Sallyandtex

Hi, We have finally rebooked our covid-failure trip to Norway and UK!! We have pre-paid a lot of stuff, and the conversion fees etc are substantial. We usually just use our paywave card 3-5% fees (for NZ), but for the remaining tour balances, and everyday purchases while OS, I have read about the 28 degrees card and the Bankwest Zero platinum mastercard. There is a lot of complaints on Product review about 28 degrees with payment failures and other difficulities bpay etc?? I looked at Bankest but I was a little worried about the "purchase rate and the ongoing balance transfer rate" of 14.9%". I was planning to load the card up with cash and use like a debit card, so is there an easy card like my Aussie debit paywave card around without the fees?? thanks

Thanks Rosie

Has anyone booked with an overseas agent, or cruiseline not in AUD? If so, any pitfalls apart from exchange costs? The deals and prices and availability even, seem much better. Thanks!

Thanks everyone

It's 12 days

Depends on the ship size and where you are located I guess. Midship lowest possible the most stable. We recently had the calmest sea ever across to NZ, return was another story with massive swells! I would be as prepared as possible if you are prone to sea sickness. I am sure others will chime in about their experiences and advice. Have a great cruise NZ is beautiful.

Thankyou, most helpful I will pass that on.! There used to be a service like that near Mascot but I think they went out of business with covid. Glad your friends recommend them, it's the luggage on the train that's the problem.

It's $95 each one way, then return x 4. So $95 x 8 is $760. Is there anyone who can answer my original question about the parking please?

6 minutes ago, buchhalm said: Isn't there a convenient shuttle service from Newcastle to sydney cruise terminal? https://www.newcastleconnections.com.au/sydney-cruise-terminals/ Yes , and we used them in November but they didn't turn up on the return trip and we had to get the train, ok for us but they are elderly. Plus it would cost $760 and its a shared shuttle

Hi. Asking for a friend. They leave from OPT and there is 4 of them in their car. There used to be an undercover parking place that shuttled you to and fro, but I think they might be out of business. Is there anyone who has used an economical service like this recently? They are travelling from Newcastle. Thanks!

Got back a few weeks ago from a 14 day Holland America NZ cruise (less than 2000pax). We were the "kids" being in our mid-50s, mostly everyone very much older ( so much more than the Alaska trip we had done). The ship had been at sea from Seattle, so a LONG time. There was many from USA aboard. There were SO many maskless people coughing and blowing noses all around us! Even saw people leaving their used tissues on the dinner plates in the Lido and MDR for the staff to clean (YUK). A good percentage seemed to be doing what they wanted with disregard for fellow passengers. (My guess is they didn't test so they could continue as normal.) So, the numbers would be out of skew. This made me so anxious I am reluctant to cruise again for a while. I have been on Carnival/P &O pre covid and I found them quite good with the hygiene (washy washy).. Perhaps the "new" lot of passengers that got on in Sydney were much more compliant with hand hygiene and mask wearing (which was not enforced, even though mandatory). So, perhaps it's the thing that we in Aus have been thought so much isolation stuff and got used to the masks and trying to do the right thing?? My advice to the OP is just be extra careful with hygiene, wear a mask, and a P2 or N95 in the tenders, or when you are in an enclosed space. Move seats when you have someone coughing near-by. If we all look after each other then we can continue cruising in a safe place.

Wow! We arrived on the ship today. I was really disappointed about Kiakoura as I had booked a whale watch tour. We didn't get this letter, hope it eventuates.

Oh I am so pleased! Thanks again

Thanks for the update. Do you know if they have trivia on board? We really love to go to trivia on sea days. Nothing showing on my navigator app

Hi there, Thanks for sharing your pictures of the ship! We are excited to be going to NZ from Sydney next week. I will be bringing some surgical masks and some P2 for the tender boats, can you tell me if there is a supply of surgical masks in the cabins to replenish? It's wonderful the Captain has been good with the communication .

Sorry, I just thought things might be different for Australian ships. I am trying to delete the post but I can't seem to! Thanks, been trying to delete this post but I can't.

We leave next week on Westerdam. Just preparing all my P2 masks for the tenders and hand gel etc. I was also going to pack surgical masks but not sure how many and if the ship supply them ? Thanks

Great! Might pre book an Uber then may be a lot of people wanting transport. Is there a need to prebook HOHO bus? I notice tickets online.

Thanks for the reply and link. So, is it possible to get a public bus? Or has the cruise companies taken over the route entirely? How about a taxi.? I was really looking forward to Christchurch in a few weeks, $50 each for a bus seems excessive. We would rather spend that on the local businesses.

Do you know if you can tap with a visa debit card?

I hought there was a free or low cost shuttle between the 2?

We were able to order room service from the dining room menu about 5 years ago . Saw this old post too.. ANY passenger in any cabin category can order room service from the dining room dinner menu. You must call within 1/2 hour of the dining room opening and place your order for the time you want to have your dinner delivered to your stateroom. Still valid?

Thanks, very helpful. I am always dubious of using free WiFi, had problems before after using free ones in hotels.

And I guess you keep same number so if you text someone , they know it's you! Just thought the local carrier might be more stable, I might investigate which NZ carrier the Aldi use for roaming.

Thanks, HAL medium plan is $25 USD a day , and we would want calls and text on land so we have decided to go with the NZ sim. We are in ports each day except getting there and back.