Reina del Mar

On 12/28/2023 at 12:53 PM, david63 said:

Just a silly question I know - but do they not sell water onboard Princess ships out of Australia?

We have sailed out of Australia previously and been unable to order water packages. Cruise out of Australia in 2024 it is also proving impossible to order a crate of water. Some people are saying they have been able to order, but neither my travel agent or I have been able to make an order for water, from UK.

On 12/19/2023 at 7:49 PM, juniper berries said:

The reason you can not pre oder water is that water from the ship is not allowed in New zeland due to bio security rules.  The first port in New Zeland they check your bags before you are allowed to leave the ship. This happened pre covid  so not sure if it still what happens. We just got water once we where in New Zealand.

Our cruise does not visit New Zealand, so does not apply !

4 hours ago, Gwendy said:

You can order water on P&O cruises in Australia.  Princess does it differently.  You can order water package on board 

This would be interesting but don’t recall it being available last time we cruised from Sydney, on Princess.

I tried to pre-order water pre Covid and again for 2024 but sadly not available on Australian cruises. I asked on these boards about carrying bottled water on board or sending a case through with luggage, and had a variety of answers. I didn’t try last time as we couldn’t face lugging a tray. Didn’t notice anyone sending a tray through with luggage or carrying any through. Some answers have said it is possible to pre order on some Australian cruises..but definitely not showing available on ours.

1 hour ago, beg3yrs said:

 

I think the OP is just surprised that there even is a surcharge and is wanting to understand. I remember my first visit to Oz and learning about the fee. Good thing my hotel stay was on loyalty points!

OP here.  Just to point out I am from UK where there is no charge for using Credit Cards, and having travelled with a ‘no transaction fee’ card, have not paid charges in USA, South America, Asia…and must have missed them on previous visits to Australia.(or maybe used cash!)

On 12/6/2023 at 1:59 AM, Womble99 said:

I don't get it? A society that believes in forced tipping balks at a meager CC surcharge? 🤷‍♂️

Tipping is not excessive in UK..but sadly seems to be trying to follow USA in this regard. Credit Cards do not have surcharges here.

On 12/5/2023 at 9:09 PM, coo359a2 said:

Just off the Grand Princess.  Was also charged the 1.1% for credit card payment for New Zealand restaurant. The Meriton in Sydney also charges the fee if bill paid with credit card.

That’s interesting to know.. cash is King, then !

Although I suppose it doesn’t make that much difference when you have to convert Pounds to Aus. dollars, as we get a better exchange rate using credit cards.

Maybe it’s all just swings and roundabouts !

11 minutes ago, startedwithamouse said:

Are you sailing from Aus?

Yes.

Thank you, that makes sense. Will make sure we have some cash available. 

Has anyone cancelled Credit card from folio to use cash before end of cruise  ?

Thanks again.

Just now, Princess Cruises Fann said:

It's just for Australian cruises. Paying any balance on your folia with a debit card or cash doesn't incur that 1.1% charge. 

Thank you for that information.  

Charge won’t be huge, but better in my pocket than Princess’.

Just read a disembarkation notice on facebook, that someone posted from Australia.

Maybe I am not very observant but hadn't noticed previously that there is a 1.1% charge for paying onboard folio by Credit card.  

Is this something new ? Is it just in Australia ?

I am wondering about removing credit card on penultimate cruise day and paying using cash prior to disembarkation, if this is the case.

Anyone have any information ??

Thanks.

Mine does not show the Wi Fi discount pre cruise, but last summer a visit to Guest Services sorted it within minutes..and we paid the price at 50% instead of having to fuss with OBC…of course if Princess does increase the price, that might be an issue.

2 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

They also have lemonade in the buffet AND MDR!

Lemonade on cruise ships is what is called ‘Lemon Squash’ in UK.

For us, Lemonade is a fizzy drink similar to Sprite or Seven Up.

Some are made from fabric which shrinks when washed..becoming smaller and smaller. Others made from a different fabric don’t shrink. It appears to be the luck of the drawer. In GB there is no option to order in the personaliser, but asking the steward on embarkation has always done the trick for us.

3 hours ago, jennybenny said:

Have you, or anyone else for that matter, sailed in the Med (Italy, Spain or Greece) at all with the medallion pick at the port? Wondering what the wait will be in foreign ports. 

Sorry, haven’t said Princess in the Med since medallion times, sure someone will be along soon who can help.

16 hours ago, possum52 said:

Did you query the amount charged? I certainly would have. 

 

We did question the price, the taxi driver stuck to his price request.

After an overnight flight we were not prepared to continue to argue !!

We cruised from Sydney pre Covid. Had checked the taxi fare online before we travelled..was showing about $60 Australian at the time.

When we arrived at the International Terminal, we took a taxi from the official taxi rank to an hotel in the Rocks area. (2 Adults with two large suitcases and two rollaboards)

We were disappointed to find we were actually charged $120 Australian.  Was leaving the airport at about 8am on a wet, miserable day when traffic was slightly backed up…but this was double what we’d been told !!!

We live in GB but usually sail from US. South America or Australia….no option to have medallions mailed to us.

We have never (yet) had to wait more than an extra few minutes to pick up our medallions.

Just ask yourself how they managed in pre medallion times !!!!

9 hours ago, trvlwrld said:

Nice thing about buying internet on board is that they only charge you the discounted rate…no paying regular price before your cruise and then getting OBC once on board

This is what we did too, when we couldn’t find the discount pre cruise.

On 11/13/2023 at 12:39 AM, txjim09 said:

I looked into Princess transfers to the ship but the web site only mentioned airport pickup.  I asked a Princess person on a recent cruise who seemed to confirm that but I'm not sure they were well-informed.

 

Princess uses the Sheraton and provides transfers to San Antonio..at least they did in 2018 which we used and saw offered at the hotel in 2023 when we booked the hotel and transfers independently..Princess’ prices are more expensive but we tend to use them for our first visit to a port. When we feel we know the ‘lay of the land’, we book independently.

We stayed a few nights in the Sheraton Hotel and Convention Centre in Santiago, then used a transfer to San Antonio organised by our travel agent with Southbound travels. Worked well for us. Certainly not the cheapest and have read about people using local buses but that wasn’t for us as we had heavy luggage. 

Again this is true..but no ‘included’ coffee at IC…without a package of some sort…

42 minutes ago, skynight said:

Princess' marketing plan is to maximize the sale of plus and premier fares by including items like brewed coffee. Doubtful Princess will change. Princess has changed to Lavazza in the buffet which is no charge.

Agree- but they hadn’t offered included coffee in IC before the start of packages. I wondered why so many people were carrying ‘flasks’ of coffee on last Australian cruise- probably because buffet is not open 24/7 !

I am putting this here in the  probably unlikely event that someone from Princess might read it….the equivalent to the International Café on Royal Caribbean ships offers tea and coffee without the need for a package…you have to serve yourself but it is available 24/7

6 hours ago, avonlady6390 said:

There is free coffee and tea available in buffet and dining room in addition to the specialty coffee and tea for a fee or with a package.

During the hours the buffet/ MDRs are open. 

18 minutes ago, Moondogy said:

Thank you...I should have added that. But since we don't even know what ship OP is on it may not even have the IC. 🙂

Useful to know that Royal Caribbean’s equivalent of the International Café does provide Tea and coffee 24/7 at no additional charge..but think this was on Princess board.

24 minutes ago, Moondogy said:

Don't know which ship you are sailing on, But if it has an IC (international cafe) that is opened 24 hrs.

Remember that unless you have a package, you will need to pay for coffee though.