Anybody on Noordam now that can comment on impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on New Zealand?

[Torquer]

We will be on the February 25 cruise on Noordam leaving Auckland NZ eventually going to Sydney Australia.  The pictures I am seeing from NZ after Gabrielle hit look really bad from some towns.

 

Is there anyone currently on Noordam that can comment on how Gabrielle has impacted your cruise?  Did you miss any ports so far?  Have they informed you of any schedule changes as you get to the North Island that was much more seriously impacted by the cyclone?

[colbe]

I have had a quick look at your itinerary. I would expect that Napier will be the only port that will be a definite change. Enjoy your cruise.

[Torquer]

I was just doing some research and found this for the port of Napier NZ:

https://www.napierport.co.nz/napier-port-operations-status-update-friday-17-february/

 

It says the port will be closed to cruise ships until at least February 26.  So the current Noordam cruise, which is supposed to visit Napier on February 21, will almost certainly not stop there.  Our cruise on Noordam visits Napier on February 27, so that stop is definitely questionable.

[NancyDrew1953]

Currently on the Noordam. We are missing two ports - Gisborne and Napier, but are scheduled into Wellington on the 21st as a replacement with the other day (the 22nd) currently being called a sea day. Yesterday the cruise director indicated that HAL is still working on finding a replacement for this additional sea day, but that they are not having much luck.

 

Our weather so far has been outstanding, and it has been an excellent cruise. You should have a great time.

 

[colbe]

33 minutes ago, NancyDrew1953 said:

Currently on the Noordam. We are missing two ports - Gisborne and Napier, but are scheduled into Wellington on the 21st as a replacement with the other day (the 22nd) currently being called a sea day. Yesterday the cruise director indicated that HAL is still working on finding a replacement for this additional sea day, but that they are not having much luck.

 

Our weather so far has been outstanding, and it has been an excellent cruise. You should have a great time.

 

Thank you for being so positive. Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

[NancyDrew1953]

14 minutes ago, colbe said:

Thank you for being so positive. Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

It has been wonderful. Excellent scenery, particularly the day we visited three sounds of the Fiordland National Park - bright, sunny and incredible views. We just docked in Pictor to another beautiful day.  This trip has been near perfect, with great crew and service.  This is the first time I have been on a HAL ship since 2018 and I’m loving it.

[lissie]

There are some long threads over on the Australian & NZ board - this is most relevant I think  

 

I'm not sure that Napier will want tourists for the rest of this season. It's not just the port - its the absolute devastation all around the city (not in the centre of city itself) - lack of power  and water are issues which are being resolved and will hopefully be stable in the city  in another week or so. 

 

My accountant's offices are under 10min drive from the cruise port and although undamaged they are still closed due to lack of power and staff having more important issues to attend to. 

 

Napier is still isolated from the rest of NZ by road except for essential traffic- that's a week later - that's how big it is. 

 

The weather is good at the moment across the country - and what is lost in all the headlines that here in Wellington and the whole of the south island have had an absolutely fantastic summer so  far - and often our weather is very average until Feb.  

[Torquer]

2 hours ago, NancyDrew1953 said:

Currently on the Noordam. We are missing two ports - Gisborne and Napier, but are scheduled into Wellington on the 21st as a replacement with the other day (the 22nd) currently being called a sea day. Yesterday the cruise director indicated that HAL is still working on finding a replacement for this additional sea day, but that they are not having much luck.

 

Our weather so far has been outstanding, and it has been an excellent cruise. You should have a great time.

 

Thanks for your update on Noordam.  I'm glad you will be able to go to Wellington, since that is a scheduled port on the next Noordam cruise.  Does it still look like you are going to Tauranga since that is also on the next cruse?  Please give us a quick update over the next couple days and let us if anything else changes. 

[Windsailer]

I am currently on the Noordam. No one has said anything about canceling Tauranga. But on the other hand they insisted that Napier wouldn`t be cancelled the morning  of 2/16 yet it was csncelled later that day. 

[twosilly]

9 hours ago, Torquer said:

We will be on the February 25 cruise on Noordam leaving Auckland NZ eventually going to Sydney Australia.  The pictures I am seeing from NZ after Gabrielle hit look really bad from some towns.

 

Is there anyone currently on Noordam that can comment on how Gabrielle has impacted your cruise?  Did you miss any ports so far?  Have they informed you of any schedule changes as you get to the North Island that was much more seriously impacted by the cyclone?

I will be on that cruise also! Hope someone answers you!! 

[twosilly]

Is there anyone out there:) 

 

Denise heading to NZ be there on the 25th! 

[NancyDrew1953]

Just back on board from Picton and surrounding areas, including Marlbourgh wineries, the WW I historic aviation center (outstanding), and a chocolate shop. A fabulous day - sunny and hot.  Tomorrow is Wellington, the replacement port for Gisborne and Napier.  Then, the sea day. Tauranga is still on the agenda.

[twosilly]

9 hours ago, NancyDrew1953 said:

Just back on board from Picton and surrounding areas, including Marlbourgh wineries, the WW I historic aviation center (outstanding), and a chocolate shop. A fabulous day - sunny and hot.  Tomorrow is Wellington, the replacement port for Gisborne and Napier.  Then, the sea day. Tauranga is still on the agenda.

So did you land in Auckland, our planned trip is Tauranga, Napier, Wellinton, Picton, Christchurch, Port Chalmers, then heading to Hobart. My issue is, reading the news, with the damage, are we going to really see New Zealand? or more the inside of a cruise ship. Saying this, with so many roads cut off, and people missing, etc, Looking at your words, are you on the cruise from Sydney to Auckland? 

[Torquer]

@twosillyThe current Noordam cruise is running from Sydney to Auckland, and is pretty much the reverse of our cruise that will begin on Saturday, with a couple different ports.

 

As I understand the situation right now, the South Island was not significantly impacted by Gabrielle so those ports should be fine.  Wellington should also be fine since Noordam is visiting there now.  Napier is highly questionable; the port authorities have announced the port is closed to cruise ships up until the day before we are scheduled to dock there and there is still damage and no electric in much of the town.  I have heard nothing about Tauranga so I don't know.  I assume we will be fine to embark in Auckland.

[SilvertoGold]

23 hours ago, NancyDrew1953 said:

It has been wonderful. Excellent scenery, particularly the day we visited three sounds of the Fiordland National Park - bright, sunny and incredible views. We just docked in Pictor to another beautiful day.  This trip has been near perfect, with great crew and service.  This is the first time I have been on a HAL ship since 2018 and I’m loving it.

Thanks so much for the info.  So glad things are going well!  Do you know who the Hotel Manager is?

[lissie]

8 hours ago, twosilly said:

So did you land in Auckland, our planned trip is Tauranga, Napier, Wellinton, Picton, Christchurch, Port Chalmers, then heading to Hobart. My issue is, reading the news, with the damage, are we going to really see New Zealand? or more the inside of a cruise ship. Saying this, with so many roads cut off, and people missing, etc, Looking at your words, are you on the cruise from Sydney to Auckland? 

The only port that you should have issues with is Napier - none of the others are affected. Don't count on Napier anytime soon - probably not to the end of this season.  The power is back on in most of the town - and the central area and port are actually undamaged - but obviously everything around it is in dire straits 

[NancyDrew1953]

Currently on the Noordam. We started in Sydney, then Melbourne, than Burnie in Tasmania (Hobart was not on our itinerary), them the South Island stops as planned.  Weather in the South Island was dry, warm and mostly sunny.  We did Port Chalmers. There were only two places on the North Island we are missing - Gisborne and Napier. We did not have Wellington or Christchurch on our itinerary, but Wellington was added as a substitute.  We spent today in Wellington, weather was brisk and windy, but no rain.  In the morning, I wore a sweater, but not needed in the afternoon. Today we visited Zealandia - highly recommend it. We have seen a lot of New Zealand so far. We’ve are headed north tomorrow for the one added sea day.   Then onto Tauranga and Auckland - so far everything seems as planned, e.g. no changes to upcoming planned excursions.  So far everything has been wonderful, both with excursions and the ship.

 

My only complaint is that the nightly chocolates only appear on Gala Nights (only two nights) so far.😂

[boeckli]

29 minutes ago, NancyDrew1953 said:

Currently on the Noordam. We started in Sydney, then Melbourne, than Burnie in Tasmania (Hobart was not on our itinerary), them the South Island stops as planned.  Weather in the South Island was dry, warm and mostly sunny.  We did Port Chalmers. There were only two places on the North Island we are missing - Gisborne and Napier. We did not have Wellington or Christchurch on our itinerary, but Wellington was added as a substitute.  We spent today in Wellington, weather was brisk and windy, but no rain.  In the morning, I wore a sweater, but not needed in the afternoon. Today we visited Zealandia - highly recommend it. We have seen a lot of New Zealand so far. We’ve are headed north tomorrow for the one added sea day.   Then onto Tauranga and Auckland - so far everything seems as planned, e.g. no changes to upcoming planned excursions.  So far everything has been wonderful, both with excursions and the ship.

 

My only complaint is that the nightly chocolates only appear on Gala Nights (only two nights) so far.😂

 

Thanks for reporting on your experiences. I'm also on the next sailing and hope that the favourable weather continues for us. I've been to Zealandia and agree with your recommendation.

A question please: are masks mandatory on your cruise? I was on Westerdam in Nov/Dec when it was but so far we have not been advised by HAL of any such requirement.

Hope you continue to enjoy your cruise. ☺️

[NancyDrew1953]

The first couple of days masks were mandatory, except when eating or drinking.  Compliance was generally very good. After day three or four (I have forgotten the specific day), the captain announced that masks were no longer mandatory.  At that point, probably only about 10 percent of the passengers and a somewhat higher percentage of crew continued to wear masks.

 

Having said that, one of the group I am traveling with was diagnosed with Covid yesterday.  HAL moved her to a separate balcony cabin, while her spouse (not Covid positive) is staying in their original (non-balcony) cabin. So far, I have avoided Covid, but I stay masked most always whether cruising or not.  In my opinion, masks may help, but are no guarantee. There is some talk that if Covid gets to a certain level the captain may reintroduce mandatory masking, but it appears that we aren’t there so far.

[Windsailer]

2 hours ago, boeckli said:

 

Thanks for reporting on your experiences. I'm also on the next sailing and hope that the favourable weather continues for us. I've been to Zealandia and agree with your recommendation.

A question please: are masks mandatory on your cruise? I was on Westerdam in Nov/Dec when it was but so far we have not been advised by HAL of any such requirement.

Hope you continue to enjoy your cruise. ☺️

They were mandatory  for the first few days then the Captain said they weren't  required. But with the number of people coughing  I still wear mine in crowds and on buses.  Wish the people who are coughing  would wear them but mostly  they don't. 

[boeckli]

Thanks to @NancyDrew1953 and @Windsailer for your responses.

I'm quite happy to wear a mask in crowded situations and will pack some for the cruise.

[SilvertoGold]

7 hours ago, Windsailer said:

They were mandatory  for the first few days then the Captain said they weren't  required. But with the number of people coughing  I still wear mine in crowds and on buses.  Wish the people who are coughing  would wear them but mostly  they don't. 

Are masks still being given out on the ship?  If so, are they the good N95 or only the thin surgical (usually blue) ones?  If anyone know who the Hotel manager is, I'd appreciate knowing.  The Front Desk should have a comment box with his/her name and photo :)

Edited February 21, 2023 by SilvertoGold

[Windsailer]

2 hours ago, SilvertoGold said:

Are masks still being given out on the ship?  If so, are they the good N95 or only the thin surgical (usually blue) ones?  If anyone know who the Hotel manager is, I'd appreciate knowing.  The Front Desk should have a comment box with his/her name and photo 🙂

Colin Jacob. I don't know if they are still giving out masks. I brought my own.

[twosilly]

I understand the masking for the first few days, as people can test negative 24 hours before boarding, then positive the 2-5th day of the cruise! The past 3 cruises we were on, Sept through New years, people were Masks off and on. I think every cruise there was a horrible non-Covid Bronchial cold going around, I hope to steer clear of this time! I normally bring ? 20 to 30 masks, some N95, KN95 and others 🙂If you see me on the ship and are in need, I can share some ?? Denise who fly's out 2/23 for the New Zealand to Sydney adventure! 

A note: has anyone been in the Casino? Your thoughts?

[SilvertoGold]

1 hour ago, Windsailer said:

Colin Jacob. I don't know if they are still giving out masks. I brought my own.

Thank you. Colin is superb!