Australia New Zealand Cruises realised on the Volendam 2010

[Australian family]

I notice Holland America have announced some of the cruises for the downunder season on the Volendam. What a pity they have excluded Milford Sound, which is such beautiful scenery, and cruising straight from Dunedin New Zealand to Hobart Australia and having 3 days at sea instead of the 2 days.

Is Holland America trying to cut costs, not having to spend extra on moving the ship through the sound, and sticking to straight ocean cruising? I personally think they are making a big mistake but not doing Milford Sound.

[boards]

I kind of agree with you, because we thoroughly enjoyed our cruise in the Milford Sound in Nov. of 2006. However I wonder if they are doing it for safety safe. The day we were there it was windy and also it rained some, so you did your cruising under cover for some of the time. It was very beautiful, but was it worth the chance of an acident. I am not sure that is case but it might be.

[Gsel]

I am sorry they are doing this also and wonder why. This was a highlight of our trip. Would be interested in the reasoning, if safety is the reason then why not schedule and then cancel when the weather is bad as they have been doing? The weather when we were at Milford in January was delightful, sunny and clear, granted it just turned that was minutes before we arrived.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

I find it hard to believe that they would drop Milford Sound.
Perhaps its an oversight from Head Office.
They dont need 3 days to cross the Tasman.
Sometimes the itineraries dont show Fiordland as it is scenic cruising and so considered a sea day, but because of its importance you would think they would at least mention it.
Interesting to see they are going back to calling at Hobart instead of Burnie.

[Australian family]

They have also dropped off Melbourne and going to Canberra - which is a inland city. The Volendam docks at Batemans Bay.

Melbourne is such a cosmopolitan city, and loved by some many people. I am glad we are doing our cruise this December to NZ rather than next year, as I doubt that we would have booked with HAL because of them not doing Milford Sound.

[Kiwi1]

We are booked on the Volendam Xmas 2009 cruise of NZ and Australia. On HAL's website the itinerary shows 3 sea days from Dunedin to Burnie but the little map shows the ship cruising Fiordland. I guess we will find out once we set sail!!

Hi to Kiwi Kruzer, great that there are two members from our little town.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Hi to Kiwi Kruzer, great that there are two members from our little town.

And Hi to you Kiwi1.
Great to see someone else on the board from our booming seaside village.
You have a great cruise booked on Volendam.
Is that the one that will be making its first calls to Gisborne and Stewart Island as well?
We did the first Christmas and New Year cruise when HAL came down this way,with Statendam, and it was fantastic.

[Kiwi1]

Hi David

Yes its the one with Gisborne & Stewart Island. We are really looking forward to this cruise just to do something different over Xmas & NY, its bound to be fantastic on HAL and it gives us a chance to catch up with friends in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

We haven't been to Burnie or Melbourne so those ports are of particular interest.

We think Orewa is a great place to live, who knows we just might bump into you one day!!

Pat & Owen

[Gsel]

The loss of Melbourne and Burnie would be HUGE mistake IMHO. These ports were a hightlight of our trip. Burnie for it's wonderful people and their welcome that was so warm (yes it was very hot that day!) and Melbourne was such a great city, easy to get around and fun to shop and sight see.

[The_Big_M]

I notice Holland America have announced some of the cruises for the downunder season on the Volendam. What a pity they have excluded Milford Sound, which is such beautiful scenery, and cruising straight from Dunedin New Zealand to Hobart Australia and having 3 days at sea instead of the 2 days.


They haven't done it for all; for example, the Nov 19 sailing still goes Melbourne, Burnie then through the sounds (and also explicitly includes them on the itinerary).

Still doesn't explain whether it's a mistake for the Dec cruises or if they have some particular reason for the altered itinerary. I could make a guess at the city change, but don't understand why the sounds would be skipped so consider it may be a mistake.