Over from NZ

No, you're missing the point. The push is on.. to change that split. As they push it towards a no-brainer for most to go package.. they'll end up with just the holdouts on basic. When there's only a small portion left on basic.. at that point they can easily amalgamate things without any business suicide.

I don't necessarily agree. They'll just tighten the screws till there's nobody left on the old standard. Then once they get to critical mass.. plus will become standard. I.e. Plus will be the entry level fare. The internet - yes, understood. I'd prefer it was still as it were - with my free 200 minutes. However.. I think the angle right now with the fairly substantial price jump is just to tighten the screws and push even people towards the Plus package. It makes "currently" the plus look more attractive. Once all are on Plus.. they can start pushing the plus price up.. or then split out another version of plus and standard.

Oh dear. Expensive uber. When are you in port.. I'll send the wife over the hill to collect you haha.

Uber is well entrenched in NZ.. but haven't heard much of any others apart from Ola.

Yep. They're mongrels. They'll keep pushing till they get critical mass.. and then standard fare will be extinguished. Plus fare will be the base-line fare. Then.. they'll start upping the cost.. and then start watering it down and adding other supposed gimmicks, I mean perks.. to whatever will be the "new plus", and start the whole process off again. Their primary job is to milk you for all they can.

Agree with most of that.. although it wouldn't be worthwhile for those that don't drink alcohol unless they're already planning on having gallons of softdrinks and bottled water. There's no way I would get through $55 worth (or even $45). The wife does drink.. but she's a light-weight drinker and would be too borderline to bother with getting the package 🙂

It doesn't pay to "plus" for many people.. but the bastids are trying to push people that way. Once they get to critical mass.. Plus will just become the default (basically getting what used to be standard, but now paying extra for it).. and then they'll try and entice you into some new upsell (price mark 2).. and so it begins all again..

Just get breakfast delivered to the room that day.. jeepers 🙂 .

Fly to Malta for a few days after the cruise. It's easy to get to from a number of Mediterranean ports. Bingo. 🙂

Agree with much of that. Add to it - The zoos. Last time there, we did all 3 in one day (they're located beside each other). The night safari zoo was brilliant - being towed around the zoo in the dark seeing the animals at night and looking like you're right there with them. Singapore River cruise by night is excellent. Raffles Hotel. You can go there to their cafe if you're not a drinker (most go there for the "Singapore Sling". Clark Quay (and the other 2 Quay's) for dinner, nightlife etc. The Botanic Gardens are very good (Fort Canning is nice too). Wander through Chinatown, check out little India, Haji Lane etc. Gardens by the Bay to see the (free) light show was fabulous! Just off the top of my head.

Really?? Gets stranger and stranger lol.

Pack everything! lol. As Jean said - the South Island, NZ, is a different beast. We had 35 degrees the other day.. and then a week later an overnight low of just 8. In March - last year (daytime) Christchurch fluctuated from 30 to just 12.

That's exactly what I would do (although sure, a rushed hour is better than no hour).

We had 4 nights in Valetta at the end of our cruise. Did a trip to Mdina for half a day. Would probably get through it in a couple of hours.. but an hour is really pushing it. https://theknightsofmalta.com/ - that was a short, compact, but very good display in Mdina. Fort St Elmo in Valetta was excellent. But probably a couple of hours to do that on top of the time spent in Valetta. Barrakka Gardens they do the gun salute daily.. but I don't think they do it on Sundays? Was interesting to watch. You're not going to get to Birgu in your time-frame. Personally I would cut it back to 2 of the 3 given the very short time-frame you've got there. It's a real pity when the cruise-ships do that!!

Yeah nah. Technically you could do it.. realistically you've made it too tight.

Nothing will happen. Goodness - your meal will still taste the same.

We've stayed at the Furama City 3 times now. It is looking a wee bit dated.. but it's fine. We love the fact that it's located right next to the MRT and you can get anywhere from there on the MRT.. it's a short walk to Clark Quay etc.. it's very reasonably priced for buffet breakfast included.. and it comes with the complimentary all-day refreshments and evening alcohol drinks in a designated lounge.

Haha. I hope you enjoy your trip. If you get off in the city.. I recommend doing the Punting down the Avon and the Tram (it's not a long loop.. but has been recently extended) as both are great fun, close-by and fair value. Actually, there's a discount package involving the Punting, the Tram and the Gondola. If you do the Gondola - make sure you do the discovery ride at the top - it's included in the cost I think and is excellent.

The more you cruise.. the more the upsell becomes tacky and tiresome. That's all any of it is.

How many of you? It's about $70 in an Uber (although dynamic pricing can push that up over peak periods). Been a while since I took a a taxi for that route.. but would think $100-120.

It's not unbelievable at all. It is however pretty arrogant to expect them to accept anything other than the legal tender local currency. Your USD all looks the same to the rest of the world.. and there's no way the average retail assistant is versed in spotting counterfeit money from foreign currencies they very rarely see if at all.

There won't be any.

Other way round I believe - the NZ bank notes are printed in Canada.. 🙂

Oh harden up! Ubers are cheap - particularly when you're coming over with $USD! lol! If you're not going to spend the money on excursions.. why come? 🤣 You can get the free shuttle into Lyttleton and then a short uber over the hill to the Gondola (it's basically right above the port - I've walked from Lyttleton to the top of the Gondola before). If you want to see the city centre and do the Gondola. Get the cruise ship provided bus to the city centre. Then get a one-way uber to the Gondola - it's cheap. If you're then enjoying your day and wanting to penny-pinch.. walk down from the top of the Gondola into Lyttleton Port and get the free shuttle back to the ship.

How much time have you got? If it were me.. I would do a cruise along the coast of Australia out of Sydney and then fly to the South Island of NZ and do that by land. As pointed out.. Australia is huge.. but a lot of that is desert. NZ is much smaller.. but arguably has more to see. Australia will be hot. NZ probably will too.. but it will be all over the place! Mid of the South Island - we had 34 degrees (93 fahrenheit) the other day followed by a 32 yesterday and expecting another 30+ tomorrow.. but it can just as easily throw you a cold day following that and the evenings are cooler. Expect all seasons in NZ. If time is an issue.. cruise Australia.. allow a few (as many as you can) days in Australia at the start and end of your cruise.. and come back to NZ another day.