kiwirick

I very much doubt that NZ or Australian borders will be opened anytime soon.Our government has suggested that they won’t open until a vaccine is available,and I think Australia feels the same way.The two governments have recently had discussions re the possibility of travel between our countries once it is deemed safe to do so,but our PM has said it will be months away ,rather than weeks.It is possible that some South Pacific countries could be included.

At the moment the focus is on promoting domestic tourism,the government has provided funding for this,anda campaigns are starting.Certainly we are not expecting international tourism until a vaccine is available.

On a personal note ,my wife and I along with six other couples have a cruise around S.America on the Westerdam in October.We do not expect to be going.

Stay safe,

Richard

Here in New Zealand,borders are closed to all except returning NZ citizens,and they are subject to a mandatory 14 day quarantine.Our government has hinted that these measures will be in force until a vaccine is developed.

The country is in the third week of a four week, minimum,lockdown.

Sources in our travel industry expect it could be several years before we get back to overseas travelling as in the past,subject to a vaccine.

So,don’t get your hopes up about cruising any time soon.

Maybe the cruise lines should be paying their employees a decent wage so that they don’t have to rely on tips to survive.

We have sailed twice twice with PG and would not hesitate to do so again.Beverages,gratuitiesand specialty dining are included in the fare and the food is in my opinion a step up from HAL.

Spectacular snorkelling ( and scuba diving) does exist in Fiji,and the rest of the South Pacific,but I doubt that you will find it based on a cruise ship.

In September the taxi fare was 2000 cfp from Manava to the airport daytime.I think it's another 500 cfp night time.

I forgot to add that Manava have a shuttle into town at 3pm daily.Drops you off across the road from the ship,leaving a maximum five minute walk.Cost will be on their website.

In September the taxi fare was 2000 cfp from Manava to the airport daytime.I think it's another 500 cfp night time.

When we flew back to NZ from Papeete in September we had the plane that has not been refitted. it was a long 5.5 hours.Would not like to be flying from the US on it.Still you have an eighty per cent chance of not getting it.

When you get off the ship's tender you will see an old wooden bus.This is the free shuttle to Fare,it takes 20-30 minutes to get there.when you arrive in Fare,walk along the waterfront to the right past the bar and restaurant.In approx. 2 minutes you will reach a beach area that is good for swimming,in fact it is very pleasant.About a dozen people from the ship wandered along there and enjoyed it.

Nor 78!

Well,it won't be in ten years.

Old, we're talking about old! :) The guy who slipped on a ladder and fell into the boat breaking his collarbone was probably 60. This was the ship's excursion Stingray Ballet on BB.

Even 68 is not old

After a lot of thought the July 18th 10 day would maybe work for us also. How do we get in touch to compare notes? I don't think we traded contact info during the cruise or did we ? Lew

richnchris@slingshot.co.nz

Hi Lew ,we have three other couples keen to do the 10 day cruise and we are looking at July 18 2018.

December to April/ May is cyclone season in the South Pacific so its a bit risky travelling then.Even if you dodge a cyclone there are lots of tropical storms.

Regards

Richard

Thanks for clarifying this. The Internet is a dangerous place!

Just to clarify the event.Because of the propulsion problem,the ship stayed three extra days in Bora Boraand did not go to the Tuomotus as per the itinerary.A lot of people booked this cruise because it included the Tuomotus,and were disappointed to miss them,especially those doing scuba dives.

During the day at Taha'a one of the tenders/lifeboats,fell off the ship,ripping off the railing and damaging the decking.Fortunately nobody was hurt.

During the night on the way to Moorea more work was required on the propulsion system,resulting in the ship arriving in Moorea at around 1100hours.This meant that most morning excursions were postponed or cancelled.

Fortunately the weather during the cruise was good and Bora Bora was a good place to be stuck in.It was also generous of PG provide extra complimentary excursions.

So it wasn't all plain sailing,but we still had a good time and are glad we did this cruise.

Cyclone season in the South Pacific is normally January to April,but there's always the chance of an early one.Also a few tropical storms from time to time.I'd go in October just to be safe.

Good info. Thanks!

 

Do they accept any other currency, and is correct change required? We usually don't spend much in our port stops, and don't expect to need much cash in NZ$ -- so where might we cheaply get just enough to pay for the bus and maybe a snack along the way? Are there any other expenses we might encounter that I'm not aware of which would need to be paid in cash NZ$? We are planning to just ride the bus to Muri beach and have a laid back day. Are there any other must-do activities that we should know about?

The NZ$ is the currency in the Cooks,shops,cafes,bus etc won't take any other.You should be able to exchange at one of the banks in town.

I think that the last time we were there we googled the bus info and found out about fares timetable etc.

There is a Cook Island tourism website that has most info on it.

If you're just there for the day I would suggest what you are doing,maybe take snorkel gear or just swim.At Muri you can hire kayaks.

As for other activities it's a question of time and preference,we like to walk,swim snorkel and have the odd game of golf.

You will find Cook Islands much quieter and more laid back than other Pacific destination

Yes we have used them many times.The clockwise one goes on the hour and the anti clockwise goes on the half hour,or vice versa,can't remember which.You can usually wave the bus down,no need to find a stop.Three years ago the fare was NZ$2 which is the currency used in the Cooks.Just tell the driver where you want to get off and he/she usually remembers.

If you're physically fit you won't have any problems.

I should add that on the new ship we get the same room,the program director and I think the hotel director go with us,and we only pay gratuities once,at the end of the cruise.

Just to set the record straight.We are on the Viking Ingvi now .We arrived in Passau yesterday and everything went as scheduled.Last night we were informed that water levels were too low to go any further.Today those that wished were bussed to Regensburg for scheduled tours plu s extra complimentary ones.Tonight we pack our cases, and tomorrow we bus to Nuremburg and do scheduled tours plus free lunch with drinks included,and then board another ship identical to this one.We then carry on as originally scheduled.

The same procedure has been carried out on the Viking Ve one day ahead.

Our personal opinion is that Viking have done their best to provide a solution that ensures passengers receive a service as close to normal as possible without missing out on anything.

We are in Budapest now,boarding Viking Ingvi in the next hour or so.We have had notification from Viking about the possibility of a ship change.We'll just take it as it comes.Very hot here and predictions are it will be hotter tomorrow.I wonder if we can jump in the Danube!

We sail July 18th,received docs last week.

What should be born in mind is that emergencies do not always progress in the way that planners expect them to.It may well be that there will be no time for phases 1 and 2.It may be a case of "head for the life boats and women and children first".

Last year on the Prinsendam we ordered room service from the MDR on several occasions, mostly formal nights.We rang about 30 -40 minutes before we wanted to eat and it always arrived in that time .Very easy and we were not in a suite.

Richard.

20 September 2014,Zuiderdam ,Alaska-Panama Canal.