Anoynmous Phoenix

Both cabin stewards know you are changing and, between them, they will make the arrangements between themselves and with you. Get a new room key, go ashore and enjoy Tahiti. You will have an "In Transit" sticker which you should wear when you go back from your outing to ensure you miss check-in and go directly to Security. Find a shore staff member to make sure that happens. Wear it onboard so the crew don't "hassle" you but newcomers can ask for help!!

@yakcruiser No need to carry a clock. They will do a manual call from Guest Services if you ask, especially if they can't get your phone to work for you. Not only that but we got a room change when they couldn't get our phone to work after 3 days.

If you look here you will see that return in that direction is not possible on the same day. https://www.tehuiatrain.co.nz/timetables/ For the Inter-city Bus look at https://www.intercity.co.nz/north-island-buses/bus-auckland-to-hamilton Whichever I would suggest a taxi to get to and from the Gardens.

Remember that, like many seas, the Tasman Sea can be very rough. If you really want to see the NZ Sounds you might find it better to do the Tasman twice!! Double the chances of getting in!!

Any reason why Wai-O-Tapu? I presume you mean Waiotapu south of Rotorua. Personally i would suggest that you go to Rotorua itself and spend time there with all its attractions, including many thermal areas. Kuirau Park, Whakarewarewa and, especcially, Hell's Gate

I think that you get a few days to make bookings BEFORE they are opened up to everyone else. If you ever have any trouble getting any bookings see the Haven Concierge.

@bluesea777 We did the ill-fated Dubai-Cape Town cruise before Covid hit on the Spirit and really enjoyed the ship, the passengers and the crew so are hoping for the same this time. As long as the senior officers are different!!!!!!!

@sanger727 Australia is too large for it to be efficient to be seen by cruise. I agree totally but the Princess "Round Australia" cruise is a real starter to see so many places and then you decide where to go on a second and third visit.. It is a pity that NCL do not do the same thing. That cruise gets booked out VERY quickly.

As a New Zealander we have had Transtasman cruises booked and cancelled for 3 years. January 2024 we are doing NZ-Aus-NZ; two cruises on the Spirit. Looking forward to visiting all the ports twice.

@Seafan22 My plan is to do four days in Australia touring around, then take the cruise over to Auckland and then stay there for another three days. Please don't think that you will see anything of Australia in 4 days or New Zealand in 3 days. You will hardly get out of Sydney or Auckland. If you want to VISIT Australia or New Zealand turn the DAYS into WEEKS and then double them.

In answer to the question posed; both my wife and I are Ambassadors. We didn't start cruising till we were 70 and it took 10 years including two Covid years with no cruising. We have 6 cruises booked followed by our two "free" ones. So still going strong.

I agree that it isn't allowed. I also agree that I have never heard of anyone being "picked up" for doing what you suggest. BUT, like most things, "you pays your money and takes your chance!! You are more likely to "get away" with it if the person donating the ticket is the same gender as the person receiving it!!

@sailingships If you are an authority on this how about giving an answer for @Always Cruising; mine was a "tongue in cheek" guess and I would like to know too so I can give a more accurate answer the next time someone is looking for help.

If Dining with Officers is not openly offered then go to the Future Cruise Desk on the first day and ask; VERY politely; "Why Not?". If the answer isn't al all convincing go and talk to the GM's secretary as that is the person who makes the arrangements; Future Cruise only collects names.

Two and a half?

We had three cruises earlier this northern summer, two on the Star and one on the Prima, and there was a dining with officers on each one.

@natefish95 ... (on my most recent NCL Jewel cruise, there were no comedy shoes). You couldn't have had the right Cruise Director then!!! Most of them wear Comedy Shoes for the effect. Their clothes can be very funny too.

@AndyCapn ... buffet and lunch and MDR for dinner on Embarkation Day. There are two reasons that the buffet, at lunchtime on Embarkation Day, is so crowded is because the staff only tell embarkees that that is the place to eat and that only old hands know that there is an MDR open.

@NC_Cruisin The Jewel tends to spend about 5-6 months from October to March based in Japan so there are gaps still to be filled in for 2024-2025. The Jewel usually leaves Japan late March/ early April to return to do Alaska so when that cruise appears you know when the Jewels time in Japan will end. It does return to Japan from Alaska cruises in October so there will be more cruises from October 2025 I would imagine.

When we contacted the right people in NCL we were told that the only exclusions were due to holiday periods not itinerary. You could always check with AmbassadorMembers@ncl.com

Go to https://boards.cruisecritic.com.au/topic/2798420-ncl-promo-code-list-past-and-present/ and look for the latest listing of the codes.

@complawyer The 7-day cruise is in a Balcony cabin. BUT it is not FREE, only the cruise fare is covered not the fees etc and you get NO perks (No Free at Sea). You get to choose the itinerary, the only cut outs are holiday periods. The cruise MUST be taken within ONE YEAR of becoming Ambassador and is for TWO people, My wife and I became Ambassadors a couple of months ago and we are doing the Pride of America twice, B2B. This is probably the most expensive 7-day cruise that NCL do.

@Dina7 I don't know how many Specialties you have but I would always do one the first night, especially early, as not many are prepared to do it then. You might find it more important to book Specialties where and when you want as they are likely to fill up leaving you with restaurants you don't want at times you also don't want.

Does anyone know if it is possible to buy Duty Free goods when disembarking at Queens Wharf in Auckland? Thank you. Anoynmous Phoenix

@mjkacmom Actually all of those things make a difference, especially the timing of the booking. I am happy to stand corrected but please don't just disagree give specific examples with actual costs and differences. Thanks.