We also were on this cruise, but started in Auckland. You summed everything up perfectly! The excursions and tendering were the absolute worst we have ever encountered. Regent never used to fill the buses to capacity. I never remember them sending numerous buses to the same location at the same time. And the descriptions of the tours were not particularly accurate. The staff, except for destination services, made up for so many of these shortcomings with their friendly attentiveness. They truly made us feel special.