Australia and New Zealand, Which Cruise l

[Braselton]

Would like to cruise around New Zealand and possible Australia. Willing to do long cruises or B2B cruises. Suggestions on cruises??? Usually cruise on Princess but we are open to other cruises if they offer better itinerary. Also would like to include the South Pacific if possible. Just in the planning stage, thanks for any help.

[The_Big_M]

Do you have an amount of time available? The longest go for over a month, but the more typical AU/NZ ones are around 2 weeks (though don't go as far). Also what time period and year do you have in mind? Most international vessels are here from Oct-Apr, so depending when you want to come affects choices. That time frame is generally the better one for this part of the world though.

 

All those factors will place limits on what to recommend - can make some good recommendations but they may not be suitable.

[room010]

Dawn Princess is doing a 28 day Round Australia cruise (with a quick stop in Bali) in March 2011. It looks like a good itinerary. March is a great time of year here.

[kuldalai]

Many lines operate here, so just staying with Princess (over our Summer Season October to March each year.) For 2011/12 season :

 

1. DIAMOND PRINCESS - New Zealand - Tasmania - Melbourne - Sydney

(by ship - fly Sydney / Auckland.) 3 departures ex Sydney & 3 ex Auckland.

 

2. DAWN PRINCESS & SEA PRINCESS - 14 night round trip to New Zealand from Sydney . Up to 10 departures.

 

3. DAWN PRINCESS - 14 night round trip to New Zealand ex Melbourne . 7 departures.

 

4. SUN PRINCESS - 14 night round trip New Zealand ex Brisbane . 7 departures.

 

Ex USA Qantas flies direct from LAX to Sydney (Daily), Melbourne (Daily),

Brisbane (Daily), and from SFO to Sydney direct 3 times a week .

[Braselton]

Do you have an amount of time available? The longest go for over a month, but the more typical AU/NZ ones are around 2 weeks (though don't go as far). Also what time period and year do you have in mind? Most international vessels are here from Oct-Apr, so depending when you want to come affects choices. That time frame is generally the better one for this part of the world though.

 

All those factors will place limits on what to recommend - can make some good recommendations but they may not be suitable.

 

Looking at anytime in 2012 season and we are flexible on days. Would like at least 14 days since we will be traveling so far (eastern US). Trying to decide if should spend the time on cruise or also add in some land days.? Thanks for the information.

[goat rancher]

If you don't mind a "change of pace", Royal Caribbean has a nice B2B....

14 day New Zealand roundtrip out of Sydney...then 7 day Melbourne--Tasmania roundtrip out of Sydney...

You can always tack on a land tour prior to the first part of the cruise....I would watch what season of the year you do it if you want to do the land tour...my friends from Perth told me that summer season is miserable in the Outback (that would be Dec-Jan) and not the best season for the Great Barrier Reef either....

There is a LARGE rollcall group for this itinerary....for January 29, 2012...

A lot of the folks on the rollcall group have cruised together before (we are newbies to this group and to Royal Carib.)...and they have all sorts of fun things planned....local tours in the works, murder mystery, cabin and pub crawls, you name it.....they seem like a real fun group.

Oh, also on this itinerary, if you want to see inland part of New Zealand....there is an optional overland tour where you get off in Dunedin and travel through Queensland, with a night stay and visit to sheep station, and then on to Milford Sound, where you rejoin the ship......

 

Hope this helps.

Liz

[goat rancher]

ooops.......pardon my blunder:o...I meant travel to QUEENSTOWN, not Queensland (aagh...please forgive me ...that would be a DIFFICULT thing to do, driving from Dunedin to Queensland, particularly that overwater portion:eek:

[Braselton]

Thanks Liz for the information!!!

[Australian family]

Holland America are offering b2b new zealand and south pacific as well.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Holland America are offering b2b new zealand and south pacific as well.

 

Last year HAL did a Round Australia cruise but dont seem to be repeating it this year or next.

Wonder why?

[NCCruzQueen]

Hi Braselton, If you would like a smaller more intimate ship that is all-inclusive, check out Regent Seven Seas. RSSC usually cruises to OZ-NZ in January from California to Sydney or Auckland.

[sparky-elpaso]

Last year HAL did a Round Australia cruise but dont seem to be repeating it this year or next.

Wonder why?

 

That's why we're going with RCI for our b2b which will go all the way around.

[goat rancher]

wow...now if you wanted to you could really go all out and do a B2B2B2B:p......

We are doing the Jan. 29, 2012 14 day New Zealand roundtrip Sydney on Radiance of the Seas....

Radiance then goes on to a 7 day Melbourne-Tasmania roundtrip Sydney (which several folks on our roll call are doing, but which we don't have enough time off to do:(...)

Then you could continue on to the B2B out of Sydney that circumnavigates Australia.....

That would be ONE way not to miss anything!! (and definately make it worth the long airflight to get there)

:)

Liz

[moyaroo]

those circumnavigations have a lot of sea days, could be condensed as a land package see what you need and go home. just my .02

[Australian family]

Last year HAL did a Round Australia cruise but dont seem to be repeating it this year or next.

Wonder why?

 

I think they had a lot of trouble selling that cruise, and the dates of the cruise were also changed for some reason. In the end they had a full cruise and from what I read it was a good cruise.

 

Who knows what they think in Seattle,

[8mma]

Looking at anytime in 2012 season and we are flexible on days. Would like at least 14 days since we will be traveling so far (eastern US). Trying to decide if should spend the time on cruise or also add in some land days.? Thanks for the information.

We are looking at a 21 day Auckland to Sydney on Oceania's Regatta in March 2012 - it sounds like a great itinerary - good luck on your choice!