jajsmom

Our first cruise stops At Airlie Beach, Yorkey Knob (Cains) and Port Douglas.  Which of these ports is best for seeing the great barrier reef, and why?  And is mandatory to do it through the cruise line, or is possible to do private excursions for this?  I know that times in port are limited, and it seems like in this particular case, it may be better to go through the cruiseline. Also, what excursions would you recommend in the ports that you do not go to the GBR on, or would you visit more than one time?  Thanks for all responses.

Wow, a lot taken out of context.  I just meant that I had never spend so much on airline tickets before.  I have certainly spent more on cruises.  Just shocking as we will be spending 23 days in a balcony cabin, and the airfare still costs more than that.

I bit the bullet this week and purchased Premium Select seats on Delta.  We're paying more for airfare than for the two cruises.  The day after I purchased, the fares went up $1000 pp. I did delay our departure by a day to get the early flight.  I also randomly searched flights every month leading up to our flights.  Only one set of flights was sold out in Premium Select.  And the fares were all over the place.  But I did not see any fares as low as what I purchased, so I am somewhat satisfied.

Also, I had looked into Princess EZ Air, as I was told the fares are usually pretty good for international flights. Not in this particular case.  At the same exact time I purchased, the cruise line airfares were significantly higher than buying directly through the airline.

9 hours ago, Gardyloo said:

I wrote a lengthy response to another thread regarding this idea.  No idea if it resonates for the OP; much depends on how far in advance of cruises or vacations (or business/work trips for that matter) the OP plans, but it MIGHT be worthwhile to have a look at this idea.  Here's the post:  

Say, for example, that your cruise plans (apart from the Australian ones) included Alaska and the Mediterranean.  So imagine this.  Just before you travel to Sydney you fly to Norway and begin a business-class round the world ticket that you've purchased in advance.  Because RTW tickets are priced very differently depending on where the travel begins and ends, you've come to Oslo because for the time being it's among the cheapest places to start Oneworld business class RTW tickets, around $5900 plus taxes for a 4-continent ticket, good for a year and up to 16 flights in business or domestic first class over the four continents. (By comparison the same ticket starting and ending in the USA costs over $11,000 plus taxes.)  Here's a map of what happens next.

 

 

From Oslo you fly to Singapore via Qatar, then maybe spend a day or two overcoming jetlag and loading up on pepper crab or chicken rice at a Hawker food center or two.  Then it's off to Sydney for your cruises.   When you're done it's back to Orlando via Dallas, back to work or whatever.

 

Then in the late spring or early summer, say, you use the same ticket to fly to Anchorage.  Tour around, then cruise down to Vancouver.  Fly home using the same ticket.  

 

Then in the autumn, before the year is over, you fly from Orlando to, say, Rome, for a Mediterranean cruise.  (Could be Spain or Greece.)  When you're done, fly back to Oslo to complete the loop. You'll have earned enough frequent flyer miles (and have status in your FF program) to pay for the trip home with miles.  Or maybe you like this idea and just start a new RTW, this time maybe including South America or Africa.

 

What you've done with this is leverage the six grand or whatever into three separate cruise-oriented trips over the space of a year, all of them while flying comfortably up in the pointy end.  

 

This might or might not be of interest, but it's definitely an option.  

Definitely something to thing bout in the future, but it would not work out for us at this time.

11 hours ago, fbgd said:

 

What about business class? Can be a fraction of the price of full fare first class and opens up pretty much every airline (not many airlines offer a true first class on longhaul) whilst typically still offering fully flat beds, plenty of personal space etc.

 

Don't rule out round the world tickets either, the best ones are those through the various alliances (oneworld and Star Alliance are the best for this itinerary, IMO). You can fly back through Asia and Europe with just two stops from SYD to MCO. 

Business class is only a few hundred dollars less than first class, so way out of our price range.  Would consider the round the world tickets at another time, but we're already gone for a month, and we'll just want to get home.

12 hours ago, Zach1213 said:

I am a fairly regular traveler on US-Australia routes, mostly Qantas with some American spattered in there. I am lucky enough to be in business or first class most of the time, but have done economy and premium economy. I personally find Qantas a slight step above the others (I have also ended up on Hawaiian, Delta, and United going to Australia), even in economy. Very slight, but slight. 

 

It's a long trip, there's no way around it, but as mentioned above, the majority of people are in economy and do just fine. When I am paying out of my own pocket, I am flying economy...there's just so much more I can do with that money on the ground, at my destination, to make memories. 

Thanks!  I don't even like long trips in the car, so I'm scared about  being in a plane so long.  I think we've decided on premium economy.  Prices were "great" yesterday, up $1000 today.  And I'm realizing that even though our cruise fare is pretty good, everything else is going to be much more expensive than on other cruises.

Thank you both.  I've put in a google flights reminder to check for airfare on both dates.  I guess we'll be leaning towards staying an extra day.  Flights seem to connect in LAX for Delta.

Another question.  Is there a best time to book airfare to Australia?  I know for domestic US flights, there is a sweet spot, and I noticed that for flights to Europe too.  We're 9-10 months out from travel each way right now, so I'll wait, but I noticed more seats being sold over the last few days.

17 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

 When I last cruised out of Australia, there was an Australian surcharge for credit card usage, separate from any international charge on your credit card. 

I know that IN Australia there is a credit card surcharge, but Princess charges that too?

7 minutes ago, ldtr said:

Princess cruises on ships based in Australia usually use the Aus$ as the on board currency.  As such charges will be in Aus$.  Good idea to use a CC that does not charge a currency change fee.

Thank you.

Experienced flier who has never been to Australia and looking for some advice.  The thought of being on planes for 24 hours makes me feel uncomfortable just thinking about it.  While I'd love to fly first class, it's just not in the budget. For those that have done this, is economy totally unbearable?  Is it worth the upgrade to premium economy?  Any airlines that are more comfortable for the long flight?  We'd be flying from MCO to SYD round trip.

Also, I've seen some better priced airfares on Delta.  Unfortunately, the only flight leaving Sydney is at 10:25 AM.  Is there any possible way to make this?  I know we could stay another day, but we are doing a week in Sydney before our cruises.  Thanks for all advice!

We have OBC for our Australia cruises and were told that we would be given this in Australian dollars, rather than US dollars, so that is actually less credit than we ordinarily would be given.  Are the charges on board also all in Australian dollars?  And will they charge our credit cards in Australian or US dollars?  Thanks.

We were on the Sky Princess in December.  Not having traditional dining was the biggest complaint of everyone we talked to.  Even though we had a reservation for the same time every night, we often waited for a table.  The servers were completely rushed, and the dining experience was not what we have come to expect from cruising all these years.  We missed meeting other passengers and discussing our days each evening, and getting to know the servers, and them getting to know us.  The best thing we did was the afternoon tea, where we asked to be seated with others.  Definitely bring back traditional dining!!! (My post cruise survey was all about this.)

Wow, thanks for all of these thoughts.  We are doing a BTB in Australia next year, both round trip out of Sydney.  As DallasGuy75219 mentioned, our cruises are linked, and the return of the first cruise and the  outbound of the second cruise are greyed out. The two one ways come to about the same price as the round trip directly through the airline.  But it is significantly higher than the round trip price I get from looking at the first cruise and putting in the dates that we actually need to fly (not logged in to my account.)  That's interesting about the insurance not covering the air for one cruise and not the other.  Is that even if you use the Princess Platinum insurance?

I was under the impression that if we booked through EZ Air on International flights, our rates would usually be lower than if booking on our own. Both cruises have had flights open for round trip bookings. Caribill, good points that I will take in.  I'm thinking I may have to call EZ Air after the holidays.  And I agree it is good to have the flexibility to book each as a one way flight.  Except when it costs $2000 extra.

Will do that after the holidays.  Just wondering if I was missing something online.  Thanks.

I've been checking airfare prices using EZ air using a round trip starting before the first cruise and returning the day of the last cruise.  When I log in and actually book these tickets, it only allows me to do one way tickets.  That ends up costing me over $2000 more than booking a round trip.  Is there any way to book as a round trip through EZ air when I have back to back cruises booked?  Thanks.

Thanks for these responses!  Interestingly, we currently live in PA, but will be residents of FL by the time we cruise.  It is cheaper for us to get insurance as residents of PA.  The policy coverage for private insurance is slightly better, but at about half the cost.  We considered getting cancel for any reason insurance, but we are outside the period to select that.  Our final payment is due to the travel agent tomorrow, so we'll need to make a decision tonight.  I think I'm leaning towards the private insurance.  Thanks!

We have always purchased our own insurance through insure my trip.  We are ruby and eligible to be upgraded to the Princess Platinum plan.  In this crazy day and age of covid, would you recommend one plan over another?

Also, just spent the past few hours reading this board.  I learned so many things that I did not know from Princess.  We sail on the Regal in January 2022, so not sure what the rules will be then.  I'm assuming we still need to be fully vaccinated and have pre-cruise testing done.  Also, just learned that there is no longer the traditional dining that we signed up for.  I loaded the app on to my phone, but can't find where to register for a dining time.

Thanks for help with all of my questions!

Lauri

56 minutes ago, lisa6191 said:

 

Thank you! What time of year was your cruise? We are planning on October, so hopefully everything will be a bit less crowded and touristy. It also probably will be warm and sunny but not necessarily beach weather. Our cruise ends on a Tuesday so we will stay the rest of the week, and we will do Athens and something else, we can figure out what later. I just was thinking of Santorini because all my friends had said not to miss it and it's not on our itinerary.

 

Where in Bucks County do you live?

We just sailed this past September.  The crowds weren't as bad as the summer, and we had amazing weather most of the first week, until we had gale force winds for several days.  Athens was worth about a day and a half--I couldn't see spending much more time just there, and we got to see everything we wanted.

We're currently in Newtown, but spent many years in Montgomeryville, so I know Dresher well.

Hi Neighbor!

We did not go to Santorini after our cruise, but instead spent a few days in Athens.  And our particular cruise missed Mykonos due to high winds, so I figured we'll have to go back some day to visit both.

Our flight home was cancelled, so we wound up spending 24+ hours with the people on our plane.  Everyone discussed what Greek islands they visited, and the general opinion was that both Santorini und Mykonos were overly touristed, and people preferred the smaller, less popular islands.  Hope this helps.

We have sailed Disney more times without our now adult kids than with them.  We have sailed other cruise lines too, and like to sail Princess for their great itineraries.  But when we want a cruise to relax, or with lots of sea days, we always choose Disney.  Yes, it costs more, but there is a reason for that.

Thanks for those great pictures Peety3 and alrichards4003!  It looks wonderful.

XBGuy, thank you for this, as well as your thread from February which was so informative.  We're not big fans of main dining room food, so this looks great.  We were thinking of doing this on a formal night, so it sounds like our chances of getting the day we want may be improved.  We'll be in the Mediterranean, so the port days are intensive.  Plus less formal wear to take as we are trying to pack minimally this year.

Thank you JimmyVWine.  That is exactly the post I remember reading, but I couldn't find it through the search.

Thank you reedprincess.  I'm so hungry now--unfortunately, that is not what I will be having for dinner tonight.

I know I've seen people post what is included with this, but a search has not given me results.  Can someone please post what is included?

Also, we are waiting to book this when we embark, to use OBC.  Can you please tell me where you book this?

And finally, our cruise is 7 nights, but people can book the cruise as part of a 14 day or 21 day cruise too.  Will people who have been on board for 2 weeks already have been able to book this for the week we re on board?  Not sure how difficult it is to book, or how popular it is.

Thanks!

Thanks again!  My plans are slowly coming in to more focus.  There was not a lot of information out there, especially on some of the "lesser" ports.  All of the information I have gotten here will be well used.

6 hours ago, yamanid said:

 

We were onboard 29 June - 20 July Barcelona to Barcelona.

On the Rome to Athens part of the voyage the Formal nights were Monday at Sea and Wednesday in Corfu.

In Salerno, took the shuttle bus to town square then got Ferry to AMALFI and POSITANO  - amazing scenery and best way to do it!!!!

 

Kotor we took a 45 minute boat trip to Perast visited the little Island and Church then crossed the water and had a beautiful lunch.  Later we strolled around behind the old Fort walls (amazing, has to be seen, its like a story book).  The sail in and out of Kotor is Spectacular)

 

The next week when we went we climbed to the top of the mountain, past the little Church  -  amazing views and lots of steps!!!

 

Civitavecchia we took the train to San Pietro and you can either walk to the Vatican or take the bus which is outside the station(2 stops) to the Vatican  -  we have done this before and is very easy to do .  REMEMBER to get off at San Pietro rather than TERMINI as that adds on easily another 30 minutes.

 

Athens, there is a HOP ON HOP OFF Bus right at the Port  -  you can take this right to the Acropolis and Parthenon , great value 

 

More to follow

 

 

Thank you, yamanid!  I can plan a little better knowing what nights the formal nights will be, although they are rather close together.  How wonderful that you got to spend three weeks in all these ports!

I'm interested in more about your day in Salerno.  We're planning on taking the ferry to visit the Amlfi coast.  My original plan was to visit Positano, Amalfi and Ravello, but when I asked about that on the Trip Advisor boards, it was recommended that we would spend too much time traveling and not enough time seeing anything.  How did that work out for you?  Did you spend the entire port time  on the Amalfi coast?  How early did you need to return to make it back to the ship?  I don't want to miss the boat, so right now, we're considering just going to Amalfi and Ravello.  Were you able to take the ferry from Manfredi (right at the port), or did you have to travel to Concordia?

And how was the walk to the church in Kotor?  We're considering the walk to both the church and the fortress.