Merc to OZ, itin's bet

[Joe Beach]

Publishing here is sometimes like trying to publish a thesis, as there is a risk of ridicule from all you polite people, but here's my bet, can I win a cruise?

 

Thanks to Kiwi, he gave me the idea of looking up port schedules, and the Mercury can't hide. Below is my educated guess on the Mercury's itineraries. I couldn't find a schedule for Auckland, but since Sydney's is published, and it is a 28 day cycle on Sundays, that strongly implies Auckland is a 14 day turnaround port. The schedule doesn't work for a 12 day cruise. There's an extra day sometimes between Sydney and Melbourne so it could be going at slow throttle or another port is in there, though I can't figure which one. Some of the NZ cities to fill in the gap are probably Christchurch, Picton, etc. it would be nice if it went to the Bay of Islands. Now the pricing, I don't know.

 

Asterisk (*) dates are on the books of that port

 

*11/23 Honolulu

16 day cruise (really 15 days crossing dateline) to be in AKL on Sun 12/9. If it follows the Legend of the Seas cruises it will go to Auckland, stopping in a couple of Haw islands and Tahiti.

 

Dec 9 Auckland (For 14 day cycle from Sundays, as it is in Sydney on 12/23)

10 prob Tauranga since Napier schedule lists it as coming from Taur

11 prob at sea

* 12/12 Napier

13 prob Wellington since napier schedule lists it as going to Wellington

14 NZ city

* 12/15 Dunedin

16 Prob At sea

17 Prob At sea

* 12/18 Hobart

* 12/19 Melbourne

20 Mel to Syd is usually one sea day so may stop elsewhere, or go slow

21 prob At sea

* 12/22 syd AR 9a

* 12/23 syd Sun turnover day

* 12/24 syd LV 6p

25 prob at sea

* 12/26 mel

27 no schedules found, which implies NOT those ports with schedules

28 may be totally different route to AKL, Interesting!!

29

30

31

Jan 1

2

3

4

5 Prob Taur

6 Sunday, should be Auckland

7 Prob Taur

8 prob at sea

* 1/9 nap nap lists as fm taur to well

10 prob Wellinton

11

* 1/12 dun

13 prob milford

14 prob at sea

15 prob at sea

* 1/16 mel

17

18 Prob at sea

* 1/19 syd AR 9a

* 1/20 syd Sun turnover day

* 1/21 syd LV 6:30p

22 prob at sea

* 1/23 mel

24 prob at sea

* 1/25 hob hob lists as going to milford, usually 2 days away

26 prob at sea

27 prob at sea

28 prob milford

*1/29 dun

30

31 NZ ports

Feb 1

2 Prob Taur

3 Sunday, should be AKL

4 Prob Taur

5 Prob at sea

* 2/6 nap nap schedule lists it as going to Wellington fm taur

7 Prob Wellington

8

* 2/9 dun

10 prob milford

11 prob at sea

12 prob at sea

13 pattern should be mel but not on mel schedule?

14

15 Prob at sea

* 2/16 syd AR 9a

* 2/17 syd Sun turnover day

* 2/18 syd LV 6:30p

19 prob at sea

20 pattern should be mel but not on mel schedule?

21

* 2/22 hob hob lists as fm mel to milford, but not on mel schedule

23 prob at sea

24 prob at sea

25 prob milford sound

* 2/26 dun

27 NZ ports

28

29

Mar 1 prob taur

Mar 2, Sunday-- If stays on schedule, should be in AKL to next go to Honolulu, arriving there by

* 3/16 Honolulu, only 14 calendar days but really 15 due to crossing dateline, if it follows the pattern of the Legend, it will do Tahiti and a couple of Haw islands

[Joe Beach]

OK, while more hazardous a bet, I'll guess the pricing. I think it will start at about $1850, incl tax. But it is the air that is a killer. Right now HAL and Princess are adding about 1500 for their air packages, just from LAX. Probably because there isn't a lot of competition to fly you to SYD and back from AKL or vice versa. Similar to the open jaws of South America. I think the OZ area as a cruise destination would open up more if the air were better.

[cruisintwinsmom]

Wow, you've done some research. Would be interested in Australia. Maybe they could have a special on airfare to get the first few trips going:o.

[Jimsgirl]

Looked at my invoice for Aug 2007 LA to Sydney (Regal Princess very long cruises 31 days) Flight from Fort Myers to LA and from Sydney to Fort Myers Economy class is $1149. Maybe that is a lower fare to attract passengers to the longer cruise (which in itself has a higher total cost)

 

Am waiting IMPATIENTLY for the May 11 announcement. Frankly I do not understand the "suits" coyness over ANY cruise. Yes, oil prices and world situations can cause changes , but passengers are not stupid, we already know that cruise lines can change schedules and prices.

 

I have cruise on Infinity booked for Sept this year (b2b for 25 days) My cabin cat is fully sold out, and the lowest price for an inside cabin is $700pp solo more than I paid. Being able to make up my minds and book early meant $$$ less.

 

It still seems to me that most passengers from USA are likely to be for the "re-positioning" cruises, with the AU/NZ passengers foing the shorter cruises.

 

Oh well only another 4 days to "bite my nails"