peter.kath@hotmail.com

Thanks, that is what I thought.

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Taking my daughter on this cruise as a surprise for her 18th Birthday next week out of Sydney on the Eden.

We cruise regularly but not this time of the year.

How is the temperature on the ship and is the pool warm enough to swim in? Thanks

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Yes you snorkel straight off the beach. No need for tour.

The most beautiful island I have visited.

We were there in February and some people were bitten by something in the water.

We wear stinger suits so didn’t bother us.

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Thanks everyone. Something White and Something Cocktail it is.

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Just booked this cruise for next month for under $300 each as a surprise gift for my daughters 18th Birthday.

We have been on several cruises the last 2 on the Aria but not on a 3 nighter. Do they still have theme nights and what are they?

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We just walked up the Main Street and got a taxi to the Tonga Beach Resort.

It was $10 each way and $7 at the resort for day guests. We had a nice swim and a snorkel and a beer or 2. The taxi driver came back as prearranged at lunchtime.

We then went back to town and had a great lobster meal at the Panda Chinese Restaurant.

We then did a bit of a bar crawl. We went to one owned by an Hawaiian and another owned by a Swiss. We then ended up at one that had a bit of a ladyboy type show which was quite entertaining. In Tonga if you have sons the 5th one is raised as a female to help mum out with all the work and is quite common.

All in all one of the best days we have had in Port anywhere.

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Hi Cath, me again.

I don’t think so. At check in each passenger has their photo taken which is linked to their card.

The card is used for room entry, as well as for all onboard purchases and your photo is checked when you leave and return to the ship.

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The reason I asked what cruise was to see your other ports as well.

In Noumea I recommend you do the Tchuo Tchuo Train. You don’t have to book through

P & O it is a lot cheaper at the terminal.

Port Vila can be a bit overwhelming but the is only for about the first 2 hours. If you delay getting off the ship early it’s not too bad. The lagoon cruise sounds good but another option might be catching the water taxi to town or Hideaway Island this is just as you leave the wharf area.

I don’t have a cruise booked at the moment so can’t look at cruise control. I think it is when you put in the Personal details. If not send an email to customer care they will help you.

Another idea is about dining. If you speak to the Maître de they can organise a designated table maybe in a quieter area and a waiter experienced with special needs.

Chelsea also takes her DVD player and a selection of movies.

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Hi Cath,

Firstly about us I have a 17 year old daughter Chelsea who has CP cannot walk and has been on 13 cruises.

Over the years I have met many parents of children with Autism so understand your situation.

Maybe a couple of questions to enable me to help you further.

What cruise ? How old are children? Are you looking at kids club? What are their and your interests? How do they tolerate crowds and noise? Anything else?

One thing I can definitely recommend dining is going on cruise control and requesting Boarding Assistance. This will minimise standing in lines in the very busy departure areas and get your cruise of to a good start.

Also on boarding make contact with Reception and advise them of any special requests you may have.

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We used Aussie. There were 2 outlets one as you got off the ship and another over the other side where the bar and restaurant were. You paid in multiples of $5.

When we were there a pie and a beer were $10. Yam Chips, Sausage Sandwiches and Beers $5. Entry to the Turtle Sanctuary $5. I didn’t think the prices were too bad.

We were talking to a one of the staff and they told us they had all come from Alotau by boat to man all the stalls.

We were there in a February last year and it is one of the most stunning places I have seen.

Enjoy your cruise.

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My daughter has a wheelchair and gets assistance.

We normally drop our bags off early 8.30 and check what time boarding will commence usually about 10.30.

There is a special line up and a place to sit you will be given a card with a number.

You will need to complete the health questionnaire and outgoing passenger card before being taken to a special queue for Cruise card photo and Check in.

You will then be reseating before being taking onto the ship. In most cases we have been on board by 11.30.

I know you are aware of your child’s coping ability.

It is quite noisy and very busy.

Just a suggestion If you lived locally it might be worth going for a trial run before the actual cruise.

We did that prior to our daughters first cruise and she now has done 13. It also makes it a bit less stressful for Mum and Dad as well to know the procedures beforehand.

If your thinking about kids club go up and have a chat to the supervisor they are very accommodating.

I hope you have a great time, it is one of the best ways to enjoy yourselves away from the day to day routine of having a disabled child.

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If you can use the MyGov site.

Select home on the left hand side. From the drop down menu, select Travelling Overseas.

You will then key in your travel details.

It will then advise you how you will be affected.

I agree about advising them of your return.

My daughter lost her Health Care Card and it took many phone calls to have it restored.

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Tonga

Nuku’alofa as you exit the ship the locals will be offering tours.

When we were there there were 2 main tours.

We chose the half day one for $50 each.

Sam was our driver and he was like a gentle giant. He took us all around and was very informative. He even showed us his house.

When we returned to town we visited the markets and caught a taxi to the Bilfish Bar where we had great fish and chips.

In Vavua we caught a taxi to the Tonga Beach Resort which welcomed day visitors. The taxi was $10 each way and the driver picked us up at about 1 pm. There are some really great bars and restaurants which are definitely worth a look. The Garlic Lobster I had there at the Panda Chinese was amazing. We did a bit of a bar crawl and even enjoyed a ladyboy (think Priscilla Queen of the Desert) show.

We have been to Suva several times.

As you leave the ship head right and it is about a half hour walk up to Government House and the Museum which is definitely worth a look.

We then have a few stops on the way back. The Bowling Club and then either the Grand Pacific or the Holiday Inn for a swim.

We then have a good look at the shops. Jacks is the best for good quality clothing souvenirs etc.

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We stay at Fort Canning Lodge. 5 minutes walk from Dhoby Guant MRT which is on Orchard Rd.

When we stayed at Christmas is was $160 a night for Good Size Room with 4 single beds. It also has a pool.

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It was really good. There was a stand just as you left the wharf area on the left next to shipping container. They offered free transport and even stopped at the bank so I could grab some Kina. We had swim and an excellent lunch. Lobster $25 Mud Crab $20 and Fish and Chips $10 and a couple of SP beers, they then dropped us off in town which was a short walk back to the ship.

Others on our ship had prebooked a fishing trip with them, When we go again I will precook a snorkelling tour.

Enjoy your cruise.

Do you mean visit a resort for the day?

If so from Noumea, Gateway Tours one of the local operators takes tours to Escapade Island, I just checked and it still gets good reviews.

Also in Port Vila, the resorts there, Erakor, Iririki Island, Le Lagoon welcome day guests, some charge a fee which comes off your food and drinks.

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Hi Sparky, I have been having a look around that time, the Aria out of Brisbane and the Eden out of Sydney, still had kid availability with Quads around $700 for 7 nights, Qld Coast Cruises.

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Hi Kiwi, we were there in February this year and it is simply amazing such are stunning place.

Yes the snorkelling is excellent both over the other side of the island and also around the side where tenders dock. I don’t mean to alarm anyone but when we were there there were several people bitten by small stingers, not life threatening but very painful.

We have stinger suits so didn’t have to worry.

They sell vouchers in $5 lots for purchasing food, drink, tours, souvenirs etc. There was a booth on both sides of the island, so you can easily top up if needed.

The have a bar and some food outlets, from memory it was $10 for a beer and a pie or a sausage sandwich. They did run out later in the day. I found it interesting that they bring the staff over from Alotau by boat a 20 hour trip to man the stalls!

There is a young lady who is a marine biologist studying turtles and it was $5 to go in to see the tanks and hear her talk to her about her programme it was very interesting, I think you could also pay to release a baby turtle. Around the island you can see the sites where the turtles come in to lay there eggs again very interesting.

I hope you enjoy your day there I certainly did.

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We are going to Vietnam at Christmas and I thought the cost of the visa was a bit rich as well, but after thinking how cheap food and drink and in our case accommodation ($70 per night for 3 people in 4 star hotel with breakfast and transport) not to bad.

If you do change your mind, I posted ours on Monday and received it back on Thursday, I paid by cheque.

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We went to the Driftwater Resort, they offered free transport from the wharf. We had a swim and an excellent Crab and Lobster Lunch, they then dropped us back in town. We walked back stopping at a few shops and also at the Waterfront Bar for a few beers.

This was our second time there. The first time back in November 2013 the Cultural Festival was the actual event.

Others like ourselves who had been before felt that when we went in February this year it was something a bit more put on to sell P & O Shore Tours.

I agree with Sinbad you will see cultural activities at the other ports.

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We have done the PNG cruise to Rabaul twice.

The first time in November 2013 as the ship departed the volcano erupted. We had visited the observatory earlier in the day which was very interesting.

Rabaul is hot and very dusty and you can smell the volcano.

In February this year we went back and visited Rapopo Plantation Resort and went swimming with the dolphins which was amazing. We were returned back to the ship by boat and they took us around the base of the volcano. The water was very hot and steaming but no eruption this time.

I hope you enjoy your cruise, we loved it and will definitely do it again. We have been on about 15 cruises and the last PNG one was our favourite.

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We did the Carnival Spirit Singapore to Sydney in 2015 and it was fantastic. We flew to Singapore 3 days before and never stopped, we left our hotel at 7 am, back for a swim in the afternoon, got changed and out til about 10 each night. It was nice to get on the ship to have a rest.

We have been on the Aria twice and it is our favourite ship. The Entertainment staff are very good, lots of trivia and games, we spent most of our time in the Ocean Bar and also the Dome. I would not call

P & O Australia stuffy, and they do limit the number of kids.

The highlight of the cruise was the scenery, particularly when the ship goes around the tip of Queensland and down around the islands. They had a pilot on board and on sea days he gave some really great talks.

We went at the end of August and it was not to hot to which was a bonus, with very calm seas.

There will be some theme nights, Formal, Gatsby, White (Bianco) and many dress up and get in the spirit of things.

We have been on about 15 P & O cruises and have no complaints about the customer service. We are a couple in our 50's and travel with our daughter Chelsea who has CP and uses a wheelchair and every one goes out of there way to help us out.

If the ship is coming from Singapore it will be coming out of dry dock, so there might be some teething problems.

I really want to go to Komodo and Timor so might check out some prices myself. Get back to me if you need some more help. Kath

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We travel overseas twice a year and use an agent and probably for the last 4 years everything has been placed into the TripCase App and we print them out ourselves.

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At Nuku'alofa there are locals at the wharf offering half days tours which we did it was quite good. We then got him to drop us off at the Billfish Cafe where we had a great lunch. The Juicy Lucy Burger I had Was the best I have ever had. My husband had some really good Fish. The lady at the bar ordered us a taxi to take us back to the ship.

In Vava'u we got a Taxi to the Tonga Beach Resort and asked to him to come back at 12.30 and only paid when he took us back. We then had a bit of a bar crawl around the local places around the port.

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By email admin@rabaul-kopopodive.com

Before you go, it was a fantastic day and I can't wait to do it again.

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