Which itinerary would you choose?

[BlueSky_ShinySea]

Calling all cruisers! Especially those who have cruised to Asia and Australia. Which of these itineraries would you pick, if you had the choice (sailing at the same time): 

 

- Holland America Noordam: Auckland, New Zealand; Tauranga, New Zealand; Napier; Wellington; Picton; Akoroa; Port Chalmers; Cruise the Fjorland National Park; Hobart, Tasmania; Melbourne, then Sydney, Australia

 

- Holland America Westerdam: Singapore; Nathon (Koh Samui), Thailand; Laem Chabang, Bangkok, Thailand; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; Phu My, Vietnam; Nha Trang, Vietnam; Da Nang (Hue), Vietnam; Halong Bay, Vietnam; Hong Kong, China

 

Thank you for your help!

[Flatbush Flyer]

2 hours ago, BlueSky_ShinySea said:

Calling all cruisers! Especially those who have cruised to Asia and Australia. Which of these itineraries would you pick, if you had the choice (sailing at the same time): 

 

- Holland America Noordam: Auckland, New Zealand; Tauranga, New Zealand; Napier; Wellington; Picton; Akoroa; Port Chalmers; Cruise the Fjorland National Park; Hobart, Tasmania; Melbourne, then Sydney, Australia

 

- Holland America Westerdam: Singapore; Nathon (Koh Samui), Thailand; Laem Chabang, Bangkok, Thailand; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; Phu My, Vietnam; Nha Trang, Vietnam; Da Nang (Hue), Vietnam; Halong Bay, Vietnam; Hong Kong, China

 

Thank you for your help!

You're comparing apples to oranges. Personally, I'd choose either itinerary but not on a HAL ship.

[dtpepsifiend]

I haven't done it cruising, but I've gone to NZ and Australia and HK, Thailand and Cambodia. Go to Asia for the culture and Australia for the natural beauty.  I think NZ might be better as a land vacation while the Asia trip seems to be hitting the highlights of the different countries (and NZ and AUS are easier for English-speakers to get around). If you would never do either outside of a cruise and would only do one ever, I would pick the South Pacific, but if you would consider doing one via land, I would choose the Asia cruise.   

[GUT2407]

I’d pick Australia, but then I’d pick Australia no matter what the question was. But on a cruise you will only see about 5% of the joint.

[Heidi13]

Have been to most of the ports, and both itineraries have the potential of being excellent, depending on in port times. However, without knowing what you want in a cruise, it is impossible to make a suggestion, as your comparison is similar to comparing a Caribbean cruise to an Alaska cruise.

 

How many hours are you alongside in each port and how many of the ports are overnights. An example is Laem Chabang, unless you have an overnight, or extended stay you won't see much of Bangkok, as it is about 70 miles from the port.

[donaldsc]

8 hours ago, BlueSky_ShinySea said:

Calling all cruisers! Especially those who have cruised to Asia and Australia. Which of these itineraries would you pick, if you had the choice (sailing at the same time): 

 

- Holland America Noordam: Auckland, New Zealand; Tauranga, New Zealand; Napier; Wellington; Picton; Akoroa; Port Chalmers; Cruise the Fjorland National Park; Hobart, Tasmania; Melbourne, then Sydney, Australia

 

- Holland America Westerdam: Singapore; Nathon (Koh Samui), Thailand; Laem Chabang, Bangkok, Thailand; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; Phu My, Vietnam; Nha Trang, Vietnam; Da Nang (Hue), Vietnam; Halong Bay, Vietnam; Hong Kong, China

 

Thank you for your help!

 

Your question is equivalent to asking whether you should visit Paris or Beijing or maybe even whether you should have apple pie or chocolate pudding for dessert.   It is totally unanswerable.  

 

DON

[paul929207]

The first one.

[Joebucks]

I seriously don't get what the big deal is because the OP asked between two different itineraries. There's lots of people with experience going to all of these spots, and they want to know you think. 

 

Personally, I would choose the Asia cruise. I feel those spots, are better suited for visiting the big cities at the port. Not that the others are bad for that, but some of those would be better for land vacations IMO.

[ldubs]

16 hours ago, BlueSky_ShinySea said:

Calling all cruisers! Especially those who have cruised to Asia and Australia. Which of these itineraries would you pick, if you had the choice (sailing at the same time): 

 

- Holland America Noordam: Auckland, New Zealand; Tauranga, New Zealand; Napier; Wellington; Picton; Akoroa; Port Chalmers; Cruise the Fjorland National Park; Hobart, Tasmania; Melbourne, then Sydney, Australia

 

- Holland America Westerdam: Singapore; Nathon (Koh Samui), Thailand; Laem Chabang, Bangkok, Thailand; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; Phu My, Vietnam; Nha Trang, Vietnam; Da Nang (Hue), Vietnam; Halong Bay, Vietnam; Hong Kong, China

 

Thank you for your help!

 

We have been on both itineraries, though not on HAL.  Both are excellent so I don't think you need to worry about making a wrong choice.   If I were given the choice of going back I would probably opt for the NZ cruise.  I just liked the nature and the vibe.  But again, I would be very happy with either.   

 

So, maybe select according to cost & best flight arrangements. or something like that.  

 

Enjoy

[BlueSky_ShinySea]

Thank you very much everyone, I really appreciate your responses.