arxcards

A handful of the cancelled Grand cruises are being replaced like for like with the Crown (those in bold). Brisbane gets a shorter season, and the relocations are only 3 nights instead of a month across the Pacific. It is all confused by the lack of any announcement, but pieced together from new port bookings. 21st December 2025 Sydney (3 nights) to Brisbane 24th December Brisbane (11 nights - Pacific Islands, probable) 4th January 2026 Brisbane (8 nights - Pacific Islands) 12th January Brisbane (10 nights - Tasmania) 22nd January Brisbane (11 nights - Pacific Islands) 2nd February Brisbane (14 nights - New Zealand) 16th February Brisbane (14 nights - New Zealand) 2nd March Brisbane (8 nights - North Queensland Coastal) 10th March Brisbane (8 nights - North Queensland Coastal) 18th March Brisbane (3 nights - Newcastle, Sydney 21st March Sydney - resume original schedule

Nothing cheap for us down here. You get all the good deals, but they are reliant on international passengers getting on expensive long flights to make up their numbers, and that makes us a less attractive place to cruise from.

Crown Princess itineraries have been withdrawn from sale from 21st December 2025 till 21st March 2026. All affected passengers should have been notified of the cancellation of those cruises. As already posted on this board last week, Grand Princess has also been withdrawn from Brisbane for the scheduled 2025/26 season. Replacement itineraries have not yet been announced by Princess, but port bookings have been updating in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville, Port Douglas, Newcastle & Eden. An extra date has been added to Sydney to coincide with a port visit. These bookings all point to Crown Princess being based in Brisbane for a 3 month season, and Sydney having only Discovery Princess for much of the summer. The dates are per Brisbane terminal bookings, and those in bold match the previous Grand Princess itineraries. This confirms why only some of the passengers on the Grand's cruises have been notified, as others will get an email advising them of their swap-over to the Crown. I have guessed the remaining itineraries based on the number of days and/or port bookings: 21st December 2025 Sydney (3 nights - "Seacation") to Brisbane 24th December 2025 Brisbane (11 nights - Islands) probable, Fiji maybe, as it is a Chrissy/NY cruise, and some of the Sydney cancellations might get to switch to a modified itinerary and salvage their Christmas holiday. 4th January 2026 Brisbane (8 nights - 3 x port Islands) direct replacement for cancelled Grand Princess cruise, passengers swapped? 12th January Brisbane (10 nights - Tassie) direct replacement 22nd January Brisbane (11 nights - Pacific) direct replacement 2nd February Brisbane (14 nights - NZ) direct replacement 16th February Brisbane (14 nights - NZ) direct replacement 2nd March Brisbane (8 nights - Qld Coastal) direct replacement 10th March Brisbane (8 nights - Qld Coastal) based on port bookings in Cairns, Port Douglas 18th March Brisbane (3 nights - "Seacation") Newcastle, Sydney 21st March Sydney - resume original schedule The updated itineraries will be available on the 14th of whenever, unless Princess still have another trick up their sleeve. Hopefully, some of these cruises will make-up for those who lost their cruises when the Grand was pulled from Brisbane.

20 years ago, P&O had no rusty balconies - they had no balconies at all. I agree that P&O has slipped, but since around 2017. Trimming costs has also trimmed the overall experience. Comparing the ship condition of Pacific Explorer with Pacifiic Sun of 20 years past though, it isn't even close. Cruising on Pacific Sun was fine for us, but not because of the ship. Ooh, fancy recalling Pacific Sun arrived in Australia as our flagship 20 years ago. Then I realise how far we have truly come.

Or some extra staff so they can take more care. Perhaps a new menu or two would also relieve tedium in the galley. I have felt like quoting Gordon Ramsey a few times while exiting the Waterfront.

Good guess. Add that to your fare.

It was 4 ships this past season, and they sailed predominately full.

The Grand is being pulled from Brisbane in 25/26. I have noticed this morning that Crown has been taken out of Sydney from 21st December till 21st March and relocating to Brisbane to somewhat replace the Grand season that was cancelled. Unless the game of musical chairs has ended, it does seem strange to only having one ship in Sydney during the summer. We had four ships in Australia this past summer (Royal, Majestic, Coral, Grand), three next season (Diamond, Crown, Royal), and now only Crown & Discovery in 25/26. The word I keep hearing is yield, and there are more dollars to be made in other markets.

Looks like it is back on the table - just a different table.

As I noticed a short while ago, all of the those itineraries are changing due to Crown relocating to Brisbane from late Dec 2025 for a 3 month season. Hopefully they will offer an Auckland to Brisbane itinerary when the altered itineraries are available.

There may be some more cycling about to happen. At this stage on the Princess site, there is a gap in Crown Princess itineraries between 21st December & 21st March. It could be that all of those cruises have sold-out (possible), but would appear to have been withdrawn from sale while they do a shuffle. Christmas/New Year cruises could well be sold out by now. However, on 7th March she is supposed to be departing on a 3 night cruise from Sydney, yet now also has a port booking in Port Douglas. It got me digging further. Dec 21st to Fiji RT from Sydney per the schedule, yet she is also booked in Brisbane on 24th Dec. There may be some altered itineraries to dual port, however it looks like Brisbane has lost the Grand but scored a few months of Crown Princess instead. The BICT page has updated. Grand Princess dates have been removed, while these dates are up for Crown Princess: 24th December 2025 4th January 2026 12th January 22nd January 2nd February 16th February 2nd March 10th March 18th March There is a booking for Newcastle on 20th March during her return back to Sydney on 21st March. Great that QLD is not missing out after all, and I am ready to book the 3 nighter for 18th March.

These are typical of $AU prices for lots of overseas Princess offerings. I don't know if we are being overpriced as Aussies, or if this is relative to what others are paying around the world. Even late last year I was looking at a cruise around the UK for June/July next year, and the prices are scary. It seems now that the base price has jumped, although the Balconies & minis have only gone up as much as the base price has and appear to be better value in comparison. Just a couple of randoms around the world for a similar date, Princess.com inside guarantee standard prices: 10 night, around UK Aug 25 2025 - $2582pp ($258pp per day) 7 night Alaska ex Seattle Aug 30 2025 - $1885pp ($269pp per day)

City Extra is an easy option with a broad casual menu. They do have the space that you can reserve with no hassle, and they do split table bills without any fuss. We have had a few group gatherings over the years with those sorts of numbers, but we were already connected with most in the group. The table layout upstairs isn't the greatest setup for mingling though. Drinks come to your table, so and doesn't really have an area where you can just stand up and chat - just across the table conversation. I guess it depends on if you want a sit down meal, or a bar area with easy food. Rossini's is a similar layout. If for lunch, I would recommend the rooftop cafe at Museum of Contemporary Art. Nice food and basic drink options, plus the bonus of watching the hustle & bustle of the previous days ship loading-up at OPT. Alas, they close at 4pm. Nice options already mentioned and a couple of others that come to mind, but I haven't considered if they would suit a group.

WiFi calling might be an option.