Jean C

No, not Australia, and not Charlie-boy.

Clue - Southern Hemisphere. By who, I meant his nickname.

We've struck it a couple of times, once an elderly couple who booked an inside cabin at last minute prices and boasted about it. The other time was a couple who booked the cruise, again when bargain prices were offered to fill the ship, but had booked the cruise in segments and got an overall very cheap price.

They're still jandals I think. Crocs do the shaped base with arch support style. Also Adidas, although the tops are scuff style. NZers would definitely raise eyebrows if you said you were taking your slappers on holiday with you 😳

We're in a condo, so no resort fee. The NZD400 includes the cleaning fee and the state taxes. I think I'd have a heart attack if even more was added. The condo complex has a restaurant and convenience store on site and two pools.

Nor NZ!

Okey dokes, thank you - an easy one (who and where) -

Slappers? For holidays I use those cheap slippers hospitals used to give you, white with a white sole. They always show how clean or otherwise hotel/cabin floors are. Princess pass the test 😊

I probably don't qualify then, the In the Park events are held at the Auckland Domain. It really was a random guess, but I've often seen those laser lights fanning out and bouncing up and down over the audience. Maybe you should post another pic since I didn't really "win".

I'm not a shoe person, comfort has always been my priority. However, it's surprising how the number of pairs taken on a cruise add up - 1. Trainers for the plane (my feet get cold, brrrr). 2. Keens for traipsing around the ship and on shore. 3. Jandals for around the pool. 4. Dress sandals for dinner - one or two pairs. 5. Slippers for in the cabin. 6. Reef shoes for the beach. 👟 👡 🩴 🥿 👠

By comparison, we're paying around NZD400 per night for a condo in Hawaii. They state it has a full fridge/freezer but sadly that refers to it's size rather than it"s contents 😪

Symphony Under the Stars, Auckland?

I always tuck my medallion on the lanyard, and prior to the medallion my cruise card, down the front of my clothes, rather than having it swing around as I move, but I must admit I did notice some "black card" people seemed to flaunt their status. The medallion being smaller is not quite so in your face. I hate the "what did you pay, we only paid X amount" queries. I always respond that we got a very good price and leave it at that 💰

And the lawyers gleefully rub their hands together 💰

Now go to bed 🛏 😴

Me too. I won't even sit on the balcony chairs until I've draped a pool towel over them. I hate to think what grot the mattress picks up if dragged out to the balcony 🥴

So you're the culprits 😉 -

Two chairs out on the balcony are standard, @OzKiwiJJ was referring to seating inside the cabin.

I like to do my own washing. On a summer temperature cruise I once hand washed the polar fleece top I wore on the flight (I dunno why, I'm probably a tad OCD). Never again though, it took about two days on the balcony to dry!

We always do our research and select a balcony/mini suite cabin with a covered balcony. I've only had a balcony mini suite once when travelling with grandkids. I liked the extra room on the balcony to put your feet up and the couch, however I didn't like the bath. I'll stick with a selected balcony cabin for the upcoming cruise rather than take pot luck bidding for an upgrade.

Haha, back in the dark ages in the UK, the "kitchen sink" was a large plastic bowl!

You forgot the kitchen sink 🤣

[sad face] Any hopes I had that maybe one day NZ might attract more cruise ships to its ports have been dashed, quote from article re reduced bookings for 24-25 season - "Reasons for the drop in bookings included increased operating costs in New Zealand, higher port fees and regulatory fees from central government, difficulties around hull cleaning regulations, global competition, and concerns about access through the Red Sea, Lloyd said from the United States." 😪

I'm with you, as long as it's a summer weather cruise I could even get away with just an airline cabin size holdall - and have done so for 7 nights (I take a warm top for the plane). We usually take a suitcase each though, for extras like snorkelling gear, a few permitted edibles if we have hotel accommodation and of course our permitted wine 🍷 🍾

Not forgetting: "People use statistics as a drunk uses a lamppost — for support rather than illumination"