Porky55

You are right there Mick. We loved the Music Walk on HAL ships when we cruised before Covid. Choice of 70s music, jazz, or classical - as well as their theatre shows, which you choose to go or not. But, the Music Walk has been dropped 🥺 very sad. Rose

What I find tempting with HAL, is the opportunity to do the Syd to Hawaii cruise now that Princess seems to have dropped this off their future cruising. Yes, we would have to fly home, but it would tick a bucket list item. Either on the coming to Aus or returning to US itineraries. Rose

We have cruised on HAL 3 times and have Westerdam booked next Feb. If I could compare HAL to anyone it would be Princess; smaller pinnacle and vista class ships (the older ones) that have promenade decks on older ships; dark wood and lovely artwork throughout ships, wonderful beds, showers over bath like PCL mini suites (which I don't mind) and fresh flowers everywhere. Food was always good and crew very much like Princesses. Saying this, we have cruised on Zaandam, Noordam, Koningsdam and will be on Westerdam in '25. "I'm looking at a couple of cruises out of Singapore Dec/Jan. I have heard that HAL skews old but that doesn't bother me so much." Didn't find much difference in passenger demographics from Princess to be honest 😏

Thankyou for that … you made my day 😆 That is exactly what it is, but for diehard Princess cruises the cafe you are referring to is a very poor imitation of the Princess International Cafe ( just in case you go on a different Princess ship one day and can't find the Casino Cafe👍). Glad you enjoyed your cruise 😁

Agreed, as it was rolled out on a large ship, will be interesting to see how it is handled on say; Coral. It's more the reappearance of "Traditional" that I found amusing.

Princess is bringing in new Dining Options fleetwide, what do we think about this?? Following the recent implementation aboard Sun Princess, Princess Cruises has announced that passengers will have three table service options for main dining available fleetwide. The three options -- Traditional, Reservable or Walk-in Anytime -- will be available in separate dining rooms. Traditional consists of an early and a late seating every evening; Reservable allows passengers to reserve preferred dining times; and the Walk-in option offers open seating at any time. The trio of dining formats debuted aboard the new Sun Princess, which offers a three-story dining room with one floor dedicated to traditional dining, another one devoted to flexible reservations and a third for anytime walk-ins.

suzyed - that looks right, arrives Singapore from Perth on the Sep 26 then the next cruise is Oct 17 (yours?) Not sure what you are expecting, but we did the 23WC on Coral and I know she had and has had a lot of mechanical problems (one that was repaired in Dubai) so assume this dry dock will be to do major maintenance to the ship - wouldn't expect anything cosmetic. She is a lovely little ship, very clean, great Captain (which makes a great ship imo) you will have a fabulous cruise. Take care of her over there (USA) because I've got a feeling that we will see her back here in the next few years flying the P&O Aus banner 😉 cheers, Rose 🌹

Coral leaves Australia for good in September this year and heads to Singapore for her dry dock (sad to see her go 🥹) then continues on to end up in Alaska and the Carribean. Crown is replacing Coral downunder 🤔 Rose 🌹

Voyager is 311m long, so I think she would tender from Yorkies … am I right?

Perhaps you could grab a bargain if those that are disappointed choose to cancel? Keep an eye on Cunard or grab a good TA - always a Silver lining 🥂

Exactly what is being expressed by those who were booked on those dates going to NZ ……… all very interesting don't you think???

Yes … but those on Cunard that booked the original dates aren't happy, I think it was going south to Tas then NZ etc. On the Cunard website, these dates aren't even there now 🙄 Its more about the reason to not go to NZ at all anymore … …… or so it's rumoured 🤔

We all got to Easter Island last year - 2023 and it was wonderful. Hope the next Worldies get there too 🤞

Just saw this notice and wondering if anyone knows the reason for the change with Cunard cruising to NZ??

Agree with you guy01 - we book Reserve Collection mini suites all the time now and we had Priority boarding - now we have reached Elite, this no longer matters, but we DID receive priority in Reserve/Club Class. 👍

Yep, we've done it, off Celebrity and personally we loved it. Read the details and decide if it's something you would enjoy. We were really well looked after and saw places we would never have thought of visiting … so, we highly recommend it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ cheers, Rose 🌹

This is the reason I asked originally, particularly for our Australian season - so was after our 25/26 summer season for downunder. Will wait till March and see what comes out then. Rose

Just aside from SPF50+ sunscreen, if you are going into the water on the barrier reef anytime from November to May a stinger suit is highly recommended - our sun can burn you, but our stingers will make you very ill. Anyway, enjoy your visit, Rose.

Thank you 👍

Hello all, May I intrude to ask a "newbie" question? When do Silversea release new season itineraries? For example 26/27? Regular cruise lines it's around March each year, is Silversea the same - looking toward the mid to end of 2026 to 27. Thanks in advance Rose 🌹

Hi all, a Newbie question if I may. When do Azamara release new season itineraries - ie 2026/27? Thanks in advance Rose 🌹

Exactly my point, so at the stops on our Qld cruise, we will be entertaining ourselves. Rose

Just reading this thread and interesting to see now, due to World circumstances, Cbtours - you may have multiple choices of itinerary's to South Africa, with the Suez so unsettled. Just read QM2 will be going that way this year 🤔 Rose

We have a cruise booked on Edge in December. Have been looking at excursions on a Qld itinerary and WOW 😳 Compared same excursion with Princess prices and Edge are triple the price for exactly the same excursion … criminal actually. the only difference I can find is the train seating is "Premier" and includes a glass of wine 🙄 So, we will be doing our own thing, as the ship is the destination for this 10 day cruise and we have done the sector a few times. Rose

Nancy, Exactly, we have never removed them either. Just lovely to read a thread where passengers are so supportive of the hard working wonderful crews. Rose 🌹