What To Expect

What‘s Included

Reviews

• Fabulous Fjord Experience!

  Isabel M,Feb 22, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  This was a really exceptional experience. The chef catered to my extensive food sensitivities and served wonderful meals. Everyone was friendly and staff attended to every need. Kayaking and swimming were added bonuses and seeing the stars and mountains from the hot tub was amazing. Family owned and operated, very comfortable accommodations., well worth the price for an unforgettable experience.

• Well worth it

  ne0lac,Feb 15, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  When I saw the "cattle boats" of tourists at the dock, I was so glad that my travel advisor had suggested this way of experiencing Milford Sound, which has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. The boat was luxurious (and warm, which had been a concern, since I'm from Hawaii), the young crew became our friends within a few minutes (talking with Captain Jack was a highlight), and there was a lot of information offered about the wildlife and scenery. I was glad to find out that it was a family-run business, similar to some of our day excursion boats here at home. Dinner and breakfast were both excellent. The number of guests was just right (I think we had about 16) - you could be social if you wanted, or stay more to yourself. Since we had opted for the helicopter transfer to Glenorchy in the morning, we felt like rock stars when it landed on the top deck to pick us up, although we didn't want to leave.

• One of the best...

  David B,Feb 10, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  One of the best activities we have ever done. The boat is amazing, second only to the friendly and informative staff. The food was impeccable. The cabin was very comfortable and the bed and bathroom facilities excellent.

• Bliss on Milford

  Anne P,Feb 6, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  A relaxing, informative way to experience the wonders of the Milford Sound. The commentary from our skipper, Jack, was exceptional. Jack has a wealth of knowledge about the Milford Sound and his keen eyes spotted penguins and seals in addition to the many geological features of the area. The crew were so attentive - Ella was a bright and engaging host- as well as all the other staff. The bed was supercomfy and the cabins were surprisingly spacious considering the small space. Everything was top class. The chef pulled together some amazing meals. Thanks so much for a memorable trip.

• Spectacular Scenery and Good Service, Some Details Could Improve

  HLinkowich,Jan 5, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  4.00

  We spent one night in 2 cabins on the Fiordland Jewel occupying rooms 2 and 8. The staff were friendly and accommodating. Room 2 had an unpleasant odor which was temporarily masked for about an hour by some Glade carpet freshener after saying something to one of the ladies working on the boat. She told me “some people have sensitive noses” somewhat discrediting my complaint. The room with the odor was where my 3 kids ages 17, 15, and 11 slept and they smelled it, but didn’t complain too much. This room also had no temperature control and was stuck at 21C throughout the night even though we set it for lower. There was a 3 course meal including blue cod and panna cotta which was very good. The appetizer was venison tartare (or raw deer meat) which I found to be a questionable choice. There were 5 kids under 18 on the boat and this was not appealing to any of them. In addition, I was concerned about trying this being in the middle of nowhere and fearing food poisoning from raw meat, even though I’m sure their kitchen preparation was absolutely fine. It would’ve been nice to have a more friendly option. Lastly, we enjoyed the hot tub in the evening, but it was a murky color, not clear, making me question the cleanliness. Overall, we had a great trip to Milford Sound, but these few things could’ve been improved to get the 5 star review.

• Unforgettable adventure with a great guides

  cjandjo,Dec 31, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We were picked up at the B&B by Phil. He was an excellent guide taking us to Milford Sound – just 4 of us, plus Phil in the 4x4. Transfer onto the boat was straightforward. The crew looked after us well and the chef was excellent. I think we had about 18 on the boat. Magnificent waterfalls including one which created a rainbow close to entry into the Sound making it look as though the water was on fire. Brilliant. We say penguins and seals but sadly not dolphins. We went kayaking from the boat and then jumped into the Sound for a (very) brief swim. Exhilarating. Excellent supper and then into the hot tub as we floated around our mooring for the night. Phil drove us back to Te Anau the next morning. All in all a great trip.

  

  

• It was an experience.

  John V,Dec 29, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  4.00

  Even if you don't care for cruises, this one should still be enjoyable. The captain and his crew were on top of things the entire time; they were all very personable and attentive. For dinner, the main entrée was fish, but we requested something else during the introduction period on the ship. They were able to switch us to venison. As for the views, it was raining, and it couldn't have made the experience any better (as long as you don't mind getting a little wet). Due to the rain, the overflow caused many more waterfalls than we’d otherwise get to see. We really liked how they moved up close to a couple of the waterfalls so we could get close-up pictures. If it weren't for the following small issues, we would have rated this a 5-star experience. First, the parking. There are so many excursions going on at the same time that the parking situation seemed like a nightmare. I'm a patient guy, but this seemed a bit over the top. I had read online that there is special parking in Lot C, but with the cacophony of people all over the place, we never found it. I ended up dropping my wife off at the information center with our luggage and drove to the free parking 2km away. There is a well-traveled trail in the woods that you can hike to keep off the road for the trip back. We got there three hours ahead of time thinking we could relax in the car while we waited. Instead, by the time we figured out parking, dropped off my wife, parked the car, and hiked back, we only had an hour left. I highly recommend wearing pants and long sleeves while waiting at the excursion location for your tour. Also, try not to sit on the seating next to the windows. Even while indoors, their small mosquitoes will bite you. You will barely notice the prick at first, but you will the next day. Two days later, they will still itch. By day three, they had turned into small boils on my legs. I am writing this review four days later and finally feeling pretty good as the boils start to fade. This has nothing to do with the excursion and everything to do with being in Milford Sound. The second thing that bothered us was the use of the hot tub after dinner. It was an amazing experience, but it's only open for about an hour. My wife, myself, and another couple decided to go after a quick change into swimsuits. After grabbing drinks at the bar and making our way up, we were told that hot tub hours ended at 10 pm. We paid $1,600 for a 17-hour cruise and the hot tub is only available for an hour? We spent about 20–30 minutes in the hot tub before they turned the floodlights on us, turned off the jets, and kindly asked us to leave. We were polite about it but unimpressed; we expected the hot tub to be available until at least midnight. Additionally, there is no covering over the hot tub. It rained hard for about half of our soak, which made visibility difficult for anyone wearing glasses. The tub fits four people comfortably (or six fine); however, if a large group gets there first, you’ll likely miss your window entirely. It only worked out for us because the rain drove others away just as we arrived. Overall, it was an experience. If you ignore the parking, the mosquitoes, and the hot tub issue, it was still a good evening. I likely wouldn't do this excursion again unless there was a massive drop in price. There were 22 passengers in total, which felt like a perfect size without being overcrowded. We had our own room, which was a comfortable stay. Just a heads up: you really need to be punctual when they announce events like kayaking or the hot tub, as each is limited in time and won't be available again.

  

  

  

• Beautiful boat with great...

  Ruth C,Dec 16, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Beautiful boat with great crew and good food. The views were incredible and the captain’s commentary was very interesting. Swimming and kayaking off the boat in Milford Sound was a very fun experience.

• Expensive but worth it!

  Anne F,Dec 15, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Exceptional service and food, educational and overall a wonderful way to enjoy the beauty of Milford Sound.

• One of my favorite travel experiences, ever!

  steph tourstheworld,Dec 6, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Our overnight cruise in Milford Sound was one of the most special, beautiful travel experiences we’ve ever had. The accommodations were luxurious and comfortable. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. The meals were delicious. There wasn’t a single thing we didn’t love during our trip. The weather was cool, windy and rainy, but the boat was comfortable, even for someone who has a tendency to get sea sickness, the sound kept us protected and the water was calm. The only negative of our entire trip was that we ended up getting tons of super itchy bug bites from the sandflies, on every exposed area of skin there was. They didn’t show up until we left the boat, but we wish we’d been warned how bad the bites were - providing bug spray would have been amazing.

  

  
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