Deiorhys Posted October 28, 2014 #1 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Can anyone please tell me what to expect on our upcoming cruise, we shall be visiting Milford Sound between 8am and 9am and then cruising the National Park. Many thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Kruzer Posted October 28, 2014 #2 Share Posted October 28, 2014 When cruising from Australia to NZ , you enter Milford Sound first and then cruise down the coast. Being a National Park , you usually have a Park Ranger on board giving a commentary , and this is the usual prescribed route the cruise ships are permitted to follow . Milford Sound. You sail into the sound , turn around and come back out the same way. Sail down the coast to Thompson Sound, sail through and exit via Doubtful Sound. More coastal cruising to Breaksea Sound. You enter and exit via Dusky Sound. If you are doing the cruise from NZ to Australia the cruise is done in reverse order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch1 Posted October 28, 2014 #3 Share Posted October 28, 2014 We have been in there a few times and on each occasion, it has been different. Generally, it will be cold and most often windy so rug up when outside. If it has been raining recently, there will be lots of waterfalls. Seals and the occasional dolphin can be found in there as well. Large snow capped peaks as well line the sound. The entry into Milford sound is quite spectacular so make sure you are out on deck for that. If it is too windy, the captain may abort going in. It hasn't happened to us but it does happen. To me, Milford sound is one of those special places in the world...breathtaking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flipper133 Posted October 28, 2014 #4 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Here's a couple of pics: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibfishing2 Posted October 30, 2014 #5 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Here's a couple of pics: WOW! Thanks for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raks Posted November 9, 2014 #6 Share Posted November 9, 2014 When cruising from Australia to NZ , you enter Milford Sound first and then cruise down the coast. Being a National Park , you usually have a Park Ranger on board giving a commentary , and this is the usual prescribed route the cruise ships are permitted to follow . Milford Sound. You sail into the sound , turn around and come back out the same way. Sail down the coast to Thompson Sound, sail through and exit via Doubtful Sound. More coastal cruising to Breaksea Sound. You enter and exit via Dusky Sound. If you are doing the cruise from NZ to Australia the cruise is done in reverse order. That's great info, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roquejo Posted November 9, 2014 #7 Share Posted November 9, 2014 When cruising from Australia to NZ , you enter Milford Sound first and then cruise down the coast. Being a National Park , you usually have a Park Ranger on board giving a commentary , and this is the usual prescribed route the cruise ships are permitted to follow . Milford Sound. You sail into the sound , turn around and come back out the same way. Sail down the coast to Thompson Sound, sail through and exit via Doubtful Sound. More coastal cruising to Breaksea Sound. You enter and exit via Dusky Sound. If you are doing the cruise from NZ to Australia the cruise is done in reverse order. Not necessarily, we will be cruising Australia to NZ via Radiance and the order is completely opposite, we will be calling 8 ports of call first starting with Bay of Islands and will do the Fjords last. We will enter Dusky Sound first, then do Doubtful, and Milford last before heading back to Sydney. Will be doing this Feb so I hope the weather will cooperate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Kruzer Posted November 9, 2014 #8 Share Posted November 9, 2014 Not necessarily, we will be cruising Australia to NZ via Radiance and the order is completely opposite, we will be calling 8 ports of call first starting with Bay of Islands and will do the Fjords last. We will enter Dusky Sound first, then do Doubtful, and Milford last before heading back to Sydney. Will be doing this Feb so I hope the weather will cooperate. That is correct, you will do it as you sail from NZ back to Australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibfishing2 Posted November 11, 2014 #9 Share Posted November 11, 2014 When cruising from Australia to NZ , you enter Milford Sound first and then cruise down the coast. Being a National Park , you usually have a Park Ranger on board giving a commentary , and this is the usual prescribed route the cruise ships are permitted to follow . Milford Sound. You sail into the sound , turn around and come back out the same way. Sail down the coast to Thompson Sound, sail through and exit via Doubtful Sound. More coastal cruising to Breaksea Sound. You enter and exit via Dusky Sound. If you are doing the cruise from NZ to Australia the cruise is done in reverse order. Thanks for the map and info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whimsy7 Posted December 14, 2014 #10 Share Posted December 14, 2014 we were glad that we had our warm jackets and scarves with us when we were out on deck on this day at the fiordland. we were so fortunate to have a beautiful sunny day when we were in this area. we even saw a pod of dolphins! a truly magical place. the highlight of our trip around NZ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPacificbound Posted December 15, 2014 #11 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound are the most beautiful places I have ever been. I don't know if this is even offered but... if there is a private tour offered where you will be taken by coach and then go in by boat, I would jump on it. http://www.realjourneys.co.nz/en/experiences/cruises/ When Jim and I did our DIY tour of New Zealand we went to both Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound. Absolutely breathtaking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Nomad Posted December 16, 2014 #12 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Your question 'what to expect' cannot be answered. Because it is something different everytime you go and totally unexpected. It is wonderful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruize Posted December 17, 2014 #13 Share Posted December 17, 2014 It's surprising how many Kiwis have not been to this special part of our country. It is so easy to take things for granted on your back door. We have travelled a lot in the USA and have visited the majority of National Parks. Speaking to fellow cruisers from the States they have told us that we have seen more of their country than they have. NZ had a slogan in the 1980's, I think it was.......A word of advice to all New Zealanders "don't leave town till you've seen the country." We'll be in Milford on the Dawn Princess in about 10 days Have a great Christmas and New Year everyone!:) Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtn_couple Posted January 7, 2015 #14 Share Posted January 7, 2015 A couple of the pics I took in Milford Sound on board Celebrity Solstice. An amazing, breathtaking place! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtn_couple Posted January 7, 2015 #15 Share Posted January 7, 2015 For some reason my pics have loaded sideways and upside down - sorry, but you get the idea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debshomespun Posted January 8, 2015 #16 Share Posted January 8, 2015 For some reason my pics have loaded sideways and upside down - sorry, but you get the idea :D Thanks for posting. I just turned my laptop around to look. :D Looks like you had amazing weather. We board the Solstice in 20 days and I can't wait! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iluvcruising2 Posted January 16, 2015 #17 Share Posted January 16, 2015 It is a beautiful place and visiting the Fjordlands in a cruise ship was really comfortable! View of Milford Sounds from our aft balcony as the Voyager of the Seas was leaving the Sounds. [YOUTUBE]hfnzUcMudfg[/YOUTUBE] Another cruise ship sailing past, as we were in one of the Sounds. [YOUTUBE]tn7K-wvhqtY[/YOUTUBE] You can find many more pictures on my blog post here. http://guitar123foodandtravel.blogspot.sg/2013/09/voyager-of-seas-new-zealand-sounds-part.html I would advise you to wake up early to watch the approach into Milford Sound (assuming your ship is going into Milford first). Magical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Steelers0854 Posted July 4, 2016 #18 Share Posted July 4, 2016 I know this is an old thread but we are cruising from Sydney to Auckland and trying to decide which side of the ship to book, port or starboard since we will have a balcony. Any insight? It looks like port maybe best? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare OzKiwiJJ Posted July 5, 2016 #19 Share Posted July 5, 2016 If it's a one-way trip from Sydney to Auckland you will probably go through Fiordland first then up the east coast of Australia and, in that case, the best side would be port. If it's a Sydney return cruise it will depend on the order of ports. If you go to the North Island first (Auckland etc) and Fiordland last then choose the starboard side, otherwise choose the port side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassamanda Posted July 5, 2016 #20 Share Posted July 5, 2016 I know this is an old thread but we are cruising from Sydney to Auckland and trying to decide which side of the ship to book, port or starboard since we will have a balcony. Any insight? It looks like port maybe best? Probably port but i would be up on deck or somewhere i can get a 180 deg view so both sides of the passage can be seen. You will travel a short distance at sea close to the coast between fiords/bays. You will mostly cruise at night between ports up the eastern NZ coast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtn_couple Posted July 5, 2016 #21 Share Posted July 5, 2016 We had aft when we did it. Perfect, seeing the whole sound, and the wake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare OzKiwiJJ Posted July 5, 2016 #22 Share Posted July 5, 2016 Probably port but i would be up on deck or somewhere i can get a 180 deg view so both sides of the passage can be seen.You will travel a short distance at sea close to the coast between fiords/bays. You will mostly cruise at night between ports up the eastern NZ coast. Yes, up on deck is the best for Fiordland, especially in Milford Sound where you will most probably see seals basking on a rock on the port side going into the sound, and there is a resident pod of dophins there so a good chance of seeing them as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopestotravelmore Posted August 20, 2016 #23 Share Posted August 20, 2016 When we did our NZ cruise this February we stayed up on deck 15 with our coats and hats on. The view was amazing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Steelers0854 Posted August 20, 2016 #24 Share Posted August 20, 2016 Thanks for the great photos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPacificbound Posted September 23, 2016 #25 Share Posted September 23, 2016 It will be beautiful. We didn't go by ship, but smaller boat. Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound, Fjordland National Park, amazingly beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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