peter.kath@hotmail.com

If you go to Tripadvisor / Things to do for your Port, there are heaps of reviews. Also look in the forums.

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We have friends at Espiritu Santo and they had the cyclone hanging around since Friday. Recent posts are reporting trees down and that Lugunville is without power. Our thoughts are with them.

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We did this PNG Cruise this year only 102 kids and most of them were under 5.

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Suva has an ATM and also Money Changers in the main shopping area.

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We have been late a couple of times when we are out of Brisbane it doesn't affect us because we have our car at Portside.

But from Sydney I do remember on the Jewel a couple of years ago they knew about it 2 days before as we we very late leaving the last port of call Noumea and they allowed free phone calls to change arrangements.

Also you were given a form to fill out with your out of pocket expenses. We were reimbursed for reasonable meal expenses and a nights accomodation. We did have to pay upfront but received a cheque back within 2 weeks.

We also stay the night before and are flexible about the night of return. You don't want to stress out if something does happen.

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Same here, we always make a point of taking extra local currency so that we can help out by exchanging their Aussie Dollars and coins, particularly on the islands.

I don't know about the other cruises but on our recent Aria cruise to PNG you were able to obtain Kina from the self service kiosk where you check your accounts.

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On the question why is it names Cook is because it has originated from another area other then Australia.

I have a friend on Espiritu Santo who has advised that Air Vanuatu have ceased flying with updates due tomorrow. He also said the storm was moving slower then expected.

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We had Balcony guarantee booked for a triple room and got 8142. It was in a great spot. I hope you have the same good luck. We only found out about 2 weeks before we left.

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What Ship ? We have recently been on the Aria to PNG it was great and there was plenty to do.

Dance Classes in the Dome, Guest Lecturers, Sporting Activites,

And yes trivia we enjoyed Scattergories at 4.30 each day, followed by Cruise Long Trivia at 5.15 in the Ocean Bar. Dinners at 6.15 at either Angelos or the Dragon Lady in time for the 7.00 pm show in the Marquee. Then Name that Tune at 8.00 again in the Ocean Bar.

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On cruises that we have done in the past the cruise companies in our case P & O and Carnival have organised the visas onboard.

It is interesting we are doing a land based trip to Vietnam at Christmas, and it has been advised by the Viet Embassy that the fee is $95 and we are required to send our passports as well as other documents to Sydney for processing.

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Hi I'm awake. The Pearl left Auckland New Zealand on a 16 night cruise to Singapore. It is supposed to visit Gladstone tomorrow Friday but Queensland has just been hit by Cyclone Debbie so that might be the case.

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Something else to think about.

Everyones case in different.

We have a 16 year old daughter who has CP is unable to walk and uses a wheelchair. She has just returned from her 13th cruise.

A cruise is a great way for Mum and Dad to have a break from the normal life of housework, cooking and cleaning as well as caring for a disabled child.

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Just as another idea could I suggest a cruise to PNG. We have done 2 most recently on the Pacific Aria and even though we have enjoyed the 14 cruises that we have been on, this one was exceptional.

It was for 14 nights visiting Alotau, Madang, Wewak, Rabaul, Kitava, Kiriwini and the Conflict Islands. Each port was unique and so diverse and interesting.

On this cruise there were a lot of people returning as they had serviced there or worked there. There was an interesting presentation each seaday by John who had worked there in the 70's as a patrol officer. When fishing some things f the ports not a lot had changed.

There were only 106 children on board and most of them were under 5.

We travel with our 16 year old daughter and she is always with us or in the room.

We also travelled on the 10th February, just was after school had gone back.

We were considering one of the Asian cruises this year but have decided to fly instead, Singapore/Siam Reap/ Hoi An for 14 nights Christmas and New Year, Very Exciting.

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Good on you, Being the mother of a disabled child I understand your situation. I haven't been on the Dawn for 2 years but hopefully I can give you some hints.

Just as an idea could you take them to Portside a couple of times pre cruise to see how they react and to give them an idea what goes on.

Ask for boarding assistance using cruise control. You do get to to pick your time so you might be better later when it may not be so busy.

Go to reception explain your situation and hopefully they will give you a quieter area to muster.

If you would like to eat at the Waterfront again have a chat to the Front of house staff who might be able to give you a quieter table.

If the Pantry you could always get their food and take it back to the room of find a quieter place to sit.

Take some activities that can be done in the room, DVDs, IPads etc if that is their thing. Advise your room stewards of your situation.

I honestly don't think Kids Club would be suitable for the younger one and maybe not the older one either.

If you contained their activities to say the pool area and the Dome you should be fairly safe but play it be ear.

You won't be the only one on board with special needs children.

Hopefully you have a nice time, Good Luck!

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We have recently been on the Aria so should be the same.

We went to the Monkey Bar, at the back of Deck 8, where they take all the restaurant bookings you can ring but they do give you a booking slip there from 8 am til 4 pm. At the beginning of the 14 day cruise they only allowed 1 booking each for Angelos and the Dragon Lady. So after eating at Angelos the 1st night we could then book again. As the cruise went on this become a bit more relaxed. We booked for 6.15 pm and were easily out by 7 pm.

The menu changes weekly.

Enjoy your cruise we are looking at doing that one next year.

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Yes this cruise goes from Brisbane in February in 2018 and 2019.

This was our 2nd time on the Aria last year we did the Bounty Adventure to Tonga which we also loved.

No Chelsea could only get off a Alotau, Rabaul and Madang.

On each of the sea days we had an excellent presentation given by John and his wife Morag who detailed their life as Patrol Officers I am sorry I can't remember his last name. We sat next to them one night at Angelos and they arranged for us to visit the Madang Festival as their guests as the shore tour was booked out.

Wow what an experience that was. There were displays from at least 10 different villages as well as the Mud Men. It was held at the Madang Resort which is quite upmarket like a PNG Raffles.

We decided to walk back to the Madang Club for Lunch, very good Chinese and a beer. It was a bit like our RSL Clubs of the 80's.

We find the shops fascinating. We probably visited about 20 buying good priced shirts shoes underwear etc, all from China and Indonesia but a lot better quality then here.

One thing I will say is that the roads are terrible they would have to be the worst I have seen.

There we many people that did this cruise for sentimental reasons and I think you would love it.

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It was fantastic. This was our second time the first in November 2013.

We chose this cruise as it also went to Madang, Wewak and the Conflict Islands which we did not visit last time as well as Alotau, Rabaul, Kitava and Kiriwini.

Each port is so different. The islands and snorkelling are so beautiful.

If you go to a resort the meals are excellent, I had Lobster at Rabaul and Alotau for about $20.

My 16 year old daughter has CP and has a wheelchair which fascinated all the locals they were even asking to take a photo of her.

In Wewak we were having a beer at a resort when the Goverment Minister came over and introduced himself and thanked us for coming as did many of the locals where ever we went. Also there when we were walking down the street this kid turned to his Dad and said "Look Dad there is a white man" which gave us a laugh.

In Rabaul we went swimming with Dolphins which we organised privately with Rapopo Resort. This would have to one of the most special things we have ever done.

Conflict Islands Simply Stunning, Owned by an Aussie. The staff had travelled 12 hours by boat from Alotau got the day to serve us.

We had a pie and a beer $10 for breakfast.

The snorkelling was great but a few people did get bitten, we took stinger suits so not us.

We are looking at doing the same cruise again in 2019.

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When we went to PNG recently it left at 2 pm.

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We first travelled on the Jewel 6 years ago, and have since been on another 14 cruises since mainly with P & O since. We are a couple in our fifties with a 16 year old daughter who has CP and uses a wheelchair.

When we book cruises we look at the price and the itinerary.

Where else in Australia or overseas could we get accomodation, transport and all the food you get eat for about $100 each per day?

I love the fact that I don't have to cook, clean or do any housework.

One of our favorite places is the the Oasis at the back of Deck 10 it is great to sit there with a drink when you leave Port.

Where are you going? A lot of the fun is planning what you can do in ports Tripadvisor Forums are great. We just got back from PNG on the Aria and it was just brilliant, this was our second time and we will do this again.

We took our daughter swimming with Dolphins in Rabaul and it was a really special day for all of us.

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We just got back last Friday from 14 night cruise to PNG and the weather was brilliant and the seas were very kind.

Last year in March we did Fiji, Vanuatu and Tonga when Cyclone Winston was around but we were in luck and it went all around us.

I know last year some of the ships were missing Bali because of the weather but don't remember what month it was. Is this where you disembark?

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We don't normally take ships tours unless they are something special or a port we are unsure about.

Both at Alotau and Rabaul there are locals waiting to take you to see the sights.

At Alotau this time just out of the gates there was a lady there from the Driftwood Resort. They were offering free transport to their resort.

The driver stopped for us at the bank to change Aussie Dollars to Kina. Then took us on the scenic drive to the Resort for Lunch and a Swim.

We had a Lobster and Mud Crab for 40k each $20A, a beautiful meal.

The driver then dropped us back in town where is is a 15 min flat walk back to the ship past the markets.

At Rabaul we did the dolphin swim 250K, $125A but snorkelling was also available 120K, $60 A. The lunch we had at the resort was excellent.

This included being picked up from the ship and returned by boat whilst enjoying a great view of the volcano and also the harbour.

Kiriwini and Kitava are both island days, both beautiful, with lots of local dancing and vendors with wooden crafts for sale. We had Lobster at both each morning, warm straight of the coals 10K to 60K.

Kitava you could also have a beer or a softdrink, and the locals were also giving canoe rides to the neighbouring island for 5K each way, well worth doing.

We went to Doini last time, it was owned by an Aussie, so beer, sausage sandwiches as well as some markets stalls and a few local tours.

The ports of PNG are amazing, the locals are so friendly and welcoming.

So many just come up to us and shook our hands and thanked us for coming.

If I can help anymore just ask.

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We arrived back yesterday, 2nd time and even better then last time.

What are your ports and do you like snorkelling or more cultural things.

We did have one of the most exciting days ever in Rabaul, we went swimming with a large pod of spinner dolphins. They also have a snorkelling tour. This was arranged privately with Rabaul Kopopo Dive based at Rapopo Plantation Resort. We also had lunch there and it was exceptional. Let me know it this is something you might like to do.

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Definately not lollies, we take school supplies also balls, skipping ropes, puzzles and UNO cards which everyone loves especially when you show them how to play, we get them at the bargain type shops for $2 or $3.

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Just off the Aria yesterday, I just went to reception and asked politely for a early time, docked at 8.00am in car driving home at 8.50 am.

PS that was the best cruise we have been on everything was just right, wonderful, staff, service and food.

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Lots of nice restaurants in Noumea but my favorite thing is a NEM a spring roll made out of a crepe, about 200CPF Or $2 around the Port area.

Lifou I can really recommend the tour that the locals do. Last time we were there it was $20.

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