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johno1234
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  #3113782 9-Aug-2023 16:36
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The main disappointment I have with most ocean cruises ex NZ is the sea day to port day ratio. Because of the distances, South Pacific cruises have a high sea day ratio. The best cruises I've ever done are around Hawaii on NCL, Los Angeles down to Mexico and back in Carnival, and a loop around the Caribbean and back to Ft Lauderdale on Celebrity. All sensationally good fun experiences. All had plenty of port days where you get ashore and see/do all sorts of interesting stuff. It's a shame you have to spend such an eyewatering amount on airfares to these otherwise good value cruises (the Hawaii one excepted - expensive!)

 

 


 
 
 

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Oblivian
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  #3113792 9-Aug-2023 16:49
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My upcoming has at least 3 4-day sea legs.. leaving NZ so cheaper in that regard. But not terribly entertaining. I'm hopeful of some movies/shows to fill the days.

But the short times on some locations is going to limit activities to maybe a walk around or a swim. (Pago pago, small Hawaiian islands)

The Pacific one previously, we booked zip lines. Said to allow 4-6 hrs so we did nothing else to make sure. Back in the town after a little over 2.5 with not much else happening until departure.

And you got in late to noumea so after your usual train ride everything was shut and too dark to go anywhere.

You feel like you've been short changed in those cases. Agreed.

johno1234
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  #3113807 9-Aug-2023 18:06
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Sea day reading by the pool quaffing pina coladas. It’s not the end of the world eh?



trig42
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  #3113810 9-Aug-2023 18:18
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I quite like the sea days - quizzes, sit in the pub all day, sit by the pool, relax and unwind.


Oblivian
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  #3113812 9-Aug-2023 18:24
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Maybe for a 'typical kiwi bloke'.

Not so much for non drinker, non reader that would rather curl up watching a movie or active learning 'stuff' on a PC to keep the brain spry.

Somewhat limited to a local walk (scenery doesn't change much...). Or Eating all day. A bad combination.

Have a hard time just chilling like a lobster without synapses wanting to fire.

sen8or
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  #3113997 10-Aug-2023 08:04
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One thing with the drinks package (at least on Princess) is that it included specialty coffee, not just alcohol so factor this into your equations when deciding if its worthwhile. We both enjoy cafe coffee, usually 2-3 each per day, @ $4-5 (US on our ship) per coffee, this would have added up pretty quickly on top of the alcoholic drinks.


trig42
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  #3114005 10-Aug-2023 08:33
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Youtuber 'The Cruise and Travel Guy' did a comparison between Princess and P&O for similar cruises ex Au, and actually found that if you were a drinker, Princess worked out better.

 

Admittedly, this was before Princess changed what was included in their packages (though, for drinks, I think it still stands).

 

 

 

 

 




Eva888
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  #3114038 10-Aug-2023 10:09
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Found the link about Princess changes.

https://cruisepassenger.com.au/news/princess-package-changes-why-passengers-are-angry/

As for medical, I paid $750 on board for a non specific medical event that took about an hour to settle. So make sure you have cruise cover. Nearly fell over when I saw the bill.

Looking to find another cruise soon so all the latest info is great. One thing to beware of is getting a cabin with obstructed view. Did that once, porthole was totally obstructed and the tiny cabin. I complained and they put us in an inside cabin that was pretty big in comparison but didn’t like the claustrophobic feeling and the darkness. Would never get an inside cabin.

Personally I love sea days. The vastness can lead to to 'what if' thoughts and one of the first things I do when unpacked is have emergency kit clothing, merino tops and waterproof light jacket in one corner of the cupboard easy to grab in case. It can get quite cool at nights and at sea.








sen8or
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  #3114050 10-Aug-2023 10:24
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We follow on youtube "Tips for Travelers" with Gary Bembridge and "Life well cruised" with Alana, both provide great content on destinations and cruise related topics (like the changes to Princess as noted above).

 

We had a balcony cabin and actually didn't think the extra cost was worth it. Spent virtually no time on the deck and very little time (other than sleeping) in the cabin itself. If it means we can get to another cruise sooner, may well take an inside or oceanview (port hole) cabin in the future.


Handsomedan
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  #3114062 10-Aug-2023 10:56
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Eva888: Found the link about Princess changes.

One thing to beware of is getting a cabin with obstructed view. Did that once, porthole was totally obstructed and the tiny cabin. I complained and they put us in an inside cabin that was pretty big in comparison but didn’t like the claustrophobic feeling and the darkness. Would never get an inside cabin.

 

We got an obstructed view cabin for our cruise, but it was a good one - the tender that hung outside our fully-opening French doors was used for all tender operations on port days, so we had unobstructed views on those days if we weren't off the ship. We were obviously also able to have amazing fresh air flow through when they were open. 

 

We didn't have any issues with light when the tender was in place as the French Doors let plenty in. 

 

 





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xpd

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  #3114065 10-Aug-2023 11:03
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I don't mind the sea days, but I don't mind kicking back with a book and a drink, or doing to the occasional quiz etc, or just people watch :)

 

We had a balcony room this time round, figured if the ship did go into "lockdown", we'd at least have fresh air, but was also cool to be able to see everything as we came into new locations at any time. 

 

But 4 of us cramped into the room was a bit much, not that we were in it a lot. So nextone, we're looking at getting balcony room for ourselves, and throw the kids into an interior room. Will cost more but make things more comfortable.





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Handsomedan
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  #3114066 10-Aug-2023 11:06
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xpd:

 

I don't mind the sea days, but I don't mind kicking back with a book and a drink, or doing to the occasional quiz etc, or just people watch :)

 

We had a balcony room this time round, figured if the ship did go into "lockdown", we'd at least have fresh air, but was also cool to be able to see everything as we came into new locations at any time. 

 

But 4 of us cramped into the room was a bit much, not that we were in it a lot. So nextone, we're looking at getting balcony room for ourselves, and throw the kids into an interior room. Will cost more but make things more comfortable.

 

 

If we do a family cruise again, that's what we'll do - two separate rooms. 

 

It was fine when we had 14 and 16 year old boys with us, who were off adventuring most of the time, but as adult-sized humans it's better to give them their own space and forego the bunks. 





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trig42
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  #3114088 10-Aug-2023 11:49
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You may find that the two separate rooms is cheaper as well. Unless they are having a promo with the 3rd and 4th guests going 'free' *, then they charge per person anyway and having two of them in a cheaper internal cabin may make the whole price lower.

 

 

 

*nothing is free on a cruise, they may say free, but they've got it out of you somewhere else.


Kiwifan
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  #3114380 10-Aug-2023 22:49
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We never thought we would like cruising until we went on one. We did a 35 day trip around Aus with Holland America and absolutely loved it. Yes we missed a couple of ports due to weather but the ship took us to places we would never have gone to including PNG.

 

I find it interesting how folks see things from a different perspective. We love anytime dining with sharing tables but if you view Cruise Critic you find so many cruisers could think of nothing worse than sharing a table with up to 6 other people. We have made some wonderful friends  over a meal and a glass of wine. Speaking of, we take the drinks package with the Have it all deals and although we aren't big drinkers we love our coffees and enjoy a cocktail by the pool on sea days. If you aren't likely to drink 10 drinks including coffee per day then possibly the drinks package isn't worth it. 

 

We have only traveled with HAL but talking to quite a few Aussies on our latest cruise they seem to like P&O for the shorter Aussie cruises. 

 

Enjoy your sail away if it's your thing.  


bigmacpaddy
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  #3114428 11-Aug-2023 09:22
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What is the best way to pay for things when on the islands in Fiji etc.

 

Do you need some cash on hand NZD, AUD or is a card mostly fine?


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