Ovation of the Seas Review
Rating by category
Additional details
There were 6 of us traveling, ranging in ages from 42 to 62. We were celebrating my friend's 50th birthday and we booked the cruise some 12 months earlier as she had never visited New Zealand. DH and I have cruised with RCCL previously on several occasions. Other friends are seasoned cruisers who have never cruised with Royal.
We arrived in Sydney the day before the cruise and stayed at the Sir Stamford which was in an excellent occasion as we could walk to the pier.
All six of us had the ultimate drink package and found it to be great value. Due to the weather we were consuming large amounts of water, as well as cocktails, beer, wine etc.
Cabin Review
Junior Suite
Awesome cabin. It was fantastic to have the second toilet instead of a walk in robe. There was heaps of storage and the bed was really comfortable. Loved it!
Port Reviews
Dunedin
We got the bus into town and walked around. We were going to take the train trip to the Gorge but decided against it when we found out it was 4.5 hour trip.
We returned to port then walked around to the historic Carey Bay Hotel where we had lunch. Beautiful old pub! We got a table fairly easily, the seafood selection was plentiful and delicious.
Sydney (Australia)
We arrived in Sydney the night before the cruise and stayed at the Sir Stamford Circular Quay. Great hotel in an easy location, we could walk to the cruise terminal easily.
Picton
There were live bands playing in the streets. Small picturesque town, they put on a market for the cruise passengers. Not a lot to do here unless you book an excursion but it was nice to stroll around and look in the few shops.
If you plan on having lunch, go early to avoid missing out on a table. There are only a handful of places worth eating at (or so we were told by our bus driver).
Napier
It's very easy to walk around town. There are signs detailing the history of the town on important corners and buildings. Lots of history here! Great town, definitely worth a visit.
We explored the town then caught a cab to Mission Estate Winery about a 10 minute cab ride away. The winery dates back to the 1850's and was started by Catholic missionaries. It's a fantastic, beautiful place.
We had pre-booked a table for lunch and it was amazing. The winery is worth a visit even if you don't eat there.