roscoe39

I can definitely recommend "The Duke", the Duke of Marlborough Hotel is on the waterfront in Russell and when I say the waterfront, I mean, you could tip your excess ice from your gin into the surf. Russell is picturesque and an untouched colonial pleasure. I can also recommend the ferry to Waiheke for a day trip, either to the many wineries, the beaches or just for an outing. Devonport is also a short ferry ride across the harbour and is popular for a day trip in the morning, and have time to do the Auckland Museum on your return. If you are inclined, there are a couple of bus tours that will take you to the Waitakeres. They call them mountains, but they are hills really, covered in native bush and kauri. There is a great suburb up there called Titirangi and further over the beaches of Piha and Murawai. If you venture this way check first as they were badly affected by the floods and storms earlier in the year and there is still a lot of damage with the roads only just being reopened. A longer days outing will be Hobbitton. I can thoroughly recommend it as well, although you would need to check timing as it will be a long days travel. Have a great trip!

not sure if she was arrested but im sure it was fun..... now im really curious....

the QM2 of course does that route each year as part of the World Cruise, Ive done the route several times however from the reverse than SA to Perth, usually on the Queen Victoria World Cruise we do the Australia to SA direction. It is a fabulous trip which is why ive done it quite a few times, I recommend it.

the answer is yes. There are very few areas not covered by CCTV....the next question is......why do you ask?

Yes, several buses, the “link” is a circuit bus comes all the way down ponsonby rd, or is a twenty minutes walk with a little hill at the end

oooh really??? must book another cruise....

Hi Evana, sorry just saw this post, there's plenty to do in Auckland depending on your interests. I often suggest taking the ferry to Devonport, across the bay its a lovely victorian suburb -lots of cafes, art shops and a lovely walk up the Mount Victoria for a view of the city. Auckland has a fantastic museum, there is a hop on hop off bus that drops you there, there's Kelly Tarltons which is a large aquarium, look it up. Very popular. Ponsonby, which is my suburb is the place to come for lunch - more restaurants bars and cafes than you can shake a stick at and apparently the shopping is pretty good as well. The viaduct which is a short walk from the port is also great for bars and cafes and is the jump off place for any waterborne excursions - americas cup yacht experiences etc, also a very good maritime museum. The sky city tower has a fast speed lift to take you up to the observation level and if you don't like lifts you can always bungee jump off it to get back down. Incidentally you can also bungee jump off our harbour bridge - if thats your thing. Knock yourself out. Its a great city, if you want any specifics, please ask...regards Roscoe

interesting, I recently noticed a drop in my Auckland to Southampton fare on the QV in 2024 - it was offered by a travel agency, I rang Cunard who I had originally booked through and the Cunard Agent offered me a higher grade or to match the offer form the travel agency. (she checked online and found the offer). I took the match and it saved a considerable $US3500. last week, a different travel company offered again the same trip I was booked on at a further saving plus included airfares from the UK to NZ, again I rang Cunard and they agreed that if I cancelled my original booking (and the booked cabin) that I would get a good size OBC (which I had lost on the previous change) plus also a grade higher than my booked stateroom but on a guaranteed basis, and I saved a further $usd2500 . Thats a $USD6000 saving in less than a month! Will almost pay my bar bill......... Needless to say that I am a very happy camper and Cunard have reiterated that I will continue to be a loyal follower. I have often been cynical of savings that people claim to have made but now I'm a firm believer in "if you don't ask you don't get".....and "you've got nothing to lose without asking"

You don't say what airport or what day of the week you are talking about. and what grade you are flying in...it matters greatly in timing.... I think which ever though you may be pushing it. By the time self disembarking begins at 7.30am IF the ship is on time and all of the customs officers show up and IF your car/taxi is there on time, and if its Heathrow you are heading to, which is about 1.5 hours, you could be talking about a 10am arrival in the earliest at the airport IF everything has run to plan. With the lines at the airport and security, I think its a bit close. If you want to supply more details Im sure you will get someone here who can give you an accurate timing.

ooooh Don't ask him, after all he's Crew and I never dine with the crew

Ooops.. guilty

Aaaah sorry still a little unsure… is that something they have in brittania?

Fasten your seatbelts…… Bette claimed it as her own.

Maybe not a tiara, although.....if you were walking clockwise you might get away with it...

And certainly walking deck three clockwise is certainly one of those times… thank-you for noticing!

Sorry… unfamiliar with that term…however if you asked me what the proper form is to wearing what time of the day to wear diamonds I’m sure I cam oblige

and along with the Dowager Countess......I rest my case.

saw Meg2 last night....they needed a much bigger boat!

All about Eve.,one of my favourite screenplays of all time including one of possibly the best ad-libbed lines ever in cinema..... and please don't compare it to the trash they produce today....and don't even start me on "Barbie"

Good to know, i think we will have 12 time changes and east to west means 12 extra hours so its an advantage to us which will make the $135 per sector go Just a little further. It will effect those on the qm going west to east more…

ill be watching it on the WC next year, if you pay for 24 and they change the clocks forward an hour they surely must give you the full 24 hours surely...........

unless you are travelling across time zones......I wonder if anyone has kicked up a stink at reception yet for losing an hour every other day?

yes I agree however the cruise lines have to keep evolving to survive and COVID certainly exacerbated the need to continue looking for new passengers. Those of us who hark back to the golden age of sailing are slowly falling off the mortal coil and we need to be replaced with someone so I guess CUNARD is trying to find its way in the modern new world.

Norma also claimed to be ready for her closeup. Between that and "fasten your seatbelts" arguably the two most immortal lines ever spoken on celluloid.

yes I had that conversation pre 2020, a great loss to Cunard. When are we seeing you and Mr B next?