jacketwatch

Very cool postcard too. My interest is definitely piqued! :)

Hello OzKiwiJJ, if I'm not mistaken you were on our cruise in February. (y)

 

 

Just to add to this we were asked to carry real photographic ID with us to get back to the ship in NZ. Photo copies were not allowed and despite being told this it caught many out. They did get back on eventually but no wherenear as quick as those who obeyed the instruction.

 

In Napier we used a company called Hawkes Bay Scenic Tours who we found to be very good. Many on our roll call used a company called Grape Escapes to tour round some of the wineries.

 

Celebrity Solstice Postcard #8 – Napier, New Zealand

 

We are going to have to go back and some point, it was an amazing cruise. :D

More good info. Thank you. I found HBST and I may have to use them as my first choice, tours by locals I can't do as you need a minimum of 6 and they don't combine parties so as it's two of us that's our.

Napier is famous for it's Art Deco architecture. Again, it's a working port so shuttle buses are provided. These drop off at the iSite information centre. There are walking tours of the town, or you can just wander around by yourself.

 

Napier is also a gateway to the Hawkes Bay wine region so if that interests you, you might like to research that sort of tour.

Very good. Thank you. :)

Very good info you provided. Thank you. So good you mentioned about Picton. We may do a ships tour there to avoid transport hassles.

Yes we are mobile so Wellington seems a good DIY port.

Cheers, Larry.

All caps is considered shouting and I find your tone very rude. You have no right to tell me what I can or can't do or must do.

Thanks for the link. I already posted there based the friendly advice I got.

Goodbye.

Hello. Our cruise above has stops in Dunedin, Wellington, Picton and Napier and I would like to know if private operators will be at the docks, should I book in advance, what to see and do, etc. This is the first time for us to NZ so any help would be appreciated. We usually skip ships tours. Thank you.

Expand Signature

OK, lets try that. Thank you.:)

Hello. Our cruise above has stops in Dunedin, Wellington, Picton and Napier and I would like to know if private operators will be at the docks, should I book in advance, what to see and do, etc. This is the first time for us to NZ so any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

Oops! My bad, sorry. The airport is Sydney and it's the OPT.

Hello. We are booked on the Ovation in Dec. and would like to know how far it is from the cruise terminal to the international airport and about how much the cost is. My TA can give me a shuttle for two for $36.00 RT but I don't know how much a cab would cost. Any help?

Thank you. :)

Can anyone recommend private tour guides for nature excursions please.

Thank you.

Larry

Sorry but this just not true!

early dinner is 5:15 pm, 5:30 pm, or 6:00 pm (depends upon itinerary)

late dinner is 7:30 pm or 8:00 pm (again depends upon itinerary)

midnight buffet is non-existent, but then it's non-existent on Princess also. However the buffet on Princess stays open later in the evening than it does on HAL.

This was satirical.

Whaaaat ? No IC or Alfredo's? Should I cancel and book another line ?

Where is this cruise going?

I would not cancel just because of this especially if it's a cool itinerary. I mean hey your on a nice ship and on vacation. Tough it out. :p

Most trusted Fast Food - McDondalds. Most Trusted Coffee - Folgers.

 

Kind of takes the shine off winning your category I think. Also there is no information about the votes, and all it says about the criteria is:

 

"Here, the brands you picked that deliver quality, value, and reliability, and fascinating facts you never knew about them."

 

http://rd.com/trustedbrands/

U have a point there esp. about the coffee. Lingering image of Mrs. Olsen I suppose.:D

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/carnival-cruise-line-named-most-trusted-cruise-line-in-america-by-readers-digest-for-the-second-year-in-a-row-300330950.html

Meant to put "RD" for Readers Digest.

Hi cruise lovers,

 

Has anyone tried the new (or new to me, anyway) Dramamine? Has it worked for you? My son and I both get motion sickness and we're tired of sleeping through dinner in the MDR!

 

I finally asked my MD for the patches but my son is too young to use them, so when I was out getting Dramamine, I found the Naturals.

 

Any experience with either the ginger pills or the patch? Preference?

 

Thanks!

Usually works very well for my wife. She takes half a tab which of course causes less drowsiness so its been fine.

OK, problem solved! I realized after I got off the phone and opened the case with Barclay that I still have my stateroom account statement from the ship. The page for the excursions is printed on Princess Cruise Line stationary, and under the letterhead it says Carnival Japan. So I called Barclay back, the manager had me send her a photo of the statement, and problem solved. She awarded me the double points on the spot.

 

So those of you going to Japan and using your Princess Visa for excursions, save that statement! It will make getting your double points so much easier!:)

 

BTW, it was only the charges for excursions that were the problem. Other ship charges showed under Princess, not Carnival.

Good for you! I have had post cruise issues with Royal and Celebrity and like you was dismayed at the poor level of CS I met. However going uno the ladder I found that the CS was the way it should be IMHO so be persistent. It pays off usually.

For all my troubles I received $240.00 OBC from X and so far two bottles of wine and about $300.00 OBC from Royal so hey keep bugging me! :D.

It was within a dollar, onboard vs pre-paid.

Well worth it in either case!

 

Also, if you want bottled water, they have 12 for $6 pre-purchase only. Awesome deal!

Quite true. I hope Princess improves the free stuff. It's the worst of all the cruise lines I've been on.

 

Wow, maybe it is cheaper down here in Texas. I got Prime boneless ribeyes for $9.99/pound last week.

 

--Mark

We're moving. :D

Morton's, like Capital Grill CAN vary a lot! Seems to be how skilled the chef is. I've heard good things about Abe & Louis, but not been there. We did Boston Chops a month ago & it just blew us away. Not had a meal like that since doing Gordon Ramsey's "Steak" in Las Vegas. I like Grill 23 a lot, but never can understand how it wins "best" steakhouse in Boston every year!? We found Strega Strip to be better, but Boston Chops still blew me away!

We have a Capital Grill by us and actually I found the steak I had was frankly not that good, not for that price. However we saw a play at a theatre next to it and had free valet parking vs. $30.00 for the theatre lot so you could say in a way we got our money's worth. However for the quality of the steak alone it was not up to its cost.

I would rather get a USDA prime and grill it myself.

Costco![/quote

 

USDA prime NY strip steaks there are around $20.00 per lb. last week. :)

Well, I do like it for a snack with a plop of soft serve ice cream in it.

For me thats masking the coffees flavor. :D.

Again thanks for your apology. Its nice to see that here.

BTW we usually get the coffee card and go to the MDR for breakfast and dinner and though they don't have to the waiters have always gone to the IC to get me the premium brew. :)

I truly apologize. I did not mean to be offensive. I enjoy and appreciate cruise critic forums.

Thank you. :)

This and the coffee threads before it, only revealed you will have to form your own opinion of it. It's way too subjective as Pam said. In my opinion, it's an ok base for what you might put in it, but black coffee drinkers may not be so thrilled!

Very true. I like it black, no sugar so I find their usual stuff awful. If it's that bad I put c/s in it to make it drinkable for me.

There is a reason the better stuff goes for around $15.00 per lb. ;)

Thank you jacketwatch. I haven't cruised in 15 years and never on Princess. So, to me and many others, these threads are interesting and usually informative.

 

I appreciate that some of the more experienced members on this board see it as an opportunity to give their opinions and experience from first-hand knowledge.

No problem. You will always at times find some who post some sort of a barbed comment. It never helps. Just be polite.

Cheers, Larry