TTFN2013
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Posts posted by TTFN2013
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Thank you for the quick response from you Canada Rocks, also from Cruiser Bruce. I'm trying to get a feel for the vibe of this cruise line. My feeling is it's more adult and formal than other lines that cater to a young party crowd.
I'm curious to see how many people answer what they would do.
A. Go formal or B. Go smart dinner attire.
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I have gorgeous full length formal dresses that hang in the closet and are rarely worn. I'd like to dress up for gala night, however formal wear is a pain to pack. I could pack lighter if all that is needed is smart dinner attire.
This is our first time cruising with Holland America. We're leaving out of Barcelona and doing northern Europe. Can anyone answer, "How dressy is dressy?", on the Holland America New Statendam?
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Get the ferry over to Devonport, the Mussels at the Irish pub are so good, the Guinness is worth drinking.
Thanks Ozy71
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Hello Cruisingchaggers, we're staying at the Viaduct Harbour Sofitel.
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Great suggestion. We've booked a room on the lake in Rotorua pre-cruise. Then just two nights in Auckland.
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Hi TTFN2013. Wow, I'm surprised that nobody has answered you as yet. We also will be in Auckland early next year prior to a cruise. I always do all the bookings myself for accommodation when we travel, and I was stunned at the prices of hotels in Auckland. We really wanted to be in the Viaduct area, near where the ships tie up and where there seems to be a huge amount of shopping and dining options, not to mention being right near a great transport hub. Hotels in the area were showing rates of between NZ4$400 to NZ$650 a night. Insane! I then looked at Airbnb, but balked at providing them with a photograph of myself plus copies of my identity document, such as driver's licence or passport. That ruled them out. I then found a pretty good rate at a serviced apartment that I booked through Qantas, who we're flying from Perth to Auckland with, and with the added bonus of getting lots of lovely frequent flyer points. The property I've booked us into isn't luxurious but it's a nice, very comfortable-looking one bedroom apartment - always prefer an apartment if it's more than a couple of nights - and it was only Aus$250 a night.
Good luck in your searches, but perhaps it is worth checking out properties in the CBD or Viaduct area that offer good rates through the airline you're flying in with, or even through your automobile association.
Hello Beejay4016,
Thank you for taking the time to reply. After much consternation over the high prices in Auckland, I bit the bullet and booked the Sofitel. If you're on the Jan 17 Radiance of the Seas, let's keep up with each other. My DH and I are traveling from California. Meg and Ian
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Hello Beejay4016,
Thank you for taking the time to reply. After much consternation over the high prices in Auckland, I bit the bullet and booked the Sofitel. If you're on the Jan 17 Radiance of the Seas, let's keep up with each other. My DH and I are traveling from California. Meg and Ian
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No one really mentioned the Bridge Climb or climbing the Pylon on the Southeast corner of the bridge for great views of the city and harbor. Everyone has pretty much mentioned everything else. I haven't personally eaten at the Glenmore Hotel in the Rocks, but my son says they have the best fish and chips! I fully intend to try them when we go to Sydney next year!
Thanks for commenting.
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Great tips. Thank you.
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I see nobody has mentioned this yet, but during our 5 day stay in Sydney one of our favorite experiences was a visit to the Chinese Garden of Friendship in Darling Harbor. It is not large, but really a lovely place. There was even a multicolor iguana roaming around. Even better, it abuts China Town so you can easily walk over for a great dinner.
Thank you.
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How does someone from Southern California get the screen name of TTFN? ;) just curios.
"Tah-Tah For Now", as in, I'm leaving to go on another trip. I'll see you again soon.:-)
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We stayed in Darling Harbour which we really liked. We stayed at what is now the Hyatt...it was a four points last year. We enjoyed the Zoo, Manly Beach and a day trip out to the Hunter Valley wineries.
Thank you.
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Love the Grace Hotel. All good suggestions above.
Eat at Cafe Sydney, have a drink at the Opera Bar
Sounds good.
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We stayed in Darling Harbour which we really liked. We stayed at what is now the Hyatt...it was a four points last year. We enjoyed the Zoo, Manly Beach and a day trip out to the Hunter Valley wineries.
Thank you.
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I've only been to Sydney twice but some of things that you might enjoy:
- Walking around the Rocks area
- The Royal Botanical Gardens are lovely (and huge). Maybe a walk all the way Mrs Macquarie's Chair.
- See something at the Sydney Opera House.
- Take a tour of the Sydney Opera House.
- Take a harbor cruise
- Take a tour out to the Blue Mountains
- Featherdale Wildlife Park is a popular animal stop on the way to the Blue Mountains
- Take a ferry out to Manley. Walk around North Head
- Get a guide/driver to take you to some of the suburbs outside of the central business district (Surrey Hills, Chippendale, Ultimo, Paddington) for some of the more bohemian and gentrifying areas
- Take a walk in Gap Park. Opposite side of the Bay from North Head.
- Take a guided architectural walk
- Travel up to West Head in Kuh-ring-gai Chase National Park for a nature walk. If you have a good guide or are adventurous, find the Elvina Track and look for the overgrown path to an amazing Aboriginal Engravings site.
- Something we have not done yet but plan to is a wine trip to either the Hunter Valley (north) or Southern Highlands (south)
We found that the Central Business District/Darling Harbor is really easy to do on your own but once you start ranging farther afield it's easier to have a guide/driver who can connect a bunch of things together. Our second trip was two long half days where we did North of the Bay all the way up to West Head one day and a huge South of the Bay loop on the second day from Gap Park down through the beaches and then crossing back through all the southern and western suburbs.
Hope this helps.
Thank you.
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Quick thought, I agree about QVB, if you haven't got accomodation booked you might look at the Grace originally a department store built in the 1920s a lovely building.
I will check it out. Thank you.
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I don't know where you're coming from, but PLEASE.... do not get off a long-haul flight and straight behind the wheel of a car. Every holiday season we have road fatalities caused by jet-lagged drivers from overseas who have never driven a right hand drive car on - what is to them - the wrong side of the road. Do your Auckland sightseeing first and give yourselves time to adjust.
Good point. We're flying non-stop from California. We're ok with the left hand drive. My DH is a Brit and we've driven a fair amount in England, Ireland and Isle of Man. Thank you for your comments.
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Where to stay in January 2018?
We want to see the Waitomo Caves, the Rotorua area and one of the waterfalls; Huka, Marokopa, Waitanguru, Omaru, Bridal, Wairere. We have 3 nights to stay in this area, then we head back to Auckland.
What would be the best area to find a hotel?
Which of the waterfalls is most impressive and would fit in this itinerary?
How would you change this itinerary?
Friday: Arriving early morning Auckland Airport, drive south to hotel and then do the Waitomo Caves
Saturday: Rotorua - maybe swim, kayak or jet ski in one of the lakes
Sunday: One of the Waterfalls (Huka, Marokopa, Waitanguru, Omaru, Bridal, Wairere?)
Monday: Something in the morning and afternoon; then drive back to Auckland afternoon/evening?
Tuesday: Ferry to Weiheke Island for lunch and to tour wineries
Weds: Board RCCL Cruise Auckland to Sydney
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just returned from British isles in Caribbean princess. Fabulous trip. Four of us left deposit for next trip. We really want Australia/New Zealand. We need help with airfare. Business class points are outrageous. Cost of business class ticket outrageous. We live in US. Has anyone come across an affordable fare? Thank you
Golf mom
We used air miles for one way in Business. 500,000 miles for two people one way. Then we purchased Premium Economy for the other...It's not great but it's better than coach. Just a thought.
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I've only been to Sydney twice but some of things that you might enjoy:
- Walking around the Rocks area
- The Royal Botanical Gardens are lovely (and huge). Maybe a walk all the way Mrs Macquarie's Chair.
- See something at the Sydney Opera House.
- Take a tour of the Sydney Opera House.
- Take a harbor cruise
- Take a tour out to the Blue Mountains
- Featherdale Wildlife Park is a popular animal stop on the way to the Blue Mountains
- Take a ferry out to Manley. Walk around North Head
- Get a guide/driver to take you to some of the suburbs outside of the central business district (Surrey Hills, Chippendale, Ultimo, Paddington) for some of the more bohemian and gentrifying areas
- Take a walk in Gap Park. Opposite side of the Bay from North Head.
- Take a guided architectural walk
- Travel up to West Head in Kuh-ring-gai Chase National Park for a nature walk. If you have a good guide or are adventurous, find the Elvina Track and look for the overgrown path to an amazing Aboriginal Engravings site.
- Something we have not done yet but plan to is a wine trip to either the Hunter Valley (north) or Southern Highlands (south)
We found that the Central Business District/Darling Harbor is really easy to do on your own but once you start ranging farther afield it's easier to have a guide/driver who can connect a bunch of things together. Our second trip was two long half days where we did North of the Bay all the way up to West Head one day and a huge South of the Bay loop on the second day from Gap Park down through the beaches and then crossing back through all the southern and western suburbs.
Hope this helps.
Great info. Thank you.
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Having been to Sydney many times, I would say the most convenient areas to stay for sightseeing purposes would be either The Rocks or Circular Quay. The next most convenient would be the CBD (downtown) followed by Darling Harbour.
And, the Great Barrier Reef is about 1500 miles from Sydney, so you couldn't "snorkel the Reef" from Sydney even if you wanted to.
Thank you for your suggestions.
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Following a 14-night Auckland to Sydney RCCL Cruise, we are spending 6 days in or near Sydney. First week of February 2018. I'd like to hear from experienced travelers. What are your suggestions as to what area to stay in and what not to miss. Sydney bridge is a given and I want to visit the pools of Bondi Beach.
Who are we and what are our interests? We are a couple in our 60's, reasonably fit, and we enjoy walking both in nature and taking in architecture. Our favorite travel experiences typically involve meeting and getting to know some locals, eating and drinking where the locals do. We're not avid ocean swimmers, so snorkeling the Reef may be out of the question. We're open to a hotel or vacation rental that allows us to walk to good restaurants and sites.
I'm looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your reply.
How dressy is dressy on HAL Nieuw Statendam?
in Holland America Line
Posted
Thanks Miss G. I agree. I've noticed the Europeans tend to dress up.