just a couple of quick notes that future US travellers on this cruise
may
find useful.
The US dollar is not as widely accepted as one might think. I got the
first surprise when the cab driver (from the airport to the cruise
pier) not
only does not accept USD equivalent for the cab fare, he has no idea
what the exchange rate was.
But enroute to the pier, he stopped at a bank for me to exchange my US
dollars to NZ$, and the rate was NZ$1.41 for each USD, with no
commission charged. So, I got $70.5 for $50 USD, just enough to
cover the cab fare, including tip.
Boarding the ship, for the 3,200 passengers was the same disorganized
mess as on other Princesses. There was no official shortcut for the
Platinum or Elite passengers. Everyone is in the same line, first come
first serve.
Money exchange on the ship is $1.31 NZ to each USD, less $2.50
commission. Thus, for $50 USD, you would get only $63 NZ$ instead
of the NZ$70.5 from the bank.
There wasn't anything unexpected or unusual on this Diamond Princess
compared to the 7 other Princesses on which I cruised in 2005.
The only exception is the peculiar New Zealand (Australian) law that
forbids a cruise ship to operate its casino until it's 12 miles from
shore.
As a result, the casino is closed much of the time it would have been
open cruising elsewhere, not only because of the law, but because of
the narrow passengers the ship travels through before having the
opportunity to be 12 miles from shore.
The ship at sea toward the fjord region. I head something to the
effect
that the casino will be closed for two days.
The itinerary so far has been: Auckland; Tauranga; at sea;
Christchurch; at sea ...
-- Bob.
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