~*Lou*~ Posted December 5, 2023 #1 Share Posted December 5, 2023 We're in Dunedin on 12th January. When we originally booked the cruise, we were scheduled to be in port from 8am to 6pm but now it's 7am to 5pm. I had booked us on a private tour (with Fantail Tours) from 10am to 4pm but now I'm worried we are cutting it too fine to be back in time and on board on time. I have emailed the company who say we will be back at the port by 4pm and "there is no need to cancel" but I'm anxious about the timing now. I still have a couple of weeks to cancel without loosing money - any thoughts? Should we cancel? The tour operator website doesn't have anything on it about guaranteeing getting back to the ship on time. Many thanks Lou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted December 5, 2023 #2 Share Posted December 5, 2023 I think you will be okay as long as they know you need to be back by 4pm. Is the tour leaving an hour earlier or is it 1 hour shorter? If it is the latter, perhaps find out what is being cut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MMDown Under Posted December 5, 2023 #3 Share Posted December 5, 2023 28 minutes ago, ~*Lou*~ said: We're in Dunedin on 12th January. When we originally booked the cruise, we were scheduled to be in port from 8am to 6pm but now it's 7am to 5pm. I had booked us on a private tour (with Fantail Tours) from 10am to 4pm but now I'm worried we are cutting it too fine to be back in time and on board on time. I have emailed the company who say we will be back at the port by 4pm and "there is no need to cancel" but I'm anxious about the timing now. I still have a couple of weeks to cancel without loosing money - any thoughts? Should we cancel? The tour operator website doesn't have anything on it about guaranteeing getting back to the ship on time. Many thanks Lou I would definitely cancel. The last thing you want on holidays is stress. I doubt you would have booked the tour, if your time in port was originally 7am to 5 pm. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare lyndarra Posted December 5, 2023 #4 Share Posted December 5, 2023 NZ tour companys have an excellent reputation for getting back to port in good time. I wouldn't be too concerned and have done tours there in the past with a one hour margin. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruiser3775 Posted December 6, 2023 #5 Share Posted December 6, 2023 I also would not worry. These private tour companies stake their reputation on getting you back to the ship on time. Don't be taken in by the cruise ship line that only official ship excursions are reliable, so we will charge you double for your peace of mind. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubbeh Posted December 6, 2023 #6 Share Posted December 6, 2023 8 hours ago, ~*Lou*~ said: I have emailed the company who say we will be back at the port by 4pm and "there is no need to cancel" To paraphrase the words of Mandy Rice Davies; they would say that wouldn't they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buchhalm Posted December 6, 2023 #7 Share Posted December 6, 2023 We have used this company before and they were excellent. They are VERY aware of the needs to be back by the ship on time. As long as the CUSTOMERS are back by the bus/car at every stop at agreed times (and not get lost shopping etc), everything will be OK 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted December 6, 2023 #8 Share Posted December 6, 2023 My only concern is how many others are on the non ship tour, that it cannot be made one hour earlier. If it is a private tour , then surely they can accommodate the private group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buchhalm Posted December 6, 2023 #9 Share Posted December 6, 2023 12 minutes ago, MicCanberra said: My only concern is how many others are on the non ship tour, that it cannot be made one hour earlier. If it is a private tour , then surely they can accommodate the private group. I agree. Especially if it is PRIVATE private tour and not a shared private tour (like a mini bus small group tour). OP may want to check with the tour company... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aus Traveller Posted December 6, 2023 #10 Share Posted December 6, 2023 If your tour company is picking you up from the Port Chalmers cruise terminal, you will most likely be OK. All tour companies are very aware that they have to get their customers back on time. If they don't they will lose business in the future. I haven't heard of any passengers who have missed the ship in our part of the world because a tour got back late. If the tour starts and (more importantly) ends in Dunedin, I don't feel you can be sure you will be back in time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSWP Posted December 6, 2023 #11 Share Posted December 6, 2023 Be safe book a ship shorex. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ozwoody Posted December 6, 2023 #12 Share Posted December 6, 2023 Like others above I would keep the booking, but you should go with your gut feeling, as Marion said above if you feel stressed about it why ruin your whole trip. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted December 16, 2023 #13 Share Posted December 16, 2023 We missed Dunedin yesterday on the Noordam due to high winds, tried 4 times but with such a narrow entrance through to Port Chalmers it was not to be. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icat2000 Posted December 16, 2023 #14 Share Posted December 16, 2023 1 hour ago, MicCanberra said: We missed Dunedin yesterday on the Noordam due to high winds, tried 4 times but with such a narrow entrance through to Port Chalmers it was not to be. That a shame. Its a nice cruise into Dunedin. My old stomping ground when I was a teenager. Nice quiet town. Horrible winters. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted December 16, 2023 #15 Share Posted December 16, 2023 1 hour ago, icat2000 said: That a shame. Its a nice cruise into Dunedin. My old stomping ground when I was a teenager. Nice quiet town. Horrible winters. It was a shame, especially for all the people who have never visited before. We love Dunedin and have been numerous times but missing the port is still a disappointment. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSWP Posted December 16, 2023 #16 Share Posted December 16, 2023 (edited) 52 minutes ago, MicCanberra said: It was a shame, especially for all the people who have never visited before. We love Dunedin and have been numerous times but missing the port is still a disappointment. Noordam was a good ship, did Syd to Honolulu on her in 2019. Mic, hope you and Rosie are enjoying HAL. Edited December 16, 2023 by NSWP 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted December 16, 2023 #17 Share Posted December 16, 2023 18 minutes ago, NSWP said: Noordam was a good ship, did Syd to Honolulu on her in 2019. Mic, hope you and Rosie are enjoying HAL. yes, nice ship, good service, great food 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mareblu Posted December 16, 2023 #18 Share Posted December 16, 2023 5 hours ago, MicCanberra said: We missed Dunedin yesterday on the Noordam due to high winds, tried 4 times but with such a narrow entrance through to Port Chalmers it was not to be. So sorry you missed Dunedin, as we did earlier this year on Queen Elizabeth. It was really disappointing, because it’s one of the few NZ places we haven’t visited. I’m glad you’ve at least visited Dunedin before. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ozwoody Posted December 16, 2023 #19 Share Posted December 16, 2023 12 hours ago, MicCanberra said: It was a shame, especially for all the people who have never visited before. We love Dunedin and have been numerous times but missing the port is still a disappointment. The train station was a stand out for me, especially the stain glass windows in the main foyer. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSWP Posted December 17, 2023 #20 Share Posted December 17, 2023 Best looking railway station in the world !! I enjoyed going through it. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hogbay Posted December 17, 2023 #21 Share Posted December 17, 2023 On 12/6/2023 at 8:32 AM, ~*Lou*~ said: We're in Dunedin on 12th January. When we originally booked the cruise, we were scheduled to be in port from 8am to 6pm but now it's 7am to 5pm. I had booked us on a private tour (with Fantail Tours) from 10am to 4pm but now I'm worried we are cutting it too fine to be back in time and on board on time. I have emailed the company who say we will be back at the port by 4pm and "there is no need to cancel" but I'm anxious about the timing now. I still have a couple of weeks to cancel without loosing money - any thoughts? Should we cancel? The tour operator website doesn't have anything on it about guaranteeing getting back to the ship on time. Many thanks Lou Do the tour they will get you back otherwise thy will not have a business.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icat2000 Posted December 17, 2023 #22 Share Posted December 17, 2023 Make sure you check out the cancellatin policy. Ive just read the one for Fantail Tours and you get nothing back if the ship can't dock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tranquility Base Posted December 17, 2023 #23 Share Posted December 17, 2023 On 12/16/2023 at 5:19 PM, MicCanberra said: We missed Dunedin yesterday on the Noordam due to high winds, tried 4 times but with such a narrow entrance through to Port Chalmers it was not to be. Did they pre-empt this and keep the Queenstown overland pax onboard, or do they get and extra night onshore ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted December 17, 2023 #24 Share Posted December 17, 2023 9 hours ago, Tranquility Base said: Did they pre-empt this and keep the Queenstown overland pax onboard, or do they get and extra night onshore ? No , those passengers would have had extra on shore and met us at Christchurch/Lyttleton. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austromyrtus Posted December 17, 2023 #25 Share Posted December 17, 2023 16 hours ago, icat2000 said: Make sure you check out the cancellatin policy. Ive just read the one for Fantail Tours and you get nothing back if the ship can't dock. as i have just booked a fantail tour for the end of december, this is of interest to me... i found this in the fantail cancellation policy which implies you get 80% back if the ship can't dock. A booking fee of 20% will be charged to cover some of our costs, should your ship be unable to dock due to bad weather Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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