Westaussie

Things haven't changed, but, if I was in your position, I would change Travel Agents. They should know that Princess Australia doesn't have auto-tips. :)

What I am querying is why when I log into my booking on Princess website it comes up large as life with "pay now" or add to on board account? I don't think that has anything to do with any TA.

You should double check about bookings made outside Australia for Dawn Princess, Sea Princess and Sun Princess. This is a real grey area I find. Its perfectly clear when you book in Australia on these ships that its included in the price but whether that applies to bookings made outside of Australia I am unsure.

Booked Sun Princess 8 January 2016 with a TA in Perth that I have used several times. She asked me if I wanted to pre-pay gratuities and I said I thought they were included and would check. Sure enough on my cruise personaliser it comes up with pre-pay or add to on board account. It's a large amount and I don't like not paying gratuities, TA had indicated that things have changed ... is this so?

Thanks for your advice. I have booked hotel within walking distance to train. Have stayed several times at UT campus or nearby so not very familiar with Front Street area.

We are doing two sectors of July world cruise on Insignia, Montreal/Southampton/Barcelona booked with agent in Perth and yes, we did get the b2b discount. When looking some on-line agents list consecutive cruises when you key in the months you are interested in. PS doing my own air so even that doesn't come into it as suggested in a previous post

Would appreciate advice as to how the Games will impact on my three days in Toronto during July particularly on Monday 20th when we are getting the 11.30 am train to Montreal to join cruise i.e. road blocks, taxis etc.

This feels like deja vu all over again. We were aboard Azamara Quest when a fire in the engine room debilitated the ship, resulting in passengers being disembarked early and the rest of our voyage being cancelled. We heard "bravo, bravo, bravo" at about 8:00 pm on March 30, 2012 when we were sailing off the coast of the Philippines en route to our next port. The captain sounded the general alarm and ordered passengers to proceed to our muster stations. We were in muster for almost 3 hours while crew worked to contain the fire and restore power. Early the next morning, we learned that power had been restored to engine #1 which allowed basic essentials but we still had no propulsion, no A/C, no hot water and no food preparation facilities.

 

Quest was adrift in the Sulu Sea until 7:30 pm on March 31, 2012 when propulsion was restored. We then began to make our way to the nearest port in Malaysia, traveling at 3-6 knots per hour for the next 24+ hours, under the watchful eye of the Philippines Coast Guard. We arrived about 9:30 pm on April 1, 2012 and disembarked about 2 hours later. Priority was given to a crew member who was seriously injured in the fire. Passengers were housed in the best available accommodation for 2 nites and then we were flown by charter to Brunei and onward to Singapore, which was to be our final destination. Meanwhile, Quest also made its way to Singapore, very slowly and with a skeleton crew, where the engine was repaired. The ship was out of service until April 24, 2012.

 

Of course, we were curious as to the cause of the fire but we weren't given any details at the time. In light of the recent fire on Insignia, I googled and found the final report for the Quest incident, prepared by the Malta Marine Safety Investigation Unit. The fire was caused by a fuel oil leak and there is some discussion as to why/how a fuel leak occurred at all. There are also some interesting details on the engine design and power management for the "R" class ships which may (or may not) be transferable to Insignia.

 

http://mti.gov.mt/en/Document%20Repository/MSIU%20Documents/Investigations%202012/MV%20Azamara%20Quest_Final%20Safety%20Investigtion%20Report.pdf

Thank you for attaching the report it made very interesting reading especially having been on Quest with you on that fateful day. I was also on the old Royal Princess one cruise before their fire in 2009 and now Insignia my next cruise in July - interesting to find out if all three fires are caused by similar problems with fuel leaks.

Did they make an announcement that your muster station was not accessible to go to the casino?? (indoors)

 

Usually during Muster Drill on the ships |I have been on they tell you if you cannot get back to your cabin or your muster station go to the lifeboats or listen for directions to safe areas

 

But then who listens at the drill to the person giving the instructions :rolleyes:

No announcement was made but the crew directed us to the casino where a roll call was taken

You will meet indoors with your life jackets, put qt hem on and then will be led outside to your lifeboat.

That's not what happened on Quest. We could not get to our muster station, (the dining room) as it was full of smoke, nor could we get to our cabins to collect life jackets. They were handed out to us in the casino where we waited for an hour or so till the toxic fumes became too much and we were allowed to sit on the lounges in a confined area on deck just outside.

I was on Royal Princess the cruise before the fire and am booked on Insignia in July .... love the R ships but do I see a pattern forming of burst fuel lines which I believe was the cause of the Quest fire?

Crowne Plaza Hotel is in the airport, have stayed here many times. In March we disembarked Journey around 9.00 a.m. and got a taxi to the hotel, we had a booking but friends decided to come with us and got a day rate (however I suggest you book). Because we have been to Singapore many times we decided to spend a quiet day using their swimming pool etc. If you wish to go into Singapore use the airport train. Depending which terminal your flight leaves from just check out and walk to departure check-in if same terminal as hotel or get the sky train that runs between the terminals http://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/singapore/sincp/hoteldetail

Enjoy your cruise.:D

Thanks! Just about to head down to Freo.

We had a nice few hours in Geraldton today! Took the $20 shuttle organised by the ship. Visited the HMAS Sydney Memorial, the Cathedral and finally the Maritime Museum.

 

Now sitting in the Champagne Bar sipping a cocktail or two before 6.00 dinner - out LAST night! Boo Hoo!

 

Photos later!

Thanks Gae for keeping us up to date with your travels, love the photos.

Sad for you that it's your last day .... happy for me as I board in a few hours!!!

Vera

Hi Gae, thanks for your review and the lovely photos. Enjoy your day in Port Hedland and in Geraldton. You have me all excited about boarding on Wednesday! Pity we won't meet this time. Vera

Norris, thank you for your wonderful review and great photos, brings back memories of many places visited and most of them on R ships. Loved the Malta photos as I lived there for a few years! Vera

Hi Gae - looking forward to your reports before we board Radiance in two weeks' time! Enjoy your cruise.

Radiance? Isn't it in Australia?

Yes, just arrived for our summer season. Sydney had a huge storm in recent days but I think Radiance missed it. Looking forward to boarding her in Fremantle next month!

WE always attend the M& M would have been at March 3rd cruise one but because of cancellation have now booked the 17th cruise from Hong Kong and been informed we cannot attend Meet & Mingle. Very disappointed.

Even if there's no 'invitation' in your cabin just check when it will be (probably at sailaway) and just turn up - see you then!

Thanks Andy - I am sure all of us on 17th March cruise are watching developments closely. Let us know when she sets sail again!! Vera

Oh dear we leave tomorrow. Please everyone send good healing vibes for Journey

I am definitely sending good vibes and wish you well. Several people on our roll call for 17th March are on your cruise while many of us embarking soon in Hong Kong were on the Quest two years ago when there was the engine room fire (we're trying to have a second go at the same itinerary).

Does anyone know if Azamara will provide a shuttle in Manila?

While I am at it does anyone know if they provide shuttles in the other ports

Sandakan,Palopa,Benoa and Semarang?

Rosalyn

On Quest two years ago there was a shuttle every 30 minutes in Manila (to Mall of Asia). Checked my 'Pursuits' and there would have been one to downtown Sandakan, had we made it under normal conditions and then, of course, we didn't complete the remainder of the cruise. I hope someone has more up-to-date info.

Is there any way to know last tender time to ship on MAR. 29? We are scheduled to depart Bali at 6pm. What time does first tender leave the ship on 2nd day, March 29?

I'm 99% sure that we will be docked at Benoa. It's a small cruise terminal but there should be plenty of taxis if you need one. The advantage of a small ship! Our only tender port should be Komodo Is. See you soon!!

A sad loss. Our sympathy to Bill's family

What is the safari and marine park? Is it very commercial.

No not at all! Do take the trolley bus that goes through the safari section, as close to Africa as you'll ever get! http://balisafarimarinepark.com/home.asp

Leanne, doesn't look like there'll be 'free' shuttle bus. You may have been to Bali so you may know the following: you can give Denpasar a miss, it's the commercial capital (unless you're buying gold, there's one street just with gold shops). If you get taxis get the blue ones they are all metered and we've never had any problems. Taxi from the airport to Kuta costs us around 70,000 rp ($7) so from Benoa maybe 100,000 rp. If you want a driver for several hours in a larger van then negotiate before you set off $20 - $40 for a day is plenty.

Ubud is inland up in the padi fields and you get to see the countryside. That is where the local artists are. On the way there you can go through Celuk (silver) and Mas where the wood carvings are made. Prices are inflated for tourists! Tanah Lot for one of the temples (on west coast). Nusa Dua, Sanur and Kuta for beaches. Big shopping centre in Kuta (Discovery Kartika Plaza) third floor for souvenirs and also Matahari in Kuta where there is a supermarket on ground floor. For something different the Bali Safari & Marine Park. Yes, traffic can be frustrating so allow plenty of time.

See you on board soon!

Best wishes Bill

And from 'down under' where it has been 40C (in the shade) we wish you, Andy, and also Bill best wishes for a joyous festive season, good health and happiness in the new year.

Vera