Inaugural AFF Cruise 25 - 29 Jan 2018

[sinophile888]

My vote for a cruise in 2018.

I have done a little research re a cruise gathering in 2018 and have found the following so far:
[TABLE="width: 889"][TR][TD]Ship[/TD][TD="colspan: 4"]Departure[/TD][TD="colspan: 4"]Arrival[/TD][TD]nights[/TD][TD]via[/TD][TD]
[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Voyager of the Seas[/TD][TD]Friday[/TD][TD="align: right"]2/02/2018[/TD][TD="align: right"]18:30[/TD][TD]Sydney[/TD][TD]Monday[/TD][TD="align: right"]5/02/2018[/TD][TD]Sydney[/TD][TD="align: right"]6:30[/TD][TD="align: right"]3[/TD][TD]
[/TD][TD]
[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]P&O Arcadia[/TD][TD]Friday[/TD][TD="align: right"]23/02/2018[/TD][TD="align: right"]23:59[/TD][TD]Sydney[/TD][TD]Monday[/TD][TD="align: right"]26/02/2018[/TD][TD]Brisbane[/TD][TD="align: right"]8:00[/TD][TD="align: right"]3[/TD][TD]
[/TD][TD]
[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Ovation of the Seas[/TD][TD]Friday[/TD][TD="align: right"]23/03/2018[/TD][TD="align: right"]19:00[/TD][TD]Sydney[/TD][TD]Monday[/TD][TD="align: right"]26/03/2018[/TD][TD]Brisbane[/TD][TD="align: right"]6:30[/TD][TD="align: right"]3[/TD][TD]
[/TD][TD]
[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Golden Princess[/TD][TD]Thursday[/TD][TD="align: right"]25/01/2018[/TD][TD="align: right"]21:00[/TD][TD]Adelaide[/TD][TD]Monday[/TD][TD="align: right"]29/01/2018[/TD][TD]Melbourne[/TD][TD="align: right"]6:00[/TD][TD="align: right"]4[/TD][TD]Port Lincoln[/TD][TD]Kangaroo Island[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Sea Princess[/TD][TD]Thursday[/TD][TD="align: right"]8/03/2018[/TD][TD="align: right"]16:00[/TD][TD]Brisbane[/TD][TD]Monday[/TD][TD="align: right"]12/03/2018[/TD][TD]Brisbane[/TD][TD="align: right"]7:00[/TD][TD="align: right"]4[/TD][TD]Airlie Beach[/TD][TD]
[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]These were the shorter options I found. Departing from and arriving at different ports may suit more people. I wouldn't recommend the P&O option. I haven't found any options for later in the year.
I'll be in and out of mobile range on the Sun Princess for the next couple of weeks, so may not be able to reply if anyone has any questions/suggestions, until I return.
Prices are around the $400 to $550 mark, per person twin share in an internal cabin, with other cabin types as options.

 

[Katy]

I like the looks of the Golden Princess one, KI is gorgeous and it's easy for just about everyone to get home again from MEL.

The fact that it runs over a 3-day weekend is plus too!

 

[Pushka]

I'd suggest not P&O Australia version. Have wanted to try out Oasis but the home port departure of Adelaide is appealing. Some of the short round trips can be party booze cruises but I guess if we joined in our own that isn't an issue.

 

[samh004]

Colour me interested.

 

[sinophile888]

I like the looks of the Golden Princess one, KI is gorgeous and it's easy for just about everyone to get home again from MEL.

The fact that it runs over a 3-day weekend is plus too!

I only looked at cruises that run over a weekend and last for 3 or 4 nights. I am cruising to Kangaroo Island next week so will report back.

 

[NZ_Flyer]

I'm interested in this. The Golden Pricess ex-ADL looks like a nice option.

 

[JohnK]

I'd be interested in a cruise if the price was reasonable.

The 25/01/2018 departure from Adelaide would include the long weekend for Australia Day which would suit some people.

 

[JessicaTam]

Thanks for doing the groundwork sinophile888. I shall watch with interest.

 

[sinophile888]

I have been pleased that a number of AFFers agree with me about the enjoyment to be gained from cruising. There is much to like about cruising.

The specific feedback from the forum so far seems to favour the 4 night Adelaide to Melbourne cruise departing on 25/01/2018 on the Golden Princess. It leaves Adelaide at 9pm on Thursday, January 25th and arrives in Melbourne at 6am on Monday, January 29th. That is, over the long weekend. Current pricing for an internal cabin, twin share is $609 pp. For a balcony, the price is $949 pp twin share. Cruise prices fluctuate regularly. This cruise goes to Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln, both of which are ports we visited recently.

Mr. s and I have just returned from a 13-night cruise on the Sun Princess, the oldest ship in the Princess fleet, visiting both Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln amongst other ports. The cruise definitely exceeded our expectations. We had previously sailed on a 46-day Princess cruise around the Indian Ocean, taking the 30-day option and a 16-day Princess cruise in Asia. About 160 days at sea in total give us a little “street” cred. We sailed on the Queen Elizabeth earlier in the year and were upgraded to the Princess Grill suite category. This made comparisons with the Sun Princess a little difficult. But the SP did well.
I have an unusual diet (gluten free and vegan by choice) but was extremely well catered for, to the extent that the Head Waiter would bring me the next day’s lunch and dinner menus at the previous night’s dinner for me to choose what options would suit. He got to know my requirements so well that he eventually wrote out what he thought I would like and I always went with his choices. Mr. s is relatively normal and had no trouble finding many options from the menu each meal.

I was told by the Future Cruise Consultant to ring Princess if I had any queries about group bookings. She did offer one piece of information though. To be eligible for a group discount, the booking must be for at least 9 double occupancy cabins. I wasn’t offered any details regarding the scope of discounts.

One negative. Feedback from the Sun Princess staff was that the shorter cruises are known as booze cruises. Princess do not sell the unlimited drinks package on cruises shorter than 8 nights to overcome excessive drunkenness.

Kangaroo Island is a tender port with limited wheelchair access, tendering at a small country town called Penneshaw. The most favoured tour from KI included the seal colony. The locals ran a craft market a short distance from the boat; they also ran some alternative tours to the ship’s tours which can be rather pricey. It is about 50 – 60 km to the largest town on Kangaroo Island, Kingscote.

Cruise ships which dock at Port Lincoln do so at the wheat loading facility; the local community provided us with a shuttle service into the nearly township. The townspeople were out in force to welcome the tourists and many passengers found good reason to leave behind a little cash.

It seems to me that this cruise covers most of what would be required of an AFF Inaugural Cruise. Cruise line’s reputation, itinerary, suitable dates, starting and finishing at different ports and enjoyable catering.

But I am in no way offering to organise the event as I am an unknown quantity to all on the Forum and as such am not to be trusted with such an important task.

PS I tried to insert some photos but failed hopelessly.

 

[Anna]

I'm interested in attending this.

 

[Pushka]

Seems to be selling rather well!

 

[kpc]

Interested as well

 

[Bindibuys]

I am already booked on the Sun Princess sailing from Auckland to Sydney departing 26 Jan 2018.
Flying to Auckland to sail back. So although I am interested in a AFF group cruise, I would not be looking at the one departing Adelaide on the 25th Jan 2018.

 

[straitman]

I have been pleased that a number of AFFers agree with me about the enjoyment to be gained from cruising. There is much to like about cruising.

The specific feedback from the forum so far seems to favour the 4 night Adelaide to Melbourne cruise departing on 25/01/2018 on the Golden Princess. It leaves Adelaide at 9pm on Thursday, January 25th and arrives in Melbourne at 6am on Monday, January 29th. That is, over the long weekend. Current pricing for an internal cabin, twin share is $609 pp. For a balcony, the price is $949 pp twin share. Cruise prices fluctuate regularly. This cruise goes to Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln, both of which are ports we visited recently.

Mr. s and I have just returned from a 13-night cruise on the Sun Princess, the oldest ship in the Princess fleet, visiting both Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln amongst other ports. The cruise definitely exceeded our expectations. We had previously sailed on a 46-day Princess cruise around the Indian Ocean, taking the 30-day option and a 16-day Princess cruise in Asia. About 160 days at sea in total give us a little “street” cred. We sailed on the Queen Elizabeth earlier in the year and were upgraded to the Princess Grill suite category. This made comparisons with the Sun Princess a little difficult. But the SP did well.
I have an unusual diet (gluten free and vegan by choice) but was extremely well catered for, to the extent that the Head Waiter would bring me the next day’s lunch and dinner menus at the previous night’s dinner for me to choose what options would suit. He got to know my requirements so well that he eventually wrote out what he thought I would like and I always went with his choices. Mr. s is relatively normal and had no trouble finding many options from the menu each meal.

I was told by the Future Cruise Consultant to ring Princess if I had any queries about group bookings. She did offer one piece of information though. To be eligible for a group discount, the booking must be for at least 9 double occupancy cabins. I wasn’t offered any details regarding the scope of discounts.

One negative. Feedback from the Sun Princess staff was that the shorter cruises are known as booze cruises. Princess do not sell the unlimited drinks package on cruises shorter than 8 nights to overcome excessive drunkenness.

Kangaroo Island is a tender port with limited wheelchair access, tendering at a small country town called Penneshaw. The most favoured tour from KI included the seal colony. The locals ran a craft market a short distance from the boat; they also ran some alternative tours to the ship’s tours which can be rather pricey. It is about 50 – 60 km to the largest town on Kangaroo Island, Kingscote.

Cruise ships which dock at Port Lincoln do so at the wheat loading facility; the local community provided us with a shuttle service into the nearly township. The townspeople were out in force to welcome the tourists and many passengers found good reason to leave behind a little cash.

It seems to me that this cruise covers most of what would be required of an AFF Inaugural Cruise. Cruise line’s reputation, itinerary, suitable dates, starting and finishing at different ports and enjoyable catering.

But I am in no way offering to organise the event as I am an unknown quantity to all on the Forum and as such am not to be trusted with such an important task.

PS I tried to insert some photos but failed hopelessly.

The thing with cruises is that they can sellout a long way ahead and as sinophile888 pointed out prices can fluctuate quite a lot. For those who haven't cruised previously the prices for the Adelaide cruise are currently $50pp higher than what she quoted. They may go down to even cheaper than quoted but conversely they may just continue to rise. Cruise price fluctuations are IMHO worse than airline ticket fluctuations. i.e. I guess I am suggesting that if people are happy that we make the decision and run with this one OR pick another and run with it.

Personally we like Princess and also Golden Princess so I suppose we are somewhat biased. I have looked at what else is available Jan - May 2018 and the cruise we are discussing is probable the pick of them. The next best being 3rd Jan or 10th Mar for 5 nights around Tasmania out of Melbourne. There are a few other 4 night cruises available but these all have sea days only and that's not something I'd recommend for first time cruisers.

* A side note for any ex Military people is that Princess run a Military Benefits Program which for a short cruise like this would get eligible people a $50 on board credit.

 

[JessicaTam]

The thing with cruises is that they can sellout a long way ahead and as sinophile888 pointed out prices can fluctuate quite a lot. For those who haven't cruised previously the prices for the Adelaide cruise are currently $50pp higher than what she quoted. They may go down to even cheaper than quoted but conversely they may just continue to rise. Cruise price fluctuations are IMHO worse than airline ticket fluctuations. i.e. I guess I am suggesting that if people are happy that we make the decision and run with this one OR pick another and run with it.

Personally we like Princess and also Golden Princess so I suppose we are somewhat biased. I have looked at what else is available Jan - May 2018 and the cruise we are discussing is probable the pick of them. The next best being 3rd Jan or 10th Mar for 5 nights around Tasmania out of Melbourne. There are a few other 4 night cruises available but these all have sea days only and that's not something I'd recommend for first time cruisers.

* A side note for any ex Military people is that Princess run a Military Benefits Program which for a short cruise like this would get eligible people a $50 on board credit.

Do they offer single rates?

 

[sinophile888]

Do they offer single rates?

Most cruise lines charge a premium for single travellers. In the case of Princess, it can be as high as 100%. Many single cruisers choose an interior cabin to keep the price as low as possible. My daughter actually prefers an inside cabin as she likes a dark room for sleeping.

 

[JessicaTam]

Most cruise lines charge a premium for single travellers. In the case of Princess, it can be as high as 100%. Many single cruisers choose an interior cabin to keep the price as low as possible. My daughter actually prefers an inside cabin as she likes a dark room for sleeping.

*sad face* I have slept in an interior cabin before and won't be doing it again. So at current pricing $879 x 2 = $1758. Ugh.

 

[straitman]

*sad face* I have slept in an interior cabin before and won't be doing it again. So at current pricing $879 x 2 = $1758. Ugh.

You need to find a partner in crime. Shouldn't be too hard for you :!:

 

[sinophile888]

What straitman said!

 

[JessicaTam]

You need to find a partner in crime. Shouldn't be too hard for you :!:

What straitman said!

Hey! I resemble that remark!