Worldtraveler 4727

Purple Traveller, Thank you for the link! I very much enjoyed your trip report! So sorry you didn't get into the fjords again....we will be there the first week in November. Fingers crossed!

Thank you for the offer of help....I cannot seem to find any definitive information on how far in advance one can buy tickets to a performance in the Opera House, and what the offerings might be --specifically October 26 or 27, 2023. I did read that for "popular performances" it's best to book 6+ months out, but I can't find any links that list what the various offerings will be. 

32 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

When we were last there, Australia charged a 1.1% surcharge on all credit card purchases (including ship on board account settlement). This is not the same as an international usage fee, which some credit cards charge (ours don’t). 

Thanks for the heads up on that!

Thank you! Most helpful!

On 3/1/2023 at 11:55 AM, LouCoop said:

We did need the fly screen. We were going to buy it in Uluru but our guide had them for everyone.

Accomodations were all good, nice hotels and in Uluru they were like little motel cabins.

If I remember right only breakfast was included in tour. Other meals depended on the restaurants you chose. We didn't have any negative experiences.

We also flew 2 days early. We only met the group the day before we left for Uluru for a meeting at the Sidney hotel. Next morning we left for Uluru. Contrary to you our tour of Sidney was on our return from Cairns. We came back 2 days before our cruise so had first evening off, next day tour lasted all day and next morning after that we were embarking on the ship for our cruise.

We really enjoyed the whole tour. We also had a great guide. 

On 3/1/2023 at 11:55 AM, LouCoop said:

We did need the fly screen. We were going to buy it in Uluru but our guide had them for everyone.

Accomodations were all good, nice hotels and in Uluru they were like little motel cabins.

If I remember right only breakfast was included in tour. Other meals depended on the restaurants you chose. We didn't have any negative experiences.

We also flew 2 days early. We only met the group the day before we left for Uluru for a meeting at the Sidney hotel. Next morning we left for Uluru. Contrary to you our tour of Sidney was on our return from Cairns. We came back 2 days before our cruise so had first evening off, next day tour lasted all day and next morning after that we were embarking on the ship for our cruise.

We really enjoyed the whole tour. We also had a great guide. 

Thank you for the information.

Any other details you'd like to share about the land portion or the excursions you took in NZ would be greatly appreciated!
Also, may I ask, especially since you indicate many meals are on our own,  did you need AU and NZ dollars?? If so, how much would you recommend? A friend is there right now and says "everything" is credit card friendly. 

On 3/1/2023 at 11:08 AM, t&atravel said:

I also did this tour and cruise in Feb 2020 and it was excellent!  The flies were everywhere as you have noted.  We pre-purchased a fly cover that goes over your hat but it turns out that was unnecessary (to pre-purchase, not to have!😉) as the tour operator provided them.  They are also for sale at the hotel at Uluru.  You will be glad to have them!!  I don’t fully remember details of the Sydney tour but I do know we had plenty of time to ourselves.  Enjoy!

Thank you for the information.

Any other details you'd like to share about the land portion or the excursions you took in NZ would be greatly appreciated!
Also, may I ask: did you need AU and NZ dollars?? If so, how much would you recommend? A friend is there right now and says "everything" is credit card friendly. 

19 hours ago, LouCoop said:

Our last cruise pre covid in February 2020 was similar to what you have booked. The land tour took us to Uluru, Cairns and back to Sydney. We very much enjoyed it. Our cruise was 12 days to New-Zealand, we also enjoyed that. I would recommend this tour it was well planned out. We have very good memories of this voyage.

This is one comment I read from someone on CC about a tour at Ayers Rock:"One thing to do is to get one of those screen thingees that go over your head. The flies will carry you off during the day time. At night, they must go to sleep because they were not a problem at the sunset dinner." Were flies a significant problem when you were in Uluru enough to purchase and to take along an overhead fly screen?

Also, can you tell me how your accommodations were? How was the food?

On your arrival day in Sydney, what was planned for the group? We are flying in 2 days early, and I am trying to figure out what time we will have available to plan things. For example, on the next day after arrival, there is Sightseeing Tour for the group, and the itinerary states afternoon and evening at leisure. 

We would be interested in any details you could share. Thank you!

19 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

Not land and sea (exactly) but we’ve done many cruises in Australia and New Zealand and I blogged about them here. You can click on the tabs at tHe top to take you directly to those cruising seasons, or use the labels on the right to check out the posts for specific ports. 
 

2017-18:  http://pescadoamarillo.blogspot.com/2017/10/season-8-exploring-wonders-down-under.html

 

2019-20:  http://pescadoamarillo.blogspot.com/2019/09/season-10-big-easy-down-under-style.html  This one started with a transpacific cruise so you might want to skip past the first 30 days or so. 

Thank you!

1 hour ago, mr walker said:

For Dunedin, I thoroughly recommend Russ at Tourworks 'Dunedin Mainland Peninsula Tour'

 Dunedin Mainland Peninsula Tour » Tourworks

It was a great day & a great tour, seeing the city & the scenery and wildlife. 

 

If you have interest in LOTR, I suggest you take a tour to Hobbiton from Tauranga - we used Zealandia tours and they were excellent Homepage - Zealandier Tours

 

Cheers,

Neil

 

Thank you very much!

14 hours ago, cruiser3775 said:

If you give us the day by day itinerary of the land part of the trip, I'm sure Australians might have some comments and recommendations.

You could ask this question on the Trip Advisor Australia Forum, which is very active.

This is one comment I read from someone on CC about a tour at Ayers Rock:"One thing to do is to get one of those screen thingees that go over your head. The flies will carry you off during the day time. At night, they must go to sleep because they were not a problem at the sunset dinner." Can any Australian tell me if that is needed there--or in Cairns, or Darwin?? Thank you!

In addition, we will cruise Dunedin (Port Chalmers), Christchurch (Lyttleton), Picton Wellington, Tauranga, Auckland, and Bay of Islands, so if anyone has any "must see" private tours they would recommend and provide a link to, we would be much obliged. 

Someone on the AU/NZ boards answered. If anyone here is interested, here is the link:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

17 hours ago, yarramar said:

Sorry, this link starts at the beginning

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

 

THANK YOU! I just read the 31 pages Terry posted 🙀 and was able to take notes and get some great ideas. Thanks for the link!!

I have looked, but couldn't find anything connected to this...

I have posted on the Princess site. I think I've seen Terry from Ohio fairly active on there. 

10 hours ago, mr walker said:

Terry from Ohio did a report on his trip which was a very comprehensive & interesting one, few years ago & has continued to update.

I'm not sure how to link it, but this is copied from an alert from one of his posts:

I have looked, but couldn't find anything connected to this...

I have posted on the Princess site. I think I've seen Terry from Ohio fairly active on there. 

13 hours ago, Aus Traveller said:

I don't have a link to a blog, but what info are you looking for?

The blog on the Alaska Land and Sea Tour done by a CC member and also the one by me was a day-by-day accounting of all activities, food, transportation, weather, advice on what to pack and what to expect. etc. The itinerary provided by Princess is vary basic: i.e. fly to Cairns. I would like to know what meals are provided, what type of plane was used, how the hotel accommodations were etc etc. 

We are two couples going on a Princess land tour of Australia (7 days) then a  cruise around NZ (13 days) this next October/November.

Can anyone advise me or provide a link to any information previously posted on CC regarding this type of land/sea tour--preferably a blog? 

I found a daily blog on this same type of trip on Alaska, and it was very helpful. Then after taking the land and sea tour ourselves to Alaska on Princess, I posted a day-by-day blog that was helpful and appreciated by many as well. Hoping there is one or more out there for this one to Australia/New Zealand.

I posted this on the AU/NZ site, but so far nothing.

However, someone there said Terry from Ohio commented on one Jan 20 - Feb 3?? Couldn't find that posting....

Thank you!

Princess did a GREAT job on the Land/Sea Tour in Alaska! I have high hopes for this one as well.

Hope someone on CC knows someone who has taken it. 

We are two couples going on a Princess land tour of Australia (7 days) then a  cruise around NZ (13 days) this next October/November.

Can anyone advise me or provide a link to any information previously posted on CC regarding this type of land/sea tour--preferably a blog? 

I found a daily blog on this same type of trip on Alaska, and it was very helpful. Then after taking the land and sea tour ourselves to Alaska on Princess, I posted a day-by-day blog that was helpful and appreciated by many as well. Hoping there is one or more out there for this one to Australia/New Zealand.

Thank you!

13 hours ago, PaulMCO said:

It depends on your vaccination status and the country requirements -- which constantly change.  Regent emailed a voyage specific requirements one month prior.  Each voyage may be different.

 

For the Splendor Nov 9th voyage this is the link.   No covid test for vaccinated travelers.

https://www.rssc.com/voyage-health/SPL221109

Thank you, PaulMCO. That was very helpful.

14 minutes ago, papaflamingo said:

 According to the website no proof of negative Covid test is required if fully vaccinated unless local regulations require it.    If you are vaccinated you shouldn't be tested at the pier.  So it depends on local regulations at the boarding port. 

Thanks papafalmingo. We sail out of Miami in January. We are fully vaccinated, so I will be patient and wait to see what the January requirements might be. 

7 hours ago, GOARMY said:

Worldtraveler4727:  

 

Most-recent experience observing (but with no need to participate) was October 3rd at the L.A. Pier prior to embarking on

 

Mariner.  There were tables set up in the Check-in tent (don't even get me started on what a MESS that was) specifically for the purpose of administering such a test.  

 

Actually, during the 1.5 HOURS we waited--along with about 250 others--to complete that check-in debacle (process), cannot recall seeing any prospective passengers making a visit to those tables.  But, there they were.  

 

GOARMY!

 

 

Thanks, GOARMY. We are fully vaccinated so hopefully that is all we will need. 🤞🏻

Thanks for the link above to the step-by-step process. Answered many questions, but can anyone clarify a sentence within The Health & Safety Attestation that says (besides vaccination requirements) you must also agree to receive a Covid test with a negative result which is administered and paid for by the cruise line before embarkation. 

When/where does this test happen? 

On 10/27/2022 at 12:02 PM, RELS said:

 

Here's a thread I started a couple weeks ago on the check in process:

 

The most useful response came from @PhD-iva, including a link to this step-by-step help document from Regent:

https://www.rssc.com/sites/default/files/2021-08/onlinecheckinhelp_081621.pdf

The above link was very helpful. Thanks.

Can anyone clarify the sentence within the Health and Safety Attestation which states a required Covid test will be paid for and administered by the cruise line with a negative result prior to boarding? When/where does this occur?

mj-holiday: Thank you! Your answer was exactly what I was looking for and had hoped! Appreciate your time.

Cheers!

We are Midwesterners and therefore Brandy-lovers.😉 

Korbel is not usually stocked on any ship.

Is it possible to make a request like that? If so, would you kindly let me know how to go about it?

TIA!

11 hours ago, Jlhalldc said:

The vibration can get pretty strong especially when starting up and slowing down. Here's a funny video from the aft lounge. Perfect motion for mixing drinks. Martini, anyone?

 

 

Thank you for this link! It gave me more perspectives on many aspects of Navigator. So many love the ship.