March 2021 became impossible, so the Joyful Travelers pivoted to March 2022 for their New Zealand/Australia adventure to fjords, rainforests and striking scenery Downunder. The 11-day Auckland to Sydney cruise aboard beautiful Celebrity Eclipse will be all New Zealand until a stop in Eden, Australia before terminating in Sydney, where we will be organizing an optional extension exploring the city and nearby Blue Mountains.
March is the Southern Hemisphere’s September, an exceptional time to explore the area.
Current Expedia group pricing for a lead-in balcony stateroom is $2,679 per person including taxes and port charges. We also can price suites, premium balconies, inside and ocean-view staterooms.
All staterooms come with the classic beverage package, prepaid gratuities, and wifi. Suites have additional benefits including unlimited access to the suites-only restaurant and other specialty restaurants; the premium beverage package; and the suites-only area on the ship.
The Solstice is a beautiful ship with great food, excellent specialty restaurants, a super-fun ice-topped Martini Bar, full-service spa, well-equipped oceanview gym, unique real lawn on top (croquet or bocce anyone?), lots of entertainment, and plenty of nooks and crannies to hang out.
The Martini Bar (above), Cellar Masters, and the Lawn Club are among Celebrity Eclipse’s inviting gathering places.
Flights and shore excursions, which are not included in the price, will be worked out closer to embarkation. For now, we are locking in pricing with $450 per person deposits, refundable until December 2021. At each port of call, we will organize group excursions. You will be able to join those, purchase separate excursions, or explore on your own.
The sea is ever-present, whether from your private balcony, the Lawn Club, or the gym, where treadmills and ellipticals have ocean views.
ITINERARY
Tuesday, March 15: Auckland, New Zealand
New Zealand’s largest city offers breathtaking views and more than 1,000 bays and beaches. There are two fine harbors separated by a high steep ridge – the city actually spreads over a number of extinct volcanic cones, affording fantastic views from their slopes. Shop the colorful Victorian Park Market, or the charming boutiques of Parnell Village. Explore museums brimming with Maori artifacts, or enjoy the natural beauty of the city, from English-style rose gardens to extinct volcanic sites.
Wednesday, March 16: Tauranga, New Zealand
Explore this chic North Island coastal town and discover the land of the Māori. Tauranga’s white sand beaches offer something for everyone. Relax and sunbathe on one of New Zealand’s most beautiful and popular coasts. Take a dip in the ocean or immerse yourself in a lush waterfall swimming hole. Watch dolphins frolic in the waves or swim with these lovable creatures. Learn to sail, try surfing, take a diving lesson, refine your fishing technique, tee up at a golf course, or stroll The Strand where you can enjoy cafés and a vibrant nightlife. Journey to charming waterfalls or board one of the many eco-cruises available in the Bay of Plenty. Sometimes called the New Zealand Riviera, downtown Tauranga offers galleries, shops, history, and a vibrant café and restaurant scene. The culinary culture brings together innovative chefs working in diverse traditions.
Thursday, March 17: At Sea
Sea days on the Eclipse can be as relaxed or active as you desire. Whatever you choose to do, ocean views and breezes will always be present. Gaze at the sea while working out in the gym or chill by one of the swimming pools. Play a game of bocce at the Lawn Club or a game of chance in the casino. Book a treatment in the spa or just kick back on your private balcony with a good book.
Friday, March 18: Napier, New Zealand
Street after street of stunning and beautifully-restored Art Deco buildings have made Napier famous as one of the most complete collections of Art Deco buildings in the world. In 1931 a massive earthquake rocked Hawke’s Bay for more than three minutes, killing nearly 260 and destroying the commercial centre of Napier. Rebuilding began almost immediately, and new buildings reflected the architectural styles of the times – Stripped Classical, Spanish Mission and Art Deco. Napier is often referred to as a 1930s film set.
Saturday, March 19: Picton, New Zealand
A charming seaside town at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound, Picton was settled by early 19th century whalers. Today, it is a bustling seaport surrounded by award-winning restaurants, delightful local art galleries, water sports’ activities plus beautiful, challenging nature trails. Take an adventurous hike along the famous Queen Charlotte track and experience the photogenic flora and unique fauna of New Zealand. Since the climate of Picton is always temperate, at any season, you can take in stunning coastal views, mystical waterfalls and diverse wildlife.
Sunday, March 20: Christchurch, New Zealand
With its miles of parks and tranquil gardens, striking Gothic architecture, and meandering River Avon, Christchurch is resplendent with English style and charm. Bustling Cathedral Square is the heart of the city, dominated by the spired Christchurch Cathedral. Throughout the ‘Garden City’, carefully tended streets and parks are ablaze with the color of classic English landscaping and botanical gardens.
Monday, March 21: Dundein, New Zealand
Panoramic views of twisting Otago Harbour await you in Dunedin, a Victorian enclave in the South Pacific. Steeped in history, the city has maintained the Scottish character of its founders, and has a rugged shoreline to match. The tranquility of the past is everywhere, from the oft mist-draped tower of Larnach Castle to the ancient English oaks of Glenfalloch Gardens.
Tuesday, March 22: Cruising New Zealand’s Dusky Sound, Doubtful Fjord, Milford Sound
Keep your eyes peeled as the Eclipse carries you to some of the more remote and striking landscapes on Earth.
Wednesday, March Sun, Mar 23: Cruising the Tasman Sea
Thursday, March 24 : Cruising the Tasman Sea
Friday, March 25, Eden, Australia
For thousands of years, whales have breached the waters of Eden’s Twofold Bay. An extraordinary relationship evolved between the Yuin Thaua people and their cetacean neighbors: dolphins and killer whales helped the locals to corral their catch and bring it ashore, in return for a share of the spoils. Aboriginal Australians shared these skills with European settlers, who began whaling here in 1791. Eden is still famous for whales. Cries of ‘Rusho!’ – the whalers’ call to action after a sighting – have fortunately fallen silent, but whales, which migrate between the area and Antarctica, remain an important part of Eden’s identity, as are the gorgeous natural surroundings from which the town got its name.
Saturday, March 26: Sydney, Australia
After disembarking Eclipse and checking into a hotel in the central Rocks district, we begin a four-day exploration of Sydney and its environs. The Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach will be among the Sydney icons to visit. In the nearby Blue Mountains, we will encounter Australia’s unique marsupial kangaroos and koalas.