Brushtail

Oh yeah, I remember. We had a 9 night cruise once and had to pay for the 10. I forgot about that.

Most cruises out of Sydney are the longer cruises.

Just bumping this for Rasa Sayang...... :)

We've used this way of parking our car in Sydney a further 5 times for cruises since my original post back in 2007. :D

The last time was in February when we cruised around New Zealand. The price is still $14.00 per day and it's still the best way for us to get to Sydney.

We've never had any problems with it and intend to do the same for our upcoming cruises.

After arming myself with oodles of tidbits of knowledge and great ideas gleaned from HOURS spent trawling the Cruise Critics website and forums for our first cruise (been back over a week already, **sigh**), I gained a new nickname on our cruise - Know It All Niki LOL! I wore that badge proudly :-)

:D :D :D :D

That's funny.

I know what you mean, but what else do you do when newbie cruisers on board keep asking questions? :p :p

We sailed to Australia on P&O Oriana in 1964. I have my certificate for Crossing the Equator framed above my computer desk and it was signed by the captain of the day: Captain Edgecombe.

Hi Jen,

 

What do you do with your valuables whilst out snorkelling? Is it safe to leave them on the beach or do you take it in turns to snorkel? This is our 1st cruise & intend to do some snorkelling. Also do you take your own goggles, snorkel & flippers or can you hire them?

 

Cheers

Judy & Brian

Hi Judy and Brian,

We love snorkelling. It is our favourite thing to do when we cruise and we mostly choose our cruises around the snorkelling islands. :p

Phil bought a Seacure for about $20.00 on ebay and he has used it on 3 cruises now. It is great.

(this isn't Phil) ;)

He wears it around his waist as a bum-pack, it is waterproof and he puts our cruise cards etc in it. It has the added bonus of me hanging on to it as we snorkel together. :)

Phil's is bright yellow and he is also easily spotted from shore.

We bought our snorkelling gear from KMart. My mask was $16.00 and the snorkel only $5.00. Phil's were the same price but he bought flippers too. I only use a mask and snorkel. I find the flippers too cumbersome so when we want to move along at a faster pace, I hang on to Phil and use the power of his legs and flippers. Works for me. :D

One thing you definitely want to pack, and I would never snorkel or swim without them, are reef shoes. These are the beach/aqua shoes made from wetsuit material and they have them at Big W for $10.00. I wouldn't swim without them. They protect your feet from the sharp coral beach, rocks and anything you might accidentally step on in the water.

Phil bought his flippers in a larger size so they go over his reef shoes. We've just about got the whole thing down pat now. lol

We had a great cruise with heaps of fabulous snorkelling. Have a wonderful time.

 

I'm still struggling with what clothes to take. When you say smart casual for dinner, does that include jeans, or are nice slacks/skirts/pants the better option?

If you are worried about what clothes to take, a good idea is to have a look at everyone's photos posted in a sticky thread at the top of the page, and look at what they are wearing.

It will be cool leaving Sydney for the first day or so, then will warm up and out come the shorts and t-shirts. You won't need your warmer clothes until you get back near Sydney.

We have been to Vanuatu in April, May, June and November and it has been hot and muggy every time. :D

Don't pack too much. We always tend to wear the same 2 sets of clothes over and over and just wash them out in the shower and hang them up to dry or use the excellent laundries. The other clothes we take stay hanging up in the cabin. :rolleyes:

I also found this on my computer. It is list of hints and tips about the islands from another CCer. I remember copying it from a thread about 3 years ago. It is very good and worth a read. :)

There are no tours on Isle of Pines or Mystery Island. You can walk around the whole of Mystery Island in about 2 hours maybe. Isle of Pines has beautiful snorkelling or beach areas.

In Vila there are heaps of taxis and vans. It is cheaper to do your own thing in Vila if you can. It only cost $2 per person to get into town by taxi. When we did Cascade a few years ago. We did our own thing hired a van that took us out to the waterfalls, a guide then took us up to the waterfall and the taxi driver waited a few hours till we returned and then he drove us back into town - DONT PAY UNTIL your journey is over. This trip worked out half what the ship was charging and when there is 4 of you it all adds up.

There are tours run on Isle of Pines by the locals. I think the one that looked the most fun was on bikes in a convoy. They were quad style bikes and accommodated both adults & kids. We normally just go for a walk up to the old convict prison ruins when on Isle of Pines. It's a nice walk to stretch your legs and it is interesting to see how it changes each time.

The tours do get a little expensive however and on most islands the locals also run tours at a fraction of the cost of P&O's. But remember the P&O tour guides have been checked out and the tours are reviewed. They also seem to have guides who speak very good English and know what to point out! Who knows what you will get with the locals.

Saying that however every time we have gone on a "local" tour (did one in Lifou one time, one if Vila and another in Luganville) we have never had a problem (other than the adventure with the flat tyre and almost running out of petrol in the bomb of a bus on Vila but that's another story!). Each time they have been significantly cheaper than the tours offered on the ship.

My opinion for Vila would be the Ekasup Village tour. Sort of a re-enactment type village of how they lived. The "Chief" speaks very good English. Very good for children as there is a lot of island children there too. It’s only a few hours so there is plenty of time left to shop. Its only one main street. Not sure whether the waterfall would be interesting enough for young children. There is the small ferry that takes you to an island resort where you can swim, snorkel. That’s good too.

Mystery is quite small, though I have been about 4 times and never walked round it yet! Once I get in that water and see all the fish, I never want to get out They are getting quite civilised last year they had stalls. Careful here as Myself and others were duped into buying stuff which were made out of coated seeds, even had a clearance certificate from customs saying they had been inspected and were ok. They were all taken of us.

An interesting thing to do at Isle of Pines is to walk out along the road to the convict prison ruins.

I wouldn’t bother with the Cascade water falls tour. We hired a van and a man!! Two families shared. Had to pay $15 each to get in and there is not much water there so not much water fall. (Easter 06)

Isle of Pines, I think I spent most of the time taking photos, what stunning scenery.

Yes they had small coach tours and little three wheel cars tours run by the locals, but this is just a great place to just sit and chill.

My favourite is Isle of Pines. I love the beautiful blue water and white sand. We always have a great time when we snorkel, even though the water is cold when you get in. It's also a great sized island for a walk and you still get sea breezes for most of our walk so it is not as hot as some of the others! My second favourite would have to be Vila for the shopping of course, best place to buy souvenirs and not break the bank.

Hideaway Is off Vila is beautiful also. You can walk right around the island in about 1- 11/2 hours. When you stand in the water (I don't snorkel, but the others do) the fish come up to your toes and legs. A wonderful sight.

To get back to the topic.... my favourite is Isle of Pines-the beautiful clear water and fine white Talc sand really take some beating, and the snorkelling out near "the Rock" is really great, I saw so many different fish, giant clams, octopus. I also liked Mystery Island, although it does get a bit crowded.

Pentecost Island wins hands down. It is an absolutely magical place, beautiful beaches, lovely coral shoals in close to the beach, friendly locals, and if you're there at the right time - the Land Diving is something that has to be seen to be believed. Even in the midst of a Tropical deluge it was wonderful.

You don't need to book for the land diving, and there's no cost (but take some gold coins to donate). All you need to do is get the tender ashore from the ship (it's a quick trip) and walk the 10-15 mins to the land diving site - there'll be plenty of locals to direct you. It normally starts about 10.30 - and the ships crew does their best to get everyone ashore in time for it. Try and get over early to get a good spot - although there's plenty of room, so don't be concerned if you don't get across straight away.

Take hats, sunscreen and water. It is hot sitting in the sun for hours.

Hopefully it won't be as muddy for you as it was for us. It rained just as we arrived at the Island, and the track leading to the jump site, and the jump site itself turned into a bit of a mud pit, churned up by 1500 passengers traipsing in. It's just as well there was a lovely beach to swim in and clean off the mud before going back to the ship. The ships laundry was working overtime that night to clean muddy blue and white beach towels!

Hi Mactan, I forgot to post the Islands part. :o Here it is.

Vila

The ship ties up at the wharf in Vila and when all formalities are cleared with the authorities, everyone is free to go ashore.

You just go down to the appropriate deck (they announce which one) and walk down the gangplank onto the wharf. You need your cruise cards with you every time you leave the ship as they beep you on and off.

They also have a roped off area around the ship for security and you need to show your cruise card when you approach the ship on your way back.

There are markets at the wharf and you are made very welcome by the people of Vila.

Australian money is used throughout.

There are two ways to get into town. It is too far to walk. A minibus is $2.00 each and a taxi is $10.00. Doesn’t matter how many are in the taxi, it is $10.00.

These vehicles would never pass the pink slip in NSW. Be prepared for rustic.

The problem with the minibus is that they will wait until it is full before leaving, whereas a taxi will go immediately.

The weather will be warm and muggy – at any time of year. Take bottled water with you and comfy shoes.

Ask to be dropped off at the Post Office.

There is no problem in getting back to the ship, when you are walking along the footpath in Vila (there is only one main street) taxis will call out to you ‘back to ship?’

Mystery Island

Tenders are used at Mystery Island. This is one of my favourites. It is a small island with a nice market.

They sell lobsters, cooked in front of you, from $10.00. You have to get in first for these as they are popular.

They also sell coconuts with a straw so you can drink the milk, then go back and they will cut them in half so you can eat the coconut meat. This meat is soft and bendy and really nice. One coconut is enough to share.

The snorkelling is better on the other side of the island from the ship. Look for dark spots in the water (the rocks) this is where the fish live. This seems obvious, but we didn’t know that at first. J

Isle of Pines

The water always seems to be a bit rough around the Isle of Pines which makes the tender trip heaps of fun.

The people do not make you as welcome as the other islands, they are very aloof and French.

There are no markets, bands, singing children or anything. Just one upmarket souvenir shop with expensive trinkets to the right of the wharf. You can walk the 1k to the resort and buy a drink which will cost an arm and a leg. Or do a minivan tour of a small part of the island for $18.00 each.

There is really not much to see there and there are signs pointing to a village but it is so far away 5klm+ and only a small shop when you get there. DEFINITELY not worth walking to.

Your best bet is just to swim and snorkel on the lovely fine white sandy beaches.

The snorkelling around the rock is stunningly fantastic and I really recommend you try it here. You just swim out a couple of metres (hardly out of your depth) and there it all is. Tropical fish paradise. Make sure you have a go. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

The rock is sacred and you are asked not to climb it.

The water is cooler here and I recommend you take a jumper/jacket/cardigan to warm up after swimming. I took a spray jacket as a normal part of my island backpack, and I was very glad of it. I huddled in it until I warmed up. J I am taking a cardigan next time.

It is warmer further around the bay out of the wind.

Don’t forget that you can always go back to the ship as often as you want if you forget something or want lunch.

I'm totally amazed that there are so many of us. :eek:

There must be something strange about us all arriving in Australia by ship so many years ago - and all of us on a cruising website so totally hooked on wanting to go back to sea.

I have always wanted to go back to sea, it just took me 41 years to do it. :D

Thanks for the link. I had a big search for Oriana departing UK on December 20, 1964 and the nominal roll is not available. :( I couldn't find anything on our family name.

It says Access Status - not yet examined

Hints for Isle of Pines, New Caledonia

This is a tender port. The locals speak French but will accept Australian currency here and there is a small boutique shop. There are no markets like you see at the other islands.

The snorkelling here is the best. Around the Rock the fish are really amazing.

We packed some small packets of Premium crackers to use when snorkelling. (the individually wrapped packs of about 4 crackers) These are ok to take ashore as they are factory packaged and are NOT fresh food taken off the ship. Taking food off the ship is a real no-no.

Crush the packets and tear a small hole in the corner and when snorkelling, you fill the pack with water and puff out tiny bits of cracker. You will soon be surrounded by fish. And then fairly soon by other snorkellers all watching. :p

We have been here twice and the water has been a lot cooler than the other islands and it has been windy. Take something with you to put on after snorkelling.

If you walk around the beach towards the resort, you are out of the wind and it is just lovely.

Passengers are discouraged from buying from the resort, but they will take your money. $6.00 AU for a can of coke.

There is a tour of the island in mini-buses which is nice. It gives you a good idea of the layout of the island. You will soon see that everything is a good distance away, too far to walk. We paid $18.00 each in June 2007.

There are also mopeds to hire but I don't know how much there were.

Isle of Pines is beautiful. My favourite thing about it is the snorkelling.

Can anyone else add more?

Bump.....for Need a Holiday

I was just looking at a thread titled 'Hairdryers on the Pacific Dawn'. There's no hair dryer needed up on deck. :p

Then I smiled to myself remembering the wind blown hairdo I sported continuously from the time we sailed out through the heads in Sydney to the day we returned.

As well as being wind blown, there was the swimming and snorkelling and returning to the ship with salt encrusted wind blown hair. :eek:

My big thing to pack is Top Quality Hair Conditioner. Don't leave home without it.

Hi Gail and Jim,

I've only just seen your posting and link to the video where we all feed the fish on Isle of Pines. Wasn't that the best snorkelling ever? And a bit scary too. :o

There were so many of them swimming right up to my face that I panicked and chickened out and gave the bag of crackers to Gail so she could feed them instead. What are friends for. :p

I then watched from a bit further away. :rolleyes: I was also keeping a watch for the bigger boys, you know, the ones with fins and big teeth. :D

That actually brough a tear to the eyes Gail. The memories......

 

Karen

It brought tears to my eyes too. If only we could go back and do it all again. :(

Great work, Gail and Jim. I loved, loved, loved the sound of the ships whistles, it was just fabulous. :)

My photos of the Pacific Dawn Maiden Voyage on 9 November 2007 are now up and running. All 345 of them. :p

http://travel.webshots.com/album/561634113ZVQEnN

We went to Noumea, Dravuni Island, Suva, Yasawa-I-Rara, Vila and Isle of Pines.

It was a fabulous cruise, our best yet.

Hope you like them.

Great pictures Karen. We've been home a week. Unbelievable.

BTW, thanks for including the lovely picture of me in my mask and snorkel. :D I look particularly stunning. :p

We have a few new cruisers on the boards and I thought I would start a thread with some hints and tips. This is a list I made up for a workmate for her first cruise. They are for the Pacific Sun.

We drove down to Darling Harbour on the morning of the cruise and went straight to Wharf 8, parked, and dropped off our large luggage. You don’t go into the main terminal for this, but to the right of the terminal where you will need your passports ready as you give them your suitcases. We then drove around to the other side of Darling Harbour to Harbourside and parked at Wilsons Parking. They have a deal with P&O where you can park your car for $14.00 per day. You have to find an attendant and fill out a special form. This is a good deal. A taxi to the ship is about $10.00.

Back at Wharf 8, you join a queue that snakes around barriers like an airport. Make sure you have filled in your paperwork and have your passports ready. Your bags go through x-rays etc and they will give you your cruise card and room keys

Then ‘smile’ they take a boarding photo for posterity and then you go on board. Very exciting.

There is lifeboat drill before you sail and announcements tell you what to do.

Then it is up on deck for sailaway. Choose a good spot and enjoy it. It can be a bit cool up on deck when you are underway so it is a good idea to take a jacket. No need to take your bag, that is one good thing on a cruise, just leave them in your cabin. All you need is your lanyard with door key and cruise card on it

Clothes for dinner. Just smart casual will do. No shorts are allowed in the dining rooms in the evening, but are ok for breakfast and lunch. Formal nights can be as formal as you want. Some go all out with cocktail dresses, long gowns, bridesmaid type dresses etc with some men in tuxedos, but most just wear a sparkly top and skirt /pants and the men in dress shirt, tie or a suit. You will fit in no matter what you wear. Some don’t do it at all, some go all out.

There is a set up for formal photos. They look great (there is a photo gallery and you can check them all out at your leisure) and there is no obligation to buy any of them. It may be a chance to have a fabulous family photo with you all looking your best.

Small pocket sized maps of the ship are available from the pursers desk. I carted mine around for the whole 10 days.

Tenders. You will need tickets to the tenders (free). Once anchored off the islands – I love to be up on deck watching the rigmarole of anchoring - they announce that tender tickets are now available. Don’t get the tickets until you are ready to go ashore. We got them straight away once, thinking we would get in early, and they announced our number and we hadn’t had breakfast or anything yet. J There is no rush, you are at the islands all day.

There is no food on the islands, and definitely none is to be taken off the ship, (quarantine laws) so have a good breakfast. Phil and I worked out that we would explore the islands and shop before lunch, go back to the ship and eat lunch and get changed into swimmers and go back to the islands for the afternoons swimming and snorkelling. That worked well for us because Phil is diabetic and needs to eat regular meals. You might be fine and just fill up on a huge breakfast. They do have a P&O stall selling packets of Smiths chips and cans of drink, but that is usually all.

You can have your passports stamped on some of the islands. They have a grass hut with a sign ‘passports stamped here $2.00 each’. Unless you want them stamped, you don’t need to take your passports ashore. Your cruise card is put through a machine as you go on and off the ship.

Be prepared for sudden showers – it is the tropics – and don’t make a rush back to the ship. You are a long time back home so enjoy those islands with palm trees, coral beaches and tropical fish while you can. Just take a spray jacket or $2.00 ponchos, rolled up in your bag or be philosophical and just get wet.

Take the blue and white striped beach towels provided by P&O. It is very strange to be on a beach and EVERYONE has the same towel. When you get back on board, there is a large bin for wet towels. Just put them in there and clean ones will be provided by your cabin steward.

Take gold coins to the islands for the islanders. They never ask but they stand and sing in groups with a donation box in front of them, just chuck in a coin or two before taking their photos. You definitely don’t have to, but it is a great earner for them and they don’t have much.

No need to change your money into Vatu in Vanuatu. Australian money is used even in Vila in shops, taxis, duty free etc. So take small notes for the markets. It seems tacky to give them a $50.00 and expect change.

There is a great shop in Vila across the road from the post office, great for rip-off clothes and stuff like Billabong, Quiksilver, DVDs etc. Buy your duty free from Feng Kuei ?? it is the best one. It is the last one on the left hand side of the main shopping street.

Hair braiding. There are quite a few places in the markets on the wharf at Vila or on the islands that do it. Choose one with care. Watch them doing others to make sure they do a good job.

You can buy stuff for island night on the islands. Vila wharf markets are best. Don’t buy from the first stall, look all around, some further on may be better or cheaper.

Some stuff cannot be brought back into Australia. Check that wood products are fully lacquered. Look for borers or small bugs. Customs will keep anything that is dodgy. Some stalls will tell you that things are OK to take back home. Don’t believe them. Shake baskets etc. to see if bugs fall out. If they do, customs will take them.

Reef shoes for swimming and walking on the beach are essential. I never bothered with flippers, but Phil took his reef shoes when he was buying his flippers to make sure they fit over the top of them. Worked a treat.

Sun block and Aloe Vera gel for sun- skin care.

The cabin stewards always hang around in the hallway all day. Just find them; they will be close by their cart which has things like towels, ice, toilet paper etc in it. If you want anything at all, (extra coathangers, another blanket, more towels, clean beach towels, more soap etc) just ask them, they are lovely.

If you take water bottles, buy some with a wide mouth and you can fill them up with ice from the ice machine on the lido deck in the buffet area.

We took 6 – 8 wire coathangers with us and washed out our light clothes and hung them up in the window to dry. It worked well. The hangers on board are better quality and do not fit over the little rail. We just hand washed some stuff, put it between two towels and stood on them to get as much water out as possible and hung them up. There is a laundry provided and we only used it once. Take stuff that does not need ironing and is lightweight. Towards the middle/end of the cruise they have a special offer of 25 pieces of clothing washed and dried for $25.00, something like that. We never used it but plenty of others do.

Take a highlighter to mark out things you want to do in the Pacific Daily. It is put under your door each evening. It would be a shame to miss something.

Some families take post-its to write messages to each other and stick them on the mirror in the cabin. ‘gone to bingo’ etc.

There are phones scattered over the ship in the public areas and you can call your cabin from them. All free, of course. Can be useful.

Take a powerboard for all your electrics. There is only one power point. You may need to plug in your battery chargers and stuff.

A hairdryer, soap, shampoo and conditioner are provided. But they are hotel type sachets, I took my own hair products.

The cabin stewards come in twice a day. Once in the morning when they make the beds, clean the bathroom etc. And again when you are at dinner where they tidy up again and turn down your beds.

There is an automatic tip added each day to your cruise cards. I think it is $5.50 per person per day. If you don’t want to pay this, you can go to the purser’s desk and ask it to be removed. You can do this at any time, even the night before going home. If you get the guilts, you can leave it on one card and have it removed from the other. It is a personal thing.

You can go to the purser’s desk at any time and ask for printouts of your cruise cards. This can be really handy to keep a track on your spending and to make sure it is all correct.

If you feel seasick – don’t wait, take Kwells or other travel medication and go up on deck into the fresh air. If you still feel sick after a day or two, go to the doctor and get a needle and you will be right as rain. It might cost, but you have paid a lot for your cruise and you don’t want it ruined. I never felt sick at all, but Phil got a bit queasy in the show lounge. Just go up on deck and stand in the fresh air. You will feel much better.

Enjoy the roll and movement of the ship, it is part of being ‘at sea’. I love it.

Overall, enjoy yourselves. It is the best holiday for doing nothing, total relaxation. No driving, cooking, cleaning etc. You are fully looked after and the biggest decision is where to have lunch, at the buffet or in the dining rooms. If you choose the dining room, it is much like the evening meals, with baskets of yummy rolls and three courses. You are seated at tables with strangers, they fill up one table at a time….. This can be good as you meet others and ask where they are from etc.

I have hints about the islands too. I'll try and find them and post them as well. This could be a really useful thread.

Jane, your underwater shots are fabulous. How was your camera?

Love the photos. Reminded me that my pool hammock is dead in the states.

The pool hammock was a great idea Jane, so thank you for the earlier suggestion. I wouldn't have got one if you hadn't mentioned it.

Plenty of people asked me about it and said what a good idea it was. Not being a good swimmer, it also made me a lot more confident about being out of my depth.

The Glass Bottom Boat and Snorkel Safari in Vila had pool noodles for

not-so-confident swimmers, and they were great too. We saw someone get on the tender in Wala with one doubled up in their backpack. :D

I have finally completed the photos for our cruise on Pacific Sun - N714. 30th April 2007 to Wala, Vila, Mystery Island and Isle of Pines.

There are plenty of underwater shots, and also one of me with Fishtaco and Sue2539.

http://community.webshots.com/user/Brushtail2

Yes me, (holding hand up) :p

We came to Australia in 1964/1965, we had Christmas and New Year on board, on P&O Oriana. We sailed through the Suez Canal and were on board for 3 weeks.

I have a framed certificate above my computer desk, signed by the captain C Edgecome, proclaiming my crossing of the equator.

All my life I wanted to go back to sea, and now I do. :D

Didiaust, we used Wilson Parking as planned.

We drove down to Wharf 8 at Darling Harbour where the Sun was berthed and decked out in bunting, we parked our car in the free parking area and offloaded our larger luggage to be taken onboard the ship.

Then we drove around to the other side of Darling Harbour to Murray Street and to the parking station. The name of the parking station has been changed from Wilson Parking to Harbourside parking. (This caused us some confusion and I raced inside one of the hotels and asked if was Wilsons Parking, they confirmed that it was)

It is a huge parking station that runs nearly the whole length of the block with two hotels above it. One of the hotels is the Novotel. Even though there are two entrances, it is the one carpark.

We drove in and found a parking spot.

Then we went to the auto pay machine on level 4 which is the street entry level, and pressed the buzzer and spoke to an attendant.

We then filled in a P&O form, gave him the ticket we received at the boom gate, and got a taxi to Wharf 8. The taxi cost $10.00.

The return journey was the same. We offloaded our luggage onto the footpath from the taxi and, leaving me to guard it, Phil went in to pay the attendant and get the car. He picked me and the luggage up and we drove home.

Easy Peasy.

Interestingly, the parking station has it's own Monorail station. It is Convention Centre.

Good luck. :)

I went to their website www.wilsonparking.com.au and clicked on NSW -and Sydney South and then Harbourside and then I phoned them on the number they had on line.

Harbourside 047

Murray Street, Pyrmont 2009

Phone 9552 2330

They confirmed that they have long term cruise parking and they said it was $14.00 per day. ($140.00 for 10 day cruise and $14.00 per day thereafter)

They said they do not take bookings, just drive up, take the ticket and park. Then when you get back, present the ticket and pay. Then drive home. Sounds easy.

I will be confirming it all again before we go in 3 weeks. Only Harbourside do this, not the other Wilson Parking stations.

We will get there early, park the car and then explore Darling Harbour. Then go back to the car, unload and get a cab to Wharf 8.

Much cheaper than Happy Cabby.

Hope this helps.