Porky55

we are also looking very seriously at Silverseas Australian itineraries 🤔

You are right there Mick. We loved the Music Walk on HAL ships when we cruised before Covid. Choice of rock music, blues, or classical - as well as their theatre shows, which you choose to go or not. But, the Music Walk has been dropped 🥺 very sad. Rose

What I find tempting with HAL, is the opportunity to do the Syd to Hawaii cruise now that Princess seems to have dropped this off their future cruising. Yes, we would have to fly home, but it would tick a bucket list item. Either on the coming to Aus or returning to US itineraries. Rose

We have cruised on HAL 3 times and have Westerdam booked next Feb. If I could compare HAL to anyone it would be Princess; smaller pinnacle and vista class ships (the older ones) that have promenade decks on older ships; dark wood and lovely artwork throughout ships, wonderful beds, showers over bath like PCL mini suites (which I don't mind) and fresh flowers everywhere. Food was always good and crew very much like Princesses. Saying this, we have cruised on Zaandam, Noordam, Koningsdam and will be on Westerdam in '25. "I'm looking at a couple of cruises out of Singapore Dec/Jan. I have heard that HAL skews old but that doesn't bother me so much." Didn't find much difference in passenger demographics from Princess to be honest 😏

Thankyou for that … you made my day 😆 That is exactly what it is, but for diehard Princess cruises the cafe you are referring to is a very poor imitation of the Princess International Cafe ( just in case you go on a different Princess ship one day and can't find the Casino Cafe👍). Glad you enjoyed your cruise 😁

Agreed, as it was rolled out on a large ship, will be interesting to see how it is handled on say; Coral. It's more the reappearance of "Traditional" that I found amusing.

Princess is bringing in new Dining Options fleetwide, what do we think about this?? Following the recent implementation aboard Sun Princess, Princess Cruises has announced that passengers will have three table service options for main dining available fleetwide. The three options -- Traditional, Reservable or Walk-in Anytime -- will be available in separate dining rooms. Traditional consists of an early and a late seating every evening; Reservable allows passengers to reserve preferred dining times; and the Walk-in option offers open seating at any time. The trio of dining formats debuted aboard the new Sun Princess, which offers a three-story dining room with one floor dedicated to traditional dining, another one devoted to flexible reservations and a third for anytime walk-ins.

suzyed - that looks right, arrives Singapore from Perth on the Sep 26 then the next cruise is Oct 17 (yours?) Not sure what you are expecting, but we did the 23WC on Coral and I know she had and has had a lot of mechanical problems (one that was repaired in Dubai) so assume this dry dock will be to do major maintenance to the ship - wouldn't expect anything cosmetic. She is a lovely little ship, very clean, great Captain (which makes a great ship imo) you will have a fabulous cruise. Take care of her over there (USA) because I've got a feeling that we will see her back here in the next few years flying the P&O Aus banner 😉 cheers, Rose 🌹

Coral leaves Australia for good in September this year and heads to Singapore for her dry dock (sad to see her go 🥹) then continues on to end up in Alaska and the Carribean. Crown is replacing Coral downunder 🤔 Rose 🌹

Voyager is 311m long, so I think she would tender from Yorkies … am I right?

Perhaps you could grab a bargain if those that are disappointed choose to cancel? Keep an eye on Cunard or grab a good TA - always a Silver lining 🥂

Exactly what is being expressed by those who were booked on those dates going to NZ ……… all very interesting don't you think???

Yes … but those on Cunard that booked the original dates aren't happy, I think it was going south to Tas then NZ etc. On the Cunard website, these dates aren't even there now 🙄 Its more about the reason to not go to NZ at all anymore … …… or so it's rumoured 🤔

We all got to Easter Island last year - 2023 and it was wonderful. Hope the next Worldies get there too 🤞

Just saw this notice and wondering if anyone knows the reason for the change with Cunard cruising to NZ??