South Pacific Cruise Reviews

We really enjoyed this cruise and would recommend it to all our friends.

I enjoyed experiencing Tahini, New Zealand, and Sydney Australia. Words cannot express how much I enjoyed visiting these places. However, the dining, entertainment, and activities aboard the Solstice were the worst! Also, my excursions that I setup through Celebrity were terrible and a total waste of my money!

We're senior citizens 75+; Age group on Solstice aims to 50-60 Y O's.

The overall cruise was a disappointment. We were not compensated properly for

Thanks to every single crew member, they work really hard and they deserve better pay and time off. At least we can be nice to them :)

I was empress with the food .....but the service was amazing from the GM Vuk, Entertaiment, shows The Blazing Boots, Front desk ( Gerlie) to all the restaurant service and our Room Steward (Warren).

Going to and experiencing Tahiti was the opportunity of a lifetime. Over 7000 nautical miles were travelled on this cruise and we crossed the equator. The 4 days at sea could have been improved with additional onboard activities (not enough dancing!) The NCL Spirit is beautifully maintained mid-size cruise ship and the staff service was superb. Enjoyed the fact that there was diversity among the cruise guests -- many French and Australian guests, plus other countries (Germany, Canada), not just Americans.

In total this was a 39 day cruise starting in Auckland for a 14 day trip to many New Zealand ports then across the "ditch" to Tasmania, Melbourne and finally to Sydney. Then the 25 day transpacific crossing to Vancouver. Wonderful trip. Ran into a bad storm about 3 days from Vancouver. Worse conditions I have ever experienced but the captain kept us informed and did a great job.

Absolutely amazing and perfect dream vacation. Fiji was not what we expected but that didn't take anything away from the trip. The entire staff on the Eclipse did an amazing job. We have cruised other cruise lines and we will continue to be loyal to Celebrity. Thank you Ali from for you help and guidance throughout the process. We can't wait for what is in store for 2024.

Oceania seems to have cut back on the wait staff and often we had to wait - also, they were not as helpful as usual. We love this cruise line and I think this was our 13 cruise but probably our last.

Do not sail on Australian Cruises. We noticed that unlike American Cruises there did not seem to be a lot of cleaning and up keep of spaces. Lots of food on plates and glasses left on tables throughout the day. Did not notice anyone wiping down common areas, elevators, etc. As a result, many reports of COVID infections from this cruise on Facebook to include us for the first time in 3 years. Very disappointing.

The first cruise departing 1/24/2023 was awesome. The second cruise was as good but due to weather only had one port.

Overall a great cruise with the employees and meals on the ship. I do believe the excursions need some work, especially those that I paid $100 - $150 for. Not sure I received the value for the money.

The Perfect Storm!!! My wife & I cruised from Sydney to Bali on the Regent Seven Seas Explorer. The Pre-Cruise Sydney Icons & 1st half of our voyage from Sydney to Cairns was all speed ahead 5*/Excellent, however, since arriving Papua New Guinea, our voyage was reversed into 1*/Poor, given poor decision making by RSSC, including significant Excursion Tour Safety & Security Issues! The factors, which caused this reversal, we signed up for an Excursion Tour, entitled: “GUR-005 TAWALI SNORKEL & SKULL CAVE Duration: 8.00 Hrs Date: February 04, 2023 07:30 AM” Significant excursion Tour Safety & Security Issues! Drive in Buses from RSSC Explorer/Alotau Port to Transfer Destination: Three small cramped fully occupied 20-passenger buses & 56-Passengers. Three hour round-trip drive on rickety, unsafe (tires were bald, at least on our bus) & non-Air Conditioned buses and bumpy, unsaved & washed road at times (80+-degrees & 80+-humidity; RSSC advised in advance the buses may not have Air Conditioning and the road may be bumpy & unpaved at times). Transfer Destination from Buses to Boats which would take us to Milne Island: Upon arrival, there were high-surf, which were dangerous, ferocious & unsafe weather conditions. Further, there were only two small flat, fishing skiff-type & unstable boats were present, with small outboard motors, no life preservers, & no first aid kits...and no RSSC crew- &/or staff-member presence whatsoever. We were advised by the local tour operator these two small boats were our transportation to Milne Island, where an additional boat(s) would take us to the Skull Caves. [See photos of these buses & two small boats, high-surf & no RSSC presence whatsoever.] Immediately, several of us indicated we were “not” going out to sea in these conditions, especially with these only two small barebones unequipped boats and, subsequently, fairly immediately, all passengers were in agreement, and we should immediately return to ship, of which, RSSC decision makers back on ship finally relented and we subsequently made our return to ship. Before departing from the Transfer Destination back to ship, we & a few other passengers learned from the local tour operator, it was “RSSC who made the decision to proceed” with the Excursion Tour “despite” the unsafe weather conditions & barebones unequipped boats AND the “local tour operator’s multiple advisories & warnings NOT do so”. RSSC potentially put our lives & others in eminent danger ⛔️ ⛔️ ⛔️!!! [Please see screen shot photo of the text communications between the local tour operator’s per RSSC.] In summary, if we hadn’t drowned perhaps something else crime & violence-wise would have happened to us & our group of 56-passengers on the PNG Skull Cave Excursion. There are a lot of upset passengers on this ship as a result of these actions and not just us & our group, however numerous other PNG Excursions! Numerous passengers we’ve met on ship decided it wasn’t safe to get off & did not do so. We were advised by other passengers on the ship that the US, Canada & the UK governments have more severe travel warnings on travel to PNG! Someone in the higher ranks of RSSC did not do their due diligence & risking passengers welfare & lives by going to PNG and NOT listening to local tour operators warnings! The End (fortunately)! ***Update*** As we departed the ship on Mon Feb 13th, Passports & Statements were delayed to us on-ship given on-board Internet issues and, as a result, we only had an opportunity to review our final Invoice/Statement en-route home to San Diego. There was a $180 Internet charge on 01/26/2023 Location #4500. We were charged for this upgraded Internet service, which we tried for 15-minutes & immediately canceled with the ship's Business Center Representative, given was unusable & worthless, and should have never been Added on our Invoice/Statement or at least Credited accordingly.

Beautiful ports. Four sea days. Need better communication to prepare for Tasman Sea experience.

Excellent itinerary, great entertainment and fantastic entertainment! Excellent customer service on a well maintained ship. Inside cabin was spacious and nicely laid out! Buffet was excellent; good quality food and a wide variety.

First time on a Princess cruise. We’re impressed and will do another with them. They rate highly with us among cruise lines. We’ll worth the money!

We always love sailing with NCL no matter the itinerary. We think that we would have liked another port or two in Australia and skip a few in New Zealand, if the length of the cruise is the same. Otherwise, make the cruise longer with additional ports in Australia. As far as entertainment: there was too much repetition of the same performers.

We were forced by RC to chose this cruise as they cancelled our original cruise to the South Pacific and would not refund our money. We had already made all of our trip arrangements when they cancelled the cruise and so we had limited options of RC cruises that fit our schedule. The service, food, activities and entertainment were subpar. The adult section is so small that the pool is basically a giant tub and the restaurant space is limited. There were 1,700 children under the age of 18 on this cruise which made it a zoo. The activities for adults were lame, i.e. how to fold a napkin or make a towel animal. The weather prevented us from going to 2 of the 3 ports and so we were basically stuck on the cruise from hell. RC didn't make any special accommodations for passengers to make up for missing the 2 ports. The excursion prices were ridiculous. We were sick of cold food, poor service (dining) and lack of entertainment/activities and couldn't wait to disembark. Another passenger who had cruised for years told me this is typical for RC in Australia to have subpar food, activities, service, etc. DON"T GO!

The rain turned in to a Typhoon, runways were flooded and the 1st level of the airport was flooded with 3 feet of water. Airport was closed for 2 days and when I tried to rebook a flight - found out that from the Station Manager for Air New Zealand - all the people who were ticketed with a 2 for 1 Ticket from NCL - were expected to get their own ticket out somehow. On hold for 2 hours with Air New Zealand - when I said my record locator - P62ZQH - she hung up and said NCL would have to rebook themselves. Called , left message for agent. Called emergency number at , was connected to NCL whose agent informed me that " She couldn't stay on the phone with me. Her manager wouldn't like it while she tried to get in touch with Air New Zealand and get me rebooked. The call was recorded - listen to me begging for help and her hanging up on me. Hours standing in lines. I called the insurance and was told we were covered but there were no tickets available. Slept on the floor of the airport for 2 nights because all the hotels were full (cancelled Elton John concert), then I found a hotel but Air New Zealand had our luggage. No clean clothes. Stood in line the next day for 4 hours on day 4 and finally got booked on Air Tahiti Lui for the next day at 3:00pm but booking disappeared overnight - no record locator. Again in line to rebook and finally got out and home on February 1st - stop over in Tahiti. Poor customer service from , NCL and Air New Zealand. I will turn in the costs to insurance but EVERYONE who had a 2 for 1 ticket found ourselves locked out of any help from Air New Zealand. I heard NCL sent planes but didn't specify "for NCL Customers" so they were filled by Air New Zealand with other passengers. I want , NCL and Air New Zealand to make this right somehow. And "I'm sorry" is not enough.