Thread: Auckland to Sydney 24 December 2008

This cruise seems to be slow in gathering passengers but we're booked and very excited about our first cruise. I have no idea what to expect...but bring it on!

Hey Stuart

By the time your Christmas Eve cruise arrives you will know everything you need to know! Just keep reading and posting

Well Char, I have been obsessed with finding out as much as I can about the Diamond Princess and other ships, and the cruising experience in general. I have collected so many photos and videos off the internet ...my partner jokes that we could save our money as he feels he's been on the cruise already!! I guess my only trepidation is that, having such a wealth of knowledge available through this forum and others....there is the fear that the cruise may not live up to my expectations. But, that is really a very small fear....I can't imagine myself not getting off the ship at the end of the cruise and being absolutely misrable that it is all over. And that is the unfortunate truth....a whole year to look forward with anticipation...ant then in 12 days it will all be over. BUT, I am already deciding what my next cruise will be after this one, so unless the experience is really bad...I think I'm hooked already...AND I haven't even set foot on board yet!!!!!

That's the way most of us are! The cruise bug has bit you and you haven't even gone yet! There is no turning back now.

This was the cruise we would be considering if we were able to book something right now. Hubby wants to go on an Australian cruise (we're bored with Mexican cruises) and this one would fit in nicely with our girl's schedule as her winter breaks starts the Friday before that.

Our last cruise was a holiday cruise (Hanukkah, Christmas and New Years) going to Hawaii. We would like to go on another holiday one as they are quite fun. The ship will be all decorated and there are special items on the menus.

We've been on the Sapphire which is the sister ship to the Diamond. A beautiful ship with plenty of room, despite the number of passengers.

So I guess I have to live vicariously through you.

Well Cruisin'Chick, We chose this cruise as our first cruise for a few reasons. One, we didn't have to travel far, it is only 3 1/2 hours to Auckland from Melbourne, Two, I have always wanted to sail into Sydney harbour, Three, we are both free from work at Xmas, Four, we intend to hire a car and spend a few weeks touring New Zealand once we retire...a few year yet..and so we won't feel the need to take extended shore tours. This trip is ALL about the cruising experience and that leads me to my last reason.....the Diamond looks like a fantastic ship! The Sapphire was here in Melbourne last week and we went down to the dock and got as close as we could. Took photos, worked out where our cabin was (but on the Diamond of course), just stood and admired such an awesome vessel. And of course you have had the first hand experience with her. I'm envious! I'm glad you say that there was plenty of room even with so many passengers. I guess I am a bit concerned that I'll feel like I've gone on holiday in a shopping mall! I read one review that said the only time they felt like there was a crowd on board was New Years Eve in the Atrium. I suppose you can vouch for that. Any tips you have on how to make the most of our experience I would be happy to receive...and feel free to share my excitement about our cruise...at the moment I have plenty of excitement to go round!!

If they decorate the Diamond Princess for the holidays as they do the Island Princess, you should be in for a festive time.

The Diamond will have a pool under a retractable roof, which is nice if the weather is iffy. That was nice for our Alaskan cruise on the Sapphire.

As I mentioned before , we chose this cruise because the time was convenient as we were both on holidays. Unfortunately we are also paying a few hundred dollars more for the Xmas/New Year voyage so I'm hoping that Princess pull out a few stops in the the festive spirit area.

The one thing that surprised me about the holiday aspect of our cruise was that champagne was not free on NYE. But a few days later, free champagne was passed out at the champagne waterfall.

I found a video on Youtube that showed the Diamond Atrium on New Years Eve. They squeezed a lot of people into that area. If someone starts singing "There's got to be a morning after" we're jumping ship!!