Aus Traveller

I am getting these pop-up ads also. It has started this morning. It is very annoying.

I suggest you have a second option as well. Wise sounds good for paying for your hotel. I was in Singapore last June on the world cruise. Taxis wouldn't take cash cards but they would accept credit cards and Singapore cash.

We can't be sure why Princess operates two different systems, but I feel it is likely to be for marketing purposes. Aussies are much more inclined to book a cruise when they don't have the complication of using a foreign currency - just the same as Americans would be. Australia is a fairly large cruise market so it is probably worthwhile for Princess to use our local currency. Maybe the reason the trans-Pacific cruises are in US$ is because there is a fairly large group of American passengers on board. Tips are included in our fares because Aussies are not comfortable with tipping. We are used to an all-inclusive price even when we go to a shop or restaurant where the prices include taxes.

Visas depend on the ports. Last year we went to Srilanka and had to arrange the visa ahead of time. It was done on line and approval came through in literally one minute - even on a Sunday. We also had to get an ESTA for USA and a Chilean visa for Easter Island. One of the up-coming world cruises (probably 2025) is only scheduled for scenic cruising at Easter Island, probably because on only about a third of scheduled visits are they able to land passengers by tender. Maybe the change is to avoid disappointment. Another change will be for the EU where soon passengers will need a visa - probably one they have to arrange themselves. Princess organised visas for other ports. Info about visas required was all shown on the Cruise Personalizer. From memory it was at the bottom of the Itineraries page. I spoke to several people on the ship last year who had paid a lot of money for visas they didn't need because they were going on their TA's advice. They hadn't read the info helpfully supplied by Princess that even had links to help passengers applying for visas.

With the present wifi system, passengers stay logged on. It would be difficult to monitor the 'old' allowance of 250 minutes. As 'compensation' elite passengers get the new wifi at a 50% reduction in price.

The price has really gone up since the last time I paid for internet on the Coral Princess for the world cruise last year. It cost me a bit more than $6.50 per day (it was well under $7). I know the price went up after I purchased, but $20 per day for elite means it would be $40 a day for everyone else.

$5 a day is so good. When someone offered a good deal, my Mum used to say "Shoot him in both legs before he gets away!"

I felt that both prices you were quoted were wrong. The first one seems too high and the second one too low. I agree with 'resordanis' - book it for the 15 day cruise. On a separate phone call enquire again about the price for the short cruise. You might be quoted a lower amount. 🙂

Next time I have to apply for the Shareholder's OBC, the site will probably tell me if I have to up-load an up-dated statement of shareholding. Anyway, it should go easier for me next time. I hope so anyway.

If we don't have to provide an up-dated statement of the shareholding, how does Stockperks know that we still own the shares? With the account number blanked out I don't see how they could easily check this, and why should they.

Before you attach your shareholder's statement, blank out the number of your account. For anyone to take your stock they would need that and probably your PIN number as well.

Yes, it is a new requirement and there is no way around it.

You are lucky. My experience with Stockperks has been one problem after another. When I finally registered then got my stockholding verified I applied for the OBC as I had to. I was stunned to get an email saying that I wasn't eligible because I had booked a discounted fare. What??? I booked following receipt of an email from P&O that would have been sent to probably thousands of people. It wasn't specially discounted. I had to apply to P&O. Anyway, finally today after a couple of weeks, I have got the OBC. The amount of time I have spent on this was far in excess of $100 value. Not happy with the process at all.

Our worst locally was 12 metres seas on the little Pacific Pearl. Another bad one was crossing the Drake Passage in a small expedition ship. I was literally thrown out of bed. I skidded across the cabin floor. Luckily I had no injuries except bruises but a few others weren't so lucky.

Thanks for the suggestion of going to Guest Services. I hope my application goes through OK and I don't have to do that.