is traditional dining still an option on the Sapphire? I was told no by my travel agent but I hope that is an error. Anyway- any other early bookers out there?

J

[Lynnees]

Two weeks ago we booked the April 17/07 29 day sailing from Australia to San

Fransisco. (I think I spelt that wrong - sorry).

 

This will be the longest cruise we've ever taken.

 

cheers

[Linda the Book Lover]

I don't know about 2007 on the Sapphire. For our Christmas Sapphire cruise, we had the choice of personal choice dining or traditional dining. The traditional dining goes quickly so if that is your cup of tea I would call your TA and ask for verification. Enjoy your cruise! We have not decided what to do in 2007 yet.

[localady]

Two weeks ago we booked the April 17/07 29 day sailing from Australia to San

Fransisco. (I think I spelt that wrong - sorry).

 

This will be the longest cruise we've ever taken.

 

cheers

Lynnees-

There is a group of CC'ers that have already booked the cruise and started a roll call thread a few weeks ago. Here's the addy: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=190618

Hope you check it out!

It's gonna be a great cruise!:)

:cool:

[Druke I]

Australia/New Zealand is a great itinerary. If you can swing it, highly recommend pre-cruise and post-cruise hotel stays in both Auckland & Sydney, both world class cities.

 

The flight over and back is a pistol!

 

I think your Travel Agent is in error re lack of traditional dining on Sapphire Princess.

[cruisequeen10]

A few years ago my mother and I took this cruise Auckland to Sydney. You definitely need a few days before and after (if you have never been there before). Three quarters of the cruise went on the Great Barrier Reef cruise tour, but I did not. The cruise was for 2 weeks and then with the few days before and after, amounted to just over 3 weeks. I have regretted not doing the Great Barrier Reef. I will probably never get back there again. You will love this cruise. It was my favourite and most memorable, as we had experiened tropical storm Yali. We missed 3 ports of call, but got to spend 2 days in Melbourne instead of only 1 day. Sydney was my most favourite port on the whole cruise. The Opera house was magnificent. Sailing into the harbour right passed it was very beautiful. I hope that you have a great trip and happy sailing.

[zalusky]

I have been really struggling with this itinerary as well. I finally decided to save the cruise for later and do a straight land tour of Sydney and the Great Barrier reef next year. I just didnt want to have 1 day for Sydney and 1 day for the Great Barrier reef and lots of wasted days shuttling luggage. When you added the flight, cruise, and then land tours it got right up their with the 28day cruise which I want to do anyways. However just doing the straight land tour gave us a lot more options and cash to work with. BTW there a lot of ways to do land only. Doing a search on australia escorted land tours netted a number of places that were probably the same groups Princess uses except you have more itinerary options.

 

We will take the 28 day Sydney to SF cruise later when we retire.