BON VOYAGE ..World Cruise 2011 Dawn Princess

[Kiwi Kruzer]

If they are running to schedule they should cross the equator today.:)

[NSWP]

It's the same old story line from me. Why do Aussies put up with these old ships??? Surely for a world cruise they should send one of the newer ships Downunder. These folks have paid a lot of money and it is trip of a lifetime to be disappointed with missing ports and being delayed is just not good enough:p

Hi Liz, agree, 3 engines out of 4 is not good enough. As for the compo promised, I bet it will be OBC - not real money.

 

The double whammy for these pax on DP is the wine prohibition for rest of trip. A debacle. I have 4 friends on board DP, I had an E mail from one..not all happy chappies on board.

 

Like you, after going around Australia in a sub standard Sun Princess in 2008, I prefer to travel on the newer Princess ships - NOT BASED down under. Like Ruby, our next ship.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Hi Liz, agree, 3 engines out of 4 is not good enough. As for the compo promised, I bet it will be OBC - not real money.

The double whammy for these pax on DP is the wine prohibition for rest of trip. A debacle. I have 4 friends on board DP, I had an E mail from one..not all happy chappies on board.

Like you, after going around Australia in a sub standard Sun Princess in 2008, I prefer to travel on the newer Princess ships - NOT BASED down under. Like Ruby, our next ship.

 

I must agree.

Princess have proved that there is a huge demand for Australians, and Kiwis, to do a World cruise.

 

It is not cheap to do a WC, and most on board will have saved hard to do this trip of a lifetime. They expect to get past the first few ports without breaking down.

 

SO....

Why doesn't Princess, or Carnival , design and build a ship capable of doing World Cruises.

In the HAL fleet , Amsterdam and Rotterdam were designed to do just that.

In the P&O fleet , Oriana and Auroura were designed to do just that.

 

Why cant they think outside the square and have one ship that does a WC for North Americans, then comes down here and does a WC for us.

 

To do a WC , the ship needs a deep ocean hull, larger cabins with loads of storage, and extra lounges/reception areas to cater for the varied activities that will go on, and not have passengers sitting on the stairs in the Atrium to do the daily trivia.

 

A purpose designed ship is needed that can be shared amongst the Carnival fleet .Then they are cooking with gas.:)

 

(Now all we need, is for someone in Carnival to read this post:D)

 

 

[kuldalai]

Modern cruise ships work on diesel electric current, with four large diesel electric power plants .

 

Each unit generates electric current that is used to provide electric power for propulsion, lighting, air conditioning, cooking etc .

 

At anyone time only two or three of these units will be in use depending on the electrical load (viz: ship in port or underway, evening meal time, middle of the night etc.)

 

In addition the use is rotated over the 4 generator sets so that usage is even over all sets. With normally only 3 sets max in use at any one time this allows for programmed maintenance to be undertaken on the da set not being used.

 

It is however very demanding of Princess to run DAWN hard all year then despatch her off on a 100 day plus Itinerary as if she were just off on a Pacific cruise . One would think that dry docks and thorough touch ups would be done immediately before the World cruise each year .

[MMDown Under]

From Remroda on Dawn Princess Roll Call -

 

I thought I would enlighten you all on the progress of the cruise. Singapore is tomorrow but we have engine problems which are going to cost us time in some ports and the elimination of other ports pre Dover. Princess says they will know about the engine by Dover and have given us going to Dover $200 each OBC in compensation. Those leaving in Dubai got $100. We are missing Casablanca, Abu Dabi, Minas Qaboos but we have Gibralta and one other in replacement. We loose hours in some ports but gain in others. Princess has decided the ship should limp to Dover whilst the specialists diagnose the problem and prescribe treatment. Maybe it would have been better if the specialists had boarded in Sydney as they had problems THEN

 

This is further evidence why cruisers shouldn't pay for private tours in advance.

 

$200 OBC isn't adequate compensation for three missed ports.

[Sandielle]

Not good news for the World Cruisers! They must wonder what's coming next!

 

Here she is almost docked at Singapore.

 

DAWN PRINCESS at ShipWatcher

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Great capture of the cruise terminal. Now she is docked you cant see that.

At least they are at the Cruise Centre and not stuck out at the container berth, so they will have easy access into the City.

 

They are on schedule so far:rolleyes:

 

 

[Stuartm]

I wonder how the people who have paid their deposit on the Sun Princess' 2012 World Cruise are feeling. To have a ship breakdown two years in a row on a world cruise isn't going to help the Princess brand.

 

When my numbers come up and I decide to book a world cruise I think I'll be looking at the 'boutique' cruise lines. I'd rather be adrift on the ocean in 6 star comfort rather than 4.

 

cheers

 

Stu

[Kiwi Kruzer]

I wonder how the people who have paid their deposit on the Sun Princess' 2012 World Cruise are feeling. To have a ship breakdown two years in a row on a world cruise isn't going to help the Princess brand.When my numbers come up and I decide to book a world cruise I think I'll be looking at the 'boutique' cruise lines. I'd rather be adrift on the ocean in 6 star comfort rather than 4.cheersStu

 

Hi Stu,

I guess its the luck of the draw. Even the luxury cruises have breakdowns. A couple of years ago , Regent had to cancel the WC in Piraeus and fly everyone home, when one of their ships had problems.:eek:

 

[MMDown Under]

I wonder how the people who have paid their deposit on the Sun Princess' 2012 World Cruise are feeling. To have a ship breakdown two years in a row on a world cruise isn't going to help the Princess brand.

 

When my numbers come up and I decide to book a world cruise I think I'll be looking at the 'boutique' cruise lines. I'd rather be adrift on the ocean in 6 star comfort rather than 4.

 

cheers

 

Stu

 

I suspect 2012 world cruisers will be fine, as Carnival Australia/Princess can't afford to have this debacle happen three years in a row.

[PRINCESS OZ]

I was on the 2009 World Cruise, and we never missed a port! We were delayed in Aruba (about 4 hours) by engine problems on the Dawn, but arrived in Berumda on-time several days later. In fact not only did we not 'miss' a port, we actually gained one! Albeit for a few hours, Messina in Cicily as we dropped off a seriously ill passenger...... all we could do was admire the island from the deck, but it was very scenic!...... It mean't we had to change our itinerary around, for next few ports, but just got to them in different order.

 

I really feel for last years passengers missing out on Safaga.....and now this years cohort miss out on ports that were 'new'.... like Casablanca and Abu Dhabi.... there are 2009 World Cruisers on board who would have made the decision to go based on these 'different ports'..... adding in Gibraltar for them is revisiting the 2009 world cruise itinerary...

 

I'm sure those onboard will make the best of it, you always do.... but I'd be worried about what happens after Dover.... perhaps there's the potential to 'locate' another ship for the 2nd half? Sounds to me like the plan is to get the ship to Dover - why would that be? Any engingeers out there want to guess why Dover is the next main destination for a potential problem ship?

[NSWP]

I was right..$200 OBC. Might buy you 6 bottles of wine on board. Yes those who have pre paid private tours have worries, trying to get their $ back from private operators, they will now never see. At least with ships excursions refunds are given for cancellations.

 

Best wishes to all on DP WC. The Aussies will stick it out.

[Kiwi_cruiser]

Its now light in Singapore:

 

[Kiwi_cruiser]

Captures from last night:

 

 

[MMDown Under]

I suspect 2012 world cruisers will be fine, as Carnival Australia/Princess can't afford to have this debacle happen three years in a row.

 

I meant 2010, 2011 and 2012!

[MMDown Under]

I was right..$200 OBC. Might buy you 6 bottles of wine on board. Yes those who have pre paid private tours have worries, trying to get their $ back from private operators, they will now never see. At least with ships excursions refunds are given for cancellations.

 

Best wishes to all on DP WC. The Aussies will stick it out.

 

Does anyone know roughly what the per diem for a couple on a world cruise from Australia is - lead in for inside, outside and balcony?

 

I agree that the Aussies will make the best of the current situation.

[MMDown Under]

P & O - Chusan - 1970 - London to Brisbane, via Africa, India and Sri Lanka (Suez closed).

Chandris Lines - Queen Frederica - 1969 - Sydney to London, via Panama, New York and Rotterdam

 

Reflecting on my around the world cruise in 1969/70, from Australia, on old ships - Chandris Lines - Queen Frederica and P & O Chusan, I can't recall missing any ports of call.

 

Ship experts, why is it more common and considered more acceptable now?

[Kiwi Kruzer]

In 1984 on Canberra, Southampton to Auckland , we missed 3 ports, and had an extra time in 2, as they tried to repair the fault.

Aurora a few years ago had to cancel a World Cruise even though passengers had boarded. They only got as far as the Isle of Wight, then back to Southampton and everyone was put off and sent home.:eek:

Then a few years later Aurora was stuck in Auckland for 6 days as they carried out repairs.

 

[NSWP]

P & O - Chusan - 1970 - London to Brisbane, via Africa, India and Sri Lanka (Suez closed).

Chandris Lines - Queen Frederica - 1969 - Sydney to London, via Panama, New York and Rotterdam

 

Reflecting on my around the world cruise in 1969/70, from Australia, on old ships - Chandris Lines - Queen Frederica and P & O Chusan, I can't recall missing any ports of call.

 

Ship experts, why is it more common and considered more acceptable now?

Sun Princess WC next May. Lead in, approx - inside from $17000 pp = $34000 per couple

outside from $25000 pp = $50000 per couple

balcony from $32500 pp - $65000 per couple

 

The current DP WC would have similar prices.

 

Serious money this and pax should expect everything A1 at those prices. And of course unless things change, no byo vino ! More expense, plus all the shorex which could run into $5000 pp easily. So if you wanted a balcony, do all the shorex, drink well, $80,000 plus could be a ballpark figure for a couple doing the 105 day WC.

[Kiwi_cruiser]

The lasted from the blogs:

 

From the Five sixths of a World Cruise - 2011 blog: http://socram13.blogspot.com/2011/06/wet-one-and-itinerary-change-or-two.html

 

<snip>At 5pm, the dreaded Captain’s announcement. It appears that the faulty generator/engine will not be fixed before we reach Dover, so alterations to the itinerary were necessary. The most drastic was cutting out Abu Dhabi altogether and arriving and leaving Dubai a day early... For those due to fly into Dubai to join the ship, if they cannot change flights and were arriving on the day of departure, they are going to be in deep doo-doo. As we expect to join the ship in Dubai next year, we are well prepared.

 

Most ports have been adjusted with changes to arrival and departure times. Oman has been substituted with Salalah and Casablanca/Marrakesh with Gibraltar. </snip>

[joankiara]

We are joining the Dawn Princess (again) in Dover for the trip back to Oz...we wer on board last year when we had engine problems through the Middle East....

[Kiwi_cruiser]

Welcome to Cruise Critic joankiara :D

[MMDown Under]

Sun Princess WC next May. Lead in, approx - inside from $17000 pp = $34000 per couple

outside from $25000 pp = $50000 per couple

balcony from $32500 pp - $65000 per couple

 

The current DP WC would have similar prices.

 

Serious money this and pax should expect everything A1 at those prices. And of course unless things change, no byo vino ! More expense, plus all the shorex which could run into $5000 pp easily. So if you wanted a balcony, do all the shorex, drink well, $80,000 plus could be a ballpark figure for a couple doing the 105 day WC.

 

Thanks, Les.

 

Makes the $200 OBC seem even more paltry.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Does anyone know roughly what the per diem for a couple on a world cruise from Australia is - lead in for inside, outside and balcony?

 

 

Just out of interest I checked the 2012 WC from HAL and Princess.

Quite surprising...they are very roughly the same..

still a lot of money when you realise thats for each pasenger..:eek:

 

 

from HAL's website

Ship: ms Amsterdam

112-DAY GRAND WORLD VOYAGE

Departure Dates: Jan 06, 2012

Interior * from $18,999.00 per person for N category stateroom 169 per day

Ocean-view * from $22,499.00 per person forHH obstructed view 200 per day

Verandah Suite * from $35,399.00 per person for BB category stateroom 316 per day

Deluxe Verandah Suite * from $66,999.00 per person for SB category stateroom 598 per day

Fares above are shown in $USD

 

From US Agent

104 nights departing May 16, 2012 on

Princess' Sun Princess

Brochure Inside $19,997 192 per day

Brochure Oceanview $23,497 225 per day

Brochure Balcony $29,997 288 per day

2012 World Cruise

based on double occupancy, and subject to availability.

They include port charges but do not include

airfare or (where applicable) airport or government taxes or fees.

 

 

From Princess web site , comes up in NZ$ for us , so I converted to US to give a comparison

104 days World Cruise Roundtrip From Sydney

Ship: Sun Princess

Interior NZ$25,540.65 US 20821 200 per day

Oveanview Obstructed NZ$33,093.05 US 26934 258 per day

Oceanview NZ$33,476.65 US 27291 262 per day

Balcony NZ$42,181.25 US 34387 330 per day

[randwick]

I wonder how the people who have paid their deposit on the Sun Princess' 2012 World Cruise are feeling. To have a ship breakdown two years in a row on a world cruise isn't going to help the Princess brand.

 

When my numbers come up and I decide to book a world cruise I think I'll be looking at the 'boutique' cruise lines. I'd rather be adrift on the ocean in 6 star comfort rather than 4.

 

cheers

 

Stu

 

I can tell you Stu - we are booked on the 2012 world cruise and are now having second thoughts. I think it would be very disappointing to spend all that money and look forward to the ports only to have them changed or cancelled altogether.