peter.kath@hotmail.com

Last time we where there May 2015 there were 2 tours being offered by the locals. As you get off the ship turn left and walk for 100 Meters near the beach ware shop they will have signs. The Natural Aquarium is excellent we went with Sam who for $20 dropped us off and collected us 2 hours later. We paid $10 entrance and then a shallow walk through a lagoon signposted with blue flags. Wear reef shoes. No coral but an amazing amount of fish.

You could probably book to do the other tour in the afternoon. It also is very good. It visits the convict ruins, the local village and church and St Joseph Bay with photo stops on the way.

The guides speak limited English.

If your hungry there is food available. I can recommend the Nems Fried Crepe Spring Rolls and the Fish Kebabs.

We have been there 6 times and missed out once due to bad weather. When are you going?

I agree with Isle of Pines but take the local tour to the Natural Aquarium. Turn left when you get off the tenders just before the Beachwear Shop they will offering some local tours. We went with Sam who dropped us off and picked us up about 2 hours later. I think it cost $20 and then $10 to enter. A quick walk through the shallow lagoon and then amazing. I just take a pair of goggles. Enjoy your trip.

We booked this week for PNG next February and on our booking confirmation it says Mystery Shore Tour Alotau so fingers crossed it is something we like. Our daughter is unable to walk and has a wheelchair so we are limited to what we can do anyway.

I know what you mean it was more then twice what we expected to pay.

I had a quote for an outside room on the Aria yesterday and it included the Premium Drinks Package so not limited to Balconys.

I recommend you take a local tour of the island. They are very organised and when I was last there about $20 each. They take you to the other side of the island pointing out things on the way. There is a small marina and a stop at the most beautiful beach where we had a swim. We also went to a church and looked at some of the local houses. The driver although friendly enough only spoke French.

I went on my first cruise in 1984 on the Canberra and loved it. When my son was in Year 12 in 2011 we took him for what was his last family holiday. My daughter has CP and uses a wheelchair so we have found this a great way to travel. Since then we have travelled with P & O 10 times and have visited all of the Islands and PNG.This year we also flew to Singapore and cruised back on the Carnival Spirit. Our next cruise is on the Aria visiting Tonga, Fiji, Port Vila and Noumea.

You asked about staying at Isle of Pines after our first visit I felt like you but although very beautiful there is not much there. Our favourite place is Santo and we are going to fly there and would like to stay for about 10 days there is so much to see and a few nice restaurants to try and it is somewhere where the locals treat tourists with respect which unfortunately not always the case.

We where on Carnival Spirit returning after dry dock and where very lucky to be on the first tender off at 7.30. Before you leave the port there was the option of paying $25 for a taxi. But once you are through the gate the drivers are very enthusiastic to get your business walk through them and find. A Bluebird taxi and the metered journey will be sound $6. Having not been to Kuta for 25 years I did notice lots of changes. There seemed to be a lot of security around. The traffic was very busy. We made sure that we allowed 2 hours to get back to the ship.

We docked there recently on the Carnival Spirit who had return shuttles for $16 per person. The bus company was very well organised and we were dropped at Queens Mall. We took a short walk to Southbank and had a nice seafood meal at the Surf Club.

We have booked the Aria out of Brisbane 4/3/16' Noumea Vila Fiji and Tonga and I did see they had one going on the 1/2/16.

We have just returned from our 1st cruise on the Carnival Spirit from Singapore to Sydney and although we had a fantastic time we found the ship a bit busy for us. We have cruised about 10 times with P & O on the Dawn and the Jewel and although are not flash we have always enjoyed them. We have cruised the last 3 years on the Dawn on a similar itinerary mainly to see the land diving on Pentecost. The first visit was astounding, the second time missed port due to bad weather and last year not as good but still enjoyable. We love Fiji and our next cruise is on the P & O Pacific Aria on the 4th March Noumea, Nuku'alofa, Vavau, Suva,Port Denarau and Vila and we can't wait for our first visit to Tonga.

Dinner is $49. Lunch is also available on Sea Days for $39. Same menu.

Hi Ellie, I am packing to go on my 10th cruise on Saturday at the moment. Based on your age and based on the itinerary I would recommend Carnival or RC. Both give you a good range of ports. Where is easier to leave from Brisbane or Sydney?.

We have enjoyed NEMs in several ports. They are deep fried crepe rolls sometimes with chicken noodles and spices. In Noumea we buy them at local bakery type shops for 150 PDFs. At the Isle of Pines of the French lady over near the sacred rock for $3Ad. At Vila a new 3 story place in the centre of town behind the Markets.I am looking forward to some next month when we cruise again.

We have travelled with P & O about 9 times and although we love it waiting for tenders if not fun. The last couple of times we have waited up to 2 or more hours. After our last trip we decided to make the most of our ports and to get off the ship early to book a morning shore tour. We are going to Benoa on the Carnival Spirit in August and have researched the tours. We have travelled to Bali several times more then 20 years ago. My husband is going to Kuta on the day trip and I will either go to Ulawatu or the Ubud tour. I have also been told that the roads are very busy.

We were there in November 2013. I think most of the vans and guides where taken up doing the P and O tours. I did the morning tour which was excellent but was running late returning. Which made the afternoon tours to be cut short and miss out on the volcano observatory. I did talk to some people who took a local tour to Kopoko. It was really super hot and the highlight was the volcano erupting as we left the harbour.

Lifou and Isle of Pines are both beach spots. They are both tender ports. At Lifou you can swim and snorkel and also take a tour with the Locals to the other side of the island for around $20. Isle of Pines you are dropped at a beautiful beach where you can also do a tour to the Natural Aquarium. There is also some local food stores selling food . I can definitely recommend the Nems French Spring Rolls and the cakes. When we were in Noumea in November they were running the Amedee Lighthouse Tour but the lighthouse itself was closed for renovations. You also have the option of the Hop On bus for $ 10 go to the Aquarium and stop at Lemon Bay for a swim on the way back