Dawn Princess Review
Rating by category
Additional details
My wife and I used this cruise on our first trip to Australia to get the flavour of what is on offer in this large country. The cruise certainly did this and on the whole we enjoyed our experience of Australia once ashore.
The actual cruise however was a different matter. We have been, in the past, loyal Princess customers but the experience of this ship means the parting of the ways now. Dawn Princess is based in Australia and the overall cruise experience is not what we have become used to as Elite members of the Captains Circle.
Firstly we were very disappointed to be discriminated against in the matter of paying on board gratuities. We were never told of the policy that gratuities were not required on this ship. In order not to max out our cards we pre paid in the UK, only to find after we had been on the ship a couple of days that Australians do not pay gratuities and were not expected to pay. This was written in the handbook in the cabin and on the information on the Princess Australia web site. Not however on the UK site we use and through which we booked.
Cabin Review
Balcony
Compared to more modern ship cabin was too small. The shower room was particularly poor being very small. The cabin was also showing signs of age and in need of refurbishment.
Port Reviews
Sydney (Australia)
Sydney is a wonderful city. Pity that Princess use White Bay cruise terminal as only way back to circular quay is an $18 dollar return ferry trip. Bigger cruise ships berth at Circular quay which is easily the best berth location in the World
Brisbane
Good tour including boat ride on canal and tambourine mouting
Darwin
First experience of Australian wildlife and very good
Lombok
Very crowded Island. Interesting trip out and a look at how people live.
Broome
No worth stopping at apart from cable beach. Port miles from town and not enough shuttle buses. Some people waited over two hours for the ride into town.