Has anyone done Australia-New Zealand??

[BobT172]

We are seriously considering this cruise of Australia and New Zealand on the Diamond in January 2012.

 

http://www.princess.com/find/itineraryDetails.do?subnav=true&voyageCode=M203&tourCode=&resType=C&departurePort=&noOfCruiseDays=&noOfTourDays=&travelOrder=&bID=&airPortCode=&noOfPax=2&shipId=DI&shipName=Diamond+Princess&co=US&productCode=ZZT121&departureDate=Jan+23%2C+2012&productDesc=Australia+%26+New+Zealand+-+Auckland+to+Sydney+12+Days

 

Has anyone done this itinerary?? Any comments?? Positive or negative??

 

We've been to Australia before..just land..but not New Zealand...

 

long flight...

[cruiseron36]

If you have the time and $$$'s you might want to look into the 31 day LA to Sydney or reverse. It stops at all the Polynesian Islands plus NZ. We did it in 2009. It was a wonderful trip.

[Astro Flyer]

Sailed from Sydney (only Australian stop) to LA & enjoyed NZ tremendously. We missed Christchurch (heard it's the nicest stop) because we were stuck at the pier for Dunedin overnight. It was so windy that a mooring line broke so Capt Perrin made the right decision to not depart through the narrow access to the harbor.

[alwayshappytocruise]

We sailed from Sydney (stayed 3 nights pre-cruise) and cruised all around NZ. It was one of the best trips we've ever taken....NZ is breathtakingly beautiful!!

[cruiserus]

Last fall, we did the SF to Sydney cruise which included the islands of the South Pacific, plus did the ports in NZ. We loved NZ so much, that we have book the cruise you are looking at (as part of a 35 day Auckland to Beijing cruise) for January 2011. New Zealand is gorgeous and the people so friendly. We took an all day trip with CC members to Waitomo Glowworm caves, plus a visit to a Maori center with hangi feast when in Auckland. A fabulous experience! In Christchurch we took the Tranz alpine train to Arthur's Pass and then back by bus, stopping at a sheep ranch for a demonstration of sheep herding, and tea. Delightful! In Wellington, we visited the Te Papa Museum, which was a must see. In Dunedin, we took a private CC tour which took us to Larnach Castle, the Royal Albatross Center, and Nature's Wonders to see the fur seals and little penguins, plus a drive around Dunedin. Needless to say, we enjoyed our cruise around NZ so much we want to go back and see more.

[BLS]

We are seriously considering this cruise of Australia and New Zealand on the Diamond in January 2012.

 

http://www.princess.com/find/itineraryDetails.do?subnav=true&voyageCode=M203&tourCode=&resType=C&departurePort=&noOfCruiseDays=&noOfTourDays=&travelOrder=&bID=&airPortCode=&noOfPax=2&shipId=DI&shipName=Diamond+Princess&co=US&productCode=ZZT121&departureDate=Jan+23%2C+2012&productDesc=Australia+%26+New+Zealand+-+Auckland+to+Sydney+12+Days

 

Has anyone done this itinerary?? Any comments?? Positive or negative??

 

We've been to Australia before..just land..but not New Zealand...

 

long flight...

We have sailed from Sydney to Auckland and also Auckland to Sydney. Loved both trips.

If you are starting in Auckland I'd suggest staying at the Hilton, right on the pier. The ship will dock right outside your room.

Enjoy!!!

[Kinkacruiser]

The temperatures will be temperate and even chilly in Tasmania and the lower end of the south island, so bring a coat.

When planning shorex in NZ, try to get out of the cities to experience the real beauty.

The Bay of Islands in New Zealand was my favourite spot.

Enjoy:)

[Megsdad]

We have sailed from Sydney to Auckland and also Auckland to Sydney. Loved both trips.

If you are starting in Auckland I'd suggest staying at the Hilton, right on the pier. The ship will dock right outside your room.

Enjoy!!!

 

Good advice.

[Pam in CA]

If you have the time and $$$'s you might want to look into the 31 day LA to Sydney or reverse. It stops at all the Polynesian Islands plus NZ. We did it in 2009. It was a wonderful trip.

We were on the same cruise. Fabulous. One of my all-time favorites. We embarked in Sydney and went to Melborne, Hobart (Tasmania), Dunedin (which we missed because of weather), Auckland, and then island-hopped across the Pacific. I'd love to do this one again. :)

[Druke I]

We did Auckland to Sydney, way back in Jan 95, on the original Pacific Princess. Wonderful trip.

 

We've subsequently been back down under twice, once on a 28 night San Francisco/Sydney cruise, on Sky Princess' last voyage as a Princess ship, Sep 00. It also was a fantastic trip.

 

Third time down under was on Pacific Princess (new), Tahiti to Sydney, Nov 03.. Great trip.

 

Would love to go again sometime.

[spyro1952]

I did Auckland to Sydney in 2002 on the Regal Princess. One of my all time favorite cruises. We stayed in Sydney for 3 days on a Princess post cruise tour. As OP stated, bring some warmer clothes with you for the NZ ports as it is pretty cool. Christchurch and Dunedin were amazing. One of the excursions I went on was to see the albatross. As you cruise west toward Australia, it gets a lot warmer. The fjords down under are as breath taking as Norway. In Hobart, I went to a koala farm and of course got to hold the koala - Wonderful but they love your jewelry. Getting around Sydney is very easy as they have a Sydney Explorer bus where you pay one price and can ride as much as you want for as many days as you want. Also went to a working sheep farm outside of Sydney, a great zoo, and went to see Kangaroo in the wild.

The worst thing about the whole trip was having to fly home. Do the trip, you will absolutely love it.:)

[Megsdad]

We docked in Tauranga and walked to the summit of Mount Maunganui.

 

[royal65]

We sailed Auckland to Sydney last January on the Diamond. Terrific ship and itinerary. We were at capacity, but ship is large enough and layed out well so that it didn't seem overly crowded. We used local tour operators, instead of ship excursions, at all ports -- they were both cheaper and more inclusive than the ship's. The only downside was the length of the flights to and from, both were 34-35 hours door-to door for us. We've traveled a good bit and this was one of our favorites.

[gingera]

We sailed Aukland to Australia on the Sapphire in 2008. Other than it being a brutal trip(39 hours total), we had a wonderful time. We spent a few nites in Aukland precruise and would recommend it so that you would get used to the time change. Once we got into Sydney, we flew up to Cairns for 2 nites and snorkeled the Barrier Reef, then back to Sydney for a couple nites. We loved the New Zealanders and the Aussies...wonderful people and we loved the food.

[MONGO12]

We enjoyed this cruise on the Diamond in January 2010. We also did the Australia cruise tour with Princess. The tour gives you a few days in Australia before the cruise including a trip up to the Great Barrier Reef. We totally enjoyed both the tour and the cruise. All the ports were excellent.

[BobT172]

We have sailed from Sydney to Auckland and also Auckland to Sydney. Loved both trips.

If you are starting in Auckland I'd suggest staying at the Hilton, right on the pier. The ship will dock right outside your room.

Enjoy!!!

 

 

Good to know. We were planning on that as the three couples in our group are Hilton Diamond members..we will probably go a few days ahead and stay an extra few days in Sydney..at the Hilton, of course.

 

Thanks for all the great feedback... I'm all pumped up...

[giselleacttwo]

We're seriously considering this for 2011 or 2012- grandma said she'd move in and watch the kiddos for a few weeks. :D it sounds amazing, look forward to hearing any other responses.

[Mom33]

we are seriously considering this cruise of australia and new zealand on the diamond in january 2012.

 

http://www.princess.com/find/itinerarydetails.do?subnav=true&voyagecode=m203&tourcode=&restype=c&departureport=&noofcruisedays=&nooftourdays=&travelorder=&bid=&airportcode=&noofpax=2&shipid=di&shipname=diamond+princess&co=us&productcode=zzt121&departuredate=jan+23%2c+2012&productdesc=australia+%26+new+zealand+-+auckland+to+sydney+12+days

 

has anyone done this itinerary?? Any comments?? Positive or negative??

 

We've been to australia before..just land..but not new zealand...

 

Long flight...

 

 

Go! Go! Go! :D

[PescadoAmarillo]

If you're a walker, a fun thing to do is walk across New Zealand. While the ship is in Auckland, take a bus to the western side of the the country, which happens to be about 11.5 miles away, and then walk back to the ship. We did it, and now we can say we've walked across a country in one day! Rotorua, near Tauranga, is kind of like the Old Faithful geyser area of Yellowstone, just smaller. The fiords are not to be missed. Amazing double rainbows so close we felt we could touch them. And we enjoyed the train ride in Dunedin...it was April but fall there, and all the leaves were really beautiful.

[Billy and Charlie's Mum]

Come on down, you'll love it :D

[onthelake]

We did Seattle to Sydney three years ago - it is the most memorable trip we ever took and one we would love to repeat. Just a word of warning, the Tasman Sea has a roll that makes many folks sick even after having been on the ship for three weeks. NZ is so beautiful and the people so nice my DH and DS wanted to move there!

[caribill]

Did it on the Star. Sydney-Melbourse-Adelaide-Hobart-Fiordland National Park cruising-Dunedin-Christchurch-Wellington-Auckland.

 

Great trip! Go for it!

[kiwipete]

The first cruise we ever did on a "proper" cruise ship was from Sydney to Auckland on Sapphire in 2008. It was just mind blowing and set the pattern for future holidays!!

This year we are doing it again, as a family, in December to celebrate BIG birthdays and a Golden Wedding. What could be better and this time we have both Christmas and New Year on board the beautiful Diamond. What a bonus.

This cruise should be on everyones "bucket list"!!!!

[bongaree]

I really hope you get to do this trip. We love New Zealand. Dunedin is our favourite city. Don't miss the railway station. It a truly remarkable building. We also love Tauranga - you can easily organise a hire car/van before you go and go for a great drive to Rotorua or do a ship's tour.

If you get to spend some time in Aus, I hope you stay for a while and don't just fly off home without seeing something of OUR beautiful country too. We spent a month in the US in 2004 and also 2 week in 2006 - loved every minute of it and we are looking forward to seeing the East of the US in 2012.

[mummsie]

We are seriously considering this cruise of Australia and New Zealand on the Diamond in January 2012.

 

http://www.princess.com/find/itineraryDetails.do?subnav=true&voyageCode=M203&tourCode=&resType=C&departurePort=&noOfCruiseDays=&noOfTourDays=&travelOrder=&bID=&airPortCode=&noOfPax=2&shipId=DI&shipName=Diamond+Princess&co=US&productCode=ZZT121&departureDate=Jan+23%2C+2012&productDesc=Australia+%26+New+Zealand+-+Auckland+to+Sydney+12+Days

 

Has anyone done this itinerary?? Any comments?? Positive or negative??

 

We've been to Australia before..just land..but not New Zealand...

 

long flight...

 

We did this cruise a few years ago. You best bet is to go here http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=431 - lots of local information regarding cruising in our part of the world :) mummsie