Let me start by advising that this was our second cruise with Princess Lines and our cruises now number 10 with Norwegian and others.

We boarded at Port Melbourne on the 20th October without much fuss and bother. There were queues because of the amount of passengers embarking but they seemed to move quickly. Our luggage was previously taken downstairs with the promise it would be at our cabin by the time we got there - first brownie point achieved. This cruise we decided for no other reason than to try it out to have an inside cabin, mistake in my book and we would never have an inside cabin again. It was comfortable enough but all sense of time is lost as it is always dark in the cabin - unless you have the lights on of course. We will return to our balcony or Mini suite in future with the additional cost well worth it in my opinion. The weather in the Tasman Sea was a little rocky but not enough to say it was uncomfortable. Our trip took us to Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Akaroa, Port Chalmers and then on to the Fiordalnd including Milford Sound. Our Captain Ivan Jerman made the decision not to enter the second sound - Doubtful & Thompson due to the weather conditions and we would head direct to Milford Sound. On arrival unfortunately the fog was fairly low and the beauty of this magnificent place could't be appreciated by those that have not seen it before. We cruised Milford before coming back into the Tasman Sea headed for Bass Straight and our home town of Melbourne. The trip home was lumpy, bumpy and rocky with the medical center doing outstanding business. I must tell you that the food supplied was outsstanding in the Florentine Dining room with the service by our waiter "Wilson" and drink waiter "Amiel" superb. We couldn't have expected any more than what they gave. Our cabin steward Bernado was also top class. The majority of the crew that we came in contact with come from the Philipines and they were/are very well versed in looking after you. We met some interesting people onboard and will most likely continue the relationships via email etc from our home in Melbourne. I gave the trip 8 out of 10 and am now looking for the next one in 2015 in the Mediterranean.