Off to Station Pier to board the Golden Princess. What we didn't know was how long this would take!!! We got close to the wharf and encountered a horrendous traffic jam - cars and taxis trying to get onto the wharf. We had an agonizing 30 - 40 minutes queuing on the wharf to drop the luggage and get out - a real shambles that Princess and Port Of Melbourne needs to sort out and sort out fast. My personal feeling - no private cars should be allowed access and perhaps there should he an off site luggage drop and shuttles buses to get passengers to the wharf.
Once unloaded the bags were whisked away and we went upstairs by lift to start the embarkation procedure. We were shown to the Wheelchair Embarkation area, which really could have been organised a little better. We just 'pushed in' and completing the process was actually quite quick.
With Cruise Card in had we headed to go through Immigration and scanning. Happened quite quickly and we declared our wine. As we went to board our timing was perfect - managed to get around the photographers and board without having that pesky boarding photo!
We were on board at 1.45pm - 1.45 hours from the time we left the hotel and actually had our feet onboard - terrible. And we missed having lunch in the main dining room - dam!
As we had missing the MDR lunch we decided it was better if we went straight to our Cabin E716 and leave our hand luggage and see what was what. We met our cabin steward - Eugene a very polite young chap. (Forgot to get a photo) Amazingly our bags had already started to arrive so we unpacked what we could. And took photos of the cabin.
Entry - wardrobes to the right, desk on the left and bathroom.
Lounge area - TV opposite two tubs chairs, second TV above drawers (6) on the left.
Bedroom area - drawers on each side huge
Lounge view - more storage including cooler (fridge)
Accessible bathroom
On Sea Day 3 we asked our wonderful cabin steward to change the disabled toilet seat for a standard seat as it was proving too difficult. He did this very professionally staying up to 9pm to ensure the Maintenance Engineer had completed to our satisfaction. Well done.
Our thoughts on cabin/stateroom:
Very large - 310 sqft
Inside, so no window of course
Good bathroom - standard Princess accessible bathroom although the seat was rather small.
No noise from Vista Lounge at all
But noise and vibration when thrusters in use on arrival and departing a port (most of the aft of the ship would feel and hear the thrusters, so not a deal breaker.
Comfortable, but we did miss the balcony!
One down side is accessible the common areas of the ship when reliant on a wheelchair. You need to to down to deck 7 for access to the mid located dining rooms on 5 and 6. Also the elevators banks aft were a little tricky - to outside two elevators covered 6-17 but the inside only 7-14!
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