Over from NZ

It's funny the level of policing. We openly boarded Enchanted Princess in Europe this year with wine, beer and spirits and 4 different ports and were never asked a thing. 🙂

Was there today on Viking and there was a shuttle running from the ship into the Lyttleton township and back with dedicated stops different to the main Christchurch bus.

The scenery, flora and fauna will be there.. but the instagram scenery ain't near the ports where cruise ships go lol. Christmas day.. Maccas or the local service station for a pie will be as good as it gets haha

You'll save pocket change.. which in $USD will be even less. Sometimes the duty-free have buy 2 or 3 and get a saving.. but per bottle they're about the same as you will pay in an average bottle store. Google liquorland NZ for prices if you like and google duty free NZ and compare.. but there's nothing much in it.

That is correct. However.. trying to paint the picture of those that don't drink and/or want the drink package as miserable freeloaders is wrong.

The worst might happen (in the unlikely event).. he's out by a hundred or so? Worrying far too much about a small problem in an unlikely event..

You're drawing a long bow there (again) to try and back up your theory. Give it a rest.

You worry too much. It's unlikely that an excursion is late (happens.. but not frequently). You're worrying about the possibility of the cost of one excursion.. in the unlikely even the ships own excursions are late. Just book them.

Are you missing the memo? Smokers don't need to smoke inside.

Tonga & Fiji for us. Can't find a lot of info about those ports yet.

Has been the case for many, many years! No smoking indoors that is. Contrary to the wailing from some in the Northern Hemisphere.. it hasn't killed off cruising. And you would even be hard-pressed to find a smoker that doesn't think it's a great thing! They don't smoke inside on land.. or generally even in their own homes.. so they wouldn't think to start doing it on a ship full of non-smoking passengers. Hmm. 🙂

You actually been there.. or just "sharing the news"? 🤣

Yeah it all sounds like a tall story..

Because we've cruised ourselves with a teen out of Australia over school holiday times (in the 8-14 night range) quite a few times. Those cruises are very family oriented.

Yes, there will be plenty of teens.

The itinerary will determine. However making assumptions.. you're from Australia.. if we assume you're travelling out of Australia over the school holidays to the Islands etc.. say 7-14 nights.. then - YES, there will be lots of children onboard! 🙂

To eliminate the standard option means an increase in price for us - you're asking us to subsidise you?

Exactly! 😁

It's always been the case Down Under.. nothing new. The way I look at it.. it may cost 1.1% more (I thought it was more than that).. but the rewards scheme offers .9%.. so really it's only costing .2 of a percent. So if my onboard cost is $1,000 - it costs me $2. Plus I don't have to pay the bill till the following month. So I'm not going to muck around going to reception.. carrying cash etc just for that! 🙂

Pancakes in paradise on the GC! All you can eat - $11.99! lol!

We used this company on our first visit there and they were excellent - https://www.santorinidailytours.com/?service=private-bus-tours I think we did the 6-hour excursion, although the 8-hour one looks great. We teamed up with some American's via the roll-call on here.. and it then becomes extremely economical with say 4-6 of you.

Yeah but to be fair.. Many American's think Starbucks is good coffee.. haha 🙂

That's ok. They'll gain more people that they'll lose. It's almost 2024 - it's long past time where you should have learned how to stroll outside for a smoke. Who still smokes inside in this decade - how backward would that be?!

We've used these guys half a dozen times in our last two trips over there - https://italytoursharing.com/ports/naples-port I don't know if they're that cheap - but they do a great job! And by the sounds of the tipping story going on.. doesn't seem that cost bothers American's anyhow!! lol!! The one's we've done specifically from Naples were - "50 shades of lemon" and "Pompeii with guide/Amalfi/Positano". They were great.

Yes - join your roll call! Both on here.. and any you can find on facebook. Pester the ***** out of the roll-calls and you'll get takers lol. 6-8 people usually perfect. 🙂