Fortunatefew

My thoughts if you want to see New Zealand do it by cruising. You’ll go through the Fiords which is one of the highlights and why many travellers from all over the world travel a long way to witness the beauty of the Sounds. You can people watch and poke around all the towns on port days. I agree with your husband.

Some cruise lines offer a combined Hobbiton and Rotorua excursion in one day. We were on Celebrity in January and that particular excursion was booked out pretty quickly. I agree with Iainmac, there have been a lot of roads closed in the areas mentioned but still some wonderful places for you to explore.

March is normally pretty warm, today it’s 26degrees. But as we know weather patterns are changing but it doesn’t tend to get cooler until April/May in NZ. Others may disagree. The Fiords may be a little chillier depending on conditions on the day. We have been in beautiful blue skies, overcast and 3rd time was showery. I doubt you will need jumpers and coats, just something light that’s folds up like a parka that will get you through slightly cooler days.

Up to…….

That’s true about the size and sofa in Celebrity but I love the big wardrobe space in Princess and the laundromat. We have been on both recently, both have likes and dislikes but can’t wait to go on one again sooner rather than later

Yes, but Princess have big wardrobes and a laundromat on most decks. You can get a sofa in the mini suites.

Having recently cruised with Princess late last year and Celebrity in mid January, it was noticeably different on the mask protocols from different cruise lines, I liked how Princess enforced or at least tried to get passengers to wear masks. There hand washing stations and sanitising reminders was commendable. On the other hand Celebrity only offered sanitiser upon entry into the buffet. Never mentioned in theatres or public indoor areas to wear a mask, it was quite noticeable to us having been on Princess not long before. We both tested positive for covid on Celebrity towards the end of the cruise, fortunately we had a balcony. The Celebrity captain made a public announcement that all crew did not have to wear a mask from January 6, it was up to each individual,

Try for an upgrade to a balcony

We were on Coral in October and had a speaker from New Zealand although he was an American. He spoke on the 2nd world wars throughout the pacific. The lectures were spread out over 3 or 4 days. We found it really interesting although I realise not everyone is interested in the Second World War.

Agree totally

We were on Coral in October and agree with your comments. Washed hands before the buffet and made full use of all the sanitisers. Announcements were made in the theatres etc to wear your masks, we did it and never complained. Recently disembarked from Celebrity, totally different protocols. Passengers sanitise upon entering the buffet, and that’s it. No hand basins and very few sanitise stations anywhere and no verbal reminders in closed public area . It was announced a week ago by the Celebrity Captain that crew no longer need to wear masks from 6 January,

There are no cruises in NZ from May to October

I have the same problem - only get three and I can’t delete them

Unfortunately there were a quite a number of passengers who succumbed during and after the cruise. It always appears to spread more so towards the end of a cruise.

he Coral Princess had sea snails living in the discharge pipes. (File photo) - Princess Cruises Advertisement The Coral Princess’s journey around the country’s tourist hotspots hit a snag when snails were detected in the ship’s discharge pipes. The cruise was meant to begin with a view of Mitre Peak, but instead passengers are spending another two days at sea – on top of the three-day journey from Brisbane. The ship was not allowed to sail into the Milford Sounds, where it was entering the country, because of the snails. Instead it rerouted up around Cape Reinga and over to the eastern coast of New Zealand. The cruise ship is now sitting 77km off the coast of Tauranga, out of the country’s territorial waters, while it is cleaned by divers and the snails removed. Passenger Christine McDonald said the reaction on board had been “overwhelmingly negative”, but she was glad the “precious and pristine” sounds in Fiordland were protected. READ MORE: * Coronavirus: Ruby Princess cluster grows by two * Coronavirus: 16 Kiwis stranded on Coral Princess cruise ship with sick passengers * From line dancing to lockdown: Cruise ships desperate to dock Some Australian passengers blamed New Zealand’s “ridiculous OTT environmental rules”, but “most rational passengers are dismayed with the cruise line for failing to have a clean hull in view of their advertised itinerary”., McDonald wrote in an email. “We imagine [the cleaning] has been a major logistical exercise for the cruise company organising a dive team the week before Xmas and finding a safe place (given weather and wind) to carry out the hull clean outside NZ territorial waters ... “However good news for our precious and pristine Fiordland sounds,” McDonald said.

I had seen that but it says can’t do anything until cruise is less than 21 days out.

Coral Princess. My sister boarded today in miserable weather. Don’t know where the NZ summer has gone.

We are booked on Eclipse 14 January. How were you able to see what the price is for Move up offers? We are only 32 days from sailing but can’t find anything regarding move up pricing. Any information would be greatly appreciated

I booked a 12 day cruise November 2021. Half price for 2nd guest and all inclusive. Classic drinks package, wifi and gratuities. The cruise is for January 14 2023 so I booked 13 months in advance. I often do a dummy booking to compare - category verandah deck 9 mid ship cabin under the new Journey Eventfull sale (all inclusive) It would cost only $12.00 more than 13 months ago.

On our Sept/oct cruise on Coral there were 2 medical emergencies over 2 days. In both cases helicopters arrived to airlift the passengers from the ship. It was explained in the theatre by an officer some days later what is involved when the captain has to request the services of a helicopter - it was a real eye opener.

We’re waiting……its like a tv series and having to wait for the next episode