ssawjo

Thank you everyone for your replies and ideas. I will look around in the states to see if there is place to order some Kina. If I fail, I will make some arrangement in Sydney to obtain some. I'll have a few days before sailing.

Bill

We are cruising to PNG this April and I would like to exchange either US dollars or AU dollars for some Kina to use while in PNG.

We are staying a few days at the Shangri-La Hotel before leaving. Any suggestions for a nearby location to do the exchange?

Thanks,

Bill & Kathi

Would anyone know what the price in AUD is the AIBP on the Sun Princess per day? Thanks.

Sounds a good plan, will you still visit Christchurch?

Unfortunately, we will not be able to visit Christchurch this visit to NZ. Hopefully, next time.

Appreciate, Bill, your excellent follow-up and comment. While I cannot speak for the banks in Arizona, here is my "caution" based on our experiences with our banks and my past researching. It is possible now that the banks will quote an exchange rate that appears close to what is being listed now. Sound good? BUT, then you need to ask and be 100% clear about any "conversion fees" and/or other hidden charges. Those additional costs can add up!! Most banks are aiming to make money!! They are not providing this foreign currency as a "free" service. Generally, we have found that getting local currency from bank ATM's in the countries we are visiting to be the safest and best option. Your choice!!

 

Also, nobody can predict whether future rates will go or down. Either one could or might happen!! True, right?

 

Keep up your good planning and preparing for the fun and excitement when visiting these two great countries.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 201,204 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

Terry, I absolutely agree about bank "fees". I usually do wait until I am in country before obtaining local currency at the ATM. I bank at Chase and I will ask to ascertain their fee.

Thanks,

Bill

All,

This is our plan as of today. We will get off the ship at ? (haven't decided that yet), take the Princess transfer to the Sydney airport, check into the Mercure Sydney International Airport Hotel, drop the bags and take the train back into downtown. Return, stay the night, and take a morning flight to Queenstown, NZ. That seemed to be the best way for us. Considering April 25, the day the Sun Princess returns, is ANZAC Day. I would like to see the festivities.

Thank you all for all of your advice.

Bill and Kathi

Based our your charts, TLC, I may go ahead and buy some AU/NZ dollars now as a hedge in case things go up, which they always do. Our trip is still about nine months away but who knows.

Thank you,

Bill

Appreciate, Bill, your follow-up and the added background information. Very helpful. For your DW, who like my wife is I am sure very smart, I would encourage some added thoughts and research about Christchurch versus Queenstown, etc., etc. As I have noted the South Island of NZ is super amazing!!!

 

Glad you have the added time in Sydney. Auckland worked well for us and we are glad that we had the added time to see and explore there. Keep up the good planning. Let us know any added questions.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Terry,

 

After some discussion, we decided to visit Queenstown instead of Christchurch. Found a very nice B&B, highly rated on trip advisor. Now looking at things to do and there is a lot. We will be there two days and then fly to Auckland to finish our visit to NZ. Thank you for your advice and recommendations.

 

Bill and Kathi

Impossible, in my opinion. You should be at the airport at 7 30 at the latest.

You are arriving on a public holiday, Anzac Day, where there will be major road closures starting very early.

Why not experience Anzac Day and get the evening flight. At the worst, you could get the train to the airport, store or check in your luggage if that is possible and get the train back into the city.

That is exactly what we decided to do. I'll use the Princess transfer to the airport, check in at a hotel (any suggestions for one night?, nothing fancy required), take the train back into town, enjoy the festivities, dinner, train back to airport, and fly out to Queenstown the next morning.

Thanks for the heads up re: ANZAC Day.

Bill and Kathi

For what its worth,we always stay at the airport hotel the night before a flight.Check-in,leave bags,catch train,bus,taxi back to the city,enjoy the day knowing that in the morning you are at the planes door-step.2 hrs of travel,and a bit of frustration,relieves a whole lot of headaches the next-morning.Just a Thought.:):)

This is a good idea and this will be probably our plan. I don't want to rush around too much, I am on vacation/holiday for Pete's sake.

Thank you,

Bill

Another option may be to stay in Sydney overnight on 25 April then fly early the next day. As this is Anzac Day I would think you might like to book something pretty early so that you can get a reasonable rate.

After reading all of your responses to my question, I am now considering staying in town for ANZAC Day and flying out in the early evening. The only thng to consider is our luggage. Or stay the night and fly out early the following morning, the 26th. OR making a flight connection in AKL to CHC or Queenstown as someone else suggested.

I want to thank all of you for your polite responses. I am really looking forward to our trip Down Under.

Bill

Was there a particular reason you wanted to go to Christchurch for three days before going on to Auckland? Don't get me wrong, I like the city a lot but if you are very keen to go there you will probably either need to take the later flight or fly via Auckland. Would it be better to fly into Auckland first then go down to Christchurch a few days later. If you want the south island perhaps consider Queenstown also though I think those flights from Sydney are early as well. If you are in Christchurch the Antarctic Centre is excellent and also a drive out to the Banks Peninsula and Akaroa. There are NZ experts here who can give you ideas.

I have done the Tranzalpine; it was OK though I suppose it depends on what kind of landscape you have where you live. I didn't think it was spectacular but YMMV.

Because there is a 3 hr time difference between Sydney and NZ you will find that afternoon planes from Sydney do get in very late.

Everything you said has crossed my mind, except Queenstown. We like trains and the area we live, Phoenix, Az, is a desert, similiar I suppose to your Outback. It was close to 120F today. So, greenery is nice.

Our T/A suggested that we go to Christchurch first, then to Auckland, to avoid an additional flight. Sounded great at first but the flights do not cooperate and now I am told April 25 is a national holiday. Is it the same in NZ?

Hmm, some deep though will be required. Nothing is set in stone and I have plenty of time til we leave the states.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions, etc.

Bill

Terry,

For some reason, the DW wants to visit Christchurch, so there you have it.

Actually, we will be visiting PNG and Vanatu, not the stops you mentioned. It does stop in Brisbane and we are thinking of doing the Lone Pine Koala Santuary. So it is a round trip from Sydney.

The logistics to leaving the ship for CHC do not look favorable.

We are arriving several days ahead of time in Sydney to see the sights. That is taken care of.

I enjoyed your pictures and commentary prior and thank you for responding.

If I have any other questions, I will ask.

Thanks,

Bill

No chance. You need 90 mins for international flight plus train travel or taxi approx 20-30 mins. Pretty sure there are later flights to Christchurch out of Sydney. You won't make that flight. Have you checked Qantas, Jetstar or Virgin Australia schedules.

I have checked all of them. There are no direct flights after 9:45 to 5:30. There are connecting flights but they arrive late evening in CHC. Unless someone knows something I don't, please let me know.

I do agree with the time it takes to the airport, etc. Just wanted confirmation.

Thank you,

Bill

Hello All,

My DW and I are cruising on the Sun Princess boarding in Sydney on April 5, 2017 and returning to Sydney on April 25. This is what we would like to do and hence the questions:

We would like to fly to Christchurch as soon as we leave the ship which is scheduled to dock at 7 AM. I noticed that the direct flights from SYD to CHC are early morning, the latest being around 9:45 AM on Air New Zealand and then at 5:30 PM. Question: If we walk off as earliest as possible, can we be at the airport in time? Would the train or a private service be best? Not sure if the ship docks at the OPT or White Bay.

Next, what to do in Christchurch. We will have only two days before leaving for three days in Auckland. The Transalpinze (?) train looks like fun. Also, any hotel recommendations. Any suggestions would be helpful. It looks like a beautiful part of the country.

Thank you,

Bill and Kathi

Hello All,

My DW and I are cruising on the Sun Princess boarding in Sydney on April 5, 2017 and returning to Sydney on April 25. This is what we would like to do and hence the questions:

We would like to fly to Christchurch as soon as we leave the ship which is scheduled to dock at 7 AM. I noticed that the direct flights from SYD to CHC are early morning, the latest being around 9:45 AM on Air New Zealand and then at 5:30 PM. Question: If we walk off as earliest as possible, can we be at the airport in time? Would the train or a private service be best? Not sure if the ship docks at the OPT or White Bay.

Next, what to do in Christchurch. We will have only two days before leaving for three days in Auckland. The Transalpinze (?) train looks like fun. Also, any hotel recommendations. Any suggestions would be helpful. It looks like a beautiful part of the country.

Thank you,

Bill and Kathi

Personal opinion from someone who lives near San Diego - I'm sure others may differ:

 

is it worth it? No

Is it too much of a hassle? Yes

Does the border coming back get insane? Yes

Does San Diego have amazing taco places? Yes

 

Tijuana may have some worthwhile attractions, but there's no way I would spend time going there if you only have one day in San Diego. Spend the day in Balboa Park or the beach, your free evening in the Gaslamp District, the morning before boarding your ship touring the Midway or the Maritime Museum (both right next door to the pier). To find a great place for tacos, go to TripAdvisor's San Diego forum:

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g60750-i41-San_Diego_California.html

 

You can sample authentic Mexican tequila in any bar or buy it in any liquor store. If you really must 'cross it off the bucket list', then I hope you enjoy it and have no issues, but I wouldn't do it.

I second this opinion. After working for US Customs at the border, it is a major headache for folks returning to the US. My advice is don't do it.

We always love finding a restaurant where most eating there are actually Chinese. :)

This is a good idea. Chinatown is not far of a walk from the pier. And no hills till you get to Chinatown. If it looks like a hole-in-the-wall it is probably very good. Good luck.

Not sure of the rate or if it still there, but the Holiday Day Inn is across the street from the pier. Easy walk. A quick taxi ride from the airport. Also close to Little Italy and walkable. Plenty of great restaurants there. Enjoy your cruise.

Bill

Not sure of the rate or if it stll there, but the Holiday Day Inn is across the street from the pier. Easy walk. Also close to Little Italy and walkable. Plenty of great restaurants there. Enjoy your cruise.

Bill

We will be flying to Sydney for a 20 day round trip on the Sun. However, we are then flying to New Zealand for a week of sightseeing. Question: Will EZ Air book a ticket, one way to Sydney and one way return from Auckland, an open jaw ticket? We will buy our own tickets to Auckland, one way, unless they are much more cheaper to do a round trip and fly home from Snydey.

Thank you,

Bill

Looks like there's a 5 day Baja Peninsula out of LA on April 15, 2017, then a b2b 4 day Calif. Coastal, and then another b2b 5 day Baja Peninsula on April 24. That would give you three cruises in 14 days. If you book a suite, you get credit for 6 cruises.

Did something very similiar on the Golden two years ago. We had a window suite and got the six cruise credits each. Window suites are very nice but no balcony. You do receive all of the suite benefits at a lower cost. You may want to think about it. Not sure what ship you are looking at.

Good luck.

Today, Princess called us and apologized for the mix-up regarding the AIBP and the shareholder credit. Princess could not explain what happened and the lady who called seemed as dumb founded as we were. Anyway, they offered a refund on the credit card we used OR $225/pp or $450 OBC on our next cruise. Since we will be on a 20 day South Pacific cruise next year, we took the OBC. It will appear as such on our personalizer.

Sometimes it pays to be persistent.

Thanks all for your input and advice.

Bill and Kathi

Someone else reported they lost their deal when they applied their shareholder credit. So definitely something going on with Princess at the moment.

Yes, that was my DW. When she applied for her shareholder credit, she somehow lost her AIBP gift from Princess. This was after final payment and there were no changes whatsoever to the booking. We have letters into Princess about this. Finally got a call a few days ago saying that they are four weeks behind in handling complaints. Not very good customer service IMO.

Bill

No, it's a computer glitch Princess can't fix. Call them and they'll give you a "customer goodwill" credit instead of the shareholders credit. That's how they fixed it for me.

Agree it is most likely a computer glitch. Will they credit me the $394 I had to spend for my DW's AIBP as "customer goodwill"? Remember the cruise is done.

Thanks for your response however.

Bill