Ships Tour Tauranga/Rotorua

[Suzi66]

I have posted this on the Australia/NZ board but I come here to read things far more often I decided I might crosspost so please don't be cross with me.

I am helping to organise my Dad's very first cruise and he has quite a bit of non-refundable OBC.  His first stop is Bay of Islands and as he wants to see some Maori Culture I have recommended that they (he and his friend) go to the Waitangi Treaty House which they can do at their own pace and without using the ship's tours.  Their next stop is Tauranga and as it is his first time to NZ he would really like to go to Rotorua.  One of the options via the ship is Rotorua Maori Village Encounter.  If I was going with him I would take a private tour as I know they are cheaper, but this is his first and he worries about not getting back to the ship on time, where to meet them etc.

What I am wondering is does anyone know anything about a tour called this and what actual village in Rotorua they go to?  I think it could be one of 3, but we would like to know so he could make a decision as he would love to see geothermal activity etc.

Thanks for any info.

[Aus Traveller]

We have been on a couple of different tours with Princess. The main one goes to Te Puia where there is a cultural performance and visitors see hot springs, geysers and even live kiwi birds. This is excellent. The lunch is superb.

 

A different tour goes to a valley, but I would not suggest that one for a first-time visitor.

 

When the ship is docked at Tauranga (actually Mt Manganui), a cultural group comes on board the ship to put on two performances in the Princess Theatre. These are excellent and I urge your father to go to one of them.

[Chiliburn]

7 hours ago, Suzi66 said:

I have posted this on the Australia/NZ board but I come here to read things far more often I decided I might crosspost so please don't be cross with me.

I am helping to organise my Dad's very first cruise and he has quite a bit of non-refundable OBC.  His first stop is Bay of Islands and as he wants to see some Maori Culture I have recommended that they (he and his friend) go to the Waitangi Treaty House which they can do at their own pace and without using the ship's tours.  Their next stop is Tauranga and as it is his first time to NZ he would really like to go to Rotorua.  One of the options via the ship is Rotorua Maori Village Encounter.  If I was going with him I would take a private tour as I know they are cheaper, but this is his first and he worries about not getting back to the ship on time, where to meet them etc.

What I am wondering is does anyone know anything about a tour called this and what actual village in Rotorua they go to?  I think it could be one of 3, but we would like to know so he could make a decision as he would love to see geothermal activity etc.

Thanks for any info.

Non refundable OBC isn’t a problem. With RC just go to the casino,get a advance against your account and put on machine.Just play it a few times and cash it out.

 

[MicCanberra]

Have cash out much OBC over the years, but it is getting harder as ship's will only cash out winnings.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

4 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

Have cash out much OBC over the years, but it is getting harder as ship's will only cash out winnings.

 

That could be because  most Casinos are not run by the cruise line....they lease out the concession to run one or employ a separate company to manage it for them. .......

 

 

[lyndarra]

Aha. They say the casino is a great place to do your laundry.

[MicCanberra]

Clean bill of health?

[Aus Traveller]

7 hours ago, lyndarra said:

Aha. They say the casino is a great place to do your laundry.

A way to launder money?

[lyndarra]

43 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

A way to launder money?

If it's dirty, yes.

[MicCanberra]

Non-refundable OBC may be considered dirty if you cannot spend it all.

[Suzi66]

In answer to my own question I have figured it out by reverse googling a photograph BTW.  It is Tamaki Village if anyone was interested.

Normally I don't have a problem spending the money that we are given.  I can find lots of things that I usually don't need, but this isn't my cruise 😄