Overall this cruise was excellent. It was just what we needed as we had not had a break in about 18 months and all work full time. We were able to catch up on some much needed rest and just enjoy being together - lots of laughs and totally relaxed by the end of the cruise. Best thing was I did not have to cook Christmas Dinner this year!
Embarkation
5 out of 5
No delays - excellent
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Our food and drinks were excellent all served beautifully and with a smile.
Chef's Table Lumière
5 out of 5
We booked the Chefs table and were able to enjoy it on Christmas Eve. Wow, what an experience! Would definitely do this again if I get the opportunity - just don't eat lunch that day. We all felt very special!
La Mer, a French Bistro by Emmanuel Renaut
4 out of 5
Ate here for Christmas night - Tried some meals that I would not normally choose. It was something different.
Allegro Dining Room
5 out of 5
Excellent dining room - the staff were very welcoming and we cannot speak highly enough of our waiters - Allan and Dean. Thank-you for great dining experiences.
Alfredo's Pizzeria
4 out of 5
Great to visit on days when you did not feel like a 3 course lunch. Relaxed and efficient.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
The weather at times was a little cool so was not able to enjoy the pools and outdoor activities as much as we would have liked to. However we continued enjoying the indoor activities such as trivia and bingo and catching up on some much needed rest.
Photo-Video Gallery
3 out of 5
Photographers were great and captured some really lovely pictures of our group and individual photos. Unfortunately, I think that they are somewhat overpriced and it can get quite expensive when you are trying to choose from the many photos. They really should offer some package deals. I bit of a shame.
Lotus Spa
5 out of 5
Had a couples massage for our anniversary and my hair done for Christmas Eve. Both very good experiences.
Hollywood Conservatory
5 out of 5
Has a nice relaxed feel - clean and tidy and the pool is heated.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Enjoyed the shows and entertainers. Unfortunately, they did not seem to have the variety of shows that we had on a previous cruise - this may have been due to it being Christmas. However the ones we saw were excellent.
Children's Programs
No children under 18 in our group.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
I cannot say how happy we were with our room steward and waiters. Top notch service from day one!
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Everything was clean and well-maintained - nothing to complain about.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Our cabin was kept beautifully clean throughout the trip. I liked the walk-in wardrobe - far easier to find our clothing. The bed was very comfortable and we had room for everything that we required.
We arrived in Sydney a day earlier and was able to do the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb on the day that we were embarking - great fun and lots of history!
We did a self directed excursion to Olveston House and managed to tack on with a Princess Cruise group whilst there. My family was very happy to sort out their New Zealand phone numbers and all things tech while they were in Dunedin as we were staying on in New Zealand for a week or so after the cruise.
What a beautiful, picturesque little town. We visited the Giants House, went for a ride on the V8 trikes and wandered around doing some shopping. Best port of call on this cruise.
We did a self directed excursion - walking around the mount. The colour of the water was spectacular and lots of places to take photos. Enjoyed a delicious Italian meal in the main street of Tauranga.
This was where we disembarked. We had already pre-organised a trip to Waitomo Caves and therefor had to pick up hire cars and move on fairly quickly. We did note that the city is having there transport infrastructure upgraded with a light rail - it should be good when it is completed however at present it is causing a lot of congestion and a lot of shops were not open during our short stay there.
We where on the shame cruise have been lucky to have done a couple of Christmas cruises but just loved this one .. yes we also found the service was wonderful great ports , and yes a bit chilly but it is New Zealand so was expected but still I wonderful time glad you enjoyed it all .. 73 days till our next cruise adventure Sydney to Honolulu happy cruising hope ur hooked as we are 👍
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