Cruise Talk: Attention Australian Cruisers

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Topic: Attention Australian Cruisers

Sutho
First Class Passenger
Member # 6234

posted 07-10-2006 04:26 AM

For those who are aware P&O Australia are planning to send Pacific Star on a six week cruise to Asia in 2008.

They have placed a microsite dedicated to this cruise on their website.

It appears they intend filling this ship to the max capacity by offering heavy discounts for groups of four, heavy discounts for individuals sharing in cabins with three strangers and incentives for individuals to sail with a stranger.

I am keen to do this cruise, however I feel Pacific Star is an inappropriate choice of ship considering P&O will have the Pacific Dawn (Regal Princess) at their disposal at this point in time.

I feel Pacific Dawn will facilitate this cruise better than the Pacific Star.

If you are interested in doing this cruise and will never be seen dead on Pacific Star then go to P&O Australia's website and click on the Asia Cruise section - you will see a link "Register your interest" this link allows you to type up to 100 words expressing dissatisfaction with the ship.

I have done it, and have posted a letter to Customer Relations last Monday. I am keen to do this cruise and feel others will be to, but the only problem is sending a medicore, substandard ship on a cruise which requires a more up to date larger ship.

Posts: 1055 | From: Newcastle, Australia | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

phil_a
First Class Passenger
Member # 3679

posted 07-11-2006 06:39 AM

unfortuneately i cant see p&o changing their minds unless they fill the ship within weeks and have another 1000 people on the waitlist.

you may wish to look into a repositioning cruise on HAL, Princess, Celebrity before/after their australian/new zealand season.

Posts: 850 | From: W. Australia | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

Cruiser Nutt
First Class Passenger
Member # 4826

posted 07-11-2006 04:05 PM

Is the Sun Princess still going to be sailing the Australia season in 2007-2208? I see nothing in either Princess or P&O Australia's web pages, regarding speciific cruises or dates. P&O Australia list the news that this will be happening but show no details.

Posts: 23 | From: Miami, Florida | Registered: Jun 2004 | IP: Logged

andrews
First Class Passenger
Member # 6414

posted 07-11-2006 07:40 PM

Yes it is... we picked up a brochure from the travel agent the other day - 2 circumnavigations of Australia and several cruises to New Zealand. Not sure if there's a brochure link on P&O's website or not.

Posts: 28 | From: Brisbane, Australia | Registered: Apr 2006 | IP: Logged

Sutho
First Class Passenger
Member # 6234

posted 07-11-2006 08:45 PM

For Sun Princess go to www.pocruises.com.au and then hit the brochure section and up the top it has P&O Princess and P&O UK. You go to Princess and fill in the form the the brochure and tick e-brochure instead of post and then you can download it in pdf format.

Posts: 1055 | From: Newcastle, Australia | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

Joe1690
First Class Passenger
Member # 4889

posted 07-12-2006 12:27 AM

Well, I could be mistaken but I am pretty sure that Sun Princess is not going to Australia. When it was decided the Regal Princess was transferring to P&O Australia they decided to cancel the Sun Princess and let the Pacific Princess continue in its role. In addition, while P&O Australia may be showing the Sun Princess doing itineraries in Australia via their brochure when going to the Princess website the Sun Princess is not listed for a single Australian itinerary. In fact, it is scheduled to be sailing from Fort Lauderdale on 10 day cruises. Obviously a ship can't be in 2 places at once and I'm pretty darn sure I remember reading a press release several months ago that the Sun Princess would not be going to Australia.

Posts: 87 | From: King of Prussia, PA | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

Joe1690
First Class Passenger
Member # 4889

posted 07-12-2006 12:32 AM

Scratch my previous post. Doing some additional research, I have discovered that the other 2 posters are correct. The sun princess will indeed be sailing in Australia for the winter of 2007-08 (Australian summer) under the P&O australia brand. I guess my memory isn't as good as it used to be. This information comes from a press release issued by Princess about 2 weeks ago. Sorry for the previous response.

Posts: 87 | From: King of Prussia, PA | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

Sutho
First Class Passenger
Member # 6234

posted 07-12-2006 04:16 AM

I think you above were thinking of the Dawn Princess.

That happened last year when it was planned to come and they cancelled it and sent Pacific Princess back instead.

Posts: 1055 | From: Newcastle, Australia | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

Joe1690
First Class Passenger
Member # 4889

posted 07-12-2006 12:49 PM

Sutho, now that you said that, you are absolutely correct. I was thinking of the Dawn Princess. The transferring of ships, scheduling of itineraries and then changing them, etc. for all of the cruiselines can make you crazy since things seem to change on a minute by minute basis.

Posts: 87 | From: King of Prussia, PA | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

Cruiser Nutt
First Class Passenger
Member # 4826

posted 07-13-2006 10:11 PM

Thanks for the information. We are looking to sail on one of the Australia circumnavigation cruises. This helps.

Posts: 23 | From: Miami, Florida | Registered: Jun 2004 | IP: Logged

Sutho
First Class Passenger
Member # 6234

posted 07-14-2006 02:16 AM

At least the Australia circumnavigation will be on a decent ship that is large enough to cater to all the passengers it can carry.

A word of warning check with P&O what conditions you are subject to. You may not be allowed to purchase duty free items from the ships shops or purchase anything for that fact.

Posts: 1055 | From: Newcastle, Australia | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

Cruiser Nutt
First Class Passenger
Member # 4826

posted 07-14-2006 12:09 PM

What is the reason for that? With it being totally in Australia, and the currency being Australian dollars, would that mean they would charge tax on the bars and shops?
Would that change the way that the bars, casino and shops are open? I would think that, if tax is paid, then the shops could open any time. Would local liquor laws affect the bar openings?

Posts: 23 | From: Miami, Florida | Registered: Jun 2004 | IP: Logged

bmajor
First Class Passenger
Member # 1754

posted 07-14-2006 06:13 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Cruiser Nutt:
What is the reason for that? With it being totally in Australia, and the currency being Australian dollars, would that mean they would charge tax on the bars and shops?
Would that change the way that the bars, casino and shops are open? I would think that, if tax is paid, then the shops could open any time. Would local liquor laws affect the bar openings?

I think you wil find that if the cruise is only in Australian waters, local taxes and GST is due.
It is my understanding, that the cruises to the Great Barrier Reef and Northern Qeensland include a call to Willis Island ,even though they don't land,so they qualify for an International call and are exempt from the tax.Makes a big difference,not only to passengers but also to the charges that are paid by the cruise company,and then passed on to passengers.
As far as the casino and bars are concerned they would have to abide by local regulations and licensing laws.

Posts: 1371 | From: Orewa.New Zealand. | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

Sutho
First Class Passenger
Member # 6234

posted 07-14-2006 11:49 PM

Although international travellers not from Australia may be exempt from our GST and other taxes and would most certainly be able to purchase duty free. You just may have to fill out a few forms.

Australian customs are very nasty to their own people out here. They make sure Australians pay tax on everything if a cruise does not go to a foreign port.

Posts: 1055 | From: Newcastle, Australia | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

Cruiser Nutt
First Class Passenger
Member # 4826

posted 07-16-2006 04:00 PM

Does the Australia circumnavigation cruise call at any foreign port?

Posts: 23 | From: Miami, Florida | Registered: Jun 2004 | IP: Logged

Sutho
First Class Passenger
Member # 6234

posted 07-16-2006 07:26 PM

No it doesent.

BUT they are giving people the opportunity to do a back to back cruise the Australian circumnavigation followed by a 14 night New Zealand Roundtrip from Sydney. Turning a 32 night voyage into a 46 night voyage covering Australia and New Zealand.

I think it is an excellent trip to do.

Posts: 1055 | From: Newcastle, Australia | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

jeffrossatsea
First Class Passenger
Member # 2962

posted 07-16-2006 08:55 PM

hmmm....looked at the details of the pacific star blossom cruise....i may actually book that one.....thanks for the heads up this voyage......jeff

Posts: 1118 | From: vancouver | Registered: Apr 2002 | IP: Logged

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