What ports might you miss in NZ?

[RobinBancs]

I'm trying to rationalise what I'm prepared to risk bookings for on our trip to NZ on Grand Princess in January.  I am curious from others that have done the journey before, which ports are most likely to be skipped through high winds/weather and which ones are more protected and likely?  Naturally, these are ports where I would make bookings through the cruising/providers that offer refund for such circumstances, but in some cases we want to rent a car and drive around by ourselves.

 

The itinerary covers

• Port Chalmers
• Lyttlelton
• Wellington
• Napier
• Tauranga
• Auckland

 

[Aus Traveller]

In extreme weather Napier can be missed. It is a trickly port for the ships to enter and manoeuvre to the wharf. You would also know that Milford Sound is often missed because of bad weather.

[Over from NZ]

I'm not sure if Napier is docked.. otherwise all the others are so it would be extremely unlikely you miss any of those. 

[Aus Traveller]

Just now, Over from NZ said:

I'm not sure if Napier is docked.. otherwise all the others are so it would be extremely unlikely you miss any of those. 

We have docked in Napier probably 10 or more times. It is never a tender port.

[RobinBancs]

Thanks!  I think I'll be safe booking a car in Dunedin.  Not sure what exactly we'll do in Napier yet but suspected that one could be dodgy.  Tauranga was one I wasn't really sure about the accessibility of in weather.

 

Is there usually a shuttle service for Napier?

[Cbtours]

3 minutes ago, RobinBancs said:

I'm trying to rationalise what I'm prepared to risk bookings for on our trip to NZ on Grand Princess in January.  I am curious from others that have done the journey before, which ports are most likely to be skipped through high winds/weather and which ones are more protected and likely?  Naturally, these are ports where I would make bookings through the cruising/providers that offer refund for such circumstances, but in some cases we want to rent a car and drive around by ourselves.

 

The itinerary covers

• Port Chalmers
• Lyttlelton
• Wellington
• Napier
• Tauranga
• Auckland

 

Other I’m sure will respond re weather possibilities. In our four cruises from Melbourne to nz we have missed Dunedin once re weather, others have been fine. 
I personally would def want to do Dunedin train (talkie? Gorge), tauranga has the Rotarua thermal springs and lunch on island queen. The local Māori come non board and do the hukka and get volunteers to be taught. It was seriously a highlight being so close up to the performance.

napier is fine to walk around and has a really good shopping area (car free) where we have bought some excellent things. (Nz wool sweaters etc.

wellington has a good shuttle from princess, drops at various points in town. Get off almost opp the tram/train thing up mt Wellington (last time there it was $3.50 ea) then get off at the top, have good look round then you can walk down through the botanical gardens. A great day costing. $3.50 each lol,

enjoy 🥰🥰

[Cbtours]

2 minutes ago, RobinBancs said:

Thanks!  I think I'll be safe booking a car in Dunedin.  Not sure what exactly we'll do in Napier yet but suspected that one could be dodgy.  Tauranga was one I wasn't really sure about the accessibility of in weather.

 

Is there usually a shuttle service for Napier?

You don’t need it, just get off in centre of town. There’s been a piper welcoming each time we’ve been

[Cbtours]

8 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

In extreme weather Napier can be missed. It is a trickly port for the ships to enter and manoeuvre to the wharf. You would also know that Milford Sound is often missed because of bad weather.

We’ve missed Milford twice out of our four trips. Special if you can see it.

[Aus Traveller]

5 minutes ago, RobinBancs said:

Thanks!  I think I'll be safe booking a car in Dunedin.  Not sure what exactly we'll do in Napier yet but suspected that one could be dodgy.  Tauranga was one I wasn't really sure about the accessibility of in weather.

 

Is there usually a shuttle service for Napier?

Napier is a working wharf and passengers are not permitted to walk outside an area very close to the ship. There is a free shuttle bus into the centre of town - a ten-minute drive.

 

Make sure you have government photo ID (driver's licence or passport), both for Napier and for Port Chalmers. Otherwise you will have to wait outside the secure area for a security officer from the ship to come and check that your ship ID is current and then escort you to the ship. Alternatively your partner can go on board, get the ID and come back for you.

[MMDown Under]

12 minutes ago, Cbtours said:

Other I’m sure will respond re weather possibilities. In our four cruises from Melbourne to nz we have missed Dunedin once re weather, others have been fine. 
I personally would def want to do Dunedin train (talkie? Gorge), tauranga has the Rotarua thermal springs and lunch on island queen. The local Māori come non board and do the hukka and get volunteers to be taught. It was seriously a highlight being so close up to the performance.

napier is fine to walk around and has a really good shopping area (car free) where we have bought some excellent things. (Nz wool sweaters etc.

wellington has a good shuttle from princess, drops at various points in town. Get off almost opp the tram/train thing up mt Wellington (last time there it was $3.50 ea) then get off at the top, have good look round then you can walk down through the botanical gardens. A great day costing. $3.50 each lol,

enjoy 🥰🥰

You can walk down through an interesting old graveyard, showing gravestones for whole families - so sad!  

[MMDown Under]

2 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

You can walk down through an interesting old graveyard, showing gravestones for whole families - so sad!  

The Beehive Executive Wing Wellington Parliament is very interesting to tour.

[Cbtours]

8 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

You can walk down through an interesting old graveyard, showing gravestones for whole families - so sad!  

Yes I remember that! I didn’t spend long in there😩😩😩 but I do remember glorious roses!!!

[MMDown Under]

Just now, Cbtours said:

Yes I remember that! I didn’t spend long in there😩😩😩 but I do remember glorious roses!!!

Yes beautiful roses were up the top, with gravestones further down the hill. 

[ekka49]

We have at various times been unable to dock at the following.

Bay of Islands

Napier

Dunedin

Akaroa

and of course, Milford sounds for cruising.

It's always down to the weather gods.

[arxcards]

The fiords (Milford Sound etc) are hard to navigate into in windy or rough conditions.

 

With that in mind, ships going north to south have been known to also skip Dunedin (Port Chalmers) when they know the conditions will be uncomfortable below NZ, and head back towards Australia via Cook Strait.

 

I have noticed a lot of Melbourne departures go south to North, and I don't know what plan B will be if the Southern Ocean is nasty.

 

One way or the other, you will get most ports. We have been lucky, and yet to miss a NZ port, apart from Christchurch because of their 1st big earthquake (we diverted to Wellington).

[RobinBancs]

It looks like the Grand didn't get into the sounds today.  Was watching out on the bridge cam at various points and it looked rough and difficult.  I think we'll be going over not expecting to get in, but if we do then that's an awesome bonus.

[Cbtours]

1 hour ago, Aus Traveller said:

Napier is a working wharf and passengers are not permitted to walk outside an area very close to the ship. There is a free shuttle bus into the centre of town - a ten-minute drive.

 

Make sure you have government photo ID (driver's licence or passport), both for Napier and for Port Chalmers. Otherwise you will have to wait outside the secure area for a security officer from the ship to come and check that your ship ID is current and then escort you to the ship. Alternatively your partner can go on board, get the ID and come back for you.

Obviously my memory is fading 😩😩😩

[OzKiwiJJ]

Just now, RobinBancs said:

It looks like the Grand didn't get into the sounds today.  Was watching out on the bridge cam at various points and it looked rough and difficult.  I think we'll be going over not expecting to get in, but if we do then that's an awesome bonus.

At this time of the year there are still storms passing across the south of the South Island. 

You should be OK in January though. 

[Aussieflyer]

We have missed the western Sounds due to rough conditions but also delayed leaving from Dunedin. A friend missed Tauranga on their cruise though we never have.

[Relaxing Robbies]

We missed Tauranga one cruise because the pilot couldn’t board our ship.

[Relaxing Robbies]

The Grand missed Dusky Sound this morning, but did get into Milford Sound.