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MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 #252538 02/02/20 11:02 PM
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seadog Offline OP
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Let's get the roll call going for MAORI: Magnificent Adventures On Regent Itinerary (teapot winner: Sheila and Ken!)
Regent Explorer

Ken & Ngaire
Kim & Alice: 717
Ken & Sheila: 745
Helen and Jerry: 810
Jim and Mary: 747
Jenn & Clay: 910

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #252539 02/02/20 11:20 PM
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S&K Offline
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Great idea Kim. Please put us down ... Ken & Sheila # 745


Sheila and Ken
Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #252540 02/02/20 11:43 PM
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Ms Understood Offline
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We are in! Helen and Jerry #810
————-
Helen

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: Ms Understood] #252541 02/03/20 12:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Ms Understood
We are in! Helen and Jerry #810
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Helen

Hooray!! cheer

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: S&K] #252542 02/03/20 12:10 AM
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Originally Posted by S&K
Great idea Kim. Please put us down ... Ken & Sheila # 745

Sweet!!

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #252604 02/18/20 09:21 PM
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Got our outbound flights to Queenstown booked (RNO-SFO-AKL-ZQN) to arrive on 1/18 for the pre-cruise trip to Queenstown. We will need to book the one-way from Queenstown back to Auckland to board the ship on the 21st. But the hard part is done. I used up tons of Chase credit card points and UA FF miles, so I'll need to strategize for booking the return from SYD using what AMEX points and Delta miles we have when those flights open up for booking. And I'll be keeping an eye out for if the United "saver" award tickets open up vs "any day" and then I can just redeposit the miles and rebook. Hey! It could happen! wink

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #252626 02/22/20 06:17 PM
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Hi:
Jim and Mary, just off a wonderful Splendor Maiden cruise.
We'll join you next January in Auckland and go on to Hong Kong. Be in 747.

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: JimR] #252627 02/23/20 01:45 AM
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Originally Posted by JimR
Hi:
Jim and Mary, just off a wonderful Splendor Maiden cruise.
We'll join you next January in Auckland and go on to Hong Kong. Be in 747.

Oh how lucky for you to have been on that Splendor cruise! Alice and I watched the streaming of the christening on YouTube while in the car driving to SLC!
We are so glad to have you join us on MAORI.

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #252639 02/24/20 12:59 AM
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Jenn & Clay are IN
Cabin Nine Ten

Looks like we will be able to communicate with Helen & Jerry without a phone!

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #252640 02/24/20 04:57 AM
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So happy you are in, Jenn and Clay! Please leave your tap shoes home
🤪
—————
Helen

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253319 05/22/20 05:02 PM
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We had planned on being in Palm Springs next week. And I had on my calendar to book shore excursions on Tuesday, the 26th. It seems like we often are away from home when shore excursion bookings open up. Kind of funny. We cancelled Palm Springs, of course. We were just trying to burn time share points.

Anyway, are we just going to pick out and book excursions like everything is normal?

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253320 05/22/20 05:37 PM
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Yes pick excursion as "my glass is half full" I am expecting "normal".

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253343 05/26/20 03:36 PM
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We have decided to also “expect normal”. Excursions all booked!
———————-
Helen

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253345 05/26/20 05:49 PM
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Since the new “Return With Regent” $1000 SBC hasn't been applied, should we wait on booking any excursions that cost money? Or should we book them and hope that once we get the SBC we can cancel them, get refunded, and then rebook with the SBC?

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253346 05/26/20 08:40 PM
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Kim, I was desperate to plan something! We had a few $$ in OBC so went ahead and booked our excursions and wound up owing $500. I figure I would deal with asking for a refund of that when the other shows up but really don’t see any reason why we can’t just rebook ?
————————
Helen

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253348 05/27/20 12:31 AM
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Let me see how long it may take to get that $1000 applied. We do have well over 500 bookings to get processed and Regent is still working from home of course. But no where near as complicated a process as Refundable taxes and costs, FCC and Refunds all being done manually. I know we have done our part already and it has gone to Regent. Be much easier to just use the SBC once applied. I will check tomorrow expected time frame and let you know.

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253350 05/27/20 01:47 AM
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Thank you, Ngaire. So, I just booked only the free excursions for now and will wait on the ones we have to pay for until you can find out about the $1000. I had already used some of the $300 SBC for cooking classes on sea days, which where bookable prior to today. Are those classes worth it, anybody know?

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253351 05/27/20 02:16 AM
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Kim we were booked to take a few cooking classes on SUITE which of course didn’t happen but I have taken these on Oceania and found the classes there to be thoroughly enjoyable. I found it a fun Thing to do on a sea day. What have you signed up for?
—————
Helen

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253352 05/27/20 02:36 AM
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Ok, great! That makes me happy!
I have signed up for:

FARMSTAND FABULOUS 01/28/2021 10:00 AM
SERIOUSLY SEAFOOD 1/30/2021 10:00 AM
DOWN UNDER FARMER AND FISHERMAN 2/3/2021 10:00 AM

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253354 05/27/20 10:42 AM
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We have had paid excursions changed to SBC several times while on board and it's never been a problem.

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253355 05/27/20 06:12 PM
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Thank you, Jim. Sounds good.

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253409 06/13/20 06:47 PM
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I booked our flights for this trip with every expectation that NZ and Australia will be back to welcoming American tourists by then. 1/16 American Airlines 83 LAX to AKL connecting to AA 9024 to ZQN arriving Queenstown 3:20 pm on 1/18. I also booked us on the 9:25 flight from ZQN on 1/21.
( I know I was supposed to coordinate with Kim on the connecting flight but couldn’t pass up this flight. We will be about an hour behind and will make our own way to the hotel)
——————————-
Helen

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253410 06/13/20 08:53 PM
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We have our international flights coming in a few days early to visit family in Auckland. We do the Silversea cruise first. I am also hoping by then that NZ will be allowing Americans in the country.

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253411 06/13/20 10:43 PM
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As you might suspect June and I follow what is happening in NZ closely. There is a lot of pressure on the government to find a solution to opening the border. There was recent changes that allowed about 200 people that are related to the filming of the next Avatar movie which is being done in NZ.

My guess is that there will be visitors allowed beginning sometime in the fall. There will be a requirement for a negative test before getting on the plane to AKL and perhaps another test once in NZ and maybe a one day quarantine to wait for test results.

June and I currently have plane tickets to NZ on 11/20/20 from HNL. Currently Air NZ is not flying that route.

I think the other issue is will SilverSea bring the ship to that area of the world so the cruise can occur. That would also be true for Regent. The world seems more than full of uncertainty these days. Driving me close to crazy.

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253412 06/13/20 11:11 PM
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Ralph, as far as I can tell the government got in hot water for letting film crew in but not letting students and others in. I sure hope the world figures this out soon, I am really missing traveling.

Marc



Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253413 06/13/20 11:41 PM
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Helen -
I forgot about booking the flight back to Auckland. I'll work on that soon. We can wait for you and Jerry in Queenstown. It could be better this way so Ken has more time to come get us all. We have friends here in Reno that booked the cruise. I suspect they will cancel, but I'm not sure not sure.

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253414 06/13/20 11:47 PM
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We in Australia are following one step behind NZ. Both countries working together to find solutions.

How quickly and when they open up our international borders is anyone’s guess at this time. We still can’t leave Qld. And I believe that our international travel ban has just been extended to sometime in September.


Sheila and Ken
Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: S&K] #253415 06/14/20 03:19 AM
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Marc
Not sure I would describe the government as getting into hot water for the film crew. There has been some reporting of it on the NZ news but would not say it is overly critical. There has been a push by Winston Peters for one to open up the border for the students.
At any rate all are quarantined for 14 days no matter who. The government has paid for some but not all. The Avatar people paid for their own hotel in Wellington.

It is important to the NZ economy to figure out how to open the border to more people. That is pretty much a given.

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253493 07/11/20 06:25 PM
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So my flights for this trip have just disappeared. My AA confirmation number only shows the flight from Auckland to Queenstown. To make sure this was not a glitch I attempted to rebook my flights and the only flight that appears is on Japan Airlines via Narita. I paid $11000 for 2 tickets and they now want $13,000 for one! I could just cry I’m so frustrated. Any ideas re what I should do now? Cancel and take the credit and hope to get a reasonable flight closer to January or just wait for either the airline or Amex to let me know about this and see what if anything they offer? This just isn’t fun anymore.
———————-
Helen

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253494 07/11/20 06:32 PM
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I'm so sorry Helen. I'd take a full $ REFUND from AA and wait and see as it get's closer to January.


Marcie

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253495 07/11/20 09:10 PM
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Helen, callAA and ask them what the heck happened to your flights. That is a lot of money to be out there floating around.

But I am very much in doubt that this cruise will sail. The way things are looking now, I am getting very pessimistic. I just don’t see New Zealand particularly letting people in.

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253496 07/12/20 03:41 AM
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I'm not expecting this cruise to sail, either. When I heard from Helen said her flights were missing, I checked on mine. I still have United flight to Queenstown and Delta flight back home from Sydney showing up in my United and Delta apps. I wouldn't be surprised that the flights will eventually disappear. I got all of them with miles. So, it will be interesting to see how I get reimbursed.

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253497 07/12/20 01:46 PM
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Adding to say I assume I will get the miles credited back to my United and Delta FF accounts. But, will they ever be worth anything again?

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253498 07/12/20 04:17 PM
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Unfortunately with the spike in cases in the US I think the odds of this cruise taking place are not looking good. Cruises may well be sailing by then but I believe NZ will be one of the last countries to open their borders. Unless there is a proven vaccine by then Americans and Cruise ships may be banned from NZ. I have two trips in jeopardy, the Silversea Explorer - Dunedin to Dunedin and the Regent Explorer Auckland to Sydney. Of course if he flights are cancelled refunds are usually offered. We have had not problems getting miles put back in our account and I think all cases the fee to reinstate the miles has been waived.

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253499 07/12/20 06:18 PM
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Spike in Israel; spike in South Africa; spike in India; spike in Brazil, Peru, Chile, and Mexico; spike in Australia; who knows what tomorrow will bring.



Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: Marc] #253500 07/12/20 09:27 PM
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Marc, unless tomorrow brings a vaccine, I don’t want to hear about it.
Just kidding of course but after spending my entire Sunday morning on the phone with both American and Delta, I’m just kind of “done”.
———————
Helen

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253501 07/13/20 11:45 AM
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The good news is in many countries it is going way down, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, UK, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark to name a few. The vaccine is coming, just exactly when is unsure.

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253502 07/13/20 12:20 PM
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And Americans are welcome in Croatia!

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/ne...sts-ignores-eu-entry-ban-on-us-citizens/

Dubrovnik here we come! cheer



Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253503 07/15/20 01:31 AM
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Leslie

Re: MAORI Roll Call: Auckland to Sydney Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2021 [Re: seadog] #253504 07/15/20 05:26 AM
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Unfortunately this seems to be true. I looked on QF site to check a few international flights from Sydney in January and the only ones that are showing are to Auckland.

Whilst there seems not to have been an official statement from QF that I can find, it is reported they have removed all their international flights except to NZ until 31 st March. And from further searches it would seem to back this up.


Sheila and Ken
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