Jump to content

Kiwi_cruiser

Members
  • Posts

    10,408
  • Joined

Everything posted by Kiwi_cruiser

  1. Virgin Voyages has pulled out of Australia and New Zealand for her second season. From Cruise Passenger: https://cruisepassenger.com.au/news/virgin-voyages-pulls-out-of-australia A statement released from the cruise lines cited the reason for the change was due to the ongoing conflict in the Red Sea. But rumours of heavy discounting throughout the season might also be an indicator of why Sir Richard Branson’s ship will not return. “As the safety of our passengers and crew is our number one priority, Virgin Voyages recently shared a change of course for our early 2024 repositioning voyage from Australia to the Med. On the heels of these recent changes and based on the regional and government advice we have received; we remain very concerned about potential escalations in the Red Sea over the next 12 months. “This significant and ongoing conflict puts unacceptable risks for safe passage through the region for our Sailors, crew, and vessel (Resilient Lady). As a result, we have been left with no choice but to cancel our 2024/25 voyage season plans for Resilient Lady, impacting the late 2024 and early 2025 repositioning voyages between Europe and Australia and a second sailing season in Australian waters.” Resilient Lady instead of sailing Down Under from her Mediterranean season, will divert to the Caribbean instead. “We are currently working through options to return to Australia and the Asia Pacific region once regional repositioning opportunities become more tenable. We will share updates on future itineraries across the fleet as soon as possible, and if we return for the 25’ season, existing booked Sailors will have priority to move onto these sailings,” the statement continued. “Impacted Sailors will have the option to rebook another voyage or opt for a full refund given the change in plans.”
  2. Bye bye Virgin Voyages! It was nice for you to try Australia. I thought about trying them but they did not have any longer cruises that did not do NZ! and then the cost of flights to Australia!.
  3. Happy Australia day to all the Aussies on Cruise Critic:
  4. Happy New Year! 🎉 All the best for 2024!
  5. On Monday 11th December 2023, the Royal Princess was in Auckland, so I thought I would go down to have a look at her and check her out before we get on her in Sydney. I had forgot how big she was! We last sailed on her before covid to South America.
  6. Here are a few photos I took off the Celebrity Edge arriving in to Auckland, New Zealand today for the very first time:
  7. Celebrity Edge arriving in to Sydney, Australia this morning for the very first time:
  8. Resilient Lady arriving in to Sydney for the very first time this afternoon: Resilient Lady is in Sydney till the 7th December 2023, according Sydney Ports. I wonder if that is Richard Branson on that boat in the screen shot below:
  9. Majestic Princess arriving in Sydney this morning for the first time this season:
  10. Ovation of the Seas arriving in to Sydney, Australia for the first time this season this morning:
  11. 3:30pm NZDT: Majestic Princess is still anchored off Rangitoto Island while she waits for the port to re open:
  12. Disney Wonder departing Sydney this afternoon on her first cruise from Sydney!
  13. Some webcam captures of the Disney Wonder going for a cruise down Sydney harbour and then back to dock at the overseas passenger terminal Yesterday evening:
  14. Bon Voyage OzKiwiJJ! Have a great time! Look forward to hearing all about it!
  15. Welcome to Sydney and Australia Disney Wonder! Here is she arriving in to Sydney in the early hours of this morning: Disney Wonder is docked over at White Bay today, then tomorrow she moves over to the Overseas Passenger Terminal.
  16. Take Care Uncle Les! Make sure to check in when you can, so we know you are still alive 🙂
  17. From Cruise Weekly: https://cruiseweekly.com.au/news/cw-breaking-news-discovery-princess-heading-to-australia-in-2025-26/76249 Discovery Princess heading to Australia in 2025/26 Princess Cruises President John Padgett confirms line’s flagship to sail locally. Princess Cruises will deploy Discovery Princess out of Sydney in the 2025/26 season, with the cruise line’s chief John Padgett revealing the move this morning during an event on board Royal Princess, which arrived today. “Australia is very important to Princess, so Australia is getting the best of Princess,” he said. Princess Senior VP Stuart Allison told Cruise Weekly Discovery Princess would sail alongside Crown Princess locally, while the full deployment details for this season’s ships including Majestic Princess and Royal Princess will be finalised shortly. Royal Princess‘ arrival this morning marks the start of the line’s biggest ever Australian summer season, with four ships including two Royal-class vessels homeported in Sydney for the first time.
  18. Travel agents are currently jumping up and down on Facebook on this announcement.... I am currently trying to find a Press Release from Princess Cruises.... Here is what a agent has said: Princess has confirmed the deployment of Discovery Princess to Australia for the 25/26 wave season. Discovery is the last of the Royal Class ships and debuted in March 2022. She will be the newest Princess ship to seasonally homeport in Australia. Being a Royal class ship she shares many of the same features as Royal and majestic Princess who are homeporting in Australia this summer. Bookings are expected to open on Nov 15 2023. More soon!
×
×
  • Create New...