kiwijohn

See you tomorrow. Boarding at Southampton

It has just been reported this week that Lyttelton Port has received an insurance payout of $440 million for damage caused by the 2010/11 earthquake. It is hoped to remove a breakwater on the western side of the port and redevelop Gladstone Pier to allow larger cruise ships to berth by the summer of 2015/16. It would seem that Akaroa will still be in use in 2013/14 and 2014/15

Fear the Turtle - I enjoyed your review. I am doing the same cruise in September next year. Do HAL have early check in on the Queen Mary from 9-30am - 11-30am like Carnival ships? Have you any tips on a smooth check in at the Long Beach terminal?

[quote name='frankc98376']From HAL's terms and conditions for Explore 4 (at hollandamerica.com/explore4):

[B]Free Signature Beverage Package is not available on Caribbean and Mexico cruises—or on the land portion of Alaska Land+Sea Journeys. Signature Beverage Package has a daily limit of 15 beverages priced $7.00 or lower. Signature Beverage Package excludes beverages priced over $7.00 and purchases made in Signature Shops, Mini Bar and In Room Dining, or beverages on Half Moon Cay. Signature Beverage Packages are not transferable or refundable. Participants may order only one drink at a time, must be 21 years or older and agree not to give alcoholic drinks to minors. No sharing is permitted. Beverage management reserves the right to revoke the Signature Beverage Package if misused and reserves the right to refuse service for any reason, including refusing service of alcoholic beverages to intoxicated guests. Signature Beverage Package has a retail value of US$50 per person per day, including service charges.[/B][/quote]
I note that "participants may order one drink at a time. " Does this mean that you cannot participate in Happy Hour when they have one drink and the second free or priced at $1 when you order at any one time???

Do you get any Mariner Days Credit for spending on the Explore 4 Signature Beverage Package??

Has anybody tried a wifi range extender in a cabin to get strong wifi coverage inside a cabin?? I have one at home which plugs into a power socket and extends the wifi coverage in the house from the router. It works very well and they are very cheap and very small. I note many posts complaining of the weak signal inside the cabin and having to leave the cabin door open.

The "Christchurch Press" report stated that the biggest problem causing delay in the reopening of Lyttelton port to cruise ships is the port's insurance claim for around $500 million which is one of largest claims in Austalasian history with over 500 port assets damaged. This will take a long time to resolve and in the meantime Akaroa will have to serve as an alternate port. Large ships such as the Voyager of the Seas cannot use Akaroa so this means Christchurch is losing a lot of potential revenue.

It was reported in the "Christchurch Press" last week that Cruise Company representatives and tourism operators believe the port will not be open for cruise ships before 2017.

My first cruise was in 1969 around the Mediterranean on the SS Nevasa owned by the British India Line. She was used as a troop carrier in the Second World War and converted by BI to a cruise ship for British schoolchildren. The ship carried a few adult passengers besides the teachers and pupils and adult passengers were able to attend the talks given by visiting lecturers about each port and its history and geography.

My first cruise was on the SS Nevasa a British India Steam Navigation Co Ship in 1970 around the Mediterranean. It was an ex World War 2 Troop ship and carried British schoolchildren for educational cruises plus a few adults.

 

Facilities were pretty primitive.The cost was GBP147 for 18 days including flights to Venice from UK

Zaandam, 25 November 2011, 14 day New Zealand Discovery

 

John

MY first cruise in 1969 was around the Mediterranean on the SS Nevasa an old British India ship used a a troop ship in World War 2 and in the Korean War.

 

The cruises were set up for British school children and their teachers with only a very small number of other adult passengers. Each day there were lectures on ports of call and European and Middle Eastern history by guest professors and lecturers which adult passengers were invited to.

 

There was certainly plenty of noise on board

MY first cruise in 1969 was around the Mediterranean on the SS Nevasa an old British India ship used a a troop ship in World War 2 and in the Korean War.

 

The cruises were set up for British school children and their teachers with only a very small number of other adult passengers. Each day there were lectures on ports of call and European and Middle Eastern history by guest professors and lecturers which adult passengers were invited to.

 

There was certainly plenty of noise on board