First Time Cruiser on Statedam

[shadowdel]

Just returned from Sydney to Auckland cruise. Ship and personnel and food were all great. Tours off the ship were mixed- some good ,some not. Had good sailing across Tasmanian Sea but difficult first night out of Sydney. Milford Sound and New Zealand in general were spectacular and everyone everywhere pleasant and helpful. Dinner tablemates were Australian (Perth) and Canadian (Toronto) and were great. Don't know if it was just beginner's luck. Cabin (329 on level 6) was roomy and a convenient location but would have liked a refrig. Australia and New Zealand were both very expensive. $7.95 paperback in the states was more than $20.00 in both locations. Didn't really need post cruise stay in Auckland for four days as we were tired from many off ship tours (one at every port stop). Would definitely cruise HAL again. Thanks for help prior to the cruise on the various boards.

[onthegogirl]

Glad to hear you enjoyed the Statendam. I will be sailing on her in March for the first time and I'm looking forward to it. :)

[jhannah]

Welcome back. Glad you enjoyed yourself. Australia/New Zealand are on my cruise wish list. I know what you mean by mixed tours. We've had some great ones, and some not so good. But it's still a wonderful thing to see different scenery and cultures.

So, when's your next cruise? ;)

[ldog]

Thanks for checking in. We are on the same itinerary in February. I'd love to hear more about your shore excursions. Did you take them with HAL? Which were the best and which were the duds?

Glad you left the Statendam in good shape for us.:D

[kakalina]

Glad you had such a good time on our favorite ship.

[shadowdel]

Thanks for checking in. We are on the same itinerary in February. I'd love to hear more about your shore excursions. Did you take them with HAL? Which were the best and which were the duds?

Glad you left the Statendam in good shape for us.:D

Melbourne- Wildlife and Yarra valley Wineries was nice though a long day and bus ride.

Dunedin Highlights was just OK

Christchurch- Manderley Farm & Countyside was nice. Really enjoyed the farm. Be sure to visit Art Centre in town (bus stops near there on the way back to the ship) for some good and authentic gift buys

Picton Wines of Marlborough was nice. I think we visited three or four wineries

Wellington Sights and Panoramic Drive was nice on the bus because it was a very windy and rainy day. Liked the botanical gardens

Napier Hawkes Bay Wineries (probably seems like a theme to our excursions) were nice.

Tauranga Maori Marae Visit. I didn't particularly like this one. After seventh or eighth Maori song I had enough. At both stops we stayed longer than was necessary I think to encourage us to buy crafts, books etc they were selling.

All the above were HAL tours. We gathered in the morning in the Van Gogh theater and they got us on the bus in an efficient manner. One bus, don't remember where, was a local bus and not very comfortable.

We always took the early tour if there was a choice and usually got back to the ship after served lunch so we ate, sometimes with just minutes to spare, on the lido deck. But food was good and plentiful there.

HAL had no tours, as such, for folks staying in Auckland after the cruise other than the city tour of 3-4 hours to allow for our hotel rooms to be prepared and our luggage to be transported. Took a nice ferry ride to devonport and walked around. Auckland hotel, Langham, is nice but location is way up the hill and unwalkable from most action. Found a nice place for dinner behind the hotel, De Vinci.