As the Uber driver helped load my suitcase into the back of his car in. downtown Auckland on a cold Monday morning, he asked, "Have you been to Waiheke Island for the weekend?" "Ah, no, Fiji," I replied. "I've just come back from a wonderful cruise to Fiji."
Lucky me. It felt surreal - I had just stepped off P&O's Pacific Explorer at Shed 10 on the Auckland waterfront, gone through security, travelled in the Uber and I was home a few minutes later. It couldn't have been easier.
Pacific Explorer has Auckland as its home port now and is the only cruise ship based here during winter. This is fantastic news for Kiwis, who normally have to travel to Australia to cruise to Fiji and other Pacific Islands.
It's a brilliant way to enjoy a tropical holiday there are no international flights to pay for and enjoying a cruise holiday is as much about the journey as the destination. And as seasoned cruise fans know, there's also the beauty of only having to unpack once.
The eight-night Fiji Encounter cruise on Pacific Explorer was full. With a capacity of 1998 passengers, there were young families enjoying the school holidays, whānau celebrating 21st birthdays and other milestones, groups of friends and couples of all ages. It was heartwarming to see just how excited everyone was as we waited to board. One woman I spoke to, Amanda from Rotorua, was on her first trip overseas.
This story is from the September 2023 edition of Australian Women’s Weekly NZ.
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This story is from the September 2023 edition of Australian Women’s Weekly NZ.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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