New Zealand

[mtncruiser1]

We are planning a cruise to New Zealand. There is discussion that HAL has shuttles from the ship to town and back. They seem to run $15; but, are not listed on the excursions. Is anyone aware if these shuttles are running and what ports they operate in. Thanks

[Kiwi Kruzer]

We are planning a cruise to New Zealand. There is discussion that HAL has shuttles from the ship to town and back. They seem to run $15; but, are not listed on the excursions. Is anyone aware if these shuttles are running and what ports they operate in. Thanks

 

It depends on the port and where you dock or tender in relation to the town. Some are free, some dont need a shuttle as you dock in the town.

What ports are on your itinerary ?

 

 

[Hlitner]

Since you fail to mention specific ports (NZ has many different ports) it is difficult to give an accurate response. But most cruise lines, including HAL, will run shuttle buses from the more remote ports to town (such as Dunedin). $15 is pretty typical for what HAL would charge for such shuttles. HAL does not usually publicize shuttles (be it low cost or even free...like in Bilbao, Spain) since it would undermine their own attempts to get passengers to book pricy cruise line excursions. In fact, we have been on HAL cruises where they do not even mention shuttle services until the evening before getting into a port. HAL is not alone with this tactic as its also done by some other cruise lines. All the mass market lines (including HAL) are now emphasizing the maximization of onboard revenue as an important part of the business plan. The sale of oft overpriced cruise line excursions is a contributor to the bottom line so it is not in the best interest of HAL (or other lines) to make it easy for passengers to find out about less costly options.

 

Hank

[erewhon]

If your cruise calls at Napier, there is a free shuttle from the ship to the Information Centre in the town centre. Commentary provided, take Government Issued ID with you, as it is checked on board the shuttle before re-entering the port area. On two separate cruises we have seen fellow cruisers removed from the shuttle, as they did not have their ID, and were returned by security staff to the ship.

 

Akaroa is a tender port, the pier is a few steps from the main street.

 

Wellington there will be a shuttle, but if you are able, it takes about 20 minutes to walk along to the city centre.

 

Auckland, the ship berths in the downtown area.

 

If you call at Paihia in the Bay of Islands, a tender port, there will be a free shuttle run by the local people from the pier to the Information centre in Paihia Village.

[RMLincoln]

Sometimes the shuttle charge is put on your account whether you use it or not, and if you don't use it you have to go to the front desk to have it removed. Sometimes the shuttles are free but usually they are necessary to get through industrial ports. Go with the flow on these things and enjoy getting to the out of the way places. If a port needs a shuttle it probably needs it for safety reasons.

 

New Zealand has several ports which cruise ships stops at and all those we went to were lovely. Have a great cruise! New Zealand is a friendly and picturesque country with a wide diversity of landscapes and many amazing places. m--

[boards]

We have been to New Zealand twice and shuttle charges have never been put on our account ever. You pay cash if you use the shuttle at any port when you use it.

[DeeBee76]

wow so glad i stumbled upon this post! this was starting to cause me a bit of anxiety on how we were going to get into the towns with 2 small kids - taxi's, car seats etc. So our itinerary is

Port Chalmers (Dunedin)

Akaroa (Christchurch) tender

Wellington

Napier

Tauranga (Rotorua)

Auckland

Waitangi (Bay of Islands) tender

 

Will it be safe to assume there will be a shuttle at all of these ( except where they dock right in town)?

[cruiser1955]

I visited all these ports in the last two years with Cunard and Celebrity. so based on that experience:

 

Port Chalmers (Dunedin): Shuttle at $15 - about 20-30 minutes each way

Akaroa (Christchurch) tender: No shuttle but excursions to Christchurch at $46 - 90 minutes each way and very few taxis in Akaroa.

Wellington: Shuttle to get you out of the port as berth was in an industrial part of the port

Napier: Shuttle available but town was walkable

Tauranga (Rotorua): Berth very close to the centre of Tauranga

Auckland: Berth at the centre of town

Waitangi (Bay of Islands) tender: Shuttle into Paihia but the treaty house is an easy walk from the tender drop off. Walk back from Paihia (30 mins) as good scenery.

You are in for a great cruise.

Edited September 23, 2014 by cruiser1955
Dunedin price

[boards]

My information is similar as above, however there is some differences, my info is from 2012

Port Chalmers (Dunedin) shuttle to city centre - $18 NZ pp

Wellington - shuttle cost $8 NZ for all day operated by Wellington City

Picton - free shuttle

We agree you are in for a great cruise. We have done it twice (2006). We are going to Australia again this week leaving from LA.

Edited September 23, 2014 by boards

[mtncruiser1]

The ports are:

Tauranga (Rotorua)

Napier

Wellington

Picton

Akaroa (Christchurch)

Dunedin

 

Thanks

[boards]

The ports are:

Tauranga (Rotorua) no shuttle required

Napier - free shuttle

Wellington - shuttle available for a fee

Picton - free shuttle

Akaroa (Christchurch) - tendered in - town right there

Dunedin - Shuttle available for a fee

 

Thanks

 

fees were different the two times we went on cruise

[erewhon]

Tauranga, the ship berths at Mount Maunganui, two or three blocks from the main shopping street.

Local volunteers will be giving maps and information when you walk out the port gate.

If you are not booked on a ship excursion, it is possible to walk to the top of Mount Maunganui for a good view, or walk around the base of the Mount.

[erewhon]

I visited all these ports in the last two years with Cunard and Celebrity. so based on that experience:

Port Chalmers (Dunedin): Shuttle at $15 - about 20-30 minutes each way

Akaroa (Christchurch) tender: No shuttle but excursions to Christchurch at $46 - 90 minutes each way and very few taxis in Akaroa.

Wellington: Shuttle to get you out of the port as berth was in an industrial part of the port

Napier: Shuttle available but town was walkable

Tauranga (Rotorua): Berth very close to the centre of Tauranga

Auckland: Berth at the centre of town

Waitangi (Bay of Islands) tender: Shuttle into Paihia but the treaty house is an easy walk from the tender drop off. Walk back from Paihia (30 mins) as good scenery.

You are in for a great cruise.

 

NAPIER: Cruise passengers are not permitted to walk out of Napier Port, either leave on an arranged excursion or the provided shuttle, with your government issued ID.

 

WELLINGTON: Cruise passengers are allowed to walk from the ship into the city centre, follow the yellow line marked on the walkway, as you leave the terminal building.

[RMLincoln]

In Wellington we had rain, snow, sleet and wind (called Windy Wellington for a reason). We were very happy to have the shuttle... from the shuttle drop off near the Info Site we walked over to Te Papa for an amazing day. Beautiful. If you have a large group maybe a taxi is more economical rather than pay the pp fees for the shuttle. m--

[pmd98052]

Info folks have provided above seems correct to me from when we did this last year on the Oosterdam (it didn't stop at Picton last year).

 

I do remember HAL didn't have enough buses chartered in Dunedin and it took a long time in line at the Octagon to get on a board a bus back but hopefully it will be better! (Bus company told us this while we were waiting in line - they'd recommended HAL charter "x" buses" but HAL only chartered "x-y" instead so take it with a grain of salt).

 

There is a public bus from Port Chalmers but it doesn't run often.