A letter to guests had a familiar ring. โPlease be advised that Grand Princess must complete a thorough hull cleaning in advance of our calls to New Zealand. As a result, we will now overnight in Los Angeles, California, arriving Wednesday, September 27, 2023, and departing Thursday, September 28. โAs this will be a service … Read more
The managing director of a Sydney port services company has reported an alleged “extortion attempt” by a former staff member to police after a dossier was sent to the media alleging documents on hull cleaning were “falsified”. The anonymous dossier, which included receipts for hull cleaning, was also sent to cruise lines and claimed an … Read more
Another cruise ship has been banned from New Zealandโs Fiordland National Park over biofouling, provoking fury from passengers.
From Carnival to Viking, almost every cruise line has fallen foul of New Zealandโs tough biosecurity regulations about hull cleaning. It’s meant disaster for many passengers who have travelled around the world for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. At least seven ships have changed their itineraries โ and earned the ire of passengers for late calls that … Read more
The Oceania Regatta has become the fifth cruise victim of New Zealand’s biosecurity laws, cancelling two port calls in the country. Queen Elizabeth, Regent Seven Seas Explorer, Viking Orion and Coral Princess also had to have hull work carried out, thanks to the tough biofouling laws in New Zealand waters. An Oceania spokesperson told Cruise … Read more
First-timers visiting Auckland are sometimes surprised by the prevalence of the Mฤori language on street signs, in the media and among the local population. The revival in recent years has been so successful that Mฤori language classes are inundated, and even foreign giants like Disney are dubbing favourites like Frozen, The Lion King and Moana. … Read more
With New Zealand having finally opened its ports again earlier this year, there’s no better time to cruise to one of the world’s most scenic locations.
After 946 days without docking in the land of the long white cloud, Celebrity Cruises is finally back in New Zealand. It also marks Celebrity Eclipseโs first appearance in the country and the third ship to return to New Zealand since the pandemic.ย Celebrity Eclipse has just arrived in Auckland after a transpacific sailing from … Read more
After waiting two years to cruise, Australians can at last fly around the globe to join cruise ships in some of the worldโs most desirable ports. Itโs time to dive back into cruising and embark on those postponed dreams. Afloat on the oceans of the seven continents, along the rivers of Europe and Asia, and … Read more