It was my first cruise experience in December 2010 and being on board Dawn Princess certainly made it very, very special.
Shiyanti and her husband, Ray, aboard Dawn Princess.
Apart from the fact that it was a special birthday celebration for my husband’s 60th birthday, we were also looking for a totally relaxed break from our 3-year-old daughter. We chose a cruise on the recommendation that “Princess Pelicans” will take care of it all - and did they ever – Mia had a ball and the staff were outstanding.
The most enjoyable part of the cruise was sailing through Milford Sound. No words can truly describe the aura of its amazing natural landscape. The stillness around you is almost haunting, the scenery is breathtaking, and its tranquility is overwhelming.
Milford Sound is the best known of all the fiords in the incredible Fiordland park, and the Maori legend has it that the steep valley and sheer cliffs were carved by a god. Today, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the pristine scenery has made it one of the most famous spots in New Zealand.
On our sailing, we could certainly see why, with a new dimension in the scenery unfolding every time we turned a corner. The gorges were covered in a soft mist that ascended into the sky – giving you a feeling as though you are at the gates of heaven.
A tour boat graces the spray of the waterfalls in Milford Sound.
Lower down, waterfalls softly cascaded down to the ever-still waters below. The sprays of the waterfalls appeared like dancing fairies blowing in the wind and disappearing into the stillness of the sky. The hues both in the water and mountains changed colour from blue, green, grey and white, depending on the rays of sunlight sprayed from the heavens above, creating mystical shadows.
The captain’s ability to steer the ship so close to the waterfalls amazed me. You can get sprayed, if not soaked, if you stand right at the front of the ship. The other touring boats around us seemed like smaller creatures about to be swallowed up by the big ship. They certainly seemed to have fun trying to get as close as possible to the big monster.
The ship bravely ventured right into the end of the sound, making you believe that you are never going to make your way back out. The captain’s ability to manouvre the ship and turn it around seems like an impossibility and when he manages it, you sigh a sigh of relief and bewilderment.
Supposedly Rudyard Kipling once described this area as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” and I think we can agree with him. Our day in Fiordland was truly a magical and heartwarming experience, and an extremely memorable part of a fantastic holiday!!
Passengers taking in the majesty of Fiordland National Park.
The beautiful colors of Milford Sound.
arrived home from 2nd NZ cruise yesterday (4 Feb 2012). So good leaving from Melb, so easy hope we get more cruises out of Melb. Fiordland breathtaking, no photos can do it justice. Princess staff exceptional. As good as my first cruise, both cruises on Dawn Princess just awesome can’t wait for my 3rd.
Also returned to Melbourne on Feb 4th after a magnificent 2 weeks to New Zealand. Our trip was in reverse to the normal voyage so our first glimpse of New Zealand was Milford Sound , and didn’t it turn it on. .truly breathtaking and worth the trip by itself. We were extremely fortunate that the weather was good for the whole trip and another highlight was waking up the first day after leaving New Zealand to cobalt waters and an endless supply of whales , even a white one ! Arriving back in Melbourne to one of the best sunrises I have seen was a perfect way to end an amazing trip. Also like to say the staff and food were way above expectations , will be going again soon with the Princess line.
Just arrived home today from a 14 day cruise on Sun Princess to New Zealand. We didn’t even get to see Napier, Dunedin or Milford Sound. That’s almost half the features of the cruise which we missed! Apparently, according to the Captain Goodway, access to the above harbours is “precarious” and windy weather means that the ship can’t enter the port. Great to find this out when we’re onboard! Why are these ports included in the itinerary? And why is there no advice about this so that prospective passengers may make an informed decision before committing their time, money and high hopes to an ill-fated voyage spent mostly at sea? Come on Princess, hundreds of passengers were making the trip of a lifetime only to be shocked and deeply disappointed. How about a significant credit towards another cruise? Maybe we can make those ports on a second voyage?
Hi Patricia,
We apologize that your cruise itinerary did not go as planned. While we strive to maintain our itineraries as originally planned, at times, due to unforeseen sailing conditions, an alternate course must be followed. We understand your disappointment and sincerely apologize.
Thank you Shiyanti for the wonderful review, we are booked on the Sun 30th March 2012 and are so excited…….six months seems so far away.
This will be our third cruise with Princess Cruises and we have enjoyed both the Sun and the Dawn
Since my wife and I sailed on Sun Princess in 2008 my life has been turned up side down by
the death of my wife in February this this year . I have been trying to book a passage Queen
Mary 2 but because I have now turned 81 years I am now unable to obtain suitable insurance in Australia .My Doctor has given me a letter saying that I am fit to travel but because I have
had prior medical problems with my health they will not now cover me any more should I suffer anything related to them. I would like to have your views please . Regards Roger Booth
Hello Mr. Booth,
We are very sorry to hear about your loss.
You may want to check with your travel agent to see if there are any other types of travel insurance that might be available to you.
Dear Mr Booth
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I am sure you have many happy memories that will keep her spirit alive.
I am aware that it is rather difficult to get insurance after age 80. I have been using AAMI in Australia. They have a very good comprehensive cover at a reasonable price. you may get a quote on line. The tel no is 13 22 44. It is worth a try. Good luck and all the best. I sincerely hope you are able to travel again very soon. Regards Shiyanti
I took my Mum around NZ on the Diamond Princess in January this year. It is truly an amazing country, especially love the coastline. We will never forget cruising into Milford Sound on a dark and drizzly day. It was magical, mystical and awesome! We are so very grateful for the experience. I did the same trip with my husband on the Sun Princess a couple of years ago and think about going back almost every day.
Our first cruise experience of N.Z was on the magnificent Sapphire Princess in April 2007. It was raining as we cruised through the fjords which made it full of wonderful waterfalls and mist. We have since cruised there again on the Sun Princess in February 2010. Once again we were not disappointed. The whole of N.Z is amazing. My heart goes out to the residence of Christchurch.
Shiyanti, your description of the beautiful Fjiorlands is perfect. Hubby and i sailed out of Melbourne on the Dawn Princess in Janurary this year. The entire cruise around NZ was just fantastic and i must say that sailing through the Sounds was amazing.
Truely, not a day goes by that i’m not thinking about cruising…. Princess, we need many more cruises to many more wonderful destinations to leave from Melbourne. PLEASE
We went on the Dawn Princess to New Zealand on the 24th February 2011 and we had good weather going through Fiordland National Park and enjoyed our whole cruise
I was on the same cruise as Rae & John, cruising with a friend. I was very proud & touched when I was told by a resident of Arkaroa that the ship had tendered De-sal water across to be trucked to Christchurch. It was days later before we were told officially and the Line did not “blow their own trumpet” even then.
Coffee with a shot of Tia Maria helped warm the heart as well as the body in the Sound! Sitting in the spa with the Big Screen playing one of the three tenors as the magnificent coast of NZ passed by is also a fabulous memory.
My Sister and I did a 13Day Cruise on the Sun Princess from Sydney to N.Z in February 2011 and it was Magical, The Fiordlands were spectacular and the weather was great. It was a most enjoyable cruise and I have fondest memories of it. I did however feel sick when I heard about the Earth Quake hit Christchurch my heart goes out to all affected.felt
Thank you for stirring a lot of good memories, Shiyanti. We have a soft spot for the Dawn, but did the New Zealand cruise (for my husband’s 70th birthday) on the Diamond in 2009. We were lucky and had perfect weather for our Fiordland scenic cruise and were also awed by the incredible scenery. A nice touch by Princess was the bringing out of blankets as most people (including ourselves!) hadn’t realised how chilly it would be around there even in December, so to sit on deck with a warm blanket and coffee floating past the magnificent scenery was just bliss!
I can agree that New Zealand was a fantastic trip. After being on other cruise lines than P&O Australia in the past, I realise just how good those other cruise lines are. P&O Aust have been very good in the past, but my last tri;p on the Pacic Pearl was not. It was as if the English and American crew members did not care at all. The Fijian, Venuatu, Indonesian, Philipino and otherI Islander crew were still great, as said above the English and Americans seemed to be there and did the bare ammount. I heard American crew members talking out loud about their fello crew members officers included.
Magnificent view.Wish I go there too !!!
We will be there December this year and we can’t wait. Your description has made us more eager than ever to go. Thanks for you review
We cruised to NZ from Australia last February, but the weather was so appalling that the ship did a U turn at Christchurch and headed back to Picton. Very sad and disappointed that we did not see Milford Sound and the National Park. Bit of a long way to go to do it again!!!! Hope the weather is kind to everyone in October.
Brenda, In April, we too were so disappointed on missing out the cruise into the Fjords because of rough seas. My husband and I and of course the rest of the passengers were so disappointed to miss the experience which we came specially for. We might have to go back there again someday.
Our next cruise in November on the Sun Princess will be our 4th visit to the Fiords , although , on one occassion , the Star Princess could only venture into Milford Sound because of the weather conditions causing limited visibility. Hence we had magnificent water-falls , & the rain ceased for the period in the sound .
Sailing on 19th Oct 2011 on the cruise to NZ, anyone else on the Dawn Princess then?
Myself, hubby and another couple are doing 19th Oct cruise. We’ve all been on Dawn Princess before and can’t wait for this next adventure.
awesome we are kiwis, living in perth…never been down that part of nz….will be definitely looking forward to our 1st cruise from sydney to nz in oct 2011 cant wait..exciting !
I can’t wait to see this a lots move of New Zealand on my trip…………..can’t wait!!
Thank you for a great review of Milford Sound. We have been to New Zealand before and the Sound but will be going again on the Sea Princess in October. We hope that the weather you had, which looked great, will be the same for our cruise.
Shiyanti, thank you so much for sharing your story! Fiordland National Park is truly a special place to cruise through.