FAQ – Cruiseship Tours
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to book with an independent tour operator in New Zealand?
All NZ companies must operate within our countries consumer protection laws which covers a consumers rights after purchase. Zealandier Tours has chosen to go one step further and chooses to be a Qualmark Tourism licensed operator. Qualmark is not compulsory within NZ tourism but we opt to partake in this to ensure we maintain our high standards which guarantees you the customer a quality experience. .
What size vehicles do you use?
We run differing sizes of vehicles – up to 5 passengers / up to 8 passengers / up to 11 passenger/ up to 19 passenger / up to 48 passengers
We use larger touring coaches of 4 star rated for groups of 22 and above.
The vehicle we operate for any specific tour on the day is dependent on the demand.
Do you guarantee to get us back to the ship on time?
Zealandier Tours has a worry free Guarantee policy that you will be returned to your ship on time, which means if anything untoward happened outside of our controls then we would take full responsibility to get you to the next port.
How many people are on each tour?
The number of people on any given tour depends on the demand and vehicle availability on the day. We try to keep our group sizes small to ensure a positive experience for all.
Will the tour proceed if it’s just me that has booked?
We will honour any booking that has been confirmed and paid in full for our tours. So if it is just you that has secured a booking, then your tour will operate as normal.
What happens if my cruise ship gets in later than the stipulated tours departure time?
We operate these tours to fit in with cruise ships arrival and departure times, as they can vary. If your ship in not docked by these times we DO NOT depart the tour without you, we just ask that you disembark and report in as soon as is possible.
What happens if my cruise ship does not dock as scheduled on the day of my tour?
If your ship does not dock for any reason, we refund your monies less an administration fee of $25 pp and /or any fees already paid in advance by Zealandier Tours to a third party which may be unrecoverable. (i.e.- attractions or food suppliers)
Do you collect and drop off at the Port?
Indeed we pick you up and drop you off at the Port. When you book a tour with us we will send you specific instructions on where to go and how to find us depending on the port.
Do you offer discounts?
Check out our current “Specials”
None at present
Do you have a family rate?
We have adult and child rates for some of our tours.
Do I need to book in advance?
Our peak season is from October through to April, centered around December to February, so we strongly recommend you book ahead. We do not hold spaces / reservations without a deposit.
How do I book & pay for my tour?
Place your Booking request into our Booking Calendar of the relevant tour you wish to take.
As soon as your booking has been Approved – you will receive email confirmation requesting a deposit be made within next 48 hours. If this is not received we reserve the right to cancel your booking and release your spaces which have been reserved. You will need to arrange to pay us an initial deposit of 20% of the tour charge . The balance of your payment should be made to reach us not less than 30 days before departure of your Shore Excursion.
If you book within those periods of departure (i.e. – 30 days ), full payment should be made at the time of making the booking. We have a secure payment page which you can pay by credit card- Visa or MasterCard. Alternatively you may call us and make payment over the phone.
Unfortunately we DO NOT accept AMEX.
Our company name Zealandier Tours will appear on your statement as the debit entry.
PLEASE NOTE: Your tour may be cancelled if you fail to make payment on time.
Do you accept cash on the day?
We do not accept cash payment on the day of your tour unless prior arrangements have been made.
What is your cancellation policy?
If you or any member of your party cancels, you may replace him with a new member at any time with our approval. However if you are unable to find a replacement for someone who cancels, we may impose cancellation charges to cover our estimated costs. These cancellation charges are expressed in the table below as a percentage of the total excursion cost. The person who signed the Booking Form must notify all cancellations to us in writing and charges apply from the date that this notification is received at our offices (not the date of your letter or the date you post it). If you do wish to replace a cancelled party member, please notify us as soon as possible. In any event we require notice at least 21 days before departure.
Day Excursions Only – Cancellation Parameters
Period before scheduled departure |
Cancellation charge as a percentage of which notification is received |
| Up to 30 days before departure | No Charge – only if no fees have been incurred |
| 15-29 days before departure | $25 per person administration fee – plus any unrecoverable costs which have been incurred to date. |
| 8 – 14 days before departure | 50% of Tour Cost |
| 7 days or less | 100% of Tour Cost |
What should I bring?
Comfortable Clothing
Light Jacket
Walking Shoes
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Sun Hat
Can I use foreign currencies to purchase goods?
Some tourism retail outlets will accept various currencies for purchase items but generally you will require NZ $ to make a purchase.
NB: AMEX is not widely accepted in NZ .
Bank of NZ is the only bank which accepts China Union Pay card but some businesses who bank with BNZ will allow you to purchase goods with your China Union Pay card also.
What are general cost of goods in NZ?
| Cup of Coffee $5.50 | Glass of Beer $9.00 | Glass of Wine $12.00 |
| Coke / Pepsi $4.00 | Bottle Water $ 4.50 | Milk 1 litre $3.50 |
| Fuel per litre $3.05 | Pair Jeans $80 -130 | Bottle Wine $18 -30 |
| Café lunch (1) $28 | Restaurant Dinner Per person (approx.) $85 | |
Suggested Gratuities
Not consistently practiced in New Zealand but should the guest so desire it is genuinely appreciated. The amount is to the guest’s discretion.
Child Safety Seats
When booking a child please ensure we are made aware of the age so we can provide the correct child seat as per New Zealand child restraint laws. The rental price is $40 per seat. Children 0 – 7 years of age need a car seat / booster by law. For more information visit Waka Kotahi New Zealand transport Agency.
Excursion Handicap Accessibility
Not all excursions are wheelchair friendly, but please advise if you have any disability & whether you require assistance and we will do all we can to provide correct transportation and or excursion to suit.
What is the weather like in New Zealand at this time?
New Zealand has a largely temperate climate. While the far north has subtropical weather during summer, and inland alpine areas of the South Island can be as cold as -10 C in winter, most of the country lies close to the coast, which means mild temperatures, moderate rainfall, and abundant sunshine. Because New Zealand lies in the Southern Hemisphere, the average temperature decreases as you travel south. The north of New Zealand is subtropical and the south temperate. The warmest months are December, January and February, and the coldest June, July and August. In summer, the average maximum temperature ranges between 20 – 30ºC and in winter between 10 – 15ºC.
