Busy Mum

On 11/15/2023 at 10:55 AM, Lirio said:

I am considering Le Laperouse for Kimberly in 2024. Any comment would be great.

Good morning Litio & apologies for my slow reply. 
 

My husband & I have an absolutely wonderful time on Le Laperouse, the ship is stunning & hopefully we will get the opportunity to sail on her again. We had the entry level cabin on Deck 3 & it was perfect. There was a separate toilet from the bathroom which was great & there was plenty of storage for our clothes. The food was amazing & the included drinks were great.

The Kimberley is an amazing place to visit, it’s natural beauty, it’s pristine waters & the remoteness of the area is truly incredible. We saw lots of lots of bird life & marine species which is of great interest to us both. We did go out on Zodiacs & getting in & out of them was challenging for some people. The staff were amazing at helping us all, nothing was ever too much trouble for any of them.  
 

If there is anything in particular you would like to know please let me know. We would highly recommend this cruise, to everyone! 

Vicki. 😀

On 11/7/2023 at 5:11 AM, island lady said:

I called to talk to one of the reps from customer service to ask if they would be doing this route for 2026.   She had no answer.  Would love to do that one, would be for our 30th anniversary.  🙂  

 

But we would also like to add on to stay for one more round through Alaska, from Vancouver northbound. 

My Husband and I are also very keen to look at this cruise 2026.  Does anyone have any ideas when the 2026 cruises will be released?  We have not cruised with Viking but are very keen to give them a try.  We have cruised a lot with Princess, several with Celebrity and we just recently cruised The Kimberly with Ponant.  Any thoughts would be most appreciated.

Vicki. 🙂 

@Pudgesmom @jpalbny Thank you both so much for your comments & pictures, it’s greatly appreciated. Hubby & I could not fault our very first cruise with Ponant, we throughly enjoyed the Kimberly, it was just perfect. We certainly hope to be able to cruise with Ponant  again & hopefully in the not too distant future. 
 

Vicki. 😄

11 hours ago, jpalbny said:

Not OP but we did a cruise on Le Laperouse this past March to most of this region.

 

When we were at Komodo we docked. Hopefully that's the same most/all of the time, though the zodiac operation is so smooth that you'd not be missing much if you couldn't dock.

 

We stayed at the Jimbaran Puri. Beautiful property with gorgeous villas, and not a long drive to the pier for embarkation. There are some pictures of the hotel in my live from thread.

I’ve just read your amazing live from thread, thank you, it was amazing to read & see all your photos. Looks like an incredible trip. 
 

Vicki. 😀

11 hours ago, jpalbny said:

Not OP but we did a cruise on Le Laperouse this past March to most of this region.

 

When we were at Komodo we docked. Hopefully that's the same most/all of the time, though the zodiac operation is so smooth that you'd not be missing much if you couldn't dock.

 

We stayed at the Jimbaran Puri. Beautiful property with gorgeous villas, and not a long drive to the pier for embarkation. There are some pictures of the hotel in my live from thread.

Thank you so much for replying, it’s very much appreciated. I will have a look at your live from thread. If I may ask, which trip did you do in March, the whole Indonesian area looks stunning, from the photos I’ve seen. We did the Kimberly in September on this ship & loved every moment of the cruise, ship & crew.

Vicki. 😀

Hi Pudgesmom, I just have two quick questions for you, if you don't mind - when you went ashore at Komodo Island did you go on the Zodiacs or did you dock at the Port?  We are considering doing this cruise and I wonder where you stayed in Bali and would you recommend it? 

I'm very much enjoying your posts and photos, thank you for doing this for us all.

Vicki. 🙂 

Hubby & I are seriously looking at this itinerary, so very keen to hear what you think of the itinerary. Last month we were on this ship doing the Kimberly, we could not fault anything about our trip, it was outstanding! Ponant, in our opinion was the best line we have been on, we have cruised with Princess & Celebrity. We are booked on Oceania for early 2025. Enjoy your cruise on this wonderful ship. Vicki. 😀

2 hours ago, LittleFish1976 said:

I would check with Ponant. I think they've had their own requirements regarding covid protocols regardless of the country being sailed in. I'm booked for Ponant for February departing from Argentina so will be interested to hear.

Thanks LittleFish1976, I’ll let you know when we return. If I should forget, please remind me! Vicki. 🤪🤪

1 hour ago, possum52 said:

Won't Queensland have to sign off on it too? The other states too?

 

That is also what I’m wondering! We are leaving on the 11th Sept on Ponant for a Kimberley cruise & I’m wondering if we will need to do a RAT to get onboard? We are fully (5 shots) vaccinated. 🙂

Oh, and this afternoon my 'ticked box' for the medallion has become 'unticked'!! When I did a bit more digging my order for the 'free' lanyard and 'medallion device' is still showing as ordered. I'm not even going to bother looking any further into this, with all the changes I just don't have the energy to worry about it.  I'll wait until we get to the check in desk at Sydney next year.

Vicki 🙂 

3 hours ago, vada_9 said:

Think we bought one on ebay - there are lots there and they are reasonably priced. Think we got a 15 or 20 litre. We also have a larger one from a sporting store ( about 40 litre) can fit in shoes and a towel. Anaconda and BCF stock them as well.

Thanks again Jan!

Maybe one day we will cross paths on a cruise & I can thank you in person. 
 

Vicki. 😄

14 minutes ago, vada_9 said:

Hi Vicki,

we spoke with the naturalists and they said the APT trips ( Broome - Darwin) did  more cultural stops.

Re backpacks, my husband and I have a couple of different size dry bags ( easily bought on line) and they were perfect for the zodiac rides. We usually only needed 1 between us for cameras, phone, binoculars. Sometimes shoes. On one trip at Ashmore Reef it was choppy and our whole boat had their phones in our bag for the ride back. Your trip won’t go there as that stop is only on the southern trip. Backpacks are fine, but waterproof is preferable. You hand your bags to the seamen as you board and they give them to you when you are seated.

Aus $ for Freshwater cove. This would be also for your other stop at the Indigenous community.

Jan

Thanks again Jan. 
 

I have not heard of a ‘dry bag’, would you mind sharing where you bought yours online? 
 

I cannot thank you enough for all your assistance & help, it is truly very much appreciated. 
 

Vicki. 😁

22 hours ago, vada_9 said:

Hi Vicki, thanks for the nice comments and no problems answering your questions. 

 

For the zodiacs my husband and I wore reef shoes - mine were the cheapies from Big W/Kmart. Husband had some old dive boots (I think this will have been their final outing). A lot of folk had the Anaconda ones. Depending which way you are cruising will determine how many landings you have. On the Darwin - Broome direction there were only the 2 - one onto rocks (wore our sneakers) and one onto the beach plus an extra if you did the Mitchell Falls helicopter tour, also a beach landing. If you do the Broome - Darwin, I think there is possibly another landing. We carried our sneakers to change into once - we didn't do the longer walk so were happy in our reef shoes/bare feet. Towels were available to take with you to dry your feet. We also wore the reef shoes zodiac cruising as sun protection. Recommend taking a dry bag as sometimes the zodiacs had water in them and for choppier outings. Staff discouraged wearing thongs on the zodiac trips.

All prices on board are in Euro - ie higher level drinks, gift shop, and excursions, payable to your on board account and charged at the end. There is a USB port for charging , but you may also need an EU or US adaptor.

Just a note, if you are wanting to buy artworks at Freshwater cove, they are in the process of getting EFTPOS/CC facilities, so it was cash only - prices started around $200 and up.

 

I hope you have a wonderful time cruising the beautiful Kimberley coast.

 

Jan

Hi Jan, thank you so very much for your very informative response, it's very much appreciated.

Our cruise is from Broome to Darwin, and we are doing this through APT.  I'm assuming APT is doing a private charter of the boat for this trip but I'm not 100% sure on that, not that it worries me in the slightest either way! 🙂 

So, just a couple more questions, if I may?  Did you take a small backpack on the zodiacs when you were on them?  I think I'd like to take my camera; did you do that, or did you take your phone to take photos, or is it just to hard-to-get photos from the Zodiacs?

Also, with the purchase of artwork at Freshwater Cove were these purchases done in Australian dollars?

I will also take an EU and US adaptor for charging our phones, thanks for letting me know this.

I cannot think of any more questions, right now, but I do thank you again for your time and we are certainly very much looking forward to seeing this amazing part of our gorgeous country.

Best wishes,

Vicki. 🙂 

Fantastic video, thoroughly enjoyed it & it has made me even more excited for our trip next month! First time trying Ponant. Vicki. 😃

Thank you so much @vada_9 for your great comments & photos. 
 

I have a few few questions, if you don’t mind? 
 

Hubby & I are cruising The Kimberley next month on Ponant & I’m wondering about the footwear you wore when out on the Zodiacs & then on the land? 
 

Also what currency was used onboard for any extra purchases? 
 

I do thank you for your time & any assistance you can give me would be very much appreciated. 
 

This will be our first Ponant cruise & we are very much looking forward in experiencing their ship & also the Kimberley! 
 

Vicki. 😄

1 hour ago, ~*Lou*~ said:

They haven't updated the Princess website yet - this is a screen shot of "what is included for a standard fare" on the 8th January 2024 sailing to NZ which we are booked on:

 

You would think that Princess would update their website before they make all these ridiculous changes! Obviously that’s all too hard for them. Vicki. 🫣🙂

6 minutes ago, suzyed said:

They will charge a one-time fee of $14.99 for room service IF you don't have Plus or Premier.

Thank you Suzyed, time to look for other cruising options.  Vicki. 🙂  

5 minutes ago, Astro Flyer said:

Yes…$5 per order and also $14.99 to use the app to order drinks & food and $14.99 for a 3 course Alfredo’s Pizzeria meal or à la cart pricing…all of these are for Standard fares.

 

Wow & thanks for the clarification. Vicki. 🙂 

20 minutes ago, ebeluga said:

Yep, me too, just want hot water in the evening. I guess I will have to save the jug from the morning breakfast room service and go to International Cafe or Lido now to refill the jug.

I’m sorry, without reading all the previous posts, are they now charging for room service? I’ve heard nothing of these dining changes, I’m in Australia. Think Princess is loosing the plot. Vicki. 🙂

5 hours ago, BruceMuzz said:

I have stayed in nearly every hotel at Narita Airport.

All are quite good - none spectacular.

 

For an interesting change, you might want to look at Hotels in Narita City.

It is only 10 minutes away from the airport, and has some interesting shopping and sight-seeing.

Thank you so much BruceMuzz. I have to admit in all my researching of the Hotels none are ‘catching my eye’! I might look further afield. 
 

Which one would you prefer at Airport? 
 

thanks again, Vicki. 

Hi all,

I'm currently looking for a nice Hotel at Narita Airport after our cruise next April/May.  There are a few close to the Airport but I'm just wondering if anyone has any recommendations, please.

Thanks for your help.

Vicki. 🙂 

10 minutes ago, Coral said:

I do not. I am sorry. If and when I do, I will post.

Thank you Coral. 😊

Coral, I’m particularly interested in Europe 2025, do you have idea when these will be released? Thanks for your time, Vicki. 🙂

1 hour ago, icat2000 said:

Ugh the more I look at the 2024/2025 release for Princess the more I hate it. There is virtually nothing on the schedule I would consider booking except for one of the repos.

 

This really has been a crappy release. 

Totally agree, it sure has been a crappy & very boring release! The repos are generally good value too, doing one in 2024 so not really looking at the 2025 ones! 
 

Come on Princess give us more ‘exciting’ itineraries! Many years ago, it was either the Sun or Dawn Princess, cruised from Perth to South Africa return, would love to see that offered again! Not holding my breath though. 😫

1 minute ago, Aussie Gal said:

This is very poor. Only 3 ships and such boring itineraries. When is this going to be released here in Oz?  Surely there will be more ships to be added to these three. If not we will be looking at other lines including Celebrity, HAL and  Oceania.

 

Totally agree, these itineraries are boring! Same old, same old. I do wonder if they are going to be selling the Coral. 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🙁