Nov 26, 2012 Bangkok to Sydney to Auckland (18 days plus 14 days = 32 days)

[Host Mike]

We booked cabin C748 (our favorite) this morning for all 32 days (B2B). By doing this cruise as a B2B I get extra agent credits and wine, extra veterans credits, extra FCC's, extra Loyalty Elite level cabin credits and double mini-bar setups. Because of all of this I actually save money by doing the 32 cruise as a B2B. Your mileage may vary. This is going to be a really fun cruise. Will you be coming with us?
 
Mike and Jan from Tulsa, OK

[ccrain]

So Mike, like your name change over at CC, what kind of airline prices are you looking at for an open jawed flight like that?

That's the real killer for me...

[Host Mike]

Last time we flew to Bangkok to catch the Diamond (Bangkok to Whittier) it was Tulsa to Chicago to Tokyo, change planes, then on to Bangkok for a midnight arrival.  The U.S. and Pacific ocean part of the flight was in daylight.   It really wasn't too bad except Narita was very hot inside the terminal.   We came out OK on the ocean crossing because I upgraded us to Coach Plus for extra leg room on the morning of the flight.

Since this trip isn't until November 2012 I'm in no hurry to book my flights.  When I checked on air costs for our LA to Tahiti to LA cruise this November on Princess I found that Princess ezAir was higher than do it yourself.

What I will do on the Bangkok end of the 2012 cruise is go three days early to Bangkok, like I did before and buy a Princess hotel package on the front end as well as stay two days after we disembark on a Princess hotel package in Auckland.  I'm excited to be able to see some of Australia and a lot of the New Zealand coastal cities for the first time.

[ccrain]

I'm still considering the 35 day Diamond from SIN to YVR next April. Airfare is a killer and I really don't want to fly coach in a 747. (777 is ok in Econ Plus, but a 747 for 18 hours would be a killer.)

I have enough miles to do 1 way business or 1st, but supersaver fares seem to be gone minutes after the date becomes active. On top of that United has changed their search criteria so that if I as for 1st class, its says yep no problem, 1st class to ORD, then economy to SIN.

We'll have to compare notes in October during the Sapphire cruise.

[Host Mike]

Quietly Princess opened up the Bangkok extend your stay hotel packages a few weeks back.  It's the same Shangri La and Four Seasons as always.  We stayed at the Four Seasons last time in Bangkok on a Diamond Princess Bangkok to Whittier cruise so this time we will be bunking at the Shangri La for a change of pace.  Airfare and excursions for this 32 day cruise will be next on my shopping list.

[baglad]

What I will do on the Bangkok end of the 2012 cruise is go three days early to Bangkok, like I did before and buy a Princess hotel package on the front end as well as stay two days after we disembark on a Princess hotel package in Auckland.  I'm excited to be able to see some of Australia and a lot of the New Zealand coastal cities for the first time.

If you are coming to Auckland for a couple of days Mike and are at a loose end I would appreciate the opportunity to meet up with you and Jan. The only fly in the ointment is that DW has been hinting at a Christmas cruise in 2012. We'll have to see how things pan out because there's still a year to go and anything can happen. (I've seen the movie!)   

[Host Mike]

Meeting up sounds good if you are available.

[baglad]

Great. We should know whats going on later in 2012.
Seasons greetings.

[NSWP]

We booked cabin C748 (our favorite) this morning for all 32 days (B2B). By doing this cruise as a B2B I get extra agent credits and wine, extra veterans credits, extra FCC's, extra Loyalty Elite level cabin credits and double mini-bar setups. Because of all of this I actually save money by doing the 32 cruise as a B2B. Your mileage may vary. This is going to be a really fun cruise. Will you be coming with us?
 
Mike and Jan from Tulsa, OK

Crikey Mike, just McDonalds, you got it all.

I am a traitor next year, no Princess cruise, but P&O UK 'Arcadia'  49 days, Sydney to Southampton via Asia/Africa.

[Host Mike]

I cancelled the Bangkok to Sydney leg and added the Princess "Classic Australia & Ghan Rail - Tour 8A" to the beginning of the the Sydney to Auckland cruise.  The Land Tour 8A includes Adelaide, Overnight rail to Alice Springs, Ayers Rock and then fly to Sydney to stay at the Four Seasons then transfer to the ship.

[NSWP]

I cancelled the Bangkok to Sydney leg and added the Princess "Classic Australia & Ghan Rail - Tour 8A" to the beginning of the the Sydney to Auckland cruise.  The Land Tour 8A includes Adelaide, Overnight rail to Alice Springs, Ayers Rock and then fly to Sydney to stay at the Four Seasons then transfer to the ship.

Mike, great stuff, you will enjoy the Ghan train trip through the interior. In fact you will enjoy it all.

Enjoy !

[Host Mike]

The Princess land tour options were basically fly to the Cairns area and bus to the Ayers Rock area or start in Adelaide and train to Ayers Rock area.  I always thought that Ayers Rock was near the Australian east coast.  Boy was I wrong.  I believe that there is a NASA space craft monitoring station with a big dish at Alice Springs.  If that's true then I want to see that monster dish up close.