Oh you won't have any trouble what so ever getting to your hotel from the wharf if you stay at the Hilton. If you're lucky you could actually jump from upper deck of the ship onto your hotel room balcony! The Hilton is built on top of Princes Wharf where the cruise ships berth.

The ships dock right in down town Auckland next door to the Viaduct Basin (unless it is the Queen Mary 2, this was too long and had to pull up at the container wharf.

If you don't stay at the Hilton there are a few more hotels just across the road- some of the names elude me so hopefully someone else will visit and let you know some more. But have a look at The Sebel Suites, Quay West & Copthorne Harbourcity.

There are quite a number of hotels about 5-10 min taxi ride away but they would be a good 20 minutes walk........uphill!

HI I was wondering how you liked the cruise, how long it lasted, where you stopped etc. We are headed to NZ in December and are thinking about a cruise to Australia, but haven't been able to find much info.

Thanks for any help!

HI I was wondering how you liked the cruise, how long it lasted, where you stopped etc. We are headed to NZ in December and are thinking about a cruise to Australia, but haven't been able to find much info.

Thanks for any help!

I have been researching the same thing (cruise ships NZ to Australia). There is the Sapphire Princess, Sun Princess and Celebrity Mercury. ATM they seem to be announcing more details everyday.

Try the following website and enter your dates ect

http://www.cruiseaway.com.au

there is also the P&O website

http://www.pocruises.co.nz/html/

For good information and friendly answers to all cruise questions, check out www.cruisecritic.com I'll also be on the Mercury in February and our route is after leaving from Auckland is: Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound, Melbourne, Newcastle and Sydney (14 days underway and the last night we stay on the ship at Sydney harbor) Next year Celebrity's ship in Australia and New Zealand will be Millennium instead of Mercury.

For good information and friendly answers to all cruise questions, check out www.cruisecritic.com I'll also be on the Mercury in February and our route after leaving from Auckland is: Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound, Melbourne, Newcastle and Sydney (14 days underway and the last night we stay on the ship at Sydney harbor) Next year Celebrity's ship in Australia and New Zealand will be Millennium instead of Mercury.

Hi, sorry, I have been away overseas so havent been checking mail etc too much and have only just seen your questions and answers, thanks everyone,

"travefamily" I havent been on my cruise yet, we sail on Nov 23rd from Hawaii and sail for 16 days through the Polynesian Islands finishing at Auckland NZ, cant wait!!! I found this cruise on www.vacationstogo.com and it is called a re-positioning cruise, basically Celebrity Mercury is coming over to our part of the world to start it's cruising season here, and these kind of cruises are usually cheaper, it will be doing the return trip back to your side of the world at some time in the near future but I am not sure when, we booked with vacationstogo for an Alaskan cruise last year and they are a good reliable tour company, hope you find what you are looking for.