clm1982

Hi all

We just got home from explorer on Thursday and the photos we purchased via USB stick are corrupt and unable to be seen at all. Anyone happen to know which number I should contact? Would they have kept all photos or deleted them?

Thanks everyone yep found it 7pm!

Hi All

Im leaving on Explorer on Sunday from Sydney and wonder where I can find out what time is sail away please?

What do you mean "book" the MDR...?? Are you doing MTD, or do you have traditional seating? Traditional is much easier!

We are doing MTD. It wont be every night we want 15 seats just the first night. 2 tables next to each other should be ok too.

Hi All

Last year when we went on the cruise we left it till the last minute to book dinner for the first night and got caught out so went to the buffet. I have a surprise announcement for my family which I want to do on the first night all together. Can I book MDR as soon as I get on the ship as we have like 15 of us that we need to accommodate for. Best way to go about this? Thanks

always wear a lanyard and from what ive seen on ships 99% of people wear lanyards. They cost like $2 of ebay so are not expensive or some travel agents gve them to you for free. I don't carry anything with me when onboard except my lanyard!

Hi All,

Im trying to arrange a tour in Bay of Islands in NZ according to our itenery the ship gets there at 8am leaves 4pm.

Last time I did a tender it was a nightmare I think we waited about 2-3 hours to get off the ship! Our tour guide is expecting us at approx. 8.30am, is this even possible.

Has anyone done this previously do I have to get up at 6am to get the first ticket off the boat?

Hi there, great to see you had a good time, pity about the kids but yes school holiday cruises are usually the worst for that.

We are going in 5 weeks, what was the weather like? Should I be packing both sorts of clothes winter and summer? thanks :)

They are very strict, what ever age they fall in is what group they will go. Sorry

Thank you so much for the quick reply. The information has helped a great deal, Is it expensive to hire a car in the tauranga port. We are cruising on the Explorer of the seas by the way. also one other question, we are in an interior stateroom. When i book it said it sleeps 4 but every picture of the room i find only has 1 double bed? will there definately be enough room for my 2 kids?

We are also going on explorer but in March.

the beds in the rooms come as a royal king with bunks that come down from the roof or you can get 2 sets of bunks. They are pulled down at night time and packed away in the mornings by your attendant.

We were also going to do tours however with the 4 of us it was going to cost like $800 so we decided to hire a car and do it ourselves. We went with thifty they put you up in a shuttle and take u to get the car then return u back to the port. Theres also rite price rentals where there office is only a short walk away but thye were a lot more expensive.

I ended up booking with thrifty 12 seater van inc 2 car seats and gps for $256.50 NZD compared to $330NZD with pacific auto.

Thrifty also pick u up and shuttle you to there facility and return you back to the dock.

tell me about it, however it is a 12 seater minibus and 2 cars are likely to be the same price :S

$14 for cocktails, $5 non alcoholic cocktails, wine $9-$13 a glass or 36-50 a bottle.beer American premium $7.50 (budwesier, coors light etc) beers of the world $6.50 (heinekin, corona etc, ciders $6.50, softdrinks were around the $2.50 mark and I didn't take photos of the spirits sorry.

Just heard back from riteprice they want $331.50 ouch!

Waiting for Thrifty to get back to me as it would seem according to their website it should be about $250 inc the car seats and gps. And they shuttle us to and from the port.

There doesn't seem to be a Pegasus in Tauranga only Taupo which is 2 hours away?

Hi All

I have 9 people inc 3 children whom I need to get a hire car for Tauranga. They all seem to be really bloody expensive!

Europcar seem to be the cheapest but I would have to get myself to the office which is near the airport, anyone know how much this would be via taxi at all or would the savings be better put towards one of the more expensive car hire companies which are closer to the port...

Thanks for that. I found if you book online its already cheaper. Think we are going to go with rentadent mostly as they seem to be the cheapest and pick up from the port. Car seats are only $5 with them instead of $30 through other companies.

thanks :)

yes first time, not 100% sure I can afford to do both nor have the time to do both..

Hi All,

We are trying to decide which of these will be better? If you were to only go to one which would you go too?

Thanks!

Royal Caribbean had shuttles for $15 round trip. The Otagon museum, the Cadbury factory, and railway station are all within walking distance. We were in Dunedin a couple of days ago and the Cadbury Factory was extremely popular...with passengers and crew coming back with bags and bags of chocolates.:)

Oh thankyou, Yes Royal Caribbean $15 is a bit more reasonable but $25pp is a bit of a rip off!

is the $25pp for kids too? I have a 3year old which would likely sit on my lap is that doable?

How much would a taxi be?

Hi All,

I have a group of 15 people inc 5 children whom I need to get from port to Dunedin. What would be the most cost effective.

Does anyone know how much the shuttle buses are? Should I hire a minibus/taxi to transport us to and from?

Also, looking at doing Otego museum, Cadbury factory and Baldwin street at this stage maybe brewery and railway station if we get time. Are these all within walking distance?

Thanks!

Thanks everyone, Desert Cruzisers we are going to the 3 sounds, Dunedin, Tauranga, Auckland and bay of islands.

So far I think we are doing:

Dunedin : Cadbury factory (we have small kids), Otego museum and Baldwin street, if we have time we may go somewhere else.

Tauranga

: We have a group of 15 so everyone is still deciding what they want to do. So far im thinking Hells gate + possible mud bath, Te Puia and Luge ride.

Auckland: not 100% sure may just wander the city.

Bay of islands - definitely want to do the kawiti caves and im thinking treaty grounds however I found a company that will do a tour of a few things for $950NZD for the 15 of us so we may do that not 100% sure till I check with the others.

Well you are the one that asked how to get to Waiomo caves. I just provided the information.

I think you are getting confused on Waitomo caves compared to Kawiti caves which are totally different and not 5 hours. In terms on how I should get there I meant either via taxi, or is there a bus that goes that way etc?