Swissmiss6253

His name was Lee.  We had a much better cruise director on my next sailing on her.

I certainly expected there would be something, and maybe we missed mention of it.

We had a very slack, in my opinion, cruise director on the only trip I have made with the Solstice over the equator.  I don't think anything happened.  

We hired a car from Avis in the city centre, Nelson Street.  It would be a 15 minute walk or a 5 minute taxi drive to the wharf.  We dropped it off in Wellington so they definitely do different drop off points

Be particularly vigilant about cover for pre-existing conditions with CC insurance.

I'd move to the Marriot permanently for that price!

Don't know if you have time but when we stayed at the Bay of Islands recently my husband and son did the Fullers Cream trip which they said was terrific.  It is a cruise around the islands.  The treaty grounds are also really good.  I enjoyed Russel thoroughly and liked the ferry trip from Paihia.

In Auckland we enjoyed the trip to Devenport, such a pretty place.  We didn't get to Waiheke island but if we go again that is our must do.  The Kelly Tarlton aquarium is interesting, as is the war museum.

Wow!  Slightly too adventurous for me!  I think I top out at 5m.

So many gorgeous markets!  The Innsbruck one in particular was gorgeous.  I kept expecting to find Bing crooning around the corner

It is a real long way away from Sydney.  Assuming you are talking Port Douglas/Cairns, it is the same flight time from Sydney as is Uluru (Ayers Rock). If you want to do a flying trip to Cairns, I would do exactly that.  Fly to Cairns and take a fixed wing or helicopter flight over the reef.  It would be spectacular and so very different to Sydney.  But I agree with Mr Gut, there is lots of glorious things to see in just 4 days around Sydney.  His itinerary is spot on.

I don't know that I would cruise for this.  I would probably locate myself in two or three places.  Zurich and do day trips to the numerous wonderful Swiss Christmas markets and then somewhere like Colmar and head around to the Alsace Christmas markets.  Then possibly Nuremberg for the christmas market on steroids they have there.  This way you wouldn't have to drag your bags around all the time but will still be able to see heaps of them.

http://www.helloswitzerland.ch/-/top-christmas-markets-in-switzerland

https://www.noel-colmar.com/en/

http://www.christkindlesmarkt.de/en/

We have used them a few times, the tours were fine, no complaints.  They ran tour we were closest to the last back on the ship with though. The driver/tour guide was so enthusiastic about showing us his beloved NZ that he kept throwing in another place to go well past the time the tour should have ended.  At 5pm when the last on board was 5:30 pm he said we had time to go to one more place and see his favourite beach, we all revolted and said we had to get back to the ship.  We got back on at 5:15 so he was probably right but we were all very stressed!

You should be able to get the Ibis Darling Harbour for this rate if you are happy to pay a non refundable amount.  It is a taxi/uber/shuttle or longish walk (30 minutes or so) but the location is a good one.  Darling Harbour has lots to do and see.  It is what you would expect of an Ibis.  Wynyard Travelodge would also suit.  Good location for Sydney CBD shopping and restaurants, not the buzz of darling harbour but excellent for trains.  You could train to circular quay or it is about a 15 minute walk.

I'm a bit of a Princess, we had lots of luggage and four adults, I don't like waiting for buses, so we used these guys.  https://www.blacklane.com/en/limousine-service-tokyo

Especially with your timing I would be far less stressed if I knew someone was waiting for me.

I love her, I think she is genuine and lovely.  I would prefer she lay off the sexual harassment a bit though.  You don't have to be pretentious to talk about cruising! 

It is a great country.  Coincidently we were in the Captains Unit in the ship while you were in the train carriage judging by the itinerary!

My brother and I were heading up to the Opera House a little while ago.  My intent was to take him to East and have a nice healthy sashimi lunch.  Somehow we got pulled into the Guylian cafe and had opera cake for lunch instead!

That is not a lot of money for Sydney, especially that area.  Walk up to China Town, lots of really good places there that would suit your budget, as well as Mr Gut's suggestions closer to home.

We did the cream cruise, 9:30 - 4:30 so depends on your timing.  Excellent day.  The treaty grounds are gorgeous and such an interesting experience, well worth doing if you don't do a full day boat trip.

On various trips we have visited the small Wellington Museum (highly rate this attraction), Te Papa (just visited the Terracotta warriors - amazing.  Gallipoli also stunning).  We just did the Weta Workshop tour - fantastic.  Easy city to get around by yourself too.  One tour we did, because there was a stretch that you can only access via tour bus or push bike or walk was one called variously the Pencarrow Trail treck or the Shipwreck coast tour.  Really enjoyable, amazing coastal scenery.

It is a stunning day, not to be missed.

I enjoyed Dunedin, we did the Taieri Gorge train and then just wandered around the city centre last time.  This time we are having a tour around the town and outskirts including the castle.

Last time in "Tauranga we did Hobbiton, this time the kids are going to Rotarua and we are doing a wine tasting tour.

I read the scathing or just negative reviews too and look for things that are important to me.  So if someone said you could only get a seat in the theatre if you were there one hour before hand, I would take that into consideration.  Or if they said the gin and tonics were warm (the horror!).  But if they said that every time they complained to guest services they weren't properly compensated, or there was nothing fit to eat on board, or if all the staff were always rude, then I would apply a pinch of salt.  So I guess I am saying that I find all reviews can be useful, when read critically.

My daughter was 12 when we were on her last and enjoyed the kids club.  We will be on again in 5 days and my now 14 year old says she will give it a try again.

Great review, thank you.  This trip is on my list to do and at this time of year as I thought it may be the least humid.