Trying to cruise from New Zealand to the UK

[renovations]

...and back again, if that's possible.

 

I'm really struggling to figure out the best way to do it. Looking at a map, it seems like a cruise that either goes through or connects to another cruise on the Panama Canal would be a goer, but I can't find any that aren't hugely expensive?

 

Is there a line that specialises in this, in the same way that Cunard does the transatlantic fairly quickly (like a week or so), or is it too low demand?

[Essiesmom]

I would say it is in no demand. You might manage to get to the UK on several segments of a world cruise, but there would not be a cruise going back at that time of year. Any way you do it is going to be hugely expensive. EM

[chengkp75]

Short of some world cruise segments, your best bet would be a freighter cruise.

[sanger727]

To do this I think you would have to piecemeal together several cruises... NZ to Singapore to the UEA to the U.K. Yes, will be expensive. Cruises are not often done as a transport system so low demand. It would take weeks on a cruise as opposed to hours on a plane.

 

 

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[SuiteTraveler]

Definitely consider a freighter cruise! They are amazing and a lot of fun!

[By The Bay]

...and back again, if that's possible.

 

I'm really struggling to figure out the best way to do it. Looking at a map, it seems like a cruise that either goes through or connects to another cruise on the Panama Canal would be a goer, but I can't find any that aren't hugely expensive?

 

Is there a line that specialises in this, in the same way that Cunard does the transatlantic fairly quickly (like a week or so), or is it too low demand?

You can get to the UK or return using the Sea Princess. She leaves from Auckland on the 16 May 17 and 1 Jun 2018, going to UK. It then continues RTW and returns to Auckland.

[whogo]

Welcome to Cruise Critic, renovations!

 

A website listed the cruising distance between Aukland and Southampton via the Panama Canal as 11,128 nautical miles. A ship would take 23 days to travel that distance at a speed of 20 knots. Cheapest fares I have seen are over US$8,000 each for world cruise segments assuming two to a cabin. I think you are looking at a lot of time and money doing the trip by cruise ship and lots of time in the UK waiting for the return trip.

[spookwife]

...and back again, if that's possible.

 

I'm really struggling to figure out the best way to do it. Looking at a map, it seems like a cruise that either goes through or connects to another cruise on the Panama Canal would be a goer, but I can't find any that aren't hugely expensive?

 

Is there a line that specialises in this, in the same way that Cunard does the transatlantic fairly quickly (like a week or so), or is it too low demand?

 

you will need to piece meal together a variety of cruise itineraries to make that happen. there quite frankly is no demand for a itinerary like that, unlike TA which are quite popular.

 

that being said, NZ is on my bucket list along with OZ. someday i will find a way to pay for it. I do have friends in Perth/Freo that I would love to visit again.

[AmazedByCruising]

Is there a line that specialises in this, in the same way that Cunard does the transatlantic fairly quickly (like a week or so), or is it too low demand?

 

I agree with what others said, cruiseships are rather useless as a means for transportation, but you're not the only one asking.

 

The whole industry is focused on a great experiences, great ships, nice ports, more OBC, better shows, more fun. Everyone involved from the industry is also used to flying around. The crew isn't picked up in their country of origin, they fly. The captain has a break, they fly. The magician may spend more time on a plane than in a cabin. The TA doesn't see people who'd cruise but hate flying, all their clients fly. The industry also is run by Americans who probably don't think twice about flying to go shopping somewhere. I think they may have a bias, thinking that everyone sees flying as if they take a bus.

 

I think the industry overlooks the millions of people who hate flying, but do have money, do have time and would like to see their grandchildren.

 

A ship that sails from NZ/Australia to Europe, spends two weeks in the Med, sails back, spends two weeks around Australia, sails back again, ad infinitum.

 

Or a similar itinerary Europe/South America, for which I probably don't count as "demand" but a cruise I would almost certainly book.

 

It could start with post-cruise questionnaires asking "why did you pick this cruise", listing an option "I like that you don't have to fly". As long as they aren't even asking, and nobody asked me, no wonder there's "no demand".

[CantanaLobo]

...I think the industry overlooks the millions of people who hate flying, but do have money, do have time and would like to see their grandchildren...

If I remember my history, they used to have ocean liners before airplanes. The jet made ships-as-transport economically non-viable. I suspect the cruise lines remember similarly and are not inclined to repeat history. Edited January 10, 2017 by CantanaLobo

[chengkp75]

I agree with what others said, cruiseships are rather useless as a means for transportation, but you're not the only one asking.

 

The whole industry is focused on a great experiences, great ships, nice ports, more OBC, better shows, more fun. Everyone involved from the industry is also used to flying around. The crew isn't picked up in their country of origin, they fly. The captain has a break, they fly. The magician may spend more time on a plane than in a cabin. The TA doesn't see people who'd cruise but hate flying, all their clients fly. The industry also is run by Americans who probably don't think twice about flying to go shopping somewhere. I think they may have a bias, thinking that everyone sees flying as if they take a bus.

 

I think the industry overlooks the millions of people who hate flying, but do have money, do have time and would like to see their grandchildren.

 

A ship that sails from NZ/Australia to Europe, spends two weeks in the Med, sails back, spends two weeks around Australia, sails back again, ad infinitum.

 

Or a similar itinerary Europe/South America, for which I probably don't count as "demand" but a cruise I would almost certainly book.

 

It could start with post-cruise questionnaires asking "why did you pick this cruise", listing an option "I like that you don't have to fly". As long as they aren't even asking, and nobody asked me, no wonder there's "no demand".

 

Do you really think that the cruise lines are so stupid that they would miss out on a potential profit center, if "millions" of people had grandkids on different continents and wanted to avoid flying? Really? While they may not have asked you any questions, they do quite a lot of market research, which is why they are still in business. And even if some demand was there, is it cost effective? Don't you think world cruises would be more in demand if the demographic you describe was actually there?

[SPacificbound]

We regularly takes TA's to avoid flying.

[renovations]

I don't mind the expense too much, I could handle $12k on the round trip, it's more about the experience of going around the world on a cruise ship (or several), but the issue I'm having is lining them up so that they don't take months (weeks is okay) to get there and back. I can hang out in the UK for up to 2 months, but over the northern hemisphere winter it seems cruises drop even more...

[SteveH2508]

P&O UK always have one or two ships on round-the-world trips (Jan to Apr). Cunard do them. OK, they start and finish in UK but you can do segments.