Over from NZ

There won't be any.

Other way round I believe - the NZ bank notes are printed in Canada.. 🙂

Oh harden up! Ubers are cheap - particularly when you're coming over with $USD! lol! If you're not going to spend the money on excursions.. why come? 🤣 You can get the free shuttle into Lyttleton and then a short uber over the hill to the Gondola (it's basically right above the port - I've walked from Lyttleton to the top of the Gondola before). If you want to see the city centre and do the Gondola. Get the cruise ship provided bus to the city centre. Then get a one-way uber to the Gondola - it's cheap. If you're then enjoying your day and wanting to penny-pinch.. walk down from the top of the Gondola into Lyttleton Port and get the free shuttle back to the ship.

How much time have you got? If it were me.. I would do a cruise along the coast of Australia out of Sydney and then fly to the South Island of NZ and do that by land. As pointed out.. Australia is huge.. but a lot of that is desert. NZ is much smaller.. but arguably has more to see. Australia will be hot. NZ probably will too.. but it will be all over the place! Mid of the South Island - we had 34 degrees (93 fahrenheit) the other day followed by a 32 yesterday and expecting another 30+ tomorrow.. but it can just as easily throw you a cold day following that and the evenings are cooler. Expect all seasons in NZ. If time is an issue.. cruise Australia.. allow a few (as many as you can) days in Australia at the start and end of your cruise.. and come back to NZ another day.

Why would you want to do it? Do they get to sample the goodies at the buffet etc?

Where do you want to stay? Not Auckland for a week?! lol!

Of the 2 - Princess is thought to be even more sedate than RC. They've already travelled more than once on Princess.. and a number of other brands.. and many times on R.C. They know the answer already. Taking a longer cruise is just going to be more of what they've already had many times before.

Yes they're great. We've used them about 6x now.

These people are not new cruisers. They're experienced cruisers.. who already have told us they get a bit bored on shorter cruises. Heck.. she doesn't even need to be asking the question. No point in trying to sell it to them.. 🙂

What does?

We've used these guys about half a dozen times now - https://italytoursharing.com/ In Messina we did the Mt Etna tour with hem in 2018 and this year did the Godfather tour. Both tours also went to Taormina. In Naples we used them for the 50 shades of Lemon tour (best meal ever) and for the Amalfi/Pompeii tour. Pompeii is amazing! We also did a day-trip from Naples to Capri on our own. It was Ok.. but I would do either of the other excursions again if I was going back. Ephesus is amazing! It's a must-do! We used these guys - https://www.curiotravel.com/categories/kusadasi-ephesus-port?id=6 Mykonos we explored the old town/old port on foot. It's very compact and easily walkable. Just wander and get lost among the bougainvillea covered alleyways, stores etc. Little Venice and the Instagram Windmills are in the same location. Santorini. Last time we winged it.. however first time there we did a 6-hour tour of the island with these guys - https://www.santotoursmarinakis.com/ We used Cruise Critic roll-calls and Facebook to arrange the tours (i.e. Just wife and I.. and we look to find 2-6 other passengers to make it a cost-effective private excursion). Cruise Critic doesn't work as well as in the past.. so had to post it on some of the facebook groups to get other passengers to join the tour. Italytoursharing allows you to start an excursion and then people can jump on their web-site to join.

Lol. No, just no. Thanks for the laugh.. but that certainly ain't it! 🙂

Timaru is just somewhere you would stop for a pee and some takeaways if desperate on a long drive back home from down south. Lol. Driving to Tekapo would be a good idea. However if that's out.. Are you into old cars? The Facebook page I was on for our NZ cruise before they gave us Timaru and we cancelled.. had some people putting on a brave face and coming up with ideas. I don't think I can post a FB link due to CC rules.. but what they did say was - if your looking for something to do in Timaru get in contact with the boutique village excursions group. Omg they are amazing with what they can offer. I’ve just arranged a full day out, getting driven around in old classic cars, being picked up from the info centre (where the ship docks) and driven around for the whole day to all the sites my husband and I want to see for a small price person. There communicate has been amazing and all the funds go to local museum in Geraldine. What more can you ask for…. Somebody else on that group suggested - My partners and I are interested in doing the following trip from Timaru. Is there anyone else who would llke to join us. If I can get another couple to join us the cost will be $100 pp. DISCOVER MOERAKI BOULDERS & OAMARU Explore the famous Moeraki Boulders and Oamaru’s Victorian Precinct with guide, Linda. EXPERIENCE INCLUDES: Return transport from Timaru to Moeraki and Oamaru Time to explore the famous Moeraki Boulders Time to explore Oamaru's Victorian Precinct Lunch NOT included, however, you will have time to grab lunch in Oamaru Departs: 9am from the Timaru Information Centre (this will be different if your arrives later than this). Duration: 5 hours, 30 mins

You're answering your own questions basically. Sounds like you're going to get bored. Why would you do it? 🙂

Have you got a link? Sounds like a bit of a tall story really.

It's funny the level of policing. We openly boarded Enchanted Princess in Europe this year with wine, beer and spirits and 4 different ports and were never asked a thing. 🙂

Was there today on Viking and there was a shuttle running from the ship into the Lyttleton township and back with dedicated stops different to the main Christchurch bus.

The scenery, flora and fauna will be there.. but the instagram scenery ain't near the ports where cruise ships go lol. Christmas day.. Maccas or the local service station for a pie will be as good as it gets haha

You'll save pocket change.. which in $USD will be even less. Sometimes the duty-free have buy 2 or 3 and get a saving.. but per bottle they're about the same as you will pay in an average bottle store. Google liquorland NZ for prices if you like and google duty free NZ and compare.. but there's nothing much in it.

That is correct. However.. trying to paint the picture of those that don't drink and/or want the drink package as miserable freeloaders is wrong.

The worst might happen (in the unlikely event).. he's out by a hundred or so? Worrying far too much about a small problem in an unlikely event..

You're drawing a long bow there (again) to try and back up your theory. Give it a rest.

You worry too much. It's unlikely that an excursion is late (happens.. but not frequently). You're worrying about the possibility of the cost of one excursion.. in the unlikely even the ships own excursions are late. Just book them.

Are you missing the memo? Smokers don't need to smoke inside.

Tonga & Fiji for us. Can't find a lot of info about those ports yet.