cjm66

It looks like the Hilton, on George Street, is very close to the Town Hall station? After the long 15 hour flight (plus another 5+ hours from the east coast), would you take the train or a cab?

 

Thanks,

Chris

Probably a cab but then one of us is not light on his feet and the price difference is not that great @ 15 AUD pp for the train and $50 No tips or taxes added, for the taxi. If you decide to take the train, follow the signs or ask directions to the lift and take it all the way to street level. This will bring you out on the Eastern side of George Street - same side and only one street crossing from the George Street entrance to the Hilton.

If you came back on the City Cat, which wharf would be best to get off at , to catch a taxi to the Grain terminal.?

I realise Bretts Wharf is ideal for ships at Portside, but would you need to get off on the other side of the river to get a taxi to FI ?...and which ferry stop would be likekly to have taxis waiting.?

 

I would come back on the Mirimar. The City cat does not get that far, according to the LP. web site. Was planning to book a one way on Mirimar, if I can and phone for a taxi if there is no handy rank or passing taxi nearby. The Mirimar gets back to its wharf at 3pm so should be OK.

I will be on Celebrity Solstice next April which docks out here at 8:00 am. I am interested in taking the river trip to lone pine. It leaves at 10:00, boarding at 9:30, from the cultural center pontoon in front of the national library. Assuming the ship is cleared and we are off by 8:30ish, does anyone know if there will be cabs available to take us on this (30 minute?) trip and if so, what the approximate price would be?

I emailed one of the taxi companies and the reply confirmed that there ,would be taxis. He added that the rank would be supervised to keep the queue orderly and managed. He advised that we would be better using the queuing system and not calling a taxi. I will take the mobile anyway. We are planning to taxi to Lone Pine and cruise/taxi back. The cost is similar. We are on the Oosterdam.

Thanks kiwi Kruzer. I will grab that map and copy and drop it onto our roll call thread. Your guess about timing is probably close. The taxi calculator has estimated 34 mins to the Cultural Centre Pontoon. Colleen

Hi, I am jumping in on this thread too. We are booked on a cruise next year on Rhapsody. From what I can see, we dock in same place. I was planning on renting a car from budget (which looks like its in walking distance from Portside) but now I am not so sure this is the best way to go. Any and all info is greatly appreciated. My main goal is to cuddle a koala for this port.

Join the club for wistful koala lovers, who have discovered their ship is docking at the Grain terminal Fishermans Wharf! There is a thread on another aussie board where some options for getting to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary are discussed.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1698246

I did a map search on car hire near Fishermans and nothing close - it is in an industrial / commercial wharf area. Still searching! In the meantime planning to taxi there and possibly cruise plus taxi back- damn the expense! The HAL ship tour is not attracive - only a short time at the Sanctuary. The RCL shore tour may be better???

BTW for gone 2C RCL do provide a shuttle - mentioned in several port reviews in Cruise Review Section - $27 or $30 each way.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/ports/brisbane-cruises/

Colleen

Just out of curiosity: if you take a tour that goes to a winery, is the wine included or does one pay for what they sampling? As I said, I have never been to a winery.

The wine tasting is included in the tour price - small sips, about a quarter to third of a standard wine serving to sample each wine and usually served with something alongside to nibble as a 'palate cleanser'. The wineries hope to profit from cellar door sales. If the tour is from a cruise ship, I guess the wineries and the passengers hope they are off a ship with a generous policy about taking wine back on board.

There is a tour to a sheep farm in Akaroa listed as an option. No wineries there.

 

 

Between Picton and Napier where would one choose? In our case, one would probably be enough. Perhaps in one of those two ports there is something else that "should not be missed."

I would suggest Picton for the winery tour. Napier is a very walk able town with interesting Art Deco buildings, an excellent Aquarium and some quirky shops. The locals dress in period costume and drive vintage cars around town and line up for photos at the wharf. You will also be serenaded by a jazz trio or quartet. Picton has a small but interesting Maritime museum but IMO is not as charming as Napier.

My must remember to pack items for NZ are our lightweight wind proof and waterproof jackets from Khatmandu (local store). They pack into one of the pockets and are longer line to cover tops of thighs and have tuck in hoods. Very useful for windy Wellington and viewing the Sounds from the open decks. Colleen

ouch thats $ might stick to the tooheys!. not sure why they wouldnt go for a cheaper beer like Carlton. would make a killing at $4-5 each

I forgot to add that different bars have different menus and prices. Foe example the piano bar on the top atrium level serves those premium spirits both for shots and mixed drinks - so the prices are higher. Check it out as you explore the ship. Colleen

I can help with wine, but not beer. Price per glass is not good value. $8-$12. We always bought by the bottle and carried it off to our cabin if not finished at the time. I have read on other threads that P&O -Dawn, Jewel and Pearl are now not holding wine for you in the dining rooms. Grrrrr. Bottle prices ranged on the Jewel wine list from $22 for McWilliams select series Riesling to $72 for Cloudy Bay sav blanc. And some at even higher prices. Several in all classes at mid $30 mark, a few at $26-29 and a range again across all styles for $40-60. The selections at the bars vary and on our cruise the popular fair price Cab Merlot ran out half way through the second week. Colleen

Be wary if your itinerary includes passing through Australian Quarantine.

"Food, plants, animals and biological goods

Declare all food, plant and animal goods, equipment used with animals, biological materials, soils and sand to Quarantine on arrival. If you don't, you could be given an on-the-spot fine or face prosecution.". Other countries as posted above have similar restrictions.

Heard the clip clop of hooves in the street outside.

If you ship in in Noumea on Sunday or a holiday be sure to book a tour because the town will be pretty much closed down. Snokeling with Aquanature was better than the Great Barrier Reef! Capt Bernard has a wonderful tour.

If you cannot book with Aquanature, do not despair about being in Noumea on a Sunday. The centre of town is virtually closed - a few (very few) restaurants are open and the Casino (supermarket) directly opposite the cuise terminal is only open until lunch time. The best advice on a fine day is to head for Anse Vata or perhaps Lemon Bay, where you will find beaches, restaurants and some shops - the Explorer bus is operating and it also goes to the Aquarium and the Tjibao Centre - both are open on Sunday and are good options in unkind weather. There is also public transport to the bays. See the discussion on Trip Advisor - it seems several cruises (including ours in November) arrive on a Sunday. This exchange is unusual because it includes feedback from a cruiser who took the advice offered on the forum.

http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTopic-g294130-i4308-k5067442-Noumea_on_a_Sunday-Noumea_Grand_Terre.html

Cheers

Hi Kiwi Kruzer

Please replace : Voyager 13/1/2013 with Sea Princess 25/1/2013 to Fiji and Oosterdam 5/12/2012 with Oosterdam 7/11/2012 - Solar Eclipse, Queensland and New Caledonia.

Thanks Colleen

Did some research for tour in Noumea and most of the tour operators have been booked by the Ship and you have to book your tickets through the ship they are not offering any private bookings.Don't know if this is what normally happens when a ship comes into port or just because it a big ship.Or Royal Caribbean want to make sure their passengers get on these tours. And of course so they can make some money.

Thanks for your information

The ship may fully book the Tchou Tchou train, coach tours to the Aquarium etc and the Mary D to Amadee Island but there are other options. There is the Ho Ho Explorer bus that will take you around the main tourist areas in Greater Noumea - the bays and beaches (Anse Vata and Baie des Citrons), the Aquarium, the Tjibaou Cultural Centre - you can also try the local buses that leave around Coconut square. There is an excellent Tourist Information office in the middle of the square - very friendly and multi lingual. You can also go by water taxi to Duck Island. You will find smaller local tour operators lined up in the Passenger Terminal waiting to offer you indpendent tours. Pick up a copy of the New Caledonia Weekly in the terminal for the excellent maps and information on what to do and see in Greater Noumea and how to do it.

Colleen

Thank you again. I will follow up with people on board to organise getting off if necessary through the stores gangway - we are experienced users of back of house lifts and staff only entrances. If this fails the scooter is small and light weight - it folds to fit into the boot of the car. I need to disasemble it to manage this, but it is a snack to carry for two (or even one) as we find when we tender ashore.

Thanks Colleen

Thanks Big M. You have confirmed my fears but also given useful information and yes I can tell you dislike this docking option. We have called into Portside before so may bypass the city and head for Lone Pine by taxi - expensive ( about $80 according to the taxi calculator web site) but we need a car boot for the scooter. Possibly come back to Southbank by boat if the operator advises it is scooter accessible and taxi back to the ship. A pity to go to Brisbane and not enjoy a trip on the river.

Colleen

We will need a taxi when we dock at the Grain Terminal, Fishermans Island in Brisbane - the shuttle into the CBD will not work for us. I cannot work out from the port map where we go to find a taxi or where we would meet up with one that we have booked ahead by telephone. Is it llike other container ports where you cannot walk out but must use a shuttle?

Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks Colleen

Any chance that you have a listing of the Martinis offered by Princess? We had a delicious one (or two) on the Ruby but the name evades me.........

Try this link. It is for the Crown. I found it trying to track down the key ingredients for the Sour Appletini. Happy mixing! Its bot up to date so the prices may be off target.

http://www.beyondships.com/files/Crown_Princess_Crooners.PDF

Colleen

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It could be a interesting ship of similar stature as the QE2 or QM2. Of course, it would be modern and it won't have the steerage cabins for poor immigrants, nor the coal burning furnace for steam engines.

Or he could turn the old steerage area into Quad or even Octo share cabins. I wonder if he will install a virtual ghost or two? If he challenges Swan and loses can't you just see the sub editors headlines. Palmers Hopes sunk with the Titanic. Some newstories are already making the link.

Colleen

I have always admired the tender crews, especially in rough or wet weather. The Bay of Islands in New Zealand was not kind to anyone this day.

Colleen

WOW I started to ask a question, but after reading this thread im scared to.. Ill just be quiet and nice to all. Good Day

Go ahead. Think about the side sniping and occasional rants as static and just focus on the basically good advice you will get from people who enjoy cruising and want to help others do the same.

Colleen

Hello David

Please add 5 December 2012 Oosterdam - Sydney RTN New caledonia and Vanuatu.

Thanks

Colleen

Queen Mary 2 in Sydney - berthing for the first time at Circular Quay.

Colleen

We saw the other side of working on a cruise ship or otherwise off shore when we visited the Phillipines. One day we needed to visit a bank in Cebu and our minder from the Phillipnes tourist office escorted us through the process to make sure we found the right queue. The bank was full of mostly women with young children in tow lining up to collect remittances from bread winners overseas. Some were young but most were middle aged - clearly grandparents.

We do not begrudge the tips we pay for service when travelling overseas or a cruise - regardless of the home port and do not see it as a form of charity or a subsidy - it is basically a service compris charge, added to our bill as a percentage or flat charge. We factor it into our budget as we would any other cost item. Any extra we choose to give or leave is up to us, the quality of the service and how the budget is holding out. :D

Colleen