Ponant does adventure cruises around NZ but they are expensive.

https://us.ponant.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=new+zealand

They go to the Chathams and sub-Antarctic islands, not just the two main islands

On 6/6/2023 at 2:20 PM, Jean C said:

Dare I admit it, even "protected" wetas get my zero tolerance treatment - they're big and they're ugly 😱

Oh no, Jean, wetas are wonderful little creatures.  Yes, they can be big but they are amazing and absolutely harmless.  

10 hours ago, arxcards said:

I wasn't aware of the matching status thing. Are they trying to keep it under wraps, or are they just not promoting themselves very much? I would agree that after the fanfare of the launch, there has been very little of the usual Virgin promotion. Maybe they are moving in different circles and trying to attract a different crowd. They can't forget older and rusted-on cruisers though. Interesting that Virgin is pitching as a young brand. To us, Branson/Virgin was anti-establishment, but to the younger crowd they are very much part of the establishment.

 

I see quite a few port bookings in Sydney for February. Some fit gaps for heading to/from Melbourne, but not all. If they throw up a short one out of Sydney, I will take a closer look.

I applied for this.  Got approved but to close the loop you have to ring their international 0800 number.  Just can't bear the thought of being on hold forever but will have to do it sometime.

On 6/6/2023 at 5:14 PM, Ondine said:

Well we are off to a good start I think not.  I booked 3 voyages on Resilient Lady over 12 months ago and fully paid for them.  You get a 10% discount.

 

The first voyage on 11th Dec still looks ok, 5 nights Tasmania.  Think it will be a party cruise but just want to see what it is like.

 

However I have just received an email this morning stating that "We have received significant feedback from Sailors and travel partners about the voyages available, so we're adjusting our sailing schedule to provide more round-trip sailings in Australia from Melbourne and Sydney"

 

Hmm this means that my other 2 cruises - Melb to Auk 14th Feb and B2B return Auk to Mel 28th Feb have been cancelled.  They have also cancelled the 2 preceding cruises in Jan/Feb.

 

So they are giving FCCs and some extra based on the type of cabin booked although you can evidently ask for your money back if you want.  Since prices have gone up substantially since I booked I am not impressed.

 

More news to come in the next few days so I await the release of substitute itineraries and what options I have.  I am not impressed - they haven't even got here yet.

 

 

Think I've told you this before, Ondine.  We're booked on the first voyage too.  Can't wait.  The food look good.

Apologies if this has already been asked.  We are booked on the mermaiden voyage out of Melbourne in December.  It is only five days and my husband is keen to stay on the ship for a lot of the time that we are in port in Tasmania.  My question is re the restaurants for lunch on port days.  Do these maintain their normal hours or are there reduce options?

Thanks

On 5/14/2023 at 9:32 AM, jwattle said:

Any opinions on Radisson Blu please? 💕

Husband has stayed there a lot for work.  He says well-located, rooms are a funny shape, getting a bit tired pre-pandemic but a nice hotel.  Close to centre of town, Hyde Park, easy walk down to Opera House and Circular Quay.

On 4/24/2023 at 2:06 PM, Ondine said:

We have also booked the first/initial voyage - 5 nights Melb/Burnie/Hobart - just to get a heads up before embarking on the 20 nights in Feb. I hate to think what this will be like with probably a lot of influencers/freebees? and whoever.  I am expecting this to be a party/booze cruise and not the same cruisers who will do the longer cruises later.

 

I have looked at several videos by guests who have cruised Scarlet and Valiant.  I am sure Resilient will be similar.  She does her maiden voyage on May 15th so no reviews yet.  Some say the beds are too hard some say ok.  Most who go twin (as we will) are not impressed with the configuration.  I am hoping against hope that Resilient may be different!!  Don't fancy head to head or head to feet but will deal with that when it happens.  Lack of desk space doesn't worry me because I am not doing any work.  I would like a door on my wardrobe but I guess a curtain will suffice.

 

We have booked an standard Sea View balcony.  Deck 13 - cabins above and below and hopefully far enough aft so we don't hear any noise from late night deck parties.  I don't want an XL sea terrace because I don't like the look of the layout and definitely want a door on my bathroom even if there is slightly more room in them.

 

Looking forward to the hammock on the balcony but don't like the look of the silly little chairs.  They don't look comfortable.  Time will tell.  Food looks good and as long as there is trivia I will be happy.  At least they are homeporting Melbourne and are coming back the next season also.

I'm on this cruise too, just to try Virgin out.  I'm really hoping for relaxing time.

On 4/21/2023 at 11:16 PM, OzKiwiJJ said:

I think the real decider will be who has a South Pacific itinerary departing from Auckland. Am I right in thinking that is only P&O?

 

However if @Korimako is prepared to fly to Brisbane I would highly recommend Coral Princess, which is the best of the Princess ships currently operating here in my opinion.

 

Some of the balcony cabins on Coral aren't covered so ask for advice if you choose this option. 

Celebrity  do a South Pacific ex Auckland but it books up really quickly as it's popular

7 hours ago, MMDown Under said:

Hard for crew to keep passengers entertained for that long. 5 days was too long for me!!

We did Hawai'i to Vancouver and had five sea days.  I enjoyed it but that's the longest I've done.

17 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

If you enjoy sea days.  7 sea days from Brisbane to Papeete, Tahiti.

I do quite like sea days.  My life is so busy that I daydream about having a quiet, peaceful break with no phone, email or interruptions.  

14 hours ago, hahaer said:

Royal Caribbean 17 Night $1000/Person BNE-Honolulu

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/aus/en/cruises/itinerary/17-night-transpacific-from-oahu-honolulu-on-quantum/QN17BNE-2201399872?country=AUS&currency=AUD&dclid=CJPVx4zD9P0CFVFhfQodKNcFzg&ecid=sp_mdt_lstchn__1636_aus_aus&sail-date=2023-04-12#step=0

That's a great deal.  

13 hours ago, GUT2407 said:

And staff here are paid a pretty good wage. Minimum adult wage is Australia is around $20 per hour, no $2 per hour and hope tips make up the difference, but you might get a bit of sticker shock at menu prices. I often round up for great service, but part of me wonders if that is so I don’t end up with as many coins to cart around.

 

Unfortunately some will hear the accent and expect a tip, they have been conditioned by your countrymen who just have to tip, especially in tourist areas.

 

Min wage in NZ is now around $24 an hour

9 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

What is the current situation in NZ following the cyclone damage?  Are there people still unaccounted for?

Later - 7.30 Report on now saying people are unaccounted for.  The damage being shown is horrific.  I feel so sorry for the people affected by this cyclone.  

At the moment, there are 11 dead and they are concerned about approximately 10 people who are unaccounted for.  Some communities are still cut off and isolated.  Many roads and bridges are badly damaged or destroyed.  It's a mess.

On 2/17/2023 at 10:53 AM, lissie said:

We are always dismissive of warnings here. The Metservice has got history on over forecasting events - and the whole country has become really risk adverse - I was the same I'd have not hesitated on travelling those days if I'd been scheduled to.  

 

Frankly it wasn't that much rain - it's the stuff that Singapore gets regularly. The issue was our 3rd world infrastructure - the Napier-Gisborne road (and services like water, power, telecoms)  are basically 50 years old. That together with lots of forestry debris=destruction and deaths. 

 

Hopefully now we will actually have an infrastructure plan that involves more than cycleways. 

 

Cunard really needs to sort out their communications - they seem terrified of communicating anything -and don't realise that the less  news they provide the more damaging specuation results. 

 

I still don't understand why you weren't immediately offered the alternative cruise (or part thereof) -rather than just being cancelled 

I don't think the Met Service over-forecast, it's just that they deal in probabilities and people struggle with that.  They want to know whether it's going to rain or not.  They don't want to hear that there's an 80% probability of rain and a 20% probability of no rain.  When it comes to a storms and cyclones, they have a duty of care to warn people if there is a high probability of an extreme weather event, but it's not a certainty.

Here's a good summary about the situation in Napier

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/napier-is-an-island

Pictures from RNZ this morning showing some of the damage from the flooding.  It will take years to recover from this.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/484213/widespread-damage-cyclone-gabrielle-in-pictures

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/weather-news/300806341/in-pictures-cyclone-gabrielle-cuts-path-of-destruction

52 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

Norfolk Island is part of Australia 

True.  I stand corrected.  I should have said mainland Australia.

53 minutes ago, Hogbay said:

Watched that yesterday,  one tree down and 3 banana plants damaged.......Tracy flatten Darwin . Quantum tracking north off Nowra 10kn apparent wind , all decks open ,pools full of water . No lashing on deck chairs . Seas slight low swell.!!! 

I may be wrong, but I don't think Australia is in the firing line for this one.

Our wind warning has been upgraded to orange now and we have a heavy rain watch.  I can hear the wind starting to pick up outside.  

2 hours ago, Hogbay said:

What time is Gab coming? Hope she don't make a mess  

It's supposed to hit Northland on Sunday, then Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne on Monday & Tuesday.  We will probably be okay in the Bay of Plenty, I'm just being cautious.  It's the Coromandel Peninsula and the East Cape that are supposed to take the worst hammering.  It's all mathematical models, of course, so no one knows for sure where it will land, or indeed if it will land.  Let's hope it tracks further east than expected and just heads out to sea.  

We have had a busy day clearing drains, tidying loose objects, buying batteries and generally preparing a welcome for Gabrielle

I think you can safely assume that both airlines will be strict on the weight limit.  If you are over this you will have to pay.

https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/excess-baggage-fees

On 1/30/2023 at 11:52 PM, arxcards said:

When used to water down bourbon, I can taste the difference for the first 2 mouthfuls, then it is not noticeable for the rest of the night.

 

And of course, some insist on Coke, but Aussie Coke tastes different to Indonesian cruise ship coke cans and even more different to cruise ship post mix Coke on Princess. 

 

 

My daughter is fructose intolerant.  She can drink Coke from NZ because it is made with cane sugar (sucrose) but has to be super careful on a cruise because if the Coke is from the US it has corn syrup (fructose)

49 minutes ago, bazzaw said:

People (especially older people like me) die everyday of all kinds of causes. Many of these causes are avoidable ( smoking, obesity, car crashes,etc)  and as a Society we generally dont get too worried about the odd death here and there. So it is a form of paranoia to continue to treat Covid as an exceptional case (especially now that we know much more about it and we are all vaccinated)  and attempt to maintain zero Covid deaths. 

Paranoia is a fear of something that is not real.  It's okay to disagree with the protocols and think they are over the top but it's still not paranoia.

1 hour ago, bazzaw said:

In Australia , nobody HAS to isolate after testing positive. Welcome to the new World of "living with Covid" - the Worlds of "Covid exceptionalisn" and "zero Covid" are now gone.  But the paranoia engendered in those Worlds remain amongst many. 

I don't think it's paranoia when there is an actual disease causing real people to die.  You may disagree with the protocols but calling it paranoia s a bit inflammatory.