Milford Mariner Overnight Cruise
Milford Mariner Overnight Cruise
The famous Milford Mariner is a heritage built vessel that offers a unique dinner, bed and breakfast experience. Dine in a cosy saloon and stroll the open deck areas to view the scenery of Milford Sound on a cruise along the length of Milford Sound to the Tasman Sea. The cruise is accompanied by a nature guide with specialist knowledge of the history of the region, flora and fauna.
Tour Info
| Tour Name: | Milford Mariner Overnight Cruise |
| From: | Queenstown, Te Anau or Milford Sound |
| Cruise Type: | Overnight Cruise |
| Tour Operator: | Real Journeys |
| Duration: | 2 Days |
| Tour Code: | RJMO |
Inclusions
| Private cabins with ensuite bathrooms (twin, double or single occupancy) |
| Spacious viewing decks |
| Three course evening buffet meal |
| Cooked and continental buffet breakfast |
| Dining saloon/fully licensed bar and observation lounge |
| Kayaking and tender craft (small boat) activities included |
| Nature guide on board |
| Milford Sound Discovery Centre (underwater observatory) option for self drive customers only (extra cost) |
| Coach connections from Queenstown or Te Anau with courtesy transfers from most accommodation |
| Suitable for all ages |
| Not suitable for wheelchair passengers due to steep stairs |
An overnight cruise on the Milford Mariner is the ultimate dinner, bed and breakfast experience.
An overnight cruise is the ultimate way to experience Milford Sound. When all the day visitors have left, the fiord transforms into a peaceful scene of dramatic landscape. It is the perfect opportunity to soak up the atmosphere and get a sense of the serenity that the fiord offers.
After boarding the Milford Mariner, guests enjoy a full length cruise of the fiord out to the Tasman Sea. The flexible nature of the cruise means there is ample time to look out for wildlife such as seals, penguins and dolphins. The Nature Guide ensures an immersive experience as guests learn all about the history and natural environment of the fiord. Go for a paddle in a kayak, or hop on board a tender craft to explore the fiord up close. The boat will anchor in the shelter of Harrison Cove overnight.
Enjoy a sumptuous three-course buffet dinner in the dining saloon, followed by a Nature Guide presentation in the forward saloon. Beverages are available for purchase at the licensed bar. Overnight accommodation is in private ensuite cabins with twin or double configuration. For breakfast, there are cooked and continental options available from the buffet. There is time for further cruising on the fiord before returning to the Milford Wharf.
TOUR DEPARTURES
This cruise departs daily & offers three departure points :
- Self Drive passengers can depart from Milford Sound wharf at 3.30pm (Summer departs an hour later)
- If you are staying in Queenstown a luxury coach leaves at 8:30am
- Or passengers can leave by luxury coach from Te Anau at 12:45pm
Complimentary hotel pick-up and drop-off service is available from inner city Queenstown or Te Anau hotels. Pick-up and drop-off details must be advised at the time of booking (pick up times vary).
Your Overnight Experience
With specialist nature guides on board, the Milford Mariner Overnight Cruise offers a close-up experience of Milford Sound’s rainforest, soaring rock walls, and wildlife. Throughout the cruise, the guides share stories of the fiord’s history and are happy to answer your questions.
Cruises have a flexible itinerary that allows plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and to pause to view highlights. Cruise so close to waterfalls that water soaks the foredeck, or drift gently while watching out for dolphins, seals and penguins.
Complimentary Activities
Milford Mariner offers a relaxed environment, where you can do as much or as little as you like. The following activities are complimentary and are available to all guests:
- Kayaking
- Tender craft (small boat) excursions
If relaxation is more your style, then you can choose to soak up the views from the deck, read a book, or interact with our knowledgeable crew.
Dining Experience
As evening falls, enjoy a lavish three course buffet carvery in the dining saloon. Evening dining includes a three-course meal (vegetarian option available – please advise if required at the time of booking).
Then relax in the company of fellow travellers or indulge in some star-gazing before retiring to your private cabin. In the morning enjoy a choice of cooked and continental breakfast, served in the dinning saloon.
Onboard Accommodation
The Milford Mariner has 28 cabins with ensuite bathrooms (16 cabins with twin single beds, 12 cabins with double beds). Bed linen, duvet, towel and pillow are provided.
What to bring
One overnight bag only to be brought on board for passenger convenience and safety reasons. Limited lock-up storage facilities are available at the Milford Sound Visitor Terminal, Milford Sound. It is advisable to bring swim wear, sunscreen, sun hat, comfortable walking shoes, warm clothing, a change of clothes for kayaking, insect repellant and camera.
Milford Mariner’s Specifications
Purpose built motor vessel, designed along the lines of a traditional NZ coastal trading scow, the vessel is also equipped with kayaks & two shore tender vessels.
- Length/Beam/Draft: 38m/10m/2.75m
- Max Displacement: 693 Gross tonnage
- Engines: 2 x 6AYM 484KW Yanmar
- Cruising Speed: 11 knots
- Overnight Capacity: 64 passengers
- Spacious Viewing Decks: Three
- Commenced Service: October 2000
- Sails: Gaff rigged
TRIP NOTES
Itinerary and inclusions shown apply to departures from November 2016 onwards. Itinerary and inclusions may vary for earlier departures.
Day by Day Tour Itinerary
Day
1
Milford Sound
| 8.30am | For those departing from Queenstown a coach will pick you up from your Queenstown hotel |
| 9.45am | On boarding a luxury coach in Queenstown, travel along the shores of Lake Wakatipu and through rolling countryside to Te Anau |
| 12.30pm | For those travelling from Queenstown, stop in Te Anau for a break |
| 12.45pm | For those departing from Te Anau a coach will pick you up from your Te Anau hotel |
| 1.30pm | From Te Anau, travel by luxury coach along the spectacular Milford Road through impressive alpine scenery. There is time for photo stops and short walks along the way |
| 3.30pm | Board the Milford Mariner (Summer departs an hour later) |
| From 4.30pm | Afternoon activities |
| 7.30pm | Buffet Dinner is served in the Dining Saloon |
| 9.00pm | Dinner complete. Relax, unwind, view the stars and take in the stillness of staying overnight on a luxury vessel anchored in a sheltered bay |
Day
2
Milford Sound
| 7.30am | Breakfast to be served in The Dining Saloon |
| 8.30am | Optional activities available |
| 9.15am | Disembark the Milford Mariner at Milford Sound |
| 12.30pm | Te Anau passengers leave the coach |
| 3.30pm | Queenstown passengers leave the coach |
4.8/5.0
There are 88 reviews of this tour from past clients of Relaxing Journeys, averaging 4.8 out of 5.
Overall Tour Rating
Value For Money
Accommodation
Tour Pace
Relaxing Journeys Experience
Tour Reviews
5
Andrea Counts (United States)
21/04/2018
The tour from start to finish was excellent. The staff at Real Journeys were professional, knowledgeable, and extremely helpful. It was a great value for the money. I definitely will not hesitate to book another excursion with Real Journeys.
5
Bob Blackburne (Australia)
16/04/2018
Milford Sound is incredible and Relaxing Journeys provided an informative and enjoyable tour. Our cabin was located on the lower level and we did not sleep much during the night due to constant noise (sounded like cables rubbing against the boat?) - other passengers we spoke to had similar problems. The food was great with a wide variety, alcohol prices were ridiculously expensive.
5
Lynne Gardner (United Kingdom)
12/04/2018
Very well be organised, good food and just so enjoyable.
5
Mark Buttner (Australia)
04/04/2018
We thoroughly enjoyed this experience. Cabin and bed was comfortable. Food was plentiful and great quality! Staff were helpful, friendly and knowledgeable!
4
John Ralph (Australia)
02/04/2018
The location is fantastic and the Milford Mariner is an excellent way to see it. The team went out of their way to make the tour memorable. An excellent choice of buffet dishes for the evening meal. Our itinerary did not make it clear what time we needed to be at the wharf and where to park which resulted in us wasting about 4 hours. The tour checks in at 4pm and you can drive your car to the actual wharf at 4pm and park in the allocated bus bays.
5
Joanne Wallis (Australia)
11/03/2018
Overall a fabulous way to see Milford Sound. The captain & crew were fantastic. Only downside was the temperature of our cabin on the lower deck, possibly because it was a mild night, but the cabin was too hot and no fresh air circulating, so it became quite stuffy & uncomfortable.
5
Helen Conroy (Australia)
11/03/2018
The boat crew and amenities were very good.
5
Julie Harding (United Kingdom)
07/02/2018
Fabulous trip. We were lucky with the weather as we managed to sail out of the Sound.
5
Val Burdett (United Kingdom)
01/02/2018
Please read carefully, this is advertised as a two day trip on the website, when in fact you get on at 4.30 and off again at 9.00 the following morning, you only have 17 hours on the boat. This costs you a days holiday in Te Anau. You could drive from Queenstown, and be there on time. The food was good although breakfast was rushed and cold. The staff were excellent and pleasantly helpful. We enjoyed the trip but felt it could be done in the day unless you wanted a night on a boat.
4
Marina Suessmilch (Germany)
27/01/2018
It would have been nice to cruise the Sound on the first evening, too. This way we felt kind of parked in the Bay. Rooms and shower were great.
4
Yvonne Clemesha (Australia)
21/01/2018
We shared a small family cabin, and whilst there were only 3 of us, it was really tight and claustrophobic at night, especially as we couldn't open the window. I think we were near the main engine room and could her the motors running. But it was clean and neat.
The overnight tour is really quick, would have liked to spend more time on the boat with another opportunity for water activity such as kayak the next day, it just felt a bit rushed and were sorry to leave so early the following morning!
5
Heather Mullaney (United Kingdom)
09/01/2018
Good communication from start to finish. Very professional.
5
Rosemary Fox (Australia)
13/11/2017
Our overnight on Milford Mariner was wonderful. Great experience I will remember forever.
5
Theresa Boast (United Kingdom)
11/11/2017
Out of this world highlight of our tour so far. What an amazing place to spend the night.
4
Atul Harkisanka (Singapore)
12/10/2017
Great experience onboard Milford Mariner - the crew went beyond duty to ensure that the guests had a memorable time at Milford Sound. Starting with the tour out in the sea on small boats to getting super close & under the waterfalls. The food was amazing and every member of the crew was approachable, friendly and well versed with the nature and surroundings.
5
Robert Peace (Canada)
12/10/2017
Truly enjoyed our trip. The food was excellent and the coffee was great! The staff were very friendly and helpful.
5
Francis De Coninck (Belgium)
11/10/2017
The word excellent is more then correct, super trip with super crew!!
5
Jared Stephenson (Australia)
05/10/2017
An excellent tour, which is probably not reflected in the 'pretty good' categories below. They do not take in to account how beautiful the scenery is, nor the actual content of the tour. Would absolutely recommend.
4
Alan Parry (United Kingdom)
08/05/2017
We had a great time. Buffet meals were very good. Milford Sound is very dramatic. Naturalist could have been better but overall very good.
5
Scott Rhodes (New Zealand)
28/04/2017
Excellent service from Mani and the crew from start to finish. Thoroughly enjoyed our overnight stay on the Mariner and will definitely be back to see The Sound in different weather.
5
Sara Cashen (United States)
27/04/2017
This tour was outstanding, from start to finish. The staffers were all so upbeat and friendly and worked in a great team fashion. The food was excellent! The boat and rooms were well equipped. We had a clear evening for the start of the sail, which allowed us to go out in a tender with nature guide Greg to explore Harrison\'s Cove and vicinity. Greg gave an informative and fun slideshow after dinner, which helped us to better understand the habitat of Milford Sound. During the night the weather turned, but the next morning the skipper was still able to commandeer the boat expertly in turbulent waters out to St. Anne Point. The waterfalls everywhere were amazing! We will treasure our memories of this special place for a long time.
5
Magdalena Koralewska (United Kingdom)
30/03/2017
The booking as well as the trip went very smoothly. A great overall experience. Thank you!
5
Jennifer Lynch (United Kingdom)
18/11/2016
Food was very good. We enjoyed the excursion on the tender. Crew were very competent and friendly. Shower was hot and accommodation adequate for an overnight cruise.
5
Rebecca (United Kingdom)
17/11/2016
It was a great tour, very informative on all the wildlife that we saw. Professional crew aboard. Very quick replies and booking from Relaxing Journeys (Mani). Made everything a breeze! Thanks very much!
4
Mysore Prabhakar (India)
03/05/2016
A very well conducted trip. The coach driver was very informative and so were the staff who took us on the boat ride. Overall a very memorable trip.
5
Geoff Byrne (Australia)
12/03/2016
Our party of four had a wonderful time, totally amazed by the mountain ranges and the beautiful scenery going to, and at Milford Sound. The trip was well organised, staff attentive, cheerful and professional. On the Mariner, every thing was catered for. The meals were terrific. Only downside was getting 2 double cabins instead of the 2 twin bed cabins we had booked for.
5
Geoffrey Netzley (United States)
11/03/2016
The tour was great! The boat was wonderful, the food was tasty, and the cabin had everything we needed. The views of the fjord were amazing and it was great to be out there with only the Milford Wanderer for company; we had the fjord to ourselves. But the best part was the absolutely clear sky. While it kept us from seeing the tremendous quantity of waterfalls, after dark on the top forward deck we could see more stars than I could imagine including the Southern Cross. And it being so dark that we could see the white haze of the Milky Way across the stars was a bucket list item realized. We recommend this tour to all New Zealand tourists.
5
David & Jane Winfield (United Kingdom)
04/01/2016
Very well organised tour right from pick up to drop off. Friendly, informed coach driver. All staff were friendly and helpful. A superb trip!
5
Tony Willis (United Kingdom)
31/12/2015
This was the best tour we did in NZ. Fantastic experience, excellent value for money. The overnight cruise was amazing. We were blessed with sunny weather. The coach was so comfortable, and Cameron with his dry sense of humour made an excellent driver and tour guide on the way. We stopped at scenic places for photos, and for lunch. The cruise, leaving at 4.30pm was amazing. As most people had left for the day and flights overhead stopped, we had Milford Sound to ourselves and it was stunning. Kayaking and swimming in the Tasman Sea was excellent. The crew were fantastic, obviously gelled as a team and very friendly and professional - thank you all! As it was New Year\'s Eve and good weather, we stayed out to watch sunset over the Tasman Sea before cruising back to a sheltered harbour for the night. Food was excellent, much higher standard than most buffets, bar well stocked with choices. We had excellent star gazing, champagne at midnight. Dawn was wonderful, seeing light come to the Sound. We cruised out the length of the sound again in the morning and had an excellent breakfast interrupted by a pod of playful dolphins swimming by the boat so we all rushed out to admire them. Also saw a seal colony. We were sad to say goodbye to this amazing place, but the journey home with Cameron (and the great design of the Real Journeys coach) was very comfortable and we were dropped off at our accomodation. Wow, what a way to end one year and start another. Highly recommended.
5
Karyne Dyer (United States)
21/11/2015
We had a great time and enjoyed it very much. The bus driver/guide was very entertaining and the boat crew was fantastic. The food was wonderful which was not expected so that was a bonus. We were offered the opportunity to take a helicopter flight back to Queenstown and we took it and really got lucky as the weather cleared just enough to make it possible. It was all effortless and we had a great time. Our only disappointment could not be helped and that was the weather. It was overcast and raining the whole time but I gather that is not unusual.
4
Hemant Patel (India)
30/10/2015
Milford mariner overnight cruise was certainly the highlight of our NZ trip. The crew was hard working and very friendly. It was smooth sailing. There was not a single hitch. The twin rooms very relatively spacious but sparse. Beds were comfortable. The buffet dinner and breakfast were excellent. The only gripe was that the cruise was quite pricey.
5
Elizabeth Dryburgh (Australia)
25/10/2015
The time on the Mariner was fantastic. One of the highlights of our trip to NZ. It was relaxing and beautiful. The food was fantastic, the rooms were quite spacious, very clean and well equipped for being a boat cruise. The first night was lovely we went out for a about an hour then anchored in a very love area and were able to go kayaking. The wildlife was fantastic and we saw fur seals and penguins. I would recommend this trip to anyone. The only thing that was a bit odd was we were told there would be secure lock up at the facility (since we drove in and didn\'t take the coach. The drive was fantastic by the way!)
5
Eileen Grace (Australia)
23/10/2015
We had a great time. Our guide on the bus was fantastic and very informative. The food was great. Nothing to complain about at all, highly recommended. Thank you.
5
David Page (United Kingdom)
22/10/2015
Really enjoyable. Great to be on the Sound after all the other tour boats have gone. Kayaking amazing. Saw penguins and seals. Lots of great food and not overpriced drink either. Very glad we did it.
5
Margaret Houtzaager (Australia)
16/10/2015
We had a great tour even though the weather was quite challenging. The driver on way in to Milford was very informative. I was impressed that we were still able to go out in the tender despite the weather. Will definitely be back with other family members in the future. We also did the glow worm trip which was awesome!
5
Paul Hokanson (United States)
14/10/2015
The most wonderful event ever! Would recommend to everyone. The staff were all awesome. The beauty cannot be described!
5
Deborah Bailey (Australia)
11/10/2015
Staff were great, food was excellent and the ship was very clean and well set out making the trip very comfortable. The only thing I would have liked was an extra pillow as I can\'t sleep with one pillow, but thank you for a great time.
4
Xinyi Teh (Singapore)
11/05/2015
Well paced tour. We were kept occupied throughout the cruise. Dinner and breakfast were decent too.
5
Robert Leeson (United States)
17/04/2015
Everything went exactly as promised and the trip was outstanding. It was truly an exceptional trip.
5
Nancy Mills (New Zealand)
05/04/2015
This was a beautiful trip which we thoroughly enjoyed, although the cost makes it for only a very special occasions for us.
5
Mike & Christine (Australia)
26/03/2015
Relaxing! Plus service that matched the incredible views! Flexible activities, good \'boat food\' and an easy going holiday feel for the guests. The \'visit me anytime\' offer from Skipper Chris was brilliant and several of us enjoyed watching his boat management skills. As a sailor, I enjoyed the short unfurling of the sails - and I urge you to keep the masts & sails as a marketing tool - everyone loved the feel of that - even though it was for a bit of show, not actual go! The arrival of fur seals on the back boarding area was a cool experience for everyone. A real highlight was also the \'getting there\' and \'getting back\' transit with coach and guide Steve Mancer - what a gold mine of information, great but low key personality and brilliant presentation. \'Intelligent, affable and informative\' was a comment from my wife, Christine. A case of the \'getting there\' being a genuine part of the amazing journey of the historic Milford experience.
5
Sharon Leslie (United Kingdom)
01/02/2015
Fab time despite the rain. It did make the waterfalls spectacular!
4
Geoffrey Nugent (Australia)
09/01/2015
Very relaxing, magnificent scenery, excellent food and friendly/knowledgeable staff. Cabins very comfortable and activities fun. Great for families.
5
Stella Sin (Hong Kong)
22/12/2014
The overnight cruise was excellent. Soon after the cruise started we had our activities either kayak or small boat tour around the tasman sea. Dinner was great, tho a bit long waiting but food was good. Cabin was comfy, we had good sleep. Next morning after breakfast we sailed outer to spot whales and dolphins. Spectacular view during the cruise with perfect weather at Milford Sound. Such a memorial tour will definitely recommend it!
4
Prashanth Menon (Singapore)
08/11/2014
We would like a few more interactive activities on board that would have made the trip more memorable. It was a good experience for the family but there is still plenty of room to make it even better.
5
Erwin Riman Heunen (Netherlands)
28/10/2014
Personnel were very nice. They took good care of us. They kept an eye on our seasickness and adjusted the speed of the boat. Coach driver gave us the opportunity to do some small walks to beautiful lakes and waterfalls and entertained us with stories about a lot of things we saw. The food was delicious! The whole experience was fantastic!
5
Soo khim Lim (Malaysia)
30/09/2014
This is my top 3 list that I am enjoying the most in New Zealand holiday. Our coach guide, Steve. He is very knowledgeable, sharing, caring and friendly to us. Thumbs up for him:) In the cruise journey, the captain, cruise supervisor and chef gave warm welcome and hospitality. Same goes to rest of crews. Well done! Love the food and room:) I took the tour brochure back to my colleagues as she plan to visit New Zealand next month. Will definitely recommend this tour to her and friends:)
5
Luisa Gumieniuk (Australia)
28/09/2014
We had a wonderful time on the tour, it was fantastic. Would definitely recommend it to others.
5
Beverley Danson (Australia)
20/09/2014
Fantastic, we would recommend this company and tour to everyone. The staff was extremely helpful and great to deal with. The tour was amazing.
5
Brian Easton (Australia)
12/05/2014
Highly recommend this cruise, it was one of the highlights of our trip, stunning scenery everywhere you look
5
Teresa Rzoska (New Zealand)
28/04/2014
Absolutly beautiful! I was impressed with the whole service right from booking the trip, to the time I stepped off the bus back at Queenstown. The bus ride which I thought would be the borring-est bit was fabulous with humoured commentry and friendliness from the bus driver, frequent sight-seeing stops and comfort. The Overnight cruise was soooo relaxing. I could of stayed on board for another 3 or four nights. Voyage staff were fiendly and informative and made the expierance fun. The food was delicous!
5
Martha Wigton (United States)
27/04/2014
We had an outstanding Milford Sound overnight excursion with coach transportation from Queenstown. Before we even left for the two-day trip, our trip coordinator, Leanne, and the staff in the Relaxing Journeys office were very helpful answering questions and making us feel like valued customers! Our driver and tour guide, Adrian, was exceptional! His knowledgeable commentary along the drive was just enough to share entertaining, insightful facts without being overbearing. Our whole party thought he was an excellent host! The check-in process for the boat was smooth, and our cabin was fine. The crew on the boat were helpful and we enjoyed kayaking, seal watching and the evening entertainment. The food was very, very good! My only suggestion is that it could last so much longer than it did! Thanks to all who made this a highlight of our visit!
5
Bob Stedman (Australia)
21/04/2014
Simply sensational. Staff were excellent, food was plentiful and great. Accommodation was clean, neat and comfortable. Can highly recommend this to anyone considering.
5
Megan Johnston (New Zealand)
17/04/2014
Had a great trip - couldn\'t fault it. Freiendly staff, great food, warm boat.
5
Mark Scott (Australia)
16/04/2014
A fantastic way to finish off the Milford Track - highly recommended / staff on board were fantastic and food was superb and plenty of it.
5
Stephanie Freeman (New Zealand)
10/04/2014
We had a wonderful time overnight on the Mariner. Had gorgeous weather, saw dolphins and seals for hours, food was fantastic, no complaints! Will definitely recommend to anyone and do it again soon!
5
Wendy Yang (Australia)
09/04/2014
Stunning View! Excellent Service! Amazing Food! Nice facilities! (Ed. Is that all? :)
5
Phil Paladino (Australia)
02/04/2014
Excellent. Everyone in my group had great time!
5
Nigel Day (United States)
16/03/2014
From the moment we were picked up in the bus to Milford sound we were entertained and educated on the are and history while being whisked along by our expert and convivial driver! Arriving at Milford we embarked on our overnight cruise with great support and luxury accomodation aboard our cruise ship the milford Wanderer. super nice staff helped those who went kiaking wile oters enjoyed the tender. Hot showers before a sumptuous meal and after dinner audiovisual entertainment made quite an impression! The whole trip there and back really exceeded our expectations and set a high bar for the rest of our tour round the South Island. Thanks to Mani and all the crew with Real Journeys for a throruoghly memerable trip!!
5
Christine McIvor (Canada)
23/01/2014
The cruise was one of our most memorable experiences of our trip to New Zealand. The service on the Mariner was excellent, the cabin comfortable and the food outstanding. Richard our Naturalist on board was highly knowledgeable and answered all our questions. And of course the scenery was awesome and we had the added bonus of seeing the dolphins who swam alongside. Great value for money!
5
Rachelle Walker (United Kingdom)
14/01/2014
Very professional and enjoyable. Friendly and attentive staff, amazing tour. Thanks for arranging Mani!
4
William Griffin (Indonesia)
08/01/2014
Milford Sound Overnight tour was a wonderful experience. The bus driver was courteous and informative and set an excellent pace, allowing us time to take great photos and walk around a bit. The dinner on the boat was spectacular and well organized. There was more than enough for everybody, coffee and tea and hot chocolate was free and available. The staff was friendly and there was always a smile on their faces. I would highly recommend this tour to anybody coming to New Zealand. If and when I hopefully return to your country again, I will definitely sign up for your Doubtful Sound tour. The only thing sad thing about the tour was leaving the boat, I would have been happy to stay a week with you guys. Kia ora!
4
Waldemar Krupski (New Zealand)
07/01/2014
Our cabin was noisy because it was close to the engine room. Do you offer different prices for different cabins? (Ed. Sorry they are all the same). I think cabin close to the engine room should get a little discount. Everything else was just great. Great service, great tour guys. Thanks again.
5
Agnes Foo (Singapore)
16/12/2013
Leanne was very prompt is getting all my queries answered, which I appreciated very much! The cruise staff was absolutely great, they made sure that everyone was well taken care of. Food was delicious and the commentary on the fjords, waterfalls etc was excellent! I took the tender craft and Travis did a great job explaining to us on the surroundings! The scenery was simply breathtaking, we saw seals and dolphins...against a beautiful horizon. Would love to try Doubtful Sound on my next trip!
5
Nancy Wolf ()
10/11/2013
Wonderful coach tour out of Te Anau to Milford Sound. Driver was very informative and knowledgeable of area with stories of the area. Day was rainy but felt safe and enjoyed NOT having to drive the \'crooked road\' myself. Cruise was wonderful, staff attentive and entire experience one of the highlights of the entire trip. Booking with Relaxing Journeys for the cruise was easy by email and I felt confident it would be handled correctly.
5
Jacqueline (Australia)
04/11/2013
Excellent trip, the staff were helpful and friendly, going above and beyond our expectations, right down to the return of a teddy bear left on the boat the next day.
4
Peta Higginbotham (Australia)
22/10/2013
Overnight cruise was brilliant. Great weather saw penguins seals and dolphins! Good value when you consider 17hrs on the Sound with overnight accommodation, dinner and breakfast included! Decided at last minute to coach rather than drive from Te Anau to Milford. Driver\'s commentary was excellent and he stopped many times for photo ops. Loved it!
5
Karen Houlcroft (Australia)
24/09/2013
We loved the tour. Beyond the stunning scenery all the staff were exceptional in catering to all our needs. They were friendly and informative. Thank you.
5
Julie Park (Australia)
20/09/2013
Even though it rained the trip was amazing. The rain meant more waterfalls which were amazing. The smaller boat trip the next day was interesting and we got to see some of the sounds wild life. Rooms were clean and comfortable and well heated. Meals had a wide choice of foods. Staff were very helpful and friendly. I would recommend this trip to any one as we all enjoyed it.
5
Wendy West (Australia)
13/04/2013
Fantastic adventure and one of the highlights of our trip. From the moment we stepped on board the Milford Mariner we were treated like royalty. The staff, the food, the entertainment and the sleeping quarters were wonderful. Thoroughly recommend this to anyone, any age, - brilliant!
5
Maryanne McGrath (Australia)
19/03/2013
The trip was lovely, very well organised, great food and a lovely cabin. Really glad we decided to do the trip, particularly after walking the Milford Track beforehand.
5
Mark & Sheree Roser (Australia)
18/03/2013
This was our first cruise, even though it was a mini one. We were pleasantly surprised at how we were totally looked after. Nothing was a problem. The staff were friendly, organised and entertaining. For such a small cruise, it was beyond our expectations. Thank you.
5
Dominique Moisan (Canada)
15/03/2013
The tour was fantastic. The facilities on board were great and the ship was just the perfect size for me. Very pleasant cruise and Brian, our naturalist, man of all trades was most enjoyable. The scenery offered in the Milford Sound is out of this world. Food was very good and enough choices to meet everyone\'s culinary tastes. The bus trip to Te Anau was also fantastic. The commentary during the trip was fantastic. Adrian, our bus driver, was very good and had a remarkable knowledge of the countryside as well as that of the history of New Zealand. It was like being in school but with the right teacher and a very rich environment to learn in. The bus trip was punctuated by some stops which made it so much more enjoyable and created great opportunities to take pictures. All in all, my experience with Relaxing Journeys from the time I dealt with Michelle White to the time I met the captain of the Milford Marriner surpassed my expectations. Thanks to everyone for making this overnight cruise one I will never forget!
5
Patricia Orvis (United States)
09/02/2013
We had an excellent time. The coach driver was very informative, the stops were good. The ship was nice. We had a lovely time. I will definitely recommend Relaxing Journeys to my friends.
5
Claire Stone (United States)
10/01/2013
This was an amazing tour! Due to rain, only a few coaches were allowed in for the cruises. This worked out great for us. Our boat, which usually has a guest roster of around 63 people only had 13 on this trip and 12 crew members. Awesome service and a great opportunity to have one on one discussions with the crew. Food was wonderful, good variety. Sleeping quarters clean and very comfortable. Although we didn\'t realize, the rain was a benefit to seeing the Sound since the rains create 100\'s of waterfalls that on a clear day one would miss. The following morning was clear, so we had the benefit of seeing the Sound both ways. The bus trip up and back was great too. We stopped for lunch and also had a couple of other little stops seeing the Kea\'s and a remarkable wildflower field. Making travel arrangements for this tour was a breeze and really appreciated Michelle providing information on what to take. I would highly recommend this trip.
5
Caitlin & Tim Fryatt (United Kingdom)
03/12/2012
Absolutly amazing! Milford sound is spectacular and an overnight cruise is definitely the way to see it. Would recommend a stay on the Milford Mariner to anyone!
5
David Kester (United Kingdom)
16/11/2012
Staying on the Milford Mariner felt like an adventure and the fjord with the seals, penguins and dramatic scenery was better than any brochure could describe.
5
Guido & Sandra Bainat (Australia)
08/10/2012
Wow what an expeirence. The whole trip was fantastic. The campervan was great, The overnight cruise on Milford sound was fantastic. The organisation was great. All went very smoothly enabling us to have a great holiday. Thanks Kirby.
5
Paul & Jill Dossett (Australia)
12/04/2012
My wife & I enjoyed our overnite cruise very much & would not hesitate to recomend the cruise to anyone asking.
5
Jane Finlayson (Australia)
28/02/2012
Our Milford Sound overnight cruise was fantastic. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Views were spectacular, plenty of food, staff friendly, helpful and informative. We drove up and back and were pleased we did it this way. Our service from Jarrod when booking was efficient, friendly and informative. We did feel it was quite expensive but had a great time.
5
Vicki Fahey & Ian Bennett (Australia)
26/02/2012
We had a fantastic experience. It exceeded all our expectations!! I would highly recommend this trip to anyone! The bus trip was informative and relaxing. The overnight cruise was amazing and the staff were excellent. We couldn\'t have had a better time. Our bus driver Ben was great :) Thanks.
5
Johanne Sheehy (Australia)
23/02/2012
Unfortunately we had the worst weather for this trip. Windy, wet and cold but lots of waterfalls as a result. We didn\'t really get to see Mitre Peak because of the cloud cover so I suppose it was an expensive night\'s accommodation. Having said that had the conditions been better I can imagine it would have been just perfect. The boat, the food and the staff didn\'t let us down. Would love to try again some day.
5
Yuri Murata (Australia)
04/01/2012
We joined Milford Sound Overnight Cruise and it was a fantastic experience. Jarrod was really helpful - his response was super quick and very kind. Because he put \'nice weather\' on request for us, we had great time on the boat surrounded by beautiful nature. I highly recommend Relaxing Journeys if you need an expert\'s help to organise your holiday in NZ. Thank you again.
4
Mr & Mrs K Wiggett (United Kingdom)
10/04/2011
Very well organised and all the staff were so friendly and enthusiastic. Accommodation was comfortable and the food was excellent. We didn't have good weather but despite that everyone managed to put a positive slant on the rain!
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4
Samuel & Linda Brown (United States)
09/03/2011
The overnight trip to Milford Sound was absoutely fantastic and I'd highly recommend it to everyone. Everyone on the boat treated us wonderfully and the food was great. Our cabin was plenty big enough for two people - even the shower!
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5
Natalie Schembri (Australia)
16/02/2011
My initial service through Jarrod was exceptional. I work in the travel industry and his continual follow up got the sale. The coach journey from Queenstown was very informative and interesting. The boat was wonderful, enough room and the food was great. My biggest criticism is that you pay a lot of money for very little time on the boat. I would of loved to have more time on the boat. We seemed to be rushed on, little time to kayak, swim, or boat ride (we only got the chance to kayak) then it was dinner. Then some info and the night was over. Also some type of music would have been great. Up early in the morning for breakfast then rushed back to wharf at 9.15am for drop off. Overall a wonderful short time spent on the spectacular Milford Sound but not long enough for what you pay. Maybe doing Doubtful Sound gives you more time. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to give my thoughts.
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4
Cherie Lamb (Australia)
28/10/2010
My husband and I enjoyed the tour very much. It was wonderful to see Milford Sound in the rain and then in the sun the next morning. I loved kayaking with the penguins. The staff on the Milford Mariner were all very profesional.
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4
Kim Redfern (Australia)
20/10/2010
We had a very enjoyable time. It was very wet and windy so the waterfalls were spectacular. Overnight the rain cleared and the next morning it was sunny and calm and was beautiful. The crew on baord were very good. Food was great.
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Milford Mariner Overnight Cruise
Luxury Cruise
Tour Code: RJMO
From (NZD)
$329 per person
88 reviews
(4.8/5)
The famous Milford Mariner is a heritage built vessel that offers a unique dinner, bed and breakfast experience. Dine in a cosy saloon and stroll the ... Read More
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