Departing 13 December 2019, this itinerary from one of Australia’s leading travel experts, is the perfect opportunity to experience the very best of both sides of the Tasman with a 14-night cruise onboard the stylish Ruby Princess, taking in some of Australia and New Zealand’s most stunning destinations, followed by a night uncovering the many charms and delights of cosmopolitan Auckland.
Your journey begins in Sydney on 13 December 2019 when you board Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess. Fresh from a multi-million dollar renovation, the cruise ship features an extensive selection of well-appointed staterooms and cabins catering for every type of passenger from those in search of a romantic getaway to families. Add in an extensive array of entertainment activities including Movies Under the Stars® and Discovery at SEA®, plus the adults only Retreat and the sublime Lotus Spa, not to mention sumptuous dining options from Crown Grill to exciting new top deck dining venues like Slice Pizzeria and Coffee & Cones, and it all adds up to the perfect floating location from which to ring in the festive season!
Your first stop is Melbourne, Australia’s most liveable city, and a chance to visit its many galleries, laneways and alleys or treat yourself to some world-class retail therapy, before Ruby Princessheads south across Bass Strait to Tasmania. Here, spend some time exploring the genteel city of Hobart where you can take a stroll through Salamanca Place, or check out Australia’s largest private art collection at MONA on the banks of the Derwent River.
From Hobart, prepare to say, ‘Kia ora, New Zealand,’ as Ruby Princess sets course for the Land of the Long White Cloud. Amongst many highlights on this side of the Tasman is a visit to the majestic Fiordland National Park on the South Island’s western coast, with its dramatic combination of rugged mountain ranges, solitary alpine lakes, sparkling rivers and splashing waterfalls, where you will cruise through the jaw-dropping dramatic Milford Sound.
At Dunedin, on New Zealand’s southernmost Otago Peninsula, explore the lavish and historic estates of Larnach Castle and Olveston House, or hike to the top of Mount Cargill, home to the amazing Organ Pipes basalt rock formation. A stopover at Akaroa on the east coast of the South Island, is a chance to discover the charms of New Zealand’s only French-founded community, renowned for its secluded beaches and quaint boutiques, while Picton, at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound, is your gateway to the South Island’s famed Marlborough District, home to some of New Zealand’s leading wineries, not to mention excellent restaurants and a number of the country’s finest gardens.
On the North Island, spend Christmas Eve in the nation’s capital, Wellington – the centre of New Zealand’s burgeoning film industry, and the perfect place to discover the country’s cultural heart. Next up, enjoy an unforgettable Christmas Day at sea, where you can expect to see all the festive trimmings including wreaths, holly, mistletoe and, of course, Christmas trees, as well as Yuletide carollers strolling the decks singing favourite holiday tunes.
Enjoy a special Christmas dinner featuring traditional favourites like roast turkey and goose, along with a range of seasonal sweet treats including gingerbread mousse, mincemeat pie, chocolate Yule logs and special Christmas cookies. And to keep younger passengers entertained, Santa Claus will also make a surprise appearance, bringing joy – and gifts, to each child on board.
On Boxing Day, sail further north to Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty where you can sink your teeth into delicious fruit at Te Puke, the kiwifruit capital of the world, and explore Rotorua’s geothermal wonderland, before disembarking in Auckland on 27 December. Here, spend the final night of your journey at the Hilton Auckland, the perfect base from which to explore New Zealand’s largest city. Visit its many attractions including the iconic Auckland Sky Tower commanding 360 degree panoramic views over Waitemata Harbour and Rangitoto Island, the Auckland Museum with its extensive collection of Maori artefacts or the upscale shops and cafes along Parnell Road, before flying home to Australia on 28 December.
ecruising’s 15-night EXCLUSIVE: New Zealand Ruby journey departs from Sydney on 13 December 2019 and is priced from just $2,339 per person twin share for a limited time including one-way economy airfares from Auckland to Sydney, all accommodation, and transfers as per the itinerary.
*Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.
.jpg){kind=tracking}
