(hopefully) Live NCL Spirit Sydney to Auckland

[ziggyuk]

5 hours ago, Karaboudjan said:

@grozzy1  I'm enjoying your postings - I'm booked for this cruise next year.  

 

Since you appear to be a local, do you know if Australia seems likely to keep the mandatory test for cruises in place longer-term?  

 

What testing?

[Karaboudjan]

19 minutes ago, ziggyuk said:

 

What testing?

 

https://www.ncl.com/travel-requirements-by-country

 

"Vaccinated guests are required to provide proof of negative COVID-19 test in addition to vaccination documentation, as listed above, only when embarking in Australia."

 

Also see post #5 where the OP mentions their RAT test.

[ziggyuk]

19 minutes ago, Karaboudjan said:

 

https://www.ncl.com/travel-requirements-by-country

 

"Vaccinated guests are required to provide proof of negative COVID-19 test in addition to vaccination documentation, as listed above, only when embarking in Australia."

 

Also see post #5 where the OP mentions their RAT test.

 

Thank you, I must admit I had missed that as Australia government don't require a test, not even proof of vaccination:
https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19/international-travel/cruise-travel

[Karaboudjan]

9 minutes ago, ziggyuk said:

 

Thank you, I must admit I had missed that as Australia government don't require a test, not even proof of vaccination:
https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19/international-travel/cruise-travel

 

That is interesting.  I looked through the Australia and New Zealand board first and this did not appear to be NCL alone so I thought it must be an Australia requirement.  I still see this on the Princess web site:

 

"Based on current Australian requirements for cruising, all guests will require a negative viral COVID-19 test result taken before boarding:

Within 24 hours for Rapid-Antigen Test (RAT)

Within 48 hours for PCR"

 

So was this a requirement until fairly recently and at least some cruise lines are just slow in removing it?

[ziggyuk]

14 minutes ago, Karaboudjan said:

 

That is interesting.  I looked through the Australia and New Zealand board first and this did not appear to be NCL alone so I thought it must be an Australia requirement.  I still see this on the Princess web site:

 

"Based on current Australian requirements for cruising, all guests will require a negative viral COVID-19 test result taken before boarding:

Within 24 hours for Rapid-Antigen Test (RAT)

Within 48 hours for PCR"

 

So was this a requirement until fairly recently and at least some cruise lines are just slow in removing it?

 

It is, we can hope NCL might drop it soon, not sure when it last changed though.
It's all a bit daft though as you can get a negative result just by using water and taking a photo of the result.

[grozzy1]

Day 4 is the first of 2 crossing the Tasman. I took it easy and didn't take many photos. The Local is now my semi regular breakfast choice. Morning was spent reading in Spinnakers. Afternoon was spent playing Deal or no Deal, then Bingo.

 

Dinner was great at Teppanyaki with my Mexican tablemates.

Entertainment was the first of 3 main shows World Beats. For such a modest size cast I was impressed with the number of costume changes and the number of routines they had to remember

[grozzy1]

Not much to report from yesterday, weather was cloudy and drizzly, so it was just an indoor reading type day. Day 6 is the Sounds

 

Picked up the pilot.

Prime outdoor viewing location was deck 13 forward, above Spinnakers and opened up as we entered the sound

Noordam was leaving as we entered

 

[cruiseny4life]

Holy monkey balls! Those views are incredible!!! 

 

I absolutely love that you were able to photograph another ship as well. Helps with scale and just makes the photo even more interesting...as if the scenery isn't enough! 

Edited January 20, 2023 by cruiseny4life

[grozzy1]

Saturday's port is Dunedin/Port Chalmers

Sunrise and passing the Albatross centre.

 

I had booked the Railway Experience, which was a bit expensive, but I didn't want to regret it later. Transport was on a fairly ordinary bus to Dunedin railway station. I believe that pre COVID the trains went right to the dock. Provided was a snack box which nobody could be allergic to. Let's just say if you want something a bit more filling go to the buffet car.

 

Returning, I had a quick walk around Dunedin before catching the shuttle bback

[www3traveler]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful adventure.

[ziggyuk]

@grozzy1

How was getting into Dunedin from Port Chambers? We have a wildlife boat trip with port to port from port chambers and want to spend the morning exploring Dunedin.

[grozzy1]

11 hours ago, ziggyuk said:

@grozzy1

How was getting into Dunedin from Port Chambers? We have a wildlife boat trip with port to port from port chambers and want to spend the morning exploring Dunedin.

My transfer was part of the railway excursion, but I think you can pre pay for the 20 min ride. They were using ordinary public buses without much ventilation

[grozzy1]

Today's adventure was in Lyttleton and Christchurch. A quick geography lesson. Lyttleton is the port and Christchurch is the city about 20min north on the Canterbury plains, seperated by large hills

I started by hopping on the paid shuttle to Christchurch. I had previously been here in 2007, before the devestating earthquakes of 2010-2011 I was keen to see the recovery.

 

The Cathedral is one of the landmarks still being restored. I don't know when or if it can be fully back to its magnifice.

Pre earthquakes.

 

Many modern buildings have been rebuilt though there are still patches of vacant land. This hole was the hotel I stayed at 15 years ago, still waiting to be redeveloped.

The tourist trams also make a circuit of the city, even though an arcade

Next was a stroll along the Avon River. No prizes for guessing where it's styled after

[grozzy1]

A public bus took me south to the gondola and a trip up to the top of the hills. Spectacular 360° views north to Christchurch

And south to Lyttleton and the Spirit

Final stop was a quick walk down the main street of Lyttleton before returning to the ship

[LizikinsLivesToCruise]

Thank you very much @grozzy1 for taking time from your vacation to write this review. I have been following because I am booked on the reverse itinerary in January 2024. I'm sad you decided to stop. Hope you have had a good time. Cheers. 

[thehowlingroad]

We are booked on the Feb 2024 edition of this cruise on the Spirit. Thank you so much for what you've posted so far!

Edited February 28, 2023 by thehowlingroad

[alwalaska]

@grozzy1 Thank you for all of your posts.  I'm guessing you are back home and back into "Real life", but I hope you have time to post more about your cruise.  The photos and the things that you did and saw are very helpful.

[LDIdeals]

We are on this cruiseship, Spirit,  3/16 - 4/12.  Can you tell me if there were Taste of India and Taste of Asia stations in the buffet?  I am vegan and aside from the awesome salad bar in the buffet, other ships I've been in had these 2 stations with lots of options for me.  I'm hopeful of some good choices.

 

[alwalaska]

On 1/13/2023 at 10:31 PM, Travelling2Some said:

I will be following for sure!   We took the exact same cruise on Anthem of the Seas before the shut down and it will bring back such good memories.  We spent some time in Sydney and it is one of my all time 3 favorite cities along with Venice and Shanghai.  Loved both the city and how you could just go down to the Quay and take ferries to lots of very different places quickly and easily.  Also spent a few days in the Bondi Beach neighborhood and in the Blue Mountains just outside of Sydney.  Fantastic trip. 

Also have a great fondness for the little Spirit and am so glad they didn't sell it.  I really liked that ship even before the refub and always keep an eye on her itineraries looking for a chance to jump aboard again. 

 

So . . . hope you can be bothered, don't sink and the wifi performs adequately.  Thanks!

We're considering a day trip on the train out to the Blue Mountains for our trip. How many nights did you stay out there?  Where did you stay?  I'm debating on whether it is worth schlepping our luggage around and checking in and out of different hotels when we will probably only have 4 nights in Sydney pre-cruise.

[Travelling2Some]

1 hour ago, alwalaska said:

We're considering a day trip on the train out to the Blue Mountains for our trip. How many nights did you stay out there?  Where did you stay?  I'm debating on whether it is worth schlepping our luggage around and checking in and out of different hotels when we will probably only have 4 nights in Sydney pre-cruise.

We stayed 2 nights in the town of Leura to see the Blue Mountains.  The name of the place was Saint Something (?) but I wouldn't recommend it as it was a bit run down.  I don't generally "schelp" unless I have two nights to spare.  We had time (and carry-on only luggage) so we split our time between Sydney proper, Bondi Beach and the Blue Mountains.  With only 4 nights there is plenty to do in Sydney, especially with all the harbor ferries going to different areas.  Have a great time!

[alwalaska]

2 hours ago, Travelling2Some said:

We stayed 2 nights in the town of Leura to see the Blue Mountains.  The name of the place was Saint Something (?) but I wouldn't recommend it as it was a bit run down.  I don't generally "schelp" unless I have two nights to spare.  We had time (and carry-on only luggage) so we split our time between Sydney proper, Bondi Beach and the Blue Mountains.  With only 4 nights there is plenty to do in Sydney, especially with all the harbor ferries going to different areas.  Have a great time!

Thank you very much for your help.  I'm sure it will be a great trip. I only have 400 and some odd days to wait.  Ha ha.