Over the last few years or so Holland America Line have rapidly become our ‘Mainstream’ cruise line of choice, mainly because they operate in ‘our’ region for much of the year round, and quite often out of, or returning to Singapore too.
That in turn, often makes our travel planning, a little easier to arrange.
However, neither of us need any excuses whatsoever, to visit Sydney or Fremantle again and again.
We love them both! Our itinerary: Sydney; @C; @C; Milford Sound & Scenic cruising; Port Chalmers (Dunedin); Akaroa (for Christchurch); Picton; Wellington; Napier; Tauranga (Rotorua); Auckland; Waitangi (Bay of Islands) @C; @C; Sydney.
Check-in at the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Sydney can only be politely described a shambolic mess, coarser less printable comments were often heard, whilst queuing just to get inside the OPT in Sydney (which itself is in a state of chaos, due to continuing ‘refurbishment’ work there, being a long way behind schedule) So we queued outside for well over an hour in the heat, just to get inside the building, and then another 30 minutes or more to finally reach a check-in desk.
1hr 35mins from Taxi to a check-in desk! Oosterdam is a ‘Vista’ class ship, the same as P&O’s Arcadia, of whom we do not hold particularly fond memories, espcially during our second cruise on her, and whilst that is all now water long under the bridge, we were just a little concerned about that before we went.
However any such thoughts were quickly dispelled, once on board, as she had a completely ‘feel’ to her altogether.
She also has 2 ‘funnels’ too, so with that and her very different livery, she looks a completely different ship.
It’s only the midships ‘crimp’ and external lifts that really give her away.
Like Arcadia too, she was retro ‘fitted’ with the added on aft deck section.
We both tend to prefer aft deck pool areas, than the main pool decks too, so that larger aft deck area was another plus! The ship uses lighter veneers and finishes than on the other three ships I cruised on before, and for a big ship which she still is by my own standard, that helps gives her a more open feel.
For a ship buillt in 2003, she is maintained to a very high standard, both internally and externally.
We were told of an excellent offer through Bolsover CC, in booking a GTEE Verandah grade for around the published price of an O/view cabin, which was the type of cabin we were originally thinking about.
As it turned out we were actually allocated an excellent VB grade cabin in the end.
Maybe it was our memories playing us tricks, but we didn’think that our ‘Oosterdam’ cabin was slightly narrower than Arcadia’s balcony cabins, and the bathroom also seemed that little bit smaller too, but it was all still very acceptable given what we’d paid, and in fairness it must be said, that our Deck 4 Verandah, was a little ‘deeper’ than all those other decks above us.
The onboard Food and impeccable yet friendly service both top notch, as we’ve come to expect from HAL.
The LidoCafeeria is very well laid out with differing food areas well marked above the serving areas, and it would seem that the serving crew are allowed to politely tell, ‘interlopers’ at which end the queue begins! On that note, there were many nationalities on the ship from the USA & South American countires, British, many differing European Nations, Many Asian countries also represented and of as you would expect from down that way, a significant number of Australian and New Zealand passengers eople too, so a real international bunch, and yes the ship was completely ‘sold out’ too.
We were initially allocated a ‘requested’ table of 6, but it was right under a Waiters serving station (once again!) so we asked to move as soon as we saw it, in the first afternoon, rather than risk offending anyone by disappearing after the first night.
We were then allocated a table of 4 by a window, which was very nice.
The other 2 people didn’t ever show up, so after a couple of nights, the guys laid it up as a two, and we enjoyed a window seat on either side of the table.
We also went to the Pinnacle Grill twice, (once as Le Cirque), once as regular Pinnacle (US$25 pp surcharge for Pinnacle cannot find the receipt for Le Cirque) and Canaletto twice too.
(Italian cuisine, just US$10 pp surcharge) We took a 7 bottle Navigator Wine Pack, and I received a 25% discount on that, now that I am in the ‘3 Star Mariner’ category.
In theory, we made that package last the entire cruise, but of course we didn’t, as we’d ordered different wines in the other venues on those other nights.
Although I believe you can still order from the ‘Packages’ in the other venues too.
One of the big things I really like about HAL, is that almost all onboard spend (other than in the Casino and a few unspecified areas) all accrues to add 1 extra ‘Sea day’ on the Mariner Society totals, for every US$300 dollars spent.
Even the gratuities (Hotel Charges) all go toward the count, and if there is an imbalance or difference of ‘loyalty’ levels, between sharing passengers, then whichever passenger has the higher level membership, then that higher level of reward will apply to both the first 2 named passengers sharing the same cabin.
Likewise, the combined onboard ‘spend’ for the cabin at the end of the cruise, goes fully towards the additional sea day accrual for both passengers in the cabin.
So assuming an overall and combined ‘onboard’ cabin spend for 2 passengers of say just over US$ 1800 dollars, including tours, spa’s, shops & bars, then divide by US$ 300 dollars, you’ll get 6 additional ‘sea days’ per person, added to your totals.
That’s not 3 ‘sea days’ x 2 persons = 6 Sea days, (or conversely) 6 sea days divide by 2 persons = 3 sea days each! We also did quite a few tours too, all booked online in advance (with the exception of Akaroa, Wellington and Waitangi): The Seasider Train journey in Port Chalmers (Dunedin) to Palmerston, had good scenery along the way, but the town at the end of the line was almost a ghost town.
It used to be the big South Island rail hub in earlier times, but facilities there now were few and far between.
Not a Bank or an international ATM to be seen or found anywhere.
We asked in a garage and the nearest one was 16KM away! We then had a really day lovely day in Akaroa, catching up with old friends from Christchurch (which Akaroa currently serves as the ‘Christchurch’ Port, since the terrible earthquake).
Beautiful place, beautiful New Zealand at it’s very best.
Our friends drove us around to a fabulous ‘look-out’ point, on the other side of the bay, where we could see both Oosterdam and also Pacific Pearl (the former P&O Arcadia & Ocean Village) at anchor in the bay below us! Wine tours at Picton to both the Cloudy Bay and Wither Hills wineries, then calling into a beautifully inspired country garden on the way back, as well.
A freezing cold day followed in Wellington where we rapidly beat a hasty retreat back to the ship, after checking out the local fish & chips for lunch.
Then more winery visits and tastings at Napier, going to Brookfield Winery, only wines, (no Archers, I’m afraid!) Then on to the fabulous Mission House winery (which at one stage in its earlier history was carefully cut into sections by monks, and moved to higher safer ground (to avoid flooding) and carefully reassembled once again.
We really loved this place, and was an altogether better organised and tutored wine tasting too.
Then onto Tauranga, one of our 2 ‘big ones’: A tour out to the now permanent Hobbiton Movie Set.
The set is located within a naturally concealed valley in the middle of a still working sheep farm, fairly close to the town of MataMata.
It was a very well organised tour from beginning to end, with very personable young men and women taking the groups around the entire set.
There was a real sense of ‘being there’ and that it was a real place, rather than just a fantasy land.
I thought the folding hills and natural landscape that surrounds it, helped quietly enforce the authenticity of it all.
The set is kept and maintained in immaculate order by a team from Wellington Film Studios, and director Peter Taylor, apparenty still makes regular visits to ensure all is as it should be.
A really nice and clever touch was that the end of the tour finishes at The Green Dragon Inn, where everyone is offered a tankard of Ale, Cider, Ginger Beer or Lemonade, at the bar inside, along with a herb flavoured scone.
Tea and Coffee are also available outside.
The drinks are included within the tour price.
I thought that a very clever way of moving the groups along, Rather than have some people possibly wanting to stay and enjoy the hostelry a little longer, and clog up the ‘flow’ of others awaiting their own few minutes within the Inn.
A fabulous day out.
I’d do it all again, anytime! Our next stop was Auckland, and whereas ‘Hobbiton’ had been my partners ‘first choice’ this one was completely mine: The ‘Americas Cup’ Yachting experience, which was all over far too quickly, as all good things often are, of course? A really exciting 2 hours out on the water of Waitemata Harbour.
We were on NZL 41.
I quickly had my own wish granted and took a position on the forward Starboard side grinder team.
What glorious fun, and yes I was the youngest member of the yachts forward grinding team that day, even at 66! Even as someone more accustomed to having a couple of throbbing diesels underneath them, I’d always wanted to have a go at doing that.
They have another yacht of the same class too; NZL68.
The yachts used were originally built and raced by the Japanese in an earlier challenge, making it to a creditable semi-final stage, and then they were acquired and used as ‘team practice boats’ by the British team in the next challenge.
I’m not sure how true the comment was, but the skipper of the yacht, said that the on that particular challenge, the practice yachts proved faster than the newly designed British challenger.
As I say, that might all be a be a bit of Kiwi rivalry creeping in there!! Our ticket also included a visit to the very interesting Maritme Museum.
All in all a rather expensive few hours admittedly, but I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
Our final port beckoned.
We had been hoping to catch up again with another friend in Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands.
Sadly for us she had finally completed the sale for her B&B, and had already headed back to the UK a couple of weeks before we arrived.
What some people will do to avoid us! LOLOL! After a quick walk around the quaint little town, we headed off towards the local Library area, (as did half the ship it seems?) to avail ourselves of the free ‘Wi-fi’ there!! Following that we were attracted to a nice looking restaurant quite close to the water’s edge.
Not too surprisingly called ‘Alongside’.
I think we caught it just right, as it probably took us longer to actually get and pay our bill at the end, than order and consume our seafood platter (with additional oysters!) and beers at the outset.
Such was the later rush.
A wonderful place, basking in some lovely weather, all helped bring our quite port intensive week, or slightly longer, to a wonderful end.
3 nights and 2 full sea days saw us back in Sydney again.
Despite the slight worries we had beforehand about the class of ship, it turned out to be one of our best cruises ever.
Our thanks to the wonderful Dawn & Carla at Bolsover CC , and also our grateful thanks to Holland America Line and their charming and always friendly crews for looking after us so wonderfully well, once again! Peter Smith.
