Which cruise line would be best?

I am looking to do a cruise next year from Oz to New Zealand and would want at least a 10 day cruise but no more than 14 days.

I have points with RCI, Celebrity, Princess and P&O. Any thoughts on which cruiselines to this trip best?

Also would you recommend booking flights yourself or with the cruise line? My worry about booking them with the cruiseline is I could end up getting a really long flight with more than one stop.

Love to hear from UK cruisers who have done one one of these cruises.

Thanks in advance.

Pat

"Best" can mean many different things. A definition from your point of view would be helpful. The product each of these cruise lines offer in other markets will be almost the same product offered in the Australia/New Zealand market. So if you have strong feelings towards one of those lines, that will help you make your choice.

I like all the lines I have points with for different reasons. Celebrity for food, ambiance and service, RCL for casual cruising with good entertainment & casino. Princess only cruised once but enjoyed - a bit more like Celebrity, P&O was a long time ago but going with them again in May, loved the food and entertainment but a bit British (I like a mix of cultures).

I am just wondering which might have more experience in cruising this area.

I'd need to know a lot more about you to even have a shot.

Personally we like Princess and Celebrity, but after last week Cunard is probably on that list, but the prices are higher.

I would never use the cruise line to book my flights. I've heard too many horror stories of the cruise line booking people on flights with multiple, unnecessary stops and long layovers at those stops. Even if it costs me more, I want to choose my own route and my own airline.

Princess is the more refined of the options. P&O Australia is like Ryanair.

Princess & Celebrity 17/18 season.

Princess choice of 4 ships: Sun, Sea, Golden, Diamond.

Choice of 4 departure ports: BNE, SYD, MEL, AKL.

Onboard currency AUD.

Celebrity 1 ship, Solstice.

Choice of 3 departure ports: PER, SYD, AKL.

Onboard currency USD.

Do you want to do a one way cruise between Aus and NZ (or vice versa)? If so Celebrity does a number of these itineraries and Solstice is a great ship for an NZ itinerary with the Sky Lounge forward on deck 14. We've done two NZ cruises on Solstice.

We also enjoy Princess and they seem to be doing more one way itineraries these days too.

Thanks for the responses. I agree about the flights, would much rather do my own. I am looking at a round trip from Oz to NZ from ideally Sydney or Brisbane (I have friends in Brisbane so be nice to meet up with them). Forgot to mention Cunard, have sailed with them a couple of times.

Thanks for the heads up about P&O Australia though, obviously a bit different from the UK one! I'll give them a miss then.

I've just sailed with Princess from NZ to Aus, and back to NZ :) I really enjoyed the experience, and when booking I found that Princess had the most options available and the most flexible itineraries. In my opinion, Princess cater to the Aus/NZ market the most out of any of the other cruise liners.

I have previously sailed with P&O, and although I enjoyed it... it was definitely more families and younger people and more partying on the boat. So definitely a different target market.

I'd choose the itinerary that offers the most for you.

Thanks Silver and Gold, I do see that Princess seem to cater well for that area. I just worry about the ships as they are pretty old now- which ships did you sail and what were your thoughts on them?

Wishfulalone, thanks that's so helpful 😒

Both times I sailed on the Golden Princess. I have just completed a Tasman crossing with her, there were 70 knot winds and 6metre swells and the ship held up well in opinion....

I'm not sure which fleet has the newest ships?

OUR CHOICE

We have a Sunset aft balcony on this one:

16 Days Australia/New Zealand

Celebrity Cruises • Celebrity Solstice

Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne, Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Dusky Sound, Dunedin, Akaroa Harbour, Wellington/New Zealand, Picton, Sydney/Australia

1 departure date: Mar 5 2018

I like all the lines I have points with for different reasons. Celebrity for food, ambiance and service, RCL for casual cruising with good entertainment & casino. Princess only cruised once but enjoyed - a bit more like Celebrity, P&O was a long time ago but going with them again in May, loved the food and entertainment but a bit British (I like a mix of cultures).

I am just wondering which might have more experience in cruising this area.

Bear in mind that P&O and Princess as experienced in the UK or other overseas countries might be different from the P&O and Princess that you experience in Australia! I've been on P&O for S Pacific cruises and they weren't "British", nor did I think the experience compared in quality to other cruiselines I've been on... though I did enjoy them. They were my first cruises.

As for Princess in Australia, I have the impression the ships are a bit dated compared to Princess cruise ships overseas, and even to some of the other cruiselines' offerings. I know there might be exceptions so perhaps it's a good idea to read up on Cruise Critic user reviews about any ship you consider.

For cruising to New Zealand from Australia I'd choose from RCI, Celebrity and Norwegian Cruise Line.You don't say you have points on NCL but they are definitely worth considering - Norwegian Jewel. Unless you have a zillion points on a cruiseline so are right up there in their loyalty tiers, I think the perks offered are negligible. I always choose on the basis of cruise itineraries and which particular ship is doing it, not which cruiseline, and compare price, value and what I can find out from reviews.

I've done a NZ cruise once, and loved it... Celebrity Solstice, a lovely ship. I want to do NZ again but next time I want it to include Hobart, Tasmania. Not many NZ cruises stop in Tasmania but Celebrity has one. I don't know which month you will be travelling but this looks a good one. I think a stop in Tasmania is definitely a plus!

http://www.celebritycruises.com/cruises/cruise-package-SL14K088?packageid=SL14K088&dest=AUSTL&shipCode=SL&shipName=Celebrity%20Solstice&sailDate=1180203&cabincls=INTERIOR&promotype=

I don't know if the link will work, but you can google it... Celebrity Solstice, 3rd February 2018.

I would book my flights independently. I tend to think you can get a better price that way.