Australia and New Zealand

[leonardray]

Does Oceania have any plans for the near future to sail in Australia and New Zealand.

[hondorner]

The announcement of the Winter 2011-2012 itineraries is due out sometime between now and October 15. It will show, among other things, where Regatta will be after arriving in New York on October 24. There is a strong likelihood that she will head to the South Pacific for the season before heading back to Alaska for the Summer 2012 season.

 

Also, the second new build, Riviera, is due to be launched sometime after April, 2012, and no one knows how that will shake up the mix of cruises in following seasons.

 

But, your best bet is still the Winter of 2011-2012, and the itineraries are due out Real Soon Now.

[Leonid]

For people who live in the eastern part of the US, Australia & NZ are a LONG flight...unless one wants to stop on the west coast or Hawaii. Even then, it's a 14 hour flight from the WC...have done it 4 times...never again!!

[PaulMCO]

No different than a flight to the Sandbox (Middle East) and the natives are certainly friendlier :D

[The A Train]

Assuming Regatta will do a R/T San Fran. late Dec./early May, we can assume "O" will do a SanFran/Auckland, about 28 days, and, the Auckland/Sydney, about 12-14 days, a couple times, as was done on Nautica, with return to San Fran from Auckland.

 

Figure 140 days.

28 days San Fran/Auckland

84 days Auckland/Sydney and return (14 days each three times)

28 days Auckland/San Fran

140 days total.

 

So, from the U.S.A., you can do a 28 or 42 dayer one way by sea and one way by air.

 

And, further "O" may try a circle "OZ" in the middle of all that as other lines have done.

 

We'll just have to wait and see!

[PaulMCO]

Definitely keeping my eye out for South Pacific leg. Have a HAL booked for the first of the year (2012). Certainly would not mind the Regatta -- she is a great ship.

[Leonid]

No different than a flight to the Sandbox (Middle East) and the natives are certainly friendlier :D

 

Which "natives" are friendlier???:confused: I doubt it's those in the Sandbox. DW was in Tangiers in 1970...5'9'' and long, blond hair. Her best friend was the same...scariest trip she ever took.

[K-Roo-Zers]

For people who live in the eastern part of the US, Australia & NZ are a LONG flight...unless one wants to stop on the west coast or Hawaii. Even then, it's a 14 hour flight from the WC...have done it 4 times...never again!!

 

You are right - it is a long flight, for both Americans and Aussies.

 

We are doing it smarter this time - cruising to America, visiting some wonderful friends we met on past cruises, visiting the Panama and Caribbean for the first time, then cruising home again.

 

What a great "ski" trip - spending the kids' inheritance!!!

 

By the way, we Aussies are very friendly!!!

[marilynfaye]

When we sailed Nautica from Auckland to Sydney a couple of years ago, we were flying on miles and although we had enough to fly busness class, we couldn't get the seats.

 

Did not look forward to flying the whole way in coach. We got lucky. AA allowed us to stopover in both directions. We flew AA to LAX and then Air Tahiti Nui to Tahiti. Spent the night and continued to Auckland the next morning. On the way back we ovenighted in Hawaii. Except for the fact that our luggage didn't arrive in Tahiti until 12 hours after we did, causing me to wear paper underware courtesy of ATN, it was a spctacular plan.

 

I think today AA might consider each one of these legs a separate trip unless scheduling forced you to stay over as our flight home from Istanbul is forcing us to spend a night at Heathrow in November, but it is worth looking into.

 

Marilyn

[leonardray]

MarilynFaye:

 

I didn't realize Oceania ever sailed to Australia.

[PaulMCO]

Which "natives" are friendlier???:confused: I doubt it's those in the Sandbox. DW was in Tangiers in 1970...5'9'' and long, blond hair. Her best friend was the same...scariest trip she ever took.

 

I meant the Aussies and Kiwis are friendlier by Far :D

[marilynfaye]

Absolutely.

 

I was so excited when the itieraries were first announced that I booked 18 months in advance. Their inaugural season in Oz was winter 2007-2008. There was a trip from Southeast Asia to Sydney. Then Sydney-Auckland and back again. Then Sydney to Singapore. I honestly don't remember if it was repeated in 2008-2009.

[Jancruz]

When we sailed Nautica from Auckland to Sydney a couple of years ago, we were flying on miles and although we had enough to fly busness class, we couldn't get the seats.

 

Did not look forward to flying the whole way in coach. We got lucky. AA allowed us to stopover in both directions. We flew AA to LAX and then Air Tahiti Nui to Tahiti. Spent the night and continued to Auckland the next morning. On the way back we ovenighted in Hawaii. Except for the fact that our luggage didn't arrive in Tahiti until 12 hours after we did, causing me to wear paper underware courtesy of ATN, it was a spctacular plan.

 

I think today AA might consider each one of these legs a separate trip unless scheduling forced you to stay over as our flight home from Istanbul is forcing us to spend a night at Heathrow in November, but it is worth looking into.

 

Marilyn

 

Your story reminds me of when you all forgot me at the airport in the van and when Stu almost went to jail for having an orange..LOL

Jancruz1

[marilynfaye]

Your story reminds me of when you all forgot me at the airport in the van and when Stu almost went to jail for having an orange..LOL

Jancruz1

 

Yes, I should have mentioned that under no circumstances should you bring food of any descripton into New Zealand. That includes nuts, even if they are your travelling companions. LOL.

[Jancruz]

Yes, I should have mentioned that under no circumstances should you bring food of any descripton into New Zealand. That includes nuts, even if they are your travelling companions. LOL.

 

I cant wait to see you on Marina!!! Leaving Saturday for Celebrity Canada New England with Marcy..Stu is staying home with the dog..LOL

Jancruz1

[PaulMCO]

Yes, I should have mentioned that under no circumstances should you bring food of any descripton into New Zealand. That includes nuts, even if they are your travelling companions. LOL.

 

Also if you live on a farm or have horses == they are sticklers for preventing Hoof and Mouth disease. They will inspect everything including the soles of your shoes/boots.

[Jancruz]

Also if you live on a farm or have horses == they are sticklers for preventing Hoof and Mouth disease. They will inspect everything including the soles of your shoes/boots.

 

and if Stu goes to that farm, he gets bit by a horse..right Marilyn?? LOL

Jancruz1

[marilynfaye]

and if Stu goes to that farm, he gets bit by a horse..right Marilyn?? LOL

Jancruz1

 

Will Marina have a large screen on board? Stan is working on a slide presentation.

[Jancruz]

Will Marina have a large screen on board? Stan is working on a slide presentation.

 

Gosh I hope so..we will bring our cup!!

Jancruz1

[shedridt]

January 2009 we sailed on Nautica out of Sydney on what has lodged in our heads as one of our favorite cruises.

 

It was our first with O, & I MUST SAY THAT THE EMBARKATION OUT OF SYDNEY WAS THE WORST WE'VE EVER ENCOUNTERED IN ABOUT 8 PRIOR CRUISES!!!!

 

I know that using all caps is shouting --- I am just hoping to get O's attention so that we don't get a recap of that awful 2 hour experience when we sail with them to Alaska next June....:)...an event we anticipate with greedy delight.

 

But after THAT all was serene! We had the most marvelous time & enjoyed every minute of it. The ports are wonderful & O arranged great shore excursions that we so enjoyed. Our fellow passengers were down to earth & fun - it fit us to a T. The fact that we'll sail again with them to Alaska is proof of our faith in the line.

 

Bon voyage!

[shedridt]

Just talked about Jan 2009 AU/NZ trip, & although we got upgraded to business from Philadelphia to LAX, that's chump change when you consider what is to come LAX to Sydney. HAPPILY, we were booked on Quantas, our flight was UNDER-booked, & we got 4 seats together for the two of us (still we kicked from time to time....just for fun).

 

Time passes, you can endure almost anything if you put your mind to it, & your goal is vacation. When we landed at Sydney our cabin actually applauded our Quantas crew as they couldn't have been nicer or more accommodating.

 

Coming home out of Auckland we had an identical experience - 2 of us in a row of 4 seats, & in comparison 6 hours LAX to PHL is chump change.

 

Again - bon voyage!

[shedridt]

Sorry to be back at it - but if you put your mind to it you can put up with almost anything (even LAX Intl - which is a horror).

 

We got upgraded to business Philadelphia to LAX - chump change when you consider 6 hours vs LAX to Sydney at what - 12 to 14? - but we were fortunate enough to be on Quantas. The flight was underbooked & we got 2 seats in a row of 4 & even though we managed to kick one another from time to time the flight was QUITE pleasant. So much so, in fact, that the cabin applauded the crew for a job well done when we landed.

 

The same thing happened in reverse out of Auckland....It wasn't as pleasant as the Quantas flight but the seat configuration worked the same.

 

If you're in reasonable health & capable of thinking of these things as something to be endured to get to the prize of VACATION! --- no need to stop for an overnight unless you really want to, which I can completely understand.

 

Again --- BON VOYAGE --- you'll just LOVE O in AU/NZ!

[hondorner]

--- I am just hoping to get O's attention so that we don't get a recap of that awful 2 hour experience when we sail with them to Alaska next June....:)...an event we anticipate with greedy delight.

 

All our embarkations have been smooth and quick. Sometimes the process in a given port is beyond Oceania's control -- could this have been the case in Sydney?

[shedridt]

I'm completely willing to give Oceania the benefit of the doubt. They're too good at what they do to have been completely at fault in the awfulness of the embarkation at Sydney.

 

PLUS --- Oceania has too good a reputation for this embarkation to be typical. We're crossing fingers & hoping for the best out of Anchorage June 29, 2011, & very much look forward to it! We're perennially cheerful about these things....& had such a wonderful time on Nautica that we can't imagine things will be different on Regatta (just hoping to get on board in under 2 hours....).

[umtali]

Just talked about Jan 2009 AU/NZ trip, & although we got upgraded to business from Philadelphia to LAX, that's chump change when you consider what is to come LAX to Sydney. HAPPILY, we were booked on Quantas, our flight was UNDER-booked, & we got 4 seats together for the two of us (still we kicked from time to time....just for fun).

 

Time passes, you can endure almost anything if you put your mind to it, & your goal is vacation. When we landed at Sydney our cabin actually applauded our Quantas crew as they couldn't have been nicer or more accommodating.

 

Coming home out of Auckland we had an identical experience - 2 of us in a row of 4 seats, & in comparison 6 hours LAX to PHL is chump change.

 

Again - bon voyage!

Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Services spells QANTAS, sorry no "U", and as Dustin Hoffman stated in "Rainman", 'the safest airline in the world'.