greyskier

Thank you for everyones replies. We found they did luggage storage at the ferry terminal information office right next to the wharf where we disembarked. I think it was $10 per case but it was a very convenient place and there were plenty of taxis around later in the day.

thank you for the info that looked so convenient and we will be there on a thursday so should be ok

Has anyone any recent experience with storing luggage for the day in Auckland. We are staying at the airport after disembarking as have an early flight the next day but would like to spend the day around the city first.

Thank you for the info. I did find a luggage hotel listed on Princes Wharf not sure if it is still there. Was hoping someone might have used the storage recently.

We are getting off the Noordam in Auckland and have a flight booked early the next morning. Does anyone know if there is anywhere around the cruise terminal where we can leave our luggage for the day then we will go to one of the airport hotels that night.

From memory they did not do any passenger laundry because of the muddy water in the Amazon

We did the Amazon and Brazil cruise in 2017 and I don't think any of the shops were closed. the cruise went right up to Manaus and stayed overnight so we were around for several days. that is an amazing trip would love to do it again.

We did the Baltic cruise just before covid. In Copenhagen we were docked almost in town, there was a HOHO bus close to the ship. We took it part way round but then just walked everywhere and eventually back to the ship. Stockholm we docked a fair way from the town centre. there was a paid shuttle into the centre and from memory went back fairly regularly between certain times.

Has anyone had experience of a Christmas cruise on HAL with young children. Are there many others and does the kids club operate.Most of our HAL cruises have been overseas and there are usually no kids onboard but the australian market is probably quite different.

We have just done the Solomons/PNG cruise, we did the PNG one 6 yrs ago. I Rabaul they had people on the ship to change money either into Kina or back to Australian. In Kiriwina the locals were going along the line of people waiting for the tender to see if they could change there Aussie money. I don't know if they still do it but we really enjoyed the cultural dance show in Alotau. also the volcano tour in Rabaul. this time in Kiriwina the locals had a section of beach made "private"and were charging 5kina per person. you could also buy bananas, coconuts and they had cooked mud crabs for 25kina which did look good

I have pre existing cardiac problems and ANZ platinum would not cover me. After going through so many PDS'S for a recent PNG cruise I found Qantas came out the best and only added an extra 103$ for my pre existing. I found there was a huge variation in prices out there.

I have just used qantas for a PNG cruise we are 77and 78. they were very reasonable and only added an extra $100 for medical problems. the anz platinum wouldn't cover me for pre existing problems.I did some rough quotes with about 7 companies and Qantas came out the best

Dunedin We did a HAL ships tour on the Taeri Gorge railway. The train left from the ship and it was a really good day. Yes it was expensive but we were given lots of food and drinks and the staff on the train were fabulous. The scenery was pretty good. the people that booked on their own had to get the bus into Dunedin to join the train. Wellington Get the shuttle into town, the National museum was really good. then the cable car to the top. ( can't remember the name ) We had a lovely lunch at the top then walked back to the shuttle through the botanic gardens. We were mid february and the gardens were really beautiful Melbourne,, I think going to Phillip Island to see the penguins come ashore would be my definite. Maybe on the 2nd visit as it will be a late night. Tauranga We did a ships tour to Rotorua and it was a very interesting day

I can 2nd the Swissotel. we have stayed there several times. It is right over the MRT and shopping centre so you can easily get to anywhere in singapore. If you buy one of there transport cards it makes it so easy

We have done about 14 cruises from overseas. 2x Hurtigruten, 2x princess and the rest Holland america ranging from 2 to 8 weeks. All were fabulous and would do all again if we could. HAL often has ports other cruises don't often use they don't have as many extra activies as some other lines but we have never been bored. Hurtigruten is more of an expedition type cruise I think and would not suit if you liked lots of entertainment. Not counting Penguin 101 that we had.! We have also been on PO and Carnival and enjoyed those so I think you can find something to suit on most lines.