Live Reports - Cruising on Coral Princess September 2022.

[Fortunatefew]

On 9/15/2022 at 12:07 PM, OzKiwiJJ said:

Yesterday we decided we liked this ship so much that we needed more time on her, plus we wanted some more warm weather, so have booked the 26th Sept Queensland and Conflict Islands cruise. That gives us four days to go home, do a few essential things then get back onboard. 😊😊😊😊 

 

On 9/15/2022 at 12:07 PM, OzKiwiJJ said:

Yesterday we decided we liked this ship so much that we needed more time on her, plus we wanted some more warm weather, so have booked the 26th Sept Queensland and Conflict Islands cruise. That gives us four days to go home, do a few essential things then get back onboard. 😊😊😊😊 

We are flying from New Zealand to join this cruise. 🛳🛳🛳

[arxcards]

5 hours ago, Cbtours said:

He obviously didn’t connect lol even the clearly labelled “emergency”! Our first time in a suite so maybe he thought it was just special royal coloured accessories 😂😂😂

For emergency drying of clothes.

[arxcards]

3 hours ago, austromyrtus said:

quite a few very disappointed coral princess cruisers on board who will be missing out on pre-arranged family reunions in adelaide. seems rather hard to fathom why princess chose to keep kangaroo island, the only tender on the itinerary, rather than adelaide or port lincoln.

Likely they kept KI, because they were already scheduled to be there on that day.

[LittleFish1976]

On 9/16/2022 at 2:36 PM, OzKiwiJJ said:

Yes, there is a bus, we caught it this morning but it stopped at the Southbank side of Queens Bridge St - the Casino East tram stop - so it was 1km to the place we wanted to go which was right at the Collins/Swanston St tram stop. So we probably walked about the same distance regardless. 🤣😒

 

There is a light rail that goes from just outside Station Pier right through the centre of the city and that particular intersection you were interested in! Hopefully, you'll be able to make use of it in future.

 

https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/722/109/

[ekka49]

18 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Then I guess Princess will lose cruisers like us who prefer smaller ships that can get into smaller ports. 

I can only agree with you. 

[ekka49]

7 hours ago, MMDown Under said:

Good idea.  I wouldn't get in the bath, as I'd made the mistake of giving my frail elderly grandmother a bath.  I couldn't get her out, so had to get my husband to help.  This was a woman who had her babies at home and had never shown an inch of skin!  She put a washer over her private parts and we all ended up giggling which made the exercise even more difficult!.  

Thank you for the laugh. 😂.

 

[OzKiwiJJ]

4 hours ago, Russell21 said:

Has anyone had any experience changing their dining arrangements once on board the ship? I'm terrified of trying to change it via the app at this late stage, we board on the 26th. I initially booked a table for our group of 6 for every night same table, unfortunately one of our group has just been diagnosed with throat cancer and needs urgent surgery,  his wife and he wanted to do this cruise before the operation but was told he wouldn't last to the end of the cruise if he did. Insurance not covering the rest of us for the cancellation, and the hired transport to Sydney means the rest of us can't afford to cancel out and i need to change out dining booking.

Talk to the MDR team on your first night. They'll sort it out for you I'm sure.

[OzKiwiJJ]

4 hours ago, austromyrtus said:

quite a few very disappointed coral princess cruisers on board who will be missing out on pre-arranged family reunions in adelaide. seems rather hard to fathom why princess chose to keep kangaroo island, the only tender on the itinerary, rather than adelaide or port lincoln.

I was surprised by that decision too but it may not have been possible to get a port booking for a different date in either Adelaide or Port Lincoln. We will be stopping at Kangaroo Island on the originally scheduled date.

[OzKiwiJJ]

40 minutes ago, LittleFish1976 said:

 

There is a light rail that goes from just outside Station Pier right through the centre of the city and that particular intersection you were interested in! Hopefully, you'll be able to make use of it in future.

 

https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/722/109/

Yes, we used that the first day, and also to return to the ship yesterday, but that means walking the whole length of Station Pier, though the car-park and across the road. The buses leave from just outside the cruise terminal building avoiding the long walk at the start. Ah well, all that walking is helping to work off all the delicious food we have been eating.

[OzKiwiJJ]

We're on our way again! We've just pulled away from Station Pier. Although the worst of the bad weather has passed we have been warned to expect 5 metre seas overnight. 

 

It's been very cold in Melbourne today. It wasn't too bad when we went over to our GDs but a very chilly rain storm came through just as we were leaving her place to come back to the ship so we got an Uber back. Luckily by the time we got to Station Pier the rain had stopped and the wind had eased a bit so the walk down the pier wasn't too bad. We were happy to get back on the warm ship though, and very glad to make up to the buffet for a mug of hot soup to thaw us out.

[MMDown Under]

8 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

We're on our way again! We've just pulled away from Station Pier. Although the worst of the bad weather has passed we have been warned to expect 5 metre seas overnight. 

 

It's been very cold in Melbourne today. It wasn't too bad when we went over to our GDs but a very chilly rain storm came through just as we were leaving her place to come back to the ship so we got an Uber back. Luckily by the time we got to Station Pier the rain had stopped and the wind had eased a bit so the walk down the pier wasn't too bad. We were happy to get back on the warm ship though, and very glad to make up to the buffet for a mug of hot soup to thaw us out.

On News - today it felt  like 6-8 degrees in Melbourne.  Is the next port of call Kangaroo Island?

[MicCanberra]

9 hours ago, Aus Traveller said:

We found that minisuite bath to be a 'trap'. On the first night I looked at it dubiously and wondered aloud if I should have a bath as a novelty. At home we are on our own water supply so only have showers. I enjoyed the soak and everything was good until it came time to get out. The bath is very narrow and has very high sides. I had difficulty in turning over to get up and only managed to get out with my husband hauling me up by the arms. Then foolishly, he decided he also would have a bath. Getting a 110kg 6'3" man out of the bath was a mammoth effort! It wasn't pretty to watch but we were fortunate he didn't have to spend the whole cruise in the bath.

 

We were telling someone on board the story and they said they also had trouble getting out. Just to be helpful, there is an emergency cord hanging beside the bath. Maybe Princess has had people stuck there before. Anyway, this other couple told us that while the husband was thrashing around and doing contortions trying to get out (and thinking he never would) the phone rang. I laughed and asked "How would that help? The phone is in the main part of the cabin, not the bathroom". He said his wife picked it up and someone asked if there was an emergency because the cord was pulled. His wife was now alerted to his problem and with her help, he got out of the bath.

 

For the rest of the cruise, we only had showers.

I have had no issues with the bath so far, 

[Aus Traveller]

1 minute ago, MicCanberra said:

I have had no issues with the bath so far, 

Maybe you are slimmer, younger and more agile. 😁 Actually there probably isn't any doubt about any of those aspects.

[MicCanberra]

1 hour ago, MMDown Under said:

On News - today it felt  like 6-8 degrees in Melbourne.  Is the next port of call Kangaroo Island?

That is the plan, doubt we will get ashore though.

[MicCanberra]

13 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

Maybe you are slimmer, younger and more agile. 😁 Actually there probably isn't any doubt about any of those aspects.

Perhaps 2 of those anyway

[MMDown Under]

45 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

I have had no issues with the bath so far, 

Enjoy it while you can.  I used to love relaxing in a bath with bath salts. 

[MMDown Under]

32 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

That is the plan, doubt we will get ashore though.

I was surprised Kangaroo Island was still the plan, because it has such a bad record of even the ferry not being able to land.  First time I visited KI, I allowed a few extra days before I flew home back to Queensland, in case I got stranded there.  

Hope you are lucky as it is a beautiful place.  

[Docker123]

After so many days, I thought we had gained a new floating hotel at Station Pier.

 

Then the rain fronts seems to have washed it away.

 

[MicCanberra]

5 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

I was surprised Kangaroo Island was still the plan, because it has such a bad record of even the ferry not being able to land.  First time I visited KI, I allowed a few extra days before I flew home back to Queensland, in case I got stranded there.  

Hope you are lucky as it is a beautiful place.  

Yep, I was very surprised myself. I would have thought Adelaide would have been kept. Publicity for being the first cruise ship back since covid and all.

Anyway, Melbourne has been great and while I am sad not to catch up with friends in Adelaide and cancelling our car trip down the Whalers Way in Port Lincoln, it is for the best. The ship is a great place to stay while visiting anywhere.

[possum52]

2 hours ago, MMDown Under said:

On News - today it felt  like 6-8 degrees in Melbourne.  Is the next port of call Kangaroo Island?

It has been really cold, we had lunch at our daughter and son in law's who live in a bayside suburb like us but their place is just across from the beach. When we left late this afternoon, the wind off the bay was incredibly cold.

[arxcards]

1 hour ago, MicCanberra said:

That is the plan, doubt we will get ashore though.

The seas are easing, but it is still touch and go. Surely they have to give you another port, and Adelaide is nearby should they decide they are pulling the pin on KI sometime tomorrow.

 

Might be a bit bumpy tonight.

[LittleFish1976]

3 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Yes, we used that the first day, and also to return to the ship yesterday, but that means walking the whole length of Station Pier, though the car-park and across the road. The buses leave from just outside the cruise terminal building avoiding the long walk at the start. Ah well, all that walking is helping to work off all the delicious food we have been eating.

 

Oh that's handy that the buses leave from the pier itself. I might try to jump on a bus then next time I disembark in Melbourne (which I do when I can as it's my home port). Dragging two suitcases the length of the pier is not much fun!

[MicCanberra]

1 hour ago, arxcards said:

The seas are easing, but it is still touch and go. Surely they have to give you another port, and Adelaide is nearby should they decide they are pulling the pin on KI sometime tomorrow.

 

Might be a bit bumpy tonight.

Already a bit rocky

[arxcards]

12 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

Already a bit rocky

Did you get the AFL on the big screen or a lounge this evening? I know a few on the next one, who are hoping the GF will be shown somewhere.

[LincolnLegend]

We are disappointed not to be welcoming the first ship into Port Lincoln since the pandemic tomorrow! I'm glad you are having a great time and hope that you make it onto KI as scheduled. I'm still heading down for breakfast and a look at the local markets after nightshift, guess there will be a few less people than we were expecting!