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The Shire is REAL! | Solo Cruise to Hobbiton New Zealand

Mer Cruises Solo
Mer Cruises Solo
๐ŸฅˆExpert
๐Ÿ‘๏ธ 3K views๐Ÿ“… 1 months agoโฑ๏ธ 29:16
What This Creator Said
Creator RecommendsCruise Vlog๐ŸฅˆExpert Creator
๐Ÿง Best for SoloSouth_pacific ยท 14 nightsVeteran Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

This is one of the most beautiful places I think I've ever been.

A little bit lacking in communication organization, but hopefully that they'll let us go pretty soon.

What an amazing day.

I still had a fantastic time on the Spirit and in all of our New Zealand ports.

Creator's Tips & Advice

โœ“Be prepared for early morning pickups and long drives for popular excursions.
โœ“Pack an umbrella as weather can be unpredictable.
โœ“If you have a flight the next day, utilize the ship's transfer service to the airport.

๐Ÿ†•New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Making it off the ship in time for a tight tour schedule. โ€” Watch for disembarkation instructions and move quickly; the process can be 'hairy'.

Questions This Creator Answers

QWhat is the experience of visiting Hobbiton in New Zealand like?
QHow do I get from the cruise port in Auckland to Hobbiton?
QWhat is it like to cruise solo on the Norwegian Spirit?
QIs it worth booking a third-party tour versus a cruise line excursion?

Topics Covered

Excursions4 Happy BaconDisembarkation1ยฝ Sad BaconService Crew4ยฝ Happy BaconPort Destination4ยฝ Happy BaconItinerary Route4 Happy Bacon

Port Highlights

Auckland4ยฝ Happy Bacon
Top: Hobbiton and The Shire
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon โ€” creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon โ€” creators took issue with this
Meh โ€” no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0โ€“5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = โ€œmehโ€, 5 = โ€œbacon blissโ€. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology
YouTube Video Descriptionโ†“

Welcome to Auckland! This is the final port on my solo cruise on the Norwegian Spirit and we are docked here overnight! This morning I have a third party tour booked via Get Your Guide to visit Hobbiton and The Shire. We were picked up bright and early immediately upon disembarking the ship in Auckland. The drive was about two hours each way but our driver gave us lots of interesting information about New Zealand and the location where Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit were filmed. The experience was incredible, despite the rain, and it was well worth the long drive to see the gorgeous green rolling hills, the Green Dragon Inn and all of the Hobbit Holes in The Shire - looking exactly the same as in the movies! I HIGHLY recommend this tour and Expedigo NZ the tour company were fantastic! In the evening after returning to the NCL Spirit, me and my fellow solo traveler friends went out around Auckland to some bars and restaurants for dinner and drinks before ending the last night onboard with our favorite bartenders. What a great way to end this fantastic 14-day cruise! Hobbiton Shore Excursion from Auckland: https://getyourguide.tpk.lu/yI7iTIRD Support me!: coff.ee/mercruisessolo ---------------------------- Also follow me on: โญ๏ธ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mer.cruises.solo?igsh=bDQ4Yzh6NnIwdjR5&utm_source=qr โญ๏ธ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557939269892&mibextid=LQQJ4d โญ๏ธ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mer.cruises.solo?_t=8iyjrVMz7ug&_r=1 โญ๏ธ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@mer.cruises.solo ๐Ÿ“ง Email: mer.cruises.solo@gmail.com ---------------------------- ๐ŸŽฌ Filmed with: ๐Ÿ“ธ DJI Osmo Pocket 3 (https://amzn.to/47plA8B) ๐Ÿ“น DJI Osmo Action 4 (https://amzn.to/4e1tOpZ) ๐Ÿ“น Sony ZV-1F (https://amzn.to/40mnpB7) ๐Ÿ“ฑ iPhone 16 Pro Max ๐ŸŽถ Music: Epidemic Sound (https://share.epidemicsound.com/xetgrd)