Over from NZ

We've used this company half a dozen times (2018 and 2023) and they've been great - - https://italytoursharing.com/ports/naples-port

It's even better when people start these types of threads.. then step right back and don't even post again! Presumably to allow everybody else the chance to correct them. Hmm. Cheers for your thoughtfulness!! 😅 🤣

Would much rather have a reasonable number of kids onboard! If there's no kids.. then that strongly indicates a very geriatric age demographic! 🤣

Are you into old cars? The Facebook page I was on for our NZ cruise before they gave us Timaru and we cancelled.. had some people putting on a brave face and coming up with ideas. I don't think I can post a FB link due to CC rules.. but what they did say was - if your looking for something to do in Timaru get in contact with the boutique village excursions group. Omg they are amazing with what they can offer. I’ve just arranged a full day out, getting driven around in old classic cars, being picked up from the info centre (where the ship docks) and driven around for the whole day to all the sites my husband and I want to see for a small price person. There communicate has been amazing and all the funds go to local museum in Geraldine. What more can you ask for…. Somebody else on that group suggested - My partners and I are interested in doing the following trip from Timaru. Is there anyone else who would llke to join us. If I can get another couple to join us the cost will be $100 pp. DISCOVER MOERAKI BOULDERS & OAMARU Explore the famous Moeraki Boulders and Oamaru’s Victorian Precinct with guide, Linda. EXPERIENCE INCLUDES: Return transport from Timaru to Moeraki and Oamaru Time to explore the famous Moeraki Boulders Time to explore Oamaru's Victorian Precinct Lunch NOT included, however, you will have time to grab lunch in Oamaru Departs: 9am from the Timaru Information Centre (this will be different if your arrives later than this). Duration: 5 hours, 30 mins

That's rough. It's either $$ or it's a scheduling issue and other ship(s) are booked in. Bugger 😅

Sorry, I shouldn't be so flippant. We've just cancelled a cruise because they swapped Stewart Island for Timaru. Timaru is somewhere we'd stop for a toilet break on the way home. Maybe dodgy takeaways to eat in the car on the way home haha. There is a beach there which can be ok. I think you can see penguins. Lake Tekapo is about an hour away if you could hire a car?

Timaru for Lyttleton?! LOL! Oh dear that's hardly fair. A day in the ships Spa? 🤣

Yep!! That would solve all the issues instantly!! So simple.. yet? 😁

Interesting peoples perceptions. Coming from down under.. I would perceive the US as more risky than Europe. I wouldn't be heading to the Middle-East or Russia at the moment.. but Europe should be fine and would think safer than the US.

Yep. The 100th Anniversary of the end of the war.. they did some nice things. The Wellington War memorial had probably the best display I've seen - created by Sir Peter Jackson. It ran till 2018 but sadly gone now.

Yes, obviously it's a thing over in Aussie.

Very interesting. It's not really a thing at all in New Zealand. Virtually ignored.

You can bang on about what you wish were still the case; the short answer is.. cruise after cruise.. people are reporting that it's no longer an issue. The worse case that could happen.. if this mythical dining room manager decides to do the opposite to what everybody is reporting.. then you would have to go back to your room and chuck a paid of jeans on.

No, you missed the point. They're not enforcing it.. it's not necessary. It didn't affect my dining one iota whether I wore shorts or a suit.

Have recently done 3 weeks onboard in the Mediterranean. I wore shorts and a Polo shirt to the MDR on formal night.. just to see what all the fuss was about. My food didn't taste any different. The first 5 nights I had worn my suit.. but seeing others in the MDR on formal night in shorts and t-shirts seemingly enjoying their meals.. I wanted to find out for myself. The food tasted fine.

With the high exchange rate.. it'll not cost you much to take an uber. Get the shuttle into town.. then catch an uber to the Antarctic centre. You can bus for next to nothing.. but you're only in Christchurch probably once.. so for a few bucks maximise the time (and simplifying things 🙂 ) by using an Uber. Afterwards, Uber back to Town.. do the touristy things in there such as the Botanical Gardens, Punting on the Avon, The Tram etc.. and then take the shuttle back to Port.

https://www.christchurchnz.com/news/transport-plan-confirmed-for-christchurch-cruise-season?fbclid=IwAR03QC4V0DPeYq6yOVF4YeEXO6jFdSOmorQLP-iYv1p6o86-nd1UymM_PoM

Presumably you've done Pisa? That's an easy train ride from La Spezia. Otherwise, I second the recommendation for Porto Venere. We had 4 nights in La Spezia in late May and went to all the CT villages, did the day trip to Pisa and went to Porto Venere and loved it!

That would be an extremely tight day trying to squeeze both in!

I've been on the odd cruse. The last one was almost 5-months ago though.. perhaps things have changed dramatically since then?? 🤣

Well and truly by the sounds of that!! 🙂

That's an exaggeration if ever I've head one.

That problem is in your head lol. It's only the accent that sets the expectation - if he had heard an Aussie Twang or a Kiwi accent.. he would have known he was getting nothing but a verbal tank you 🙂

They don't call cruise ships floating retirement homes for nothing! 🤣😁

There's a slight discount if you get the combo - https://www.christchurchattractions.nz/ The discovery ride at the top of the Gondola is short but excellent. You certainly don't need a ship excursion to go to the Gondola or any of the Christchurch attractions.