Booked Australia/NZ/Fiji for Feb 2015. Anyone Else?

[travelbug24]

First of all, I am thrilled there is a RCCL forum! Just wondering if we will have any "dis" company on our cruise?

Also, has anyone done this cruise or a similar cruise? I have questions regarding how close shopping is to the ports.

 

[sweetlovin']

First of all, I am thrilled there is a RCCL forum! Just wondering if we will have any "dis" company on our cruise?

Also, has anyone done this cruise or a similar cruise? I have questions regarding how close shopping is to the ports.

I have not done this cruise, however I am so excited for you!! I love all three countries and hopefully you are able to get to both north and south island. Have an amazing time

 

[GAGirlInVA]

I wish! This is like my dream cruise.

DH just looks like this as I memorize the pages in the brochure!

 

[travelbug24]

I wish! This is like my dream cruise.

DH just looks like this as I memorize the pages in the brochure!

My husband is the same way that's why I travel with a cousin whose husband also does not like to travel.

 

[NancyIL]

I was on a Celebrity cruise from Sydney to Auckland in January. Great cruise, and NZ is beautiful.

 

[Pluplo and The Duck]

I totally agree NZ is very beautiful

 

[travelbug24]

I totally agree NZ is very beautiful

Any suggestions for Auckland, Tauranga and Wellington? Must see's that we could do on our own instead of purchasing the cruise's excursions?

 

[NancyIL]

Any suggestions for Auckland, Tauranga and Wellington? Must see's that we could do on our own instead of purchasing the cruise's excursions?

Wellington is very easy to tour on your own. I first went on a 2-hour walking tour with Walk Wellington: http://www.walkwellington.org.nz/ After lunch, I visited the Botanic Gardens: http://wellington.govt.nz/recreation/gardens/botanic-garden. The gardens were lovely, and the cable car down was fun: http://www.wellingtoncablecar.co.nz/ However, I did those two in the reverse order from what most people do, and it was a LOT of uphill walking! Better to take the cable car UP, walk through the gardens, then walk down! The Te Papa museum is free, and one could spend all day there. However, I visited it at the end of my day, so it was worth $14 for a one-hour guided tour to see the highlights: http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/pages/default.aspx

We joined others on our Cruise Critic roll call for tours from Tauranga and Auckland. From Tauranga we took a tour to Rotorua with Archer Tours: http://www.archertours.co.nz/Tours-NZ/Cruise-Ship-Shore-Excursions

Our cruise ended in Auckland. We did the HOHO bus the first day, and toured outside Auckland the next day with Milestone Tours: http://www.milestonetours.co.nz/day-tours.html

 

[travelbug24]

Looked up your suggestions and I cannot believe how beautiful this country is! I want to see everything.

 

[Pumpkin meme]

we are sailing in march from sydney...yep I do live in a fantastic part of the world.

For any NZ questions just pop over to "other lands" on the dis..that's were we aussie's and kiwis hunt, they'd love to give you local knowledge re ports of call.

 

[Pluplo and The Duck]

Sorry, I will not much help with Tauranga and Auckland. Wellington is a great place to walk. it really depends on what you are like to do. When we go to Wellington I like to walk in town as there a lots of great little places to find. We always go for a walk on the waterfront and to Te Papa ,which is New Zealands National Museum.

 

[travelbug24]

Sorry, I will not much help with Tauranga and Auckland. Wellington is a great place to walk. it really depends on what you are like to do. When we go to Wellington I like to walk in town as there a lots of great little places to find. We always go for a walk on the waterfront and to Te Papa ,which is New Zealands National Museum.

Sounds Perfect.

 

[woody73]

Wellington is very easy to tour on your own. . .

. . . From Tauranga we took a tour to Rotorua with Archer Tours:

. . . Our cruise ended in Auckland. We did the HOHO bus the first day, and toured outside Auckland the next day with Milestone Tours:

We've been to NZ three times on land trips, and NancyIL offers very sound advice.

Woody

 

[NancyIL]

We've been to NZ three times on land trips, and NancyIL offers very sound advice.

Woody

Thank you, Woody!