Fern & Fjord – Auckland, Wellington & Fiordland

About this cruise

A trip this long changes your rhythm entirely, and that's very much the point. 14 nights from Sydney on December 5, 2027, visiting Bay of Islands, Auckland and Tauranga, with additional stops along the Australia & New Zealand. It starts gently with sea days, so by the time you reach the first port you'll have explored the ship and actually feel on holiday. Big cities, reef snorkelling, and New Zealand's green mountains. Genuinely varied. You get around 10 hours in each port, which is enough for an excursion, lunch, and some wandering around on your own. When you're not ashore, Royal Princess takes the food seriously, with 11 restaurants to choose from. 6 are included, and the rest are worth the splurge. One of the underrated parts of a longer cruise: you actually get to know people. The couple from dinner, the group at trivia, the bartender who remembers your drink. If you like having options (restaurants, bars, activities, entertainment), a big ship delivers that. Pro tip: fly in the day before. Sydney has plenty to offer, and you'll board relaxed instead of rushed. While everyone else deals with the December cold, you'll be somewhere warmer. And floating. You'll probably start planning the next one before this one's even over.