New Zealand Cruise

[Nana]

It is exciting Sunshine. I bet you can't wait.

[Sunshine]

Nope. I’ve got to get through Christmas first.

[Gemini]

Sunshine, the first time I flew alone was to Chicago. I was very anxious about getting to the right gate etc etc, with no travelling companions to consult, and I just allowed more time. I also constantly checked I had my passport!All went well and in fact I flew there several times over the next 3 years. Its OK once you have done it, and there are always staff to ask

[Daisy]

Sunshine - I think it's quite difficult to get on the wrong plane, although J and I thought we'd done it once!!

You'll be fine. xx

[Sunshine]

Lots of the paperwork has come through the post today. I have been reading all about it and highlighting any important bits. I should soon gets the details about the trips from the ship and book which ones I want to go on.

[Daisy]

Sunshine - I'm sure that brings it all closer. Do you enjoy the trips on cruises? I always wonder if they can be a bit of a 'scrum' with everyone wanting to get off at once and flooding the location with hundreds of passengers all trying to see and do the same thing.

[Sunshine]

Daisy, I love the trips from the cruise ships. They know all the best places to visit. It is always very slick. Whoever oversees these things must be super organised. You get a clear time of when you pick up the coach, so not everyone is trying to get to the same place altogether. I like the security of knowing that whatever happens on a trip, the ship won’t go without you. If you make your own way to visit various places, you need to be careful to allow plenty of time to get back to the ship before it departs. The ship WILL leave without you, if you are very late back, although this is a rare occurrence.

[Gemini]

Exciting times Sunshine

[Daisy]

Sunshine - I've 'liked' your comment about the ship leaving without you, but I'm quite sure I would be horrified.

[Sunshine]

Yes, a very scary thought if the ship were to leave without you. If this happens, you need to make your own way to the next port (at your own expense) and pick up the ship there. I have never been any where near that scenario, and don’t intend to be. It is amazing how close some people do get to it though. They always tell you to be back about half an hour before the ship is due to sail, but several people do leave it right to the last minute. Not me though!

[Daisy]

If you go on shore on your own (not in the tour organised by the cruise company) I suppose you are always at risk of something going wrong - not being able to get a taxi, getting lost, getting the time wrong etc.

[Sunshine]

Yes, that’s why I always plan to return AT LEAST one hour before we are due to sail. I wouldn’t venture any further away than about an hour from the port, just in case of any unforeseen circumstances. If I want to go much further than that, I would ALWAYS do a trip arranged by the ship. They always put a good choice of trips on, so there is always something to suit everyone. Anyway I wouldn’t want to stay away too long. I’d need to get back to gorge on all the yummy food. Ha ha.

[Daisy]

Sunshine - all that yummy food would be enough to keep me ON the ship!!

[Clover]

When we were able to go on cruises I was like you Sunshine.We always went on the ship’s tours. I wouldn’t have had the confidence to go it alone although I know lots of people do.It is most probably a lot cheaper but I liked the security of knowing the ship wouldn’t sail without us. If we were just exploring the port I always made sure we were back in good time and then we could sit with a drink and a snack and just enjoy the view and watch other passengers returning.

[Nanto2girls]

We have always made sure that we were back on board in plenty of time.
On more than one occassion we have seen passengers not get back on time.