JeffroK

Is Princess still offering a Disembarkation tour, there used to be a full day tour, I think it did a circuit of the city then up to the Blue Mountains, and your bags go in the bus.

Kaikoura, Fish & Chips at the northernmost shop, beachside of the street! The Seagulls recommend it. KI, went for our honeymoon many years ago, plenty of options, depends on what you like. (Though some are a bit off due to fire damage a few years back)

I would think that the 20ish hours in the air would see you a write off after your flights. Where are you staying, if close to Circular Quay there are a of of Restaurants in the area with views of the Bridge, Opera House and the Ferries scurrying in and out. On the 28th, a leisurely breakfast before heading to the ship for lunch. You really havent left enough time before departure foe serious sightseeing, and thats assuming the flights are on time.

If you go to Waiheke it is roughly a 1km walk to the village, I would suggest finding a tour whch might show you some sights or wine tastings. Weather dependent, the ferry trip there and back is worth it alone.

We are not regular Restuarant goers any more, and have slowly lost our social contacts. On our Princes cruise (pre covid) we chose Anytime Dining and on arrival were seated at a table of 8-10, IMVHO too many as 3-4 conversations could take place at the same time and my hearing is getting dodgy. We had a great time but basically it was for one time only. Except, I never say where I live, but name the closest main town so we were talking and one couple says they are from Sydney, my answer is I am from Geelong. He replies, Oh, I went to Geelong Grammar my Father was Principal of a small Primary School nearby. Where was that my wife asks, Lara Lake Primary is the reply, he was Principal in 1968-69. My wife then replies, your Father was Mr ......, Yes is the reply. We had a get together a bit later and he and my wife compared notes over happenings 50 years previously. Other nights we went to the Dining room and got 2 seaters, ate at some Specialty diners and at the Buffet. All of this is what you make of it, suits some and not others.

Nov 2019 an the Maj, not allowed in the MDR wearing shorts. Went and put on long trousers that were worse than the shorts!!

I was bored so has a read through the thread, apart from the problems with the Crown Princess and Customer Relations failures there seems to be a lot of 1st World problems. People who have had 10's of cruises seem to have the expectation that nothing changes, even without Covid the world keeps moving. Suggestions that Princess/CCL are behaving like a Corporation and out to maximize profit seems to be complaining about the reason for their existence, not to run at part capacity and make a loss on each cruise. Imagine what they have lost over the last 3 years, and what hurdles they have jumped to get ships back in the water so that people like us can restart cruising. I dont want bad service, or cancellations but being close to 3 years since a holiday I can understand that not everything is back to pre-Covid standards