Rare ziggyuk Posted January 17, 2023 #26 Share Posted January 17, 2023 5 hours ago, Karaboudjan said: @grozzy1 I'm enjoying your postings - I'm booked for this cruise next year. Since you appear to be a local, do you know if Australia seems likely to keep the mandatory test for cruises in place longer-term? What testing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karaboudjan Posted January 17, 2023 #27 Share Posted January 17, 2023 19 minutes ago, ziggyuk said: What testing? https://www.ncl.com/travel-requirements-by-country "Vaccinated guests are required to provide proof of negative COVID-19 test in addition to vaccination documentation, as listed above, only when embarking in Australia." Also see post #5 where the OP mentions their RAT test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ziggyuk Posted January 17, 2023 #28 Share Posted January 17, 2023 19 minutes ago, Karaboudjan said: https://www.ncl.com/travel-requirements-by-country "Vaccinated guests are required to provide proof of negative COVID-19 test in addition to vaccination documentation, as listed above, only when embarking in Australia." Also see post #5 where the OP mentions their RAT test. Thank you, I must admit I had missed that as Australia government don't require a test, not even proof of vaccination:https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19/international-travel/cruise-travel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karaboudjan Posted January 17, 2023 #29 Share Posted January 17, 2023 9 minutes ago, ziggyuk said: Thank you, I must admit I had missed that as Australia government don't require a test, not even proof of vaccination:https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19/international-travel/cruise-travel That is interesting. I looked through the Australia and New Zealand board first and this did not appear to be NCL alone so I thought it must be an Australia requirement. I still see this on the Princess web site: "Based on current Australian requirements for cruising, all guests will require a negative viral COVID-19 test result taken before boarding: Within 24 hours for Rapid-Antigen Test (RAT) Within 48 hours for PCR" So was this a requirement until fairly recently and at least some cruise lines are just slow in removing it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ziggyuk Posted January 17, 2023 #30 Share Posted January 17, 2023 14 minutes ago, Karaboudjan said: That is interesting. I looked through the Australia and New Zealand board first and this did not appear to be NCL alone so I thought it must be an Australia requirement. I still see this on the Princess web site: "Based on current Australian requirements for cruising, all guests will require a negative viral COVID-19 test result taken before boarding: Within 24 hours for Rapid-Antigen Test (RAT) Within 48 hours for PCR" So was this a requirement until fairly recently and at least some cruise lines are just slow in removing it? It is, we can hope NCL might drop it soon, not sure when it last changed though. It's all a bit daft though as you can get a negative result just by using water and taking a photo of the result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare grozzy1 Posted January 18, 2023 Author #31 Share Posted January 18, 2023 Day 4 is the first of 2 crossing the Tasman. I took it easy and didn't take many photos. The Local is now my semi regular breakfast choice. Morning was spent reading in Spinnakers. Afternoon was spent playing Deal or no Deal, then Bingo. Dinner was great at Teppanyaki with my Mexican tablemates. Entertainment was the first of 3 main shows World Beats. For such a modest size cast I was impressed with the number of costume changes and the number of routines they had to remember 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare grozzy1 Posted January 19, 2023 Author #32 Share Posted January 19, 2023 Not much to report from yesterday, weather was cloudy and drizzly, so it was just an indoor reading type day. Day 6 is the Sounds Picked up the pilot. Prime outdoor viewing location was deck 13 forward, above Spinnakers and opened up as we entered the sound Noordam was leaving as we entered PXL_20230119_201108539.mp4 PXL_20230119_201108539. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruiseny4life Posted January 20, 2023 #33 Share Posted January 20, 2023 (edited) Holy monkey balls! Those views are incredible!!! I absolutely love that you were able to photograph another ship as well. Helps with scale and just makes the photo even more interesting...as if the scenery isn't enough! Edited January 20, 2023 by cruiseny4life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare grozzy1 Posted January 21, 2023 Author #34 Share Posted January 21, 2023 Saturday's port is Dunedin/Port Chalmers Sunrise and passing the Albatross centre. I had booked the Railway Experience, which was a bit expensive, but I didn't want to regret it later. Transport was on a fairly ordinary bus to Dunedin railway station. I believe that pre COVID the trains went right to the dock. Provided was a snack box which nobody could be allergic to. Let's just say if you want something a bit more filling go to the buffet car. Returning, I had a quick walk around Dunedin before catching the shuttle bback 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare www3traveler Posted January 21, 2023 #35 Share Posted January 21, 2023 Thank you for sharing this wonderful adventure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ziggyuk Posted January 21, 2023 #36 Share Posted January 21, 2023 @grozzy1 How was getting into Dunedin from Port Chambers? We have a wildlife boat trip with port to port from port chambers and want to spend the morning exploring Dunedin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare grozzy1 Posted January 21, 2023 Author #37 Share Posted January 21, 2023 11 hours ago, ziggyuk said: @grozzy1 How was getting into Dunedin from Port Chambers? We have a wildlife boat trip with port to port from port chambers and want to spend the morning exploring Dunedin. My transfer was part of the railway excursion, but I think you can pre pay for the 20 min ride. They were using ordinary public buses without much ventilation 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare grozzy1 Posted January 22, 2023 Author #38 Share Posted January 22, 2023 Today's adventure was in Lyttleton and Christchurch. A quick geography lesson. Lyttleton is the port and Christchurch is the city about 20min north on the Canterbury plains, seperated by large hills I started by hopping on the paid shuttle to Christchurch. I had previously been here in 2007, before the devestating earthquakes of 2010-2011 I was keen to see the recovery. The Cathedral is one of the landmarks still being restored. I don't know when or if it can be fully back to its magnifice. Pre earthquakes. Many modern buildings have been rebuilt though there are still patches of vacant land. This hole was the hotel I stayed at 15 years ago, still waiting to be redeveloped. The tourist trams also make a circuit of the city, even though an arcade Next was a stroll along the Avon River. No prizes for guessing where it's styled after 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare grozzy1 Posted January 22, 2023 Author #39 Share Posted January 22, 2023 A public bus took me south to the gondola and a trip up to the top of the hills. Spectacular 360° views north to Christchurch And south to Lyttleton and the Spirit Final stop was a quick walk down the main street of Lyttleton before returning to the ship 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizikinsLivesToCruise Posted January 29, 2023 #40 Share Posted January 29, 2023 Thank you very much @grozzy1 for taking time from your vacation to write this review. I have been following because I am booked on the reverse itinerary in January 2024. I'm sad you decided to stop. Hope you have had a good time. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehowlingroad Posted February 28, 2023 #41 Share Posted February 28, 2023 (edited) We are booked on the Feb 2024 edition of this cruise on the Spirit. Thank you so much for what you've posted so far! Edited February 28, 2023 by thehowlingroad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alwalaska Posted March 1, 2023 #42 Share Posted March 1, 2023 @grozzy1 Thank you for all of your posts. I'm guessing you are back home and back into "Real life", but I hope you have time to post more about your cruise. The photos and the things that you did and saw are very helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDIdeals Posted March 4, 2023 #43 Share Posted March 4, 2023 We are on this cruiseship, Spirit, 3/16 - 4/12. Can you tell me if there were Taste of India and Taste of Asia stations in the buffet? I am vegan and aside from the awesome salad bar in the buffet, other ships I've been in had these 2 stations with lots of options for me. I'm hopeful of some good choices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alwalaska Posted April 14, 2023 #44 Share Posted April 14, 2023 On 1/13/2023 at 10:31 PM, Travelling2Some said: I will be following for sure! We took the exact same cruise on Anthem of the Seas before the shut down and it will bring back such good memories. We spent some time in Sydney and it is one of my all time 3 favorite cities along with Venice and Shanghai. Loved both the city and how you could just go down to the Quay and take ferries to lots of very different places quickly and easily. Also spent a few days in the Bondi Beach neighborhood and in the Blue Mountains just outside of Sydney. Fantastic trip. Also have a great fondness for the little Spirit and am so glad they didn't sell it. I really liked that ship even before the refub and always keep an eye on her itineraries looking for a chance to jump aboard again. So . . . hope you can be bothered, don't sink and the wifi performs adequately. Thanks! We're considering a day trip on the train out to the Blue Mountains for our trip. How many nights did you stay out there? Where did you stay? I'm debating on whether it is worth schlepping our luggage around and checking in and out of different hotels when we will probably only have 4 nights in Sydney pre-cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelling2Some Posted April 14, 2023 #45 Share Posted April 14, 2023 1 hour ago, alwalaska said: We're considering a day trip on the train out to the Blue Mountains for our trip. How many nights did you stay out there? Where did you stay? I'm debating on whether it is worth schlepping our luggage around and checking in and out of different hotels when we will probably only have 4 nights in Sydney pre-cruise. We stayed 2 nights in the town of Leura to see the Blue Mountains. The name of the place was Saint Something (?) but I wouldn't recommend it as it was a bit run down. I don't generally "schelp" unless I have two nights to spare. We had time (and carry-on only luggage) so we split our time between Sydney proper, Bondi Beach and the Blue Mountains. With only 4 nights there is plenty to do in Sydney, especially with all the harbor ferries going to different areas. Have a great time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alwalaska Posted April 14, 2023 #46 Share Posted April 14, 2023 2 hours ago, Travelling2Some said: We stayed 2 nights in the town of Leura to see the Blue Mountains. The name of the place was Saint Something (?) but I wouldn't recommend it as it was a bit run down. I don't generally "schelp" unless I have two nights to spare. We had time (and carry-on only luggage) so we split our time between Sydney proper, Bondi Beach and the Blue Mountains. With only 4 nights there is plenty to do in Sydney, especially with all the harbor ferries going to different areas. Have a great time! Thank you very much for your help. I'm sure it will be a great trip. I only have 400 and some odd days to wait. Ha ha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now