AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND TOUR

[Johanna7]

HI:

We are looking into booking the 6 day Aussie cruise tour prior to the Saphire Cruise from Sydney to Auckland.

It would be from Toronto to Sydney and from Auckland to Toronto by air. Does anyone know which airline Princess uses? How many stops are involved? Could it be Quantas or some other airline?

The cruise tour is from Jan 12 to 18th and the cruise from Jan 18 to 30th, 2005.

Anyone who has recently (in the past year) done anything similar, could you please tell me your experiences?

We have not booked it yet but could any day now and we want to have as many facts as possible.

We have done 21 cruises but have not yet cruised with Princess.

We do have CCL shares and wonder how to get the shipboard credit as well.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Johanna

[Painter]

Dear Johanna... I think you have the dates wrong. I will be cruising from the 6th Jan 05 Sapphire Princess. It leaves Auckland on the 6th Jan and docks in Sydney on the 18th Jan. It is for twelve days.

Marleneann

[Painter]

ooops...sorry I can't help with flight info as I am from Australia. We are flying Aust-Auck by Qantas.

Marleneann.

[Johanna7]

Marleneann:

The actual cruise is from Sydney, Australia on the 18th of January. The cruise tour prior to the actual cruise is from Jan. 12 to 18th and has 2 days in Sydney, 2 days in Cairns and 2 days at Alice Rock.

It looks very interesting. There are flights in between Sydney & Cairns, Cairns & Alice Spring and back to Sydney and then the cruise on the Sapphire.

You are fortunate if you start from Australia. We understand the airfare alone is $2495 Canadian each and this is the flight to Sydney and from Auckland.

Johanna

[GottoCruise]

We did 5 days pre-cruise in Dec. prior to boarding the Star. 2 days in Sydney - 1 day in Alice Springs - 1 day in Ayers Rock - back to Sydney for 1 overnight prior to boarding. Flights were between Sydney & Alice Springs - Alice Springs & Ayers Rock - and Ayers Rock & Sydney. We did our air w/frequent flyer miles and booked all hotels directly. All this through the Internet... A lot of work -but less than Princess cost - and at our own pace. It was great!

Until PACIFIC PRINCESS Islands of the Pacific Theater
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[Painter]

Oh Johanna...I am a silly billy. If I would have thought about your post instead of jumping in... I would have understood.
I am sure you would enjoy the six days precruise...that is Sydney, Cairns & Alice. That is a good mix to get to know the real Australia.
Just be aware that it is most likely be hot in Alice and hot and humid in Cairns at that time of year..

The Brisbane to Auckland one way cost me $245 p/p.
You could check out Virgin Blue and Jetstar for low cost air in Australia if you are doing your own thing.

Marleneann.