thistledoo

We did “Taormina On Your Own” .   We had a marvellous day there.

On 1/25/2022 at 2:09 PM, geoherb said:

I was in F504 for two weeks in June/July 2019. It was a great location. I initially worried about noise from the casino and atrium (as well as smoke from the casino).

To get to the Explorers Lounge from the OV cabins in that hallway, do you need to go through the casino?   They look like they would be quiet.  

I'm very optimistic cruising will start here after the arrival of the repositioned ships in the spring.  Of course what restrictions will be placed on local cruises is anyone's guess.

On 12/3/2021 at 3:55 PM, MicCanberra said:

Sydney to Japan, April 2024

We're on this as well.   Our last cruise was a Diamond Princess B2B round Japan late December 2019, just before everything went pear-shaped.   Can't wait to get back.

38 minutes ago, albingirl said:

I have several cruises booked.  However, I booked a mariner special, whatever that is.  I've lost 2 Personal Cruise Consultants and now have a third.  So, since I booked this cruise in December in what seems the dark ages ago, I was told I could not add drink package etc., even for extra money, since I booked under a "special".  So, today, I called again and without involving this PCC, who I hardly know, and was able to secure a have it all package for extra money.   That's all I wanted in the first place, nothing extra.  My husband is having a special birthday and wanted this special.  Why is this so hard? 

We also have a cruise booked with a "special" fare.   We plan on buying beverage packages and internet separately as we will come out way in front of the all inclusive normal fare.

I am interested to know if you had to re-fare at the current rate to get the package, or did you just get charged a daily amount to cover it all, added on to your discounted fare?

We've never had a cancellation go smoothly with Qantas, but I have found if the normal channels don't go smoothly send a private message through Twitter.   The SMS works, except you may be hanging onto your phone for ages waiting for a response.  Last time we received the taxes back but they charged us three lots of 6,000 cancellation frequent flyer points for the two of us - I am still trying to get that sorted.   The time before that we got refunded points and taxes for just one person and had to chase the remainder, and on it goes.   They are hopeless!

No, but our next is not until June.    I hope they extend the offer by another month, the OBC would be nice!

11 minutes ago, Cootakid said:

Is there such a thing as an Australian contact number for Princess Cruises?  Having a couple of dramas with a Sapphire booking and called the generic number to the overseas call centre a couple times, to no satisfaction....... 😞  

Fully understand!    Do you have 1300 550 748.   That was the number on top of the Sapphire brochure and when I eventually got a call back it was lovely to hear an Aussie voice on the line.  Good luck.

My take is that unless you took out travel insurance before all this virus stuff blew up in January, then any insurance taken out after that will not cover you for Corona virus medical treatment/hospitalisation in another non-reciprocal country - period.    Frightening thought.

We've got our gty mini suite confirmed for across the top 8 June.  Air s booked with points, just need to find some accomm in Fremantle for 2 nights.  Happy campers.

40 minutes ago, aussiecruiser275 said:

clearly it was a busy day for Princess

Yes, their marketing team got the demand wildly wrong.  They need a good kick up their backsides.

Just now, icat2000 said:

maybe it includes the beverage package. Cause I looked on another site and I couldn't work out why the prices had jumped so much but the TA were promoting it including drinks package. 

Hope so.

Just checked the clean site and they are showing prices vastly different from yesterday for the 17n Fremantle-Syd on June 8.   Balconies now from $2479, were from $1749.   Hopefully just a glitch.

Haha.  Maybe they are adjusting their prices - upwards!

Actually got through on the phone but they can't book because of system errors.  Told to ring back in a hour, sheesh!!

The email said 11am AEDT on the 27th,  I'm sure though I got an email (deleted) from oz saying they were on sale on the 28th.  The time is probably to give a level playing field to WA.

Whichever way, the system will go into meltdown.

11 minutes ago, badgerbill said:

We have pre-registered, with the clean one's, Sapphire's over the top ex: Fremantle Jun 8...always wanted to do this itinerary but wasn't willing to pay the OTT price's .....very happy with the current offer...fingers crossed we get a berth😁    We too are Elite but not expecting any early booking privilege....

We've done the same 🤞

14 minutes ago, arabrab said:

 

The doctors in Japan are not stupid.  If it comes to the point that they think some medication will be helpful, I'm sure it will be administered. Throwing drugs at a problem is not always the solution. And, there are other supports (breathing treatments, oxygen) which might be used.

There seems to be a real language barrier.   One of the family needs to fly to Japan to assess the situation if they are so worried.

Try this link:

http://static.cdn.responsys.net/i2/responsysimages/content/princessau/20076_Sapphire_2020_6.0_LR_spreads.pdf

The prices and itineraries are all up on the clean site.   Some very attractive prices for the earlier part of the redeployments from Fremantle.    On sale on Feb27.

Another cruise ship with 3,000+ people on board may be quarantined in Hong Kong after carrying infected passengers.  

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3049120/coronavirus-cruise-ship-carried-infected-mainland

It's getting to the point where the cruise lines will need to cancel all sailings in the area for the next month or so.

We've also received the email and have sent off a message to Princess with our concerns about a privacy breach.    A one-liner with a link to the visa company in our cruise doco would be suffice without alarming everyone with a suspicious email.

Thanks Waggie.  We're coming in by early bus from Narita, I think we'll just use the Yokohama Station lockers.   It will be the peak of autumn colours and we want to take the bus and visit Sankeien Gardens before boarding (that is of course dependant upon Typhoon Hagibis leaving some foliage on the trees this weekend!).

We are joining the Diamond Princess in December and on the day of embarkation will be arriving early from Tokyo.  I know in Sydney it is possible to drop off luggage early at the cruise terminal then go and do other things until embarkation, and was wondering if the same thing exists in Yokohama?   

I read somewhere there are lockers at the cruise terminal, but I expect these would be used by disembarking passengers with late flights.  The alternate option would be to use a couple of lockers at Yokohama station.

Compared to some US airports Sydney wins by far.