KiwiFunCruiser

IMHO the passport is the best bet, why take any risks as things change quickly nowadays.

Thanks so much for those posts, very helpful.

don't waste money on the ship.. STALE out of date and way too bloody expensive. just hit a store in the embarkation port. heck, the vending machines at the hotel you stay at the night before will be fresher and only slightly overpriced.

 

any grocery store, drug store or mini mart will have junk food.

Thank's I agree, but I can't get out of this one lol! and we will be sailing NZ & Australia on the Solstice.

Hi, I have never tried on land or at sea, did not think I would like them. Now after seeing so many people raving over them I might give them a try on our upcoming cruise.

So what is the draw card for Celebrity Escargot, and why will I like them?. Is it the way they are prepared etc?.

Hi, Daughter want's know if the candy sold on board is mainly American as she loves those Butterfingers etc?. Not always easy to find in NZ. Thanks'.

Appreciate these great insights and comments on the NZ South Island. Most others have shared that both islands are wonderful, but that the south is the "SUPERSTAR". Will share your comments on our roll call.

 

What did you love the most on the South Island? Would most impress folks from the USA?

 

Thank's Terry,

The North Island has it's wonderful features as well and being "Kiwi", we are so grateful to live here. The highlights of the South for us were;

Milford Sound

Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook

Queenstown

Arrowtown

Lake Wanaka

Hanmer Springs

Kaikoura

Kaiteirteri Nelson

Picton

And don't forget the beautiful French town of Akaroa, this one you will sail into.

You will love NZ, it really does have something for everyone.:D

Born a "Kiwi", went to live in Australia for 18 years and returned to live in Auckland in the late nineties. We had never seen much of the south island only the main cites until we decided to take a self drive summer holiday in 2005. We loved it so much we went again in 2006 and saw the rest and it was one of the best holidays we have ever had. Just goes to show, sometimes we can miss what is on our own doorstep.

Being in NZ, I was able to watch the clip from last night. Not good journalism.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/today-tonight/lifestyle/article/-/20230787/cruise-holiday-nightmare/

IMO definitely the husband to blame no matter what he says, he new the warning signs were there. Why would anyone want to go on a tender for one hour?. I thought the original story from the Cairns newspaper said that he returned to dock to find his wife with the suitcases and did not return to the ship. I don't think it would matter which cruise line they were on as the captain would have reviewed the situation and make the same decision. There are no second chances when it comes to ship security as it is their responsibility for the safety of all passengers and crew aboard.

Great pic's, I'm hoping to try some of these tasty dishes on the Solstice soon.

We printed out our check in passes and also downloaded and printed the "Guest Ticket Booklet" (ecodocs), which has a printed tag available with all our stateroom info. You just need to make as many copies as you need and follow the folding instructions. I usually just laminate them and cut them out. Celebrity also say that you can also take the image to the baggage Porter at the pier and he will create new ones.

Wow Gee!!! I love to see a thread like this, never seen one like this one on here before. It feels like a movie "Planes, Trains and Automobiles", great work Texed and I guess this is really a very happy birthday to you. Hope the OP's family get's to the ship on Monday. I am sure you will have a great celebration on board.

It was OK in Vanuatu and surrounding Islands off the Pacific Pearl as we gave a small bag along with other pax when we visited the schools etc. If it were larger packs and boxes then it would be advisable to check with both Celebrity and shore customs.

Love Tasmania, lived in Hobart for three years in the early nineties. My favorite spot was Bruny Island.

A nice ship, I've see it docked in Sydney once and was fascinated with it. I think it is probably a tad expensive for me though.

It's OK -- you don't HAVE to be a criminal to go there anymore

 

Barry

How did you find out Barry' I was hoping nobody would notice.

I read this very interesting article on Hobart in the New Zealand Herald today. Looking forward to visiting there again in January on the Solstice.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=11164279

I thought a good super soaker water pistol would liven things up. Is there any restrictions to having water pistols on board! I am sure that by the time I get dive bombed by a fair few of them, it will be "on" in good fun. :)

Wow! you look like you will be having a "blast" on your cruise, great sense of humour. I can see it now! your bags will get scanned and off goes the xray alarm with a couple of serious security people glued to the image of the water gun on screen. They will then send the luggage to the "naughty room", on board LOL!

Why is it every time we have a thread that mentions kids for any reason, we get the same very isolated stories about unruly teens and their terrible parents.

 

I've seen the almost verbatim posts about out of control kids on thread after thread. Yup, I guess it happened somewhere on some ship. But this thread has nothing to do with those aberrations.

 

Are we so frightened of leaving our gated retirement communities that we have to keep bringing up these tired old stories to justify not wanting kids around?

 

I told my kids that if I turn into one of those old geezers sitting around complaining about how terrible kids are nowadays, and how much better my generation was than the younger generations, they are to stake me out in the back yard and let me slowly expire.

 

Den

Your right Den. Seems to be common place on these threads.

My two 16 year olds loved the Martini bar! The staff welcomed and actually encouraged them to come visit. Lots of tricks with pouring drinks, throwing a cherry onto a toothpick trick and cool music etc. Of course they were not served alcohol and I didn't see a problem with them sitting with us at the Martini Bar. At the same time though, we didn't allow our 9 year old to sit there. A big difference I think between older teens and young/small children sitting at the bar. There was also no rule that children could not be in this area and by the age of 16 they were old enough to be in the solarium and gym areas too.

Nice comment. Is it true that a sixteen YO can go to the solarium?. If so my daughter will love that as she enjoys a quiet swim and was not going to go to the main pool.

Read post #50.

Thanks, I was still writing when that post jumped in.

Perhaps the OP is just wondering if there are lots of kids sitting around in the bar area. I don't think this will happen even on a holiday cruise. Celebrity does not attract the large amounts of children like Carnival or Royal Caribbean( One of the reasons I love Celebrity). I have never in 3 cruises seen any children at any bar, even the Sunset bar. I am sure that they will go there to get a drink and then leave to go do something else, kids don't just sit around and talk,etc.

I agree, on other ships I have seen families in the bar lounges but never seen kids at the bar. I wonder if the OP could elaborate a little bit on their question as to what they were actually referring to, as this may help everyone be more specific in their answers. Just a thought!

well all of you know what I am going to say...

 

NO KIDS in bars

NO KIDS in restaurants

NO KIDS in pools

NO KIDS on ships....

 

except of course on royal carib, norwegian, carnival, disney, holland america, princess....I dont sail those....

Not going to happen!

Should I take a ship's tour for Bay of Islands, or is there anything I can do myself. Is there access to local ferries near the ship port or is it a tender? Is there anything to do straight off the ship?

The tenders will drop you off next to Waitangi Treaty House, which is a popular spot for visitors and there will be shuttle buses to take you down the road to the Paihia wharf where you can catch a ferry over to Russell a very beautiful town with a historical past. There are also great beaches and cafes as well, a nice place to spend most of a day for less than a ships tour.

I just don't get it! Most bars in a cruise ship are actually in the lounges. Lounges are for everyone, including families with children. There is nothing morally wrong with children being in a location where drinks are served.

 

If you're objecting to a child sitting on a bar stool - nothing wrong with that either, as long as the child is sipping a non-alcoholic drink. Let's not forget that, during the daytime, the bars are often the only place where a child can get a drink, so they have to go to the bar.

 

I guess our difference of opinion comes from a difference in cultural expectations - in the US, apparently children are not allowed on licensed premises, even if they are with their parents.

 

In many other parts of the world, children are allowed, if accompanied by their parents - and no, being in the presence of adults who are drinking alcohol does not corrupt the children, unless the adults themselves are behaving in a reprehensible fashion.

 

Perhaps that's the problem with people who think children should not be allowed in a bar? They may feel inhibited by the presence of children, because they have to watch their language and generally behave better. Next thing you know, they'll be calling for women to be banned, too. ;)

Spot on! A cruise ship is not your local pub, and sadly I have noticed the objection of children part sometimes creeps into other parts of the ship.