[Madoxen]

was wondering if anyone here had seen any company that offers a cruise between the UK and NZ. i know it is a bit of a strange one but was looking to some alternatives to flying ?? as the wife is not a keen flyer

thanks

[GrumpyGoat]

Don't know about UK to NZ but there is one from Hawaii.


In fact, I was on the site trying to book a room on a cruise from HI when but when I hit "confirm" it seems I was .01 seconds too late as it came back and told me that the room was booked by someone else!!!!!!!!!:mad:
Of course, that was the last one at that price. And the next one was 4x more.

So we flew.

If you can't find a cruise ship, I think you can sail on cargo ships. It isn't cheap but I hear it is fun.

[nickiware]

check out the world cruises with P&O, they usually have 2 a year, or just google world cruise. You can book sections on any world cruise, good luck!

[Fern01]

This might be of some interest
http://www.cruisepeople.co.uk/freighters.htm

[TonnyTessa]

I know there is a thread somewhere of someone who did take the cruise ship route. They managed to get a last minute deal if I remember correctly, which although significantly cheaper than full fare, was still far more expensive than flying.

Oh found the thread, it was on cats, but look at the end
http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21793&page=3

[Madoxen]

Thanks for the replys.

Have done some searching and have found a one way cruise from southhampton to Auckland taking 44 days and all inclusive with unlimited lugage leaving on the 5 jan2011 will set us back 13400.00 for 2 adults and 2 kids. did not think that was so expencive as includes all food drinks and about 15 excursions to destinations along the way. but is still a big wack of money.

[Mamee & Co]

Hi Madoxen

I looked at taking a freighter with the family as I would have loved the adventure of travelling by sea, but in comparison to the flight it was just so expensive, even if you factored in accomodation, food etc upon getting here...particularly furnished.

It is possible to do in a cargo vessel but it is still pricey...but wow...what a journey!

Mamee

[Madoxen]

i agree Mamee & Co it would be a real adventure

here is the itinery if any interested


1 Southampton Depart 5:00PM
2 At Sea
3 At Sea
4 At Sea
5 At Sea
6 At Sea
7 At Sea
8 At Sea
9 New York Arrive 6:30AM Depart 5:00PM
10 At Sea
11 At Sea
12 Fort Lauderdale Arrive 7:00AM Depart 5:00PM
13 At Sea
14 At Sea
15 Aruba Arrive 8:00AM Depart 5:00PM
16 At Sea
17 Limon Arrive 8:00AM Depart 7:00PM
18 Panama Canal Arrive 6:00AM Depart 4:00PM
19 At Sea
20 At Sea
21 Acapulco Arrive 9:00AM Depart 6:00PM
22 At Sea
23 Cabo San Lucas Arrive 8:00AM Depart 2:00PM
24 At Sea
25 Los Angeles Arrive 7:00AM Depart 6:00PM
26 At Sea
27 At Sea
28 At Sea
29 At Sea
30 La Haina Arrive 8:00AM Depart 6:00PM
31 Honolulu Arrive 8:00AM Depart 6:00PM
32 At Sea
33 At Sea
34 At Sea
35 X Intl Dateline Arrive 8:00AM Depart 6:00PM
36 Apia Arrive 8:00AM Depart 6:00PM
37 Pago Pago Arrive 8:00AM Depart 5:00PM
38 At Sea
39 At Sea
40 Port Denarau Arrive 8:00AM Depart 6:00PM
41 At Sea
42 At Sea
43 Bay Of Isles Arrive 8:00AM Depart 6:00PM
44 Auckland Arrive 7:00AM Depart 8:00PM
45 At Sea
46 Wellington Arrive 8:00AM Depart 6:00PM
47 At Sea

[sophiedb]

Sounds lovely, and I agree that the price isn't too bad if you consider the cost of a business class flight (in the sense that there's plenty of leg room on a cruise ship!).

I'd be terrified of our little one climbing the rails and falling overboard though :(

[kejktfc]

Hi Madoxen

I would have loved the adventure of travelling by sea,

Mamee

It is a fantastic experience, and even better when you actually drive the ship as I has the opportunity to do for many years. However, having spent the 20 years in the Royal Navy I think I will fly when I come over in the New Year. :laugh

The last time I did come to NZ though I drove the ship in and out of Auckland as we arrived and departed.


kejktfc

[JandM]

The last time I did come to NZ though I drove the ship in and out of Auckland as we arrived and departed.That's quite a thing to have done. When you're a professional, do you still notice the place as beautiful, or is it just one among many?

[Flutterby]

i remember meeting a couple of kiwis who were doing a world cruise for some reason they were visiting the sleepy little town where i worked at the time when they were only off the ship for 1 day, never quite understood why.
So its definitely possible but i'd imagine expensive.
We considered working our way round on a ship, but not very practical with child in tow.

[rogercruse]

Thanks for the replys.

Have done some searching and have found a one way cruise from southhampton to Auckland taking 44 days and all inclusive with unlimited lugage leaving on the 5 jan2011 will set us back 13400.00 for 2 adults and 2 kids. did not think that was so expencive as includes all food drinks and about 15 excursions to destinations along the way. but is still a big wack of money.

Hi Madoxen,
My wife still has the dream of traveling to NZ by cargo ship. The price you've quoted is a little too rich for me. Is this price the price for a regular cruise?

How far did you get with investigating the cargo ship option?

[Madoxen]

Hi Madoxen,
My wife still has the dream of traveling to NZ by cargo ship. The price you've quoted is a little too rich for me. Is this price the price for a regular cruise?

How far did you get with investigating the cargo ship option?

Hi Rogercruse that was the price for an inside family cabin for the 4 of us to share it was inclusive of food drink shore trips 44 nights of accomodation and all activities i belive.

I did look into cargo ships and cargo company CGA and CMA do allow paying guests onto their ships to newzealnd it is a similar amount of time maybe a little quicker but you will have to stop at alot of commercial ports to load/unload and it works out at about £90 or $135 inc taxes per person per day (about £3600 )will look for the link for you .

http://www.cruisepeople.co.uk/cma.htm

looks interesting however i have not found out if they alow children onboard.

[Madoxen]

m/v CMA CGM MATISSE and m/v CMA CGM UTRILLO (French flag, 1 Owners and 2 Double cabins, swimming pool, maximum 6 passengers) and

m/v CMA CGM LATOUR and m/v CMA CGM MANET (Bahamian flag, 1 Owners and 2 Double cabins- no pool, maximum 6 passengers).

Route: Tilbury - Rotterdam - Dunkirk - Le Havre - New York - Norfolk -Savannah - Manzanillo (Panama) - Panama Canal - Papeete (Tahiti) - Noumea (New Caledonia) - Brisbane - Sydney - Melbourne - Auckland -Manzanillo - Savannah - Philadelphia - Tilbury.

Note: Visas required for calls in the United States and Australia.

[kejktfc]

That's quite a thing to have done. When you're a professional, do you still notice the place as beautiful, or is it just one among many?


No, you do notice it, and it was fantastic. I actually took over the morning we were coming in at 0330, and had the pleasure of the passage down towards Auckland, and a fantastic sunset. A quick hour off at 8am, a bit of breakfast and changed into best suit and I then took over again for the drive in.

On leaving Auckland I once again drove out and we were then on passage to Sydney. That was a great experience as well. I had the ship coming in to the harbour where we parked at the Naval base close to the Botanical gardens, obviously close to the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

It was my last day in the Royal Navy, I handed the ship to the Captain 100yards off the jetty then stood back, my service had in effect finished after 20 years. It made it more special though because my wife and two children were on the jetty to meet me (this was in May and I had left home in the January to go to the 2nd Gulf War).


kejktfc

[kejktfc]

In addition, the scariest port I drove in to was Mumbia in India, it was complete pandamonium............. kept you on our toes though :laugh:laugh


kejktfc

[rogercruse]

looks interesting however i have not found out if they alow children onboard.

Thanks for the update. We don't have any kids and knowing that there aren't any onboard is a plus.:nice1

The price is still too rich and we'll stick to business class flights.

[andrewandjane]

can drive. google. UK to OZ. my folks are visiting and are driving here as part of an organized tour. only snagg is the australia to nz but sure you can find a ship?

[Madoxen]

There is a cargo ship that goes west coast Aus to NZ and back continuously if that helps them any