clubby

whangarei is a new cruise port  If a shuttle provided into city  Its easy to wander around, visit town basin waterfront  walk hatea loop  visit hunterwasser museum

The Len Lye art gallery is interesting.  Waterfront is a nice walk,  Pukekura park worth a visit can walk from city centre

Whangarei is a new cruise port, our home town, not sure what will be in place for cruisers.

If there is a shuttle into the city, the waterfront is  nice to look around, can walk the hatea loop around the waterfront.  Can walk to the shops in town, not a lot to see there.  Rose gardens close by to town.

Hunterwasser museum maybe worth a vist in town basin (waterfront)  unusual building to look at from outside. Hope this helps

On 5/3/2023 at 7:15 PM, Wookie01 said:

Thanks, I have just been looking up the public bus (#28) and it looks perfect.
Goes from Lyttelton Jetty to Manchester St, just near the tram and return, and both go via the Gondola stop, all for the very affordable $5NZ for a day pass.
Looks like we have our day in Christchurch planned out 🙂

 

often there is  a long queue for the public bus, if your ship is smaller then the wait may not be as bad.  Often have to wait for the next bus

Zealandia has a. cafe, delicious food. We have just visited there. I agree the 3 things are very doable in the time frame you have,

Sailed on sun princess last year. I was doubtful about the ship but she is in great condition. I love the size. Theatre is smaller only 2 lead singers and smaller dance troupe. 
I wouldn’t hesitate to sail on her again. Have booked her again

Hope this helps. Food entertainment and staff great

Pira tours was an amazing day. Walked amongst penguins went to haberton estate and over to the island

Customs is at cruiseport and usually very fast.

Yes, I will post this in Australia/New Zealand section also. But this question is particular to Princess.

We finish an Australia land tour and New Zealand cruise (January 2018) in Auckland and fly home that night. I am looking at taking the Princess disembarkation tour that day that goes to the museum for about 4 hours. The tour states that they return you to the ship. I have some questions -

1) Do they store your luggage at the terminal or do they take it on the bus?

2) Do they then have a bus to the airport that I can purchase?

They are not currently selling a tour that day that ends at the airport. My travel agent has asked Princess but they don't know the answer.

I'm sure there is someone out there with the experience to know the answer.

Thanks as always for the help.

Sky bus will take you to the airport leaves from near cruise terminal can book online, check out website, not sure about luggage storage at terminal

For a child, certainly. For anyone else ... I recall one difficult tendering in Cabo where they weren't letting anyone in the elite line who was not elite, and "he's with me" and "he's in my group" and "they told me to stand here" were not being accepted. Didn't see how they handled husband and wife at different levels,

My husband is platinum and I'm elite, at Cabo he was allowed priority tender with me last November. I have always used priority che k in if I am travelling with someone who is not entitled to it and no questions asked.

Diamond then Golden

Avoid sun class ships so old.

It's great to have newer ships down under now after having the old ships for so long.

Diamond has some nice features not on Golden or other ships, worth a try if you have never been on her.

Thanks everyone for all the help

We now have our plans for the day organised.

Dylan's tours offer Muir woods and Sausolito with a city tour 9am departure.

Good review

Travel lodge and Hilton offer day rooms.

We have booked a room at travel lodge for October.

Shuttle to LAX then hotel shuttle to hotel.

Easy option for us

Has anyone suggestions on how to spend the day in Santa Barbara exploring on our own

We are fit and active so walking not an issue.

Thanks

If we decided to walk how long would it take and is it doable? We are both fit and active.

Thanks

I know this is an old thread, but I am hoping pppatpc or some others might jump in and share experiences of the ports they did on their own. I would be open to booking one more "must do" excursion - otherwise we're on our own.

 

Here are the ports that we will be traveling to:

 

Dunedin

Akaroa (Dolphin Cruise and Swim booked)

Wellington

Napier

Tauranga

Auckland

Bay Of Islands

In Dunedin we are catching public bus from Port Chalmers where ship docks into city, walk to Speights Brewery for a tour then walk to Cadbury factory for another tour then bus back to Port Chalmers. You will need to book both tours online and public bus timetable is available on line. This makes for a cheap fay out. The locals will be helpful in pointing out the way to both Cadbury and Speights.

Bay of Islands you could book online Mac Attack tour to hole in the rock, will see wildlife seals maybe dolphins etc an great trip to do. You can then walk around Paihia and maybe a drink or snack at Alongside the restaurant on the wharf out into the ocean at the waterfront on Paihia, we love going there.

Tauranga, you can walk around and up Mt Manganui the ship docks there, go for a swim at the beach, browse the shops. Day trip to Rotorua and thermal areas is good but depends on your budget.

Wellington can walk into city or use bus provided by cruise line, take a trip on cable car, wander botanical gardens, walk the waterfront to Te Papa the museum (free admission)

Hope this helps.

We are arriving in Akaroa and the Bay of Islands in December on the Solstice. Since these are tender ports we are considering booking ship excursions and using some of our OBC or doing the D.I.Y. option. Does anyone have any ship excursion suggestions or otherwise?

 

In Akaroa we are considering the Journey into Middle Earth but from research it seems that most of this tour is spent on a bus. Anyone have experience on this tour? I have read about the TranzAlpine Express and this is offered as a ship excursion but I am wondering if 9 hours on a train gets to be a bit much.

 

In the Bay of Islands there is a cycling tour offered on our summary of tours. Is tour on heavily traveled roads or is it more out in open areas or trails. Anyone experience the Glow worm caves and Kauri Forest excursion?

 

Any suggestions are appreciated!

We live in the area,

Glow worm caves are great as is the Kauri Forrest would recommend these highly.

You could always book online a tour on the Mac Attack in Paihia, buses will take you from Waitangi where tenders dock to Paihia, 5 minute drive. Mac Attack out to hole in the rock is amazing, really enjoyed the trip, will see wildlife, seals possibly dolphins. Trip is about 2 hours, Paihia is pleasant to walk around the restaurant Alongside on the wharf out into ocean is an amazing place to relax for a drink and lunch

Enjoy BOI

Thank you everybody for your replies

 

I have an inside cabin on Plaza deck - Its incredibly expensive to travel in an outside or dare I even say balcony cabin as a single traveller...

 

I literally cannot wait to fly to Sydney to take this cruise - I`m so excited to be travelling to Australia and New Zealand = Princess has INCREDIBLE itineraries

 

I dont really remember much about Arcadia as it was in 2009

Hi,

I travelled for half world cruise on Plaza deck in outside cabin. Really good access to dining rooms and all that is happening in Atrium. We enjoyed the location.

Hope you enjoy your New Zealand cruise, you will see some amazing scenery in Milford Sound.

We met Generoso on the Sun in March, he had just joined the crew. I spoke to him and mentioned all the wonderful things I had heard about him on cruise critic.

After that he seemed to remember me and went out of his way to greet us with genuine warmth. I was truly impressed, he was very entertaining in the cooking demonstration.

I sailed with Rui on my first Princess cruise, he was very helpful.

I see it's under new management. Viewing the pictures on line, I think they've updated the rooms....they look even nicer than when we were there.

Let me know if you decide on this one (just curiosity).

Thanks for your help. Orlando was prompt in getting back to us.

We decided not to stay there after much debate, prefer the Recoleta area, booked a nice hotel there. Thought the area was more convenient.

Thanks everyone for your input, greatly appreciated.

You might also check out B&B's. We stayed in one in the Palermo area couple years ago. It was nice....roof top patio, run by an English couple. They were very helpful. Got us an excellent exchange on our money. They knew where to go of course and they did it for us and another couple that we met also staying there and going on the same cruise. You can check them all out on Trip Advisor. Taxi's were very cheap and we used them to go everywhere. Several restaurants nearby altho our favorite is Las Lelas in Puerto Madero for steak. Pricey but very memorable.

Hi thanks for the info was it Abode Bueonos Aires you stayed at, was run by and English couple, now by Orlando, we are looking at that.

Lesley

Hi Nacho

Some Recoleta suggestions for comment. I think I am leaning towards this area not sure why

Ulises Recoleta suites, dazzler hotel , Recoleta etoile hotel, art suites, loi suites,

Urban suites Recoleta.

Thanks

Lesley

The recommendations made in this post are all great. It is really up to you which hotel to choose, but, for instance, neighborhoods like Palermo, Recoleta or San Telmo can give more of the local feel than Puerto Madero, which is newer and more luxurious.

 

For example, I work for some people from California, and when they come they stay in Madero Hotel in Puerto Madero because it is near the downtown and almost every touristic places of interest and it is in the best part of Buenos Aires, and has a wonderful buffet breakfast, but there is not much there related with tango or the "city feel".

 

If you want to, you could post some hotels you've been looking at and maybe I could tell you some pros and cons.

 

Regards,

Nacho

Hi Nacho,

I have some hotels for Palermo for your advice,

Van boutique hotel, Krista hotel boutique, Own Palermo Hollywood

, Rendezvous hotel boutique or duque hotel boutique.

They have good Expedia reviews or should we stay in Recoleta?

Which area has best acess to subway sightseeing etc.

Thanks Lesley

Pleased to meet you. I am from Buenos Aires so I will be happy to help you.

 

Many tourists stay in the Puerto Madero area, it is the most safe and perhaps the nicest neighborhood in BA. The other choices are Palermo, Recoleta or the downtown. What are you looking for? A local experience? First class hotels as if you were in the USA? Are you more into the city + tango experience, or the country + gaucho thing? You could do both.

 

With some of these things answered, perhaps I could help you more.

 

Best regards!

Hi,

I am in the same dilemma as to where to stay in BA. We would enjoy a local experience, don't need a first class hotel, but one with a local feel would be great. I want to visit the cemetery. We will be staying 2 nights before visiting the falls.

Any help would be appreciated.

Lesley