Noumea - in the afternoon

[aussiebossyboots]

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions it has been really helpful.  I have been able to locate the Container Terminal and yes it is very close to the Main Cruise Terminal. 

 

If the afternoon has fine weather we have a couple of options:

 

1. Taxi to Anse Vata Beach - walk back (about 1 hour - we should have nearly 2.5 hours) via Lemon Bay to the cruise shuttle bus stop.

2. Hop On/Off Bus to Anse Vata Beach - walk to Lemon Bay - drinks at La Barca and then Hop/On back to the cruise shuttle bus stop.

 

Then may be a pastry at Les Petits Choux and check out the Noumea Duty Free.

 

Cheers and many thanks again.

[possum52]

Is your morning excursion a ship organised or a private one? If a ship's excursion, you will be returned to the ship so you can then cleanup up and catch a shuttle back to the cruise ship terminal for your afternoon's plans. Just a note of caution, ensure that you are back at the cruise terminal before the last shuttle returns to the ship. There will be announcements re time of last shuttle.

 

Enjoy your visit to Noumea.

 

Leigh

 

 

[aussiebossyboots]

Yes, it is a ship excursion - it is the Aquanature - 2 hour snorkeling trip commencing at 8.45am (presume this time is 'meet time' on the ship).  Estimate we should be back on the ship by 12 noon at the latest as there is another excursion in the afternoon at 12.30pm. 

 

Estimated Timing:

 

• In a taxi or Hop/Off by 1pm - that gives us 3 - 3.5 hours to visit Anse Vata Beach & Lemon Bay.
• Back to cruise shuttle bus stop by 4.30pm for a 5.30pm departure

Being panic merchants about missing the ship, we are always back at the ship/ship shuttle 1 hour before departure.  Hence the need to ensure our return transport from Lemon Bay or making sure we have enough time to walk back.

 

Will make note of last shuttle bus timing.

 

Cheers

[possum52]

Usually in Noumea, well on our last Princess cruise this happened, for ship excursions you meet on the dock, there will be an area for excursion buses. You just walk off the ship and will be directed where to go to meet your excursion. 

 

Leigh

[Chiliburn]

2 hours ago, mr walker said:

 

That's our 'go-to' spot in Noumea. We usually do a loop on the HOHO bus (just for a look) & then second time around hop off at Lemon Bay for a swim, and then across the road to La Barca for a couple of local beers [#3] and a baguette. 

When you are at the bar, when the bus goes past on the outwards leg, you know you have about 10mins to get to bus stop (less than 100m) for the ride back to terminal.

We had a overnight in Noumea and the captain and a few of the officers hosted a evening excursion to La Barca .

THAT WAS A GOOD NIGHT.

 

[MicCanberra]

3 hours ago, Aus Traveller said:

What other ports are you going to? Maybe you aren't going to Vila, but if you are, the duty free is much better there than in Noumea.

Definitely better in Vila.

[MicCanberra]

3 hours ago, mr walker said:

 

That's our 'go-to' spot in Noumea. We usually do a loop on the HOHO bus (just for a look) & then second time around hop off at Lemon Bay for a swim, and then across the road to La Barca for a couple of local beers [#3] and a baguette. 

When you are at the bar, when the bus goes past on the outwards leg, you know you have about 10mins to get to bus stop (less than 100m) for the ride back to terminal.

We go to La Barca often, order a seafood tapas platter and a few brews Nice lunch.

[MicCanberra]

2 hours ago, aussiebossyboots said:

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions it has been really helpful.  I have been able to locate the Container Terminal and yes it is very close to the Main Cruise Terminal. 

 

If the afternoon has fine weather we have a couple of options:

 

1. Taxi to Anse Vata Beach - walk back (about 1 hour - we should have nearly 2.5 hours) via Lemon Bay to the cruise shuttle bus stop.

2. Hop On/Off Bus to Anse Vata Beach - walk to Lemon Bay - drinks at La Barca and then Hop/On back to the cruise shuttle bus stop.

 

Then may be a pastry at Les Petits Choux and check out the Noumea Duty Free.

 

Cheers and many thanks again.

Great plan.

[Chiliburn]

14 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

Definitely better in Vila.

Vila is quite dirty,not that Noumea around the cruise terminal is much to talk about.

So much for independence.

The French keeps the standard up and I’m glad  New Caledonia didn’t vote to leave the French.

New Caledonia is quite a wealthy country,they export $1B in zinc and almost as much in copper.

Then there’s fishing,tourism,farming.

[MicCanberra]

I meant the duty free.

[Chiliburn]

2 hours ago, aussiebossyboots said:

Yes, it is a ship excursion - it is the Aquanature - 2 hour snorkeling trip commencing at 8.45am (presume this time is 'meet time' on the ship).  Estimate we should be back on the ship by 12 noon at the latest as there is another excursion in the afternoon at 12.30pm. 

 

Estimated Timing:

 

• In a taxi or Hop/Off by 1pm - that gives us 3 - 3.5 hours to visit Anse Vata Beach & Lemon Bay.
• Back to cruise shuttle bus stop by 4.30pm for a 5.30pm departure

Being panic merchants about missing the ship, we are always back at the ship/ship shuttle 1 hour before departure.  Hence the need to ensure our return transport from Lemon Bay or making sure we have enough time to walk back.

 

Will make note of last shuttle bus timing.

 

Cheers

Near the cruise terminal there’s a supermarket called casino Johnson’s.

 That’s worth a last minute look .

 There’s some interesting French food.

[Chiliburn]

3 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

I meant the duty free.

Oh

duty free is overrated.

[aussiebossyboots]

My biggest problem is fitting all the food in unfortunately.  Though my husband is always tempted by a (or more) delicious pastry.  Because I will be celebrating my birthday on this cruise we have done the unbelievable for us - ordered the Ultimate Romance Package from P&O which includes canapés every night so more food to fit in.

 

May be we should just walk back

[Aus Traveller]

2 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

Vila is quite dirty,not that Noumea around the cruise terminal is much to talk about.

So much for independence.

The French keeps the standard up and I’m glad  New Caledonia didn’t vote to leave the French.

New Caledonia is quite a wealthy country,they export $1B in zinc and almost as much in copper.

Then there’s fishing,tourism,farming.

The main income for New Caledonia is financial support from France.

[MicCanberra]

2 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

Oh

duty free is overrated.

I would agree, generally specials at Dan Murphy's or BWS are just as cheap and much more convenient.

[MicCanberra]

2 hours ago, aussiebossyboots said:

My biggest problem is fitting all the food in unfortunately.  Though my husband is always tempted by a (or more) delicious pastry.  Because I will be celebrating my birthday on this cruise we have done the unbelievable for us - ordered the Ultimate Romance Package from P&O which includes canapés every night so more food to fit in.

 

May be we should just walk back

Happy Birthday in advance. Maybe do a lose to cruise program prior to the trip and get some motivation for feeling no guilt while on the cruise if you do eat more than normal.

[Aus Traveller]

36 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

I would agree, generally specials at Dan Murphy's or BWS are just as cheap and much more convenient.

I agree with that, unless you are going to Vila. On P&O cruises going to Vila, they have 'specials' only before arriving in Vila. The prices are as good as the duty free in Vila, but the range is very limited.

[OzKiwiJJ]

4 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

Near the cruise terminal there’s a supermarket called casino Johnson’s.

 That’s worth a last minute look .

 There’s some interesting French food.

It's also where the nearest ATM is. I love wandering through the food halls at the back of that supermarket. One time we were there late November and they had lots of luxury Christmas items in store. I just stood there and drooled!😄

[Chiliburn]

1 minute ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

It's also where the nearest ATM is. I love wandering through the food halls at the back of that supermarket. One time we were there late November and they had lots of luxury Christmas items in store. I just stood there and drooled!😄

Some of the cuts of meat were amazing,especially the chicken.The fat was almost red and was marked product of EU.

And cheese,wine ,bread 

Only wished I had a charcoal BBQ on the balcony on the ship.

[Aus Traveller]

2 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

Some of the cuts of meat were amazing,especially the chicken.The fat was almost red and was marked product of EU.

And cheese,wine ,bread 

Only wished I had a charcoal BBQ on the balcony on the ship.

Don't laugh. A few years ago I read a post on the American Princess forum where someone was asking if they could take a BBQ on board to cook on their balcony. 🤣

[OzKiwiJJ]

5 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

Some of the cuts of meat were amazing,especially the chicken.The fat was almost red and was marked product of EU.

And cheese,wine ,bread 

Only wished I had a charcoal BBQ on the balcony on the ship.

I know. It's so frustrating. Unfortunately the time we were there pre-Christmas it absolutely hosed down so we couldn't even have a picnic.

 

Next time I'm going to check the Aussie regulations on what packaged foods can be brought back into the country and see if there is anything special I can get in Noumea.

Edited June 4, 2019 by OzKiwiJJ

[OzKiwiJJ]

Don't tell anyone but Celebrity let me get back on Solstice at Dunedin a couple of months ago with a sealed pottle containing a dozen Bluff Oysters. We got some bread, butter and champagne from the buffet and had a lovely pre-dinner snack.

[lyndarra]

Had my first taste of French wine in Noumea (bottle of white bought from local supermarket). About 1980 it was. It was a loooooooong time before I bought another, about 1997 I think, on tour in France where we would have a bottle of wine, a crusty french loaf and cheese in a park for lunch. We're a bit spoiled for selection here in the Hunter.

[Chiliburn]

46 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Don't tell anyone but Celebrity let me get back on Solstice at Dunedin a couple of months ago with a sealed pottle containing a dozen Bluff Oysters. We got some bread, butter and champagne from the buffet and had a lovely pre-dinner snack.

What a beauty 

 I like to have a few home comforts on the balcony 

Edited June 4, 2019 by Chiliburn

[OzKiwiJJ]

21 minutes ago, lyndarra said:

Had my first taste of French wine in Noumea (bottle of white bought from local supermarket). About 1980 it was. It was a loooooooong time before I bought another, about 1997 I think, on tour in France where we would have a bottle of wine, a crusty french loaf and cheese in a park for lunch. We're a bit spoiled for selection here in the Hunter.

You didn't like that French white? 

 

But just because a wine is French doesn't mean it will automatically be good. 🤣 The are some very ordinary vin ordinaires in France. 🤣 But then again you can also get some very good wines at very cheap prices there. 

 

BTW be careful of one Australian wine supplier that sells imported wine by offering private tastings in your home. I was invited by a friend to one of those tastings a few years. Most of their wines were complete rubbish which they were trying to flog off at $25 a bottle. I laughed when I was offered a "French" wine made in Rudesheim in Germany. I think some of the grapes were grown in France though. No appellation of course.🤣