Real Journeys is set to resume its Milford Sound cruises today and increase its customer capacity in Doubtful Sound.
Real Journeys general manager Paul Norris says as soon as customers were transferred out of Milford Sound on Wednesday, February 5, the Milford Wanderer set sail for Doubtful Sound to add extra day and overnight cruises to the schedule.
"In response to the Milford Sound situation, we are now operating a new Inner Fiord cruise and an additional overnight cruise in Doubtful Sound. The Inner Fiord Cruise is approximately 2 hours long and explores the inner waterways of this isolated fiord, while our Wilderness Cruise is 2 hours and 45 minutes long and meets the Tasman Sea."
Paul says the Doubtful Sound overnight cruise on the Fiordland Navigator is often sold out at this time of year, so being able to offer the extra capacity of the smaller Milford Wanderer vessel in Doubtful Sound is a positive outcome in what has been a challenging situation.
"However, our team in Milford Sound is also busy as we prepare to start operating again. The Milford Sound airstrip has re-opened, and at this stage, we expect to be operating our Milford Sound cruises from Monday, February 10, weather permitting. As Milford Road will still be closed, these cruises will be for Fly-Cruise-Fly customers only at this stage."
Real Journeys has been quick to adapt its operations to ensure the company has more capacity and capability to look after its visitors wherever it can.
"This has seen some of our Milford Sound team redeployed to our Manapouri and Doubtful Sound operations to help manage the extra demand, while others have been redeployed to our busy Walter Peak High Country Farm operation in Queenstown," says Paul.
