Cruisin’ Together

Cruise ships deposit tens of thousands of tourists around New Zealand every year for day excursions, and they boost our economy greatly. Conversely many Kiwis choose to take to the high seas for their holidays, so they can truly get away from it all – including dry land!

Have you ever considered a cruising holiday? If you are looking to take several generations, a cruise can keep everybody happy – cruise ships are so much more than floating hotels, they are more like resort towns!

Renee recently took a ten day cruise with her in-laws, extended family and their respective children. “What an amazing experience!” she says, “there was literally something for everyone; the grandparents could linger over breakfast with coffee and pastries, the kids were so well catered for with pools, activities and the kid’s club, and us parents had plenty of time lounging by the pool and relaxing. We all got together at night for dinner, but there was plenty of space and opportunity for everyone to do their own thing.”

Large ships can come complete with casinos and the nightly cabaret shows are usually a hit.

“It’s hard to believe the food that comes out each day – I can’t imagine how they store and prepare it all,” she says. “We ate at the buffet a few times, which had just so many options, but it was nice to be able to dine a la carte as well.

“The only extra money we spent was on cocktails, but we decided that it was worth engaging in the whole experience,” she says. “We did visit the gym, but again, decided we were having a holiday…”

Their cruise (through the Pacific Islands and along the coast of Australia) did strike a bit of bad weather, but her fears of being aboard in a storm were quickly soothed. “The ship was so big, that it wasn’t that much of a problem at all.”

The inclement weather meant they missed a couple of day trips, but again, the activities on board kept them well entertained.

“It is really like a town,” she says. “I liked that there were medical services (not that we needed them) and that instead of still having to ‘be Mum’ and plan every meal, I really could just relax and enjoy being with my family.”