Fish66

I'm going to New Zealand 0n the Golden Princess on February 11th 2016

I am BIG tea drinker ( not herbal just black tea)

Just wondering if anyone knows if the tea is nice or crappy and should I take my own teabags??

I would be devastated if the tea is crap as I'm pretty much a Twinnings and Lipton girl

Thanks in advance [emoji3]

Which line? It's just a chance to dress up a bit really, you can do as much or as little as you want. It's just regular dinner, but often it coincides with a meet & greet with the Captain in the lobby or similar. And people often take the chance to have some drinks before dinner and do the show afterwards like a fancy night out on land.

 

If you don't want to participate at all, just grab dinner from the buffet and go about your normal evening business!

I'm going on the Golden Princess going to NZ on February 11th for 13 nights

Hi all. I have enjoyed reading this thread. After nearly two years learning all I can about cruising from CC and other places online, I have finally booked our first cruise on the Golden Princess in February next year to New Zealand.

 

 

 

We have booked an inside cabin - midship with nothing but rooms below and above us (all this I learnt from CC). I would have liked to have booked a balcony but at $1650 p.p for an inside that is all I was prepared to pay.

 

 

 

What I have learnt from Cruise Critic is that a cruise is what you make of it. A room doesn't make your holiday. I have decided that I can get all the fresh sea air and sunshine I want from going out on deck. I can view the ports from on deck (don't need a balcony for that) I can still drink a glass of wine on deck and enjoy gazing at the ocean. You don't need a balcony to enjoy these things.

 

 

 

What I can't wait for is being on a cruise ship. Hanging out at Vines Wine Bar. Eating at The Specialty Dining in Sabatini’s and Crown Grill. Eating at the International Cafe. Enjoying entertainment at Princess Theater, Vista Show Lounge and watching movies under the stars. People watching in The Piazza. And shore excursions - which I have already booked and payed for with private tour operators (which I learnt from CC).

 

 

 

Thank goodness my travel agent listened to me and didn't try and discourage me from booking an inside cabin. After all its my cruise!

 

 

 

After months of reading all these reviews here on CC, I got depressed. I couldn't decide on which cruise line to book -How can a cruise line have so many different reviews. I used to think - who wants to go on a cruise if the food is so bad, the rooms are dirty and need repairs, the staff are unfriendly, the ship is outdated, the shows are not great. But then I decided that everyone has different tastes. After all if we were all the same it would be boring. What I like another person may hate.

 

 

 

A holiday is what you make of it.

I agree with everything you said.. I'm also in a inside room on level 11 BAJA DECK and I'm on my own, I couldn't justify paying so much extra for a balcony when I will be outside from 6am to late at night anyway lol

I'll use my cabin for showering , sleeping and when I wanna watch something on my laptop( if I'm totally bored) in which I doubt

Really annoys me when people just wanna spoil it for you, and they seem to know everything about travelling

I'll make my own judgement and won't let anyone's comments change my mind

Are you on the ship on feb11th going to NZ??

Yeah I agree

Least you aren't rude

What actually happens on these nights?

Is it just a dinner, or is it dancing, partying

I'm am curious on the Formal Nights.. If I didn't wanna go, I don't have to go do I??

I'd rather be safe as well

If you read my post, you'll see that I said it does not matter.

 

 

 

Sheeesh, why is my question any less valid that anything else here??

 

 

 

As the replies show, loyalty level has remained on some tags, disappeared on others. Just opening the conversation.

Isn't it bloody annoying when people add their 2c worth in

With negativity

I ask questions and these so called Travel Experts know everything and bag me out for not knowing ....

Yes, just received it myself

My wife says the lighting by the mirrors are all bad unless you have natural light (Balcony cabin) on the main cabin wall mirror. The bathroom mirrors are generally too dark for my wife's liking.

I'll take my bloody lamp then it go outside and paint my face lol

Yes, how the door into the cabin fits. On Dawn Princess there was a lot of light seepage from outside the room, which was annoying as I like a really dark room too. Hopefully Golden will be better.

 

The lights in the bathroom should be OK for doing makeup, they are quite bright. But if you don't like bright lights in the middle of the night when using the bathroom try the LED candle trick.

I'll put a towel across the bottom if there's annoying light lol

Thanks heaps

It depends how well the door fits. On Rhapsody of the Seas our inside cabin was beautifully dark, on Dawn Princess there was a lot of light seepage around the door.

 

All bathrooms are really dark.

 

Take LED candles to use as night lights or a small torch if dark rooms are an issue.

 

From what I've read so far there will be one 110v US power point, and you may be lucky to find your cabin has been fitted with a 220v multi-socket but don't count on it. Take a US adaptor.

What do you mean "how well the door fits"

Are you talking about the door into the cabin??

I hope it's really dark at night, I don't want any light on at all lol

Just thinking more for when I'm doing make up etc

Just got off today after the two day Sydney to Melbourne. My thoughts.

 

Cabin: had an inside on Baja (first time I've ever had an inside on any cruise). Quite spacious, clean but the overall feel was a bit dated.

 

Ship: in pretty good condition. Had more of an older feel to it unlike RCI and NCL who I've cruised with previously. Felt the lighting was a bit too dark. Lounges etc all really comfortable and plenty of spaces to sit.

 

Shops: mediocre. A couple of jewelry, one souvenir/clothes/ and perfume. Prices were surprisingly cheap considering our dollar to the US at the moment.

 

Entertainment: I personally thought the shows were average. Average singers and dancers and certainly caters to an older crowd. Lounge singers were shocking. Out of tune and all old material.

Cruise director is rude and arrogant (as I discovered while standing and chatting to him having a cigarette)

 

Lifts: a major problem. Slow, too many people and took a while to realize which ones only go to certain decks.

 

Food: generally very good. The restaurants and staff were of a good standard. Drink prices were fine.

 

Overall we enjoyed it (6 of us ) however I find many Australian cruisers to be an absolute disgrace with manners and decorum (walking around barefoot with a beer in hand, dripping water in lifts with only a towel covering what should be covered!!!)

 

I personally think the ship itself and what it offers is great for an older clientele. Our group ranged in age from 14 to 60 so can see good and not so good from all angles.

I've also got a cabin on the baja deck, inside cabin.. Everyone on forums are telling me it's so dark in there, and really dark in the bathroom.. Is that true?

And we're there many power points in the room..thanks

Not sure if a goer is a description for me but I do like trying new things (adrenaline raising activities) as well as repeating the things like copter flights. Recently had a flight over New York City and the harbour/river, absolutely wonderful.:D

Sounds awesome

Lucky you

I'll go on my own , not bothered if No one wants to go

Goer's are the best people to do things with

Agreed that the roll call is best placed for takers. If I was on that cruise I would be interested as I love flying.

Oh damn

Would've been good to have someone to go with

Yes, water and tea are freely available but not the bottled water - you pay for that.

 

However you can take a pack of bottled water onboard - just stick a luggage label on it and hand it in with your baggage.

Thank you so much for telling me

I'm going on the Golden Princess on February 11th to New Zealand

And want to go on a Helicopter Ride ( I've never gone on one but thought a New Zealand flight would be ideal)

Was wondering if anyone else was interested in going ?

If you are

Please let me know

Here is some info

"City of Sails – 10 mins $149.00 per person

Volcanoes & Beaches – 15 mins $199.00 per person

Island Hopper – 25 mins $369.00 per person

Coast to Coast – 35 mins $499.00 per person

(Each flight requires a minimum of two passenger travelling together and All bookings are subject to our terms and conditions.)"

If you are looking for something a little more luxurious, you may like to consider a helicopter flight to Waiheke Island for vineyard style lunch:

Cable Bay – Waiheke Island

Mudbrick – Waiheke Island

Stonyridge – Waiheke Island

Our helicopter base is at Auckland’s only downtown Heliport, located at Mechanics Bay.

If you are seeking a particular flight route, destination or tailored package, we are very happy to work with you to meet your requirements, and look forward to discussing this with you.

http://www.inflitecharters.com

Max Guerin

Sales Consultant | Inflite Charters Limited

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Phone: (09) 377 4406 | 0800 83 50 83

Fax: (09) 377 4597

Email: auckland@inflitecharters.com

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Yes you are 1 bottle per adult per state room.

 

I got the soda and more package prior to cruising and you could buy it on board but only on the first night.

 

It was worth having

I don't usually drink anything other than tea and water

So hopefully they are both free :)

Yeah me too. But a tough ask though. And I live a long way away.

I suspect it may be some curious residents on balconies, a news crew and a handful of extras that may be the only ones to see this crazy curtain opening...

I was one of those to see the crazy curtain opening, and it was spectacular

Glad to have been there

Do it and take some pictures for us not able to be there.:D

Hi, I took heaps of ours and videos, but don't know how to post on here.tbey are on fb thou

Hi, are you allowed to take drinks onboard???

I'm going to nz in Feb and wondered if you could take bottled water or anything else on board

Thank you very one

Busy Booking some offshore excursions when I go to New Zealand on February 11th 2016 cruising on the beautiful GOLDEN PRINCESS

I think I'll just walk around Auckland for the day

Just doing 1 excursion a day ..

But yet to find a helicopter company who will just take 1 passenger :(

But if I have to pay double

I will

I HAVE to experience a Helicopter ride 🚁

I'll fly over any of the places we dock at

If anyone knows a company , let me know

Thanks in advance

I'm with Vodafone and have been told it will cost me $5 a day to ring, text and use data in New Zealand

And have been told to NOT use my phone at all on the ship as I'll be using their satellites in which will be pretty expensive..

And a tip, DONT USE ur alarm clock on ur iPhone as it actually uses data, buy a small alarm clock

Hi

Are there any single people going to New Zealand on the Golden Proncess

February 11th 2016

I am

And would love to meet some more singles 😀