diane.in.ny Posted November 17, 2018 Author #26 Share Posted November 17, 2018 Next post is up .. Embarkation day Around Australia Cruise - Day 3 in Sydney - The Rocks and Embarkation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess Penguin Posted November 19, 2018 #27 Share Posted November 19, 2018 Loving the blog as we will be doing Australia and New Zealand B2B2B cruises on the Sun Princess in February. Can you confirm your gratuities were included as the Sea Princess is based in Australia? Everything I've read states that but I would like confirmation regarding US passengers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casofilia Posted November 19, 2018 #28 Share Posted November 19, 2018 Can you confirm your gratuities were included as the Sea Princess is based in Australia? Everything I've read states that but I would like confirmation regarding US passengers. Although we are NZers I can state that for NZers and Aussies the DSC was included in our fares. However I am sure you will find that they are NOT for Americans and Canadians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casofilia Posted November 19, 2018 #29 Share Posted November 19, 2018 (edited) ... we will be doing Australia and New Zealand B2B2B cruises on the Sun Princess in February. Are you doing NCL shorex or do you want some ideas for New Zealand? Mike Edited November 19, 2018 by casofilia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted November 19, 2018 #30 Share Posted November 19, 2018 3 minutes ago, casofilia said: ... we will be doing Australia and New Zealand B2B2B cruises on the Sun Princess in February. Are you doing NCL shorex or do you want some ideas for New Zealand? Mike I guess a typo, but not sure NCL will let them do tours if they’re sailing with Princess. 😛😱🤪 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casofilia Posted November 19, 2018 #31 Share Posted November 19, 2018 Yes a typo!! Senior moment as I am following the NCL Jade's problem and never switched the brain. Offer still applies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diane.in.ny Posted November 19, 2018 Author #32 Share Posted November 19, 2018 I can tell you for sure that gratuities are NOT included in the fare for those of us from the US and they were charged to our account in AUD$ Next post is up and this one covers the ship. Lots of pictures. http://www.travelsnippetsandmore.com/2018/11/around-australia-cruise-sea-princess.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare trbarton Posted November 19, 2018 #33 Share Posted November 19, 2018 On 11/9/2018 at 7:38 AM, diane.in.ny said: I've got the first post up. It is about using the Opal card in Sydney. I did a lot of research before the trip and still found there was a lot I didn't know http://www.travelsnippetsandmore.com Thanks for your post. A question about the Opal Card. How did you decide how much to put on the Opal Card? What happens with any unused money? Did you bring any AU $ with you or get $ from the ATM at the airport? Thanks again. Tom😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casofilia Posted November 20, 2018 #34 Share Posted November 20, 2018 Hello Tom We use an Opal card whenever we visit Australia so can't help with what to do with anything left on it at the end of a cruise. I think you will be able to start with $35 if getting a new one at the Airport as there is a hefty charge ($14.30) to get to or from there. That was what I had to put on ours when I topped up there last time. But again that was using an Australian bankcard. Officially the statement is:- The minimum cost is $10 for adult cards, $5 for child cards (seniors and concession Opal cards must be ordered online). There is no fee for the card itself; all of the minimum $ top-up is available for travel on public transport. Subsequent top-ups can be made in $10 increments for adults and less for children/seniors. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare trbarton Posted November 20, 2018 #35 Share Posted November 20, 2018 (edited) 24 minutes ago, casofilia said: Hello Tom We use an Opal card whenever we visit Australia so can't help with what to do with anything left on it at the end of a cruise. I think you will be able to start with $35 if getting a new one at the Airport as there is a hefty charge ($14.30) to get to or from there. That was what I had to put on ours when I topped up there last time. But again that was using an Australian bankcard. Officially the statement is:- The minimum cost is $10 for adult cards, $5 for child cards (seniors and concession Opal cards must be ordered online). There is no fee for the card itself; all of the minimum $ top-up is available for travel on public transport. Subsequent top-ups can be made in $10 increments for adults and less for children/seniors. Mike Mike, Thanks for your reply. You our talked about a ATM machine at the airport. Any fees to use it? I’m going to be there for 2 days. Any suggestions as to what to see or any tours to take? Is their UBER in Sydney? If so I plan to use it as it’s a flat fare. Thanks again for responding to my questions. As you can see I’ve never been to Australia before so any help/suggestions much appreciated. As as a Senior from the US I assume we still pay the Adult fare. Tom😀 Edited November 20, 2018 by trbarton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casofilia Posted November 20, 2018 #36 Share Posted November 20, 2018 Mike, Thanks for your reply. You our talked about a ATM machine at the airport. Any fees to use it? Don't think I did!! You can buy Opal cards at Newslink or WH Smith bookshops at either terminal. You can also buy them at the Airport stations. There is an actual bank in the airport that I use as I have an Australian bank account so have no idea about an ATM machine. They also have exchange as do some independent operators. I’m going to be there for 2 days. Any suggestions as to what to see or any tours to take? The Opera House is a must but get a booking. Take the ferry to Manly and walk to the beach then the ferry back. Take a ferry to Parramatta, walk through the town and get a train back to the city. Train to Museum Station then walk through Hyde Park, past (or into) St Mary's Cathedral and the Art Gallery of NSW (look out for the "plaque" to Michel Angelo (sic); through the Botanic Gardens to Mrs Macquarie's Chair and then back to Circular Quay. Walk the bridge at ground level or do the Bridge Climb. Is their UBER in Sydney? If so I plan to use it as it’s a flat fare. No Idea but Mr Google says yes!! Thanks again for responding to my questions. As you can see I’ve never been to Australia before so any help/suggestions much appreciated. As as a Senior from the US I assume we still pay the Adult fare. Yes; they don't even recognise our Senior's Card!! All the best Mike Tom😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diane.in.ny Posted November 20, 2018 Author #37 Share Posted November 20, 2018 2 hours ago, trbarton said: Thanks for your post. A question about the Opal Card. How did you decide how much to put on the Opal Card? What happens with any unused money? Did you bring any AU $ with you or get $ from the ATM at the airport? Thanks again. Tom😀 Hi Tom I used the website that I linked to in my post to estimate the amount I would need. I put AUD$50 on each card and we have AUD$23 left over on each card. (The cards are good for 9 yrs and if you'd like a great deal on our two ... you can email me at my username @gmail.com). We took a taxi from the airport to our hotel (and back again ... we stayed over a night) as we are not up to handling luggage on a train. (That reminds me ... if you'll be heading to the airport right after you disembark, the cost of the Princess transfers is a great deal vs taking a taxi.) As I mentioned in the post, what caught me off guard was not being charged for the RT fare what with not getting off the ferry. Plus the fact our one day of travel at the end was a Sunday. I did not bring any AUD$ with me. I always used an ATM and all bank ATMs that I used had an AUD$2 fee. And yes, I started at an ATM at the airport. I used add'l ATMs because we had private tours booked that I needed cash for. And I have a daily limit on how much I can withdraw so I had to use 2 ATMs just for that. Then used a third when we needed a bit more cash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diane.in.ny Posted November 23, 2018 Author #38 Share Posted November 23, 2018 This post is about Melbourne On a previous visit, we had done a DIY. This time we took the ship's excursion to see some of the countrysides. http://www.travelsnippetsandmore.com/2018/11/around-australia-cruise-sea-princess_21.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diane.in.ny Posted November 25, 2018 Author #39 Share Posted November 25, 2018 Next post up ... Tasmania http://www.travelsnippetsandmore.com/2018/11/around-australia-cruise-sea-princess_25.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare gdlamberth Posted November 26, 2018 #40 Share Posted November 26, 2018 Love the blog and the photos! Do you happen to know the charge for Ice Cream or Milk shakes at venues other than the dining rooms/buffet? Our booking included a Sip 'N' Sail (which in the US includes Milkshakes) but the Sea Princess page on the Princess website indicates that they serve a NZ ice cream for which an extra charge applies. Thanks, Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casofilia Posted November 26, 2018 #41 Share Posted November 26, 2018 Personally I would refuse to buy the NZ ice cream at the price they charge!!!! We are too used to getting "soft freeze" on NCL free, as much as you want as often as you want with chocolate sauce and/or caramel sauce to add yourself!!!!! VBG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diane.in.ny Posted November 26, 2018 Author #42 Share Posted November 26, 2018 10 hours ago, gdlamberth said: Love the blog and the photos! Do you happen to know the charge for Ice Cream or Milk shakes at venues other than the dining rooms/buffet? Our booking included a Sip 'N' Sail (which in the US includes Milkshakes) but the Sea Princess page on the Princess website indicates that they serve a NZ ice cream for which an extra charge applies. Thanks, Greg Thanks so much for the blog/photos compliment. Based on conversations I had with others, it was AUD$5. We only had ice cream in the MDR which in my (and my husband's) opinion is fair. I wanted to try the NZ ice cream to compare. The AUD$5 didn't stop me ... just the fact that the right opportunity never presented itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casofilia Posted November 26, 2018 #43 Share Posted November 26, 2018 When you come to New Zealand make sure you try Hokey Pokey!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diane.in.ny Posted November 29, 2018 Author #44 Share Posted November 29, 2018 Next post is up from our stop in Albany http://www.travelsnippetsandmore.com/2018/11/around-australia-cruise-sea-princess_28.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helencruising Posted November 30, 2018 #45 Share Posted November 30, 2018 On 11/1/2018 at 9:47 PM, Thrak said: Our first ever cruise was on Sea Princess. 10 day round trip SF/Alaska. We had the absolute tiniest cabin (A323 - 135 sq. ft) way forward. I had to go outside to change my mind. Loved the cruise and it got us totally hooked. ) Sea Princess has a wonderfully wide Promenade Deck. Our first cruise was on the Sea Princess as well. Back in the 90’s. We thought it was a beautiful ship and loved the Promenade Deck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diane.in.ny Posted December 6, 2018 Author #46 Share Posted December 6, 2018 Next post is up. This one is about our day in Perth http://www.travelsnippetsandmore.com/ For those interested, at the bottom of the page of posts is a link for Older Posts. If you click on that you'll be taken backwards through our trip to our start in Sydney. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Cruizers Posted December 6, 2018 #47 Share Posted December 6, 2018 The Sea Princess was our very first cruise in 2002. I was surprised the both she and the Sun Princess were still part of the Princess Feet. We took the Sun Princess through the Panama in 2006. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diane.in.ny Posted December 11, 2018 Author #48 Share Posted December 11, 2018 next post is up about our around Australia cruise - Broome If you want to read back to Sydney, at bottom of page is a like for Older Posts http://www.travelsnippetsandmore.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diane.in.ny Posted December 14, 2018 Author #49 Share Posted December 14, 2018 We cruised the Kimberly coast Post is up with some pictures http://www.travelsnippetsandmore.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
land lover Posted December 15, 2018 #50 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Hey Diane,Mike..... Diane...how could you forget about those sand bubbler crabs on Cable beach https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/9718206527 such a special surprise seeing their beautiful "sand art." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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