Come sail with me on a virtual cruise on Majestic Princess to Fiji!

[TRUEBLUE66]

7 minutes ago, ellie1145 said:

 

That sounds like a lovely itinerary. At least you will have a bit of an idea about some of these places. We were going to book Majestic in 2021 but thankfully resisted the temptation, but we were sorry to see that they had deleted Vanuatu, which is still my favourite island. 

 

Did you enjoy Pride of America? I guess you were able to see more islands than we did as we had that long trek to get there from LA. We had pretty bad weather, too, but it didn’t spoil our enjoyment. 

 

Should I do a review of Hawaii I will be very relieved not to have cost you a small fortune. But maybe you would add your experiences to it if I find the energy to write it?

P.O.A. was excellent. No sea days and 2 days each at Maui, Big Island and Kauai. Hoping to go back in a few years. Look forward to your review in the future and be happy to contribute our experience if it helps. 

[ellie1145]

Hop on the bus with us and enjoy the ride....

(Guess that's why they call it a hop on hop off bus 😉)

 

 

The boat drops us on the beach and we walk up to the promenade and cross the road to where we need to catch our return bus. At least we don’t have to be Olympic gymnasts to get off it! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We catch a final glimpse of Duck Island as we wait for the bus to arrive. We can see both of the water taxis picking people up for the journey back.

 

 

 

This is the side of the island which most people seem to miss seeing. It is more rugged but very interesting. Those tall trees are amazing. I expect that they have to survive strong winds at times. 

 

 

This time it’s a single decker with open sides and it’s pretty full, but we all pile on and off we go towards the information centre. It's a bit of a squash but there is a nice cool breeze coming in through the open sides so it’s a pleasant ride. 

 

Edited August 24, 2020 by ellie1145

[JF - retired RRT]

39 minutes ago, azbirdmom said:

 

 

It's amazing!! You have a strong resemblance to members of my family (my sister and her daughter)...maybe a little bit like me.

[ellie1145]

Sit back and enjoy the bus ride...

 

It’s a very pleasant journey which takes you along the coastal road, past Limon Beach, the Aquarium, the Market and the Marina before dropping us off near to the Information Centre. 

 

Noumea is very well developed and the most affluent of any of the islands we visited. It is clean and well set out with palm trees, an esplanade, shops and cafes, and a large marina.  It obviously attracts plenty of French visitors. 

 

 

 

 

Limon Beach - Baie des Citrons 

 

 

 

 

 

The Marina looks full of expensive yachts. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 24, 2020 by ellie1145

[ellie1145]

26 minutes ago, TRUEBLUE66 said:

P.O.A. was excellent. No sea days and 2 days each at Maui, Big Island and Kauai. Hoping to go back in a few years. Look forward to your review in the future and be happy to contribute our experience if it helps. 

 

Wow! That sounds brilliant. We had, from memory, 4 days outgoing and 5 days on the return. It would have been much better to spend more time at the islands. There is so much to explore. 

 

I will look forward to your input if I manage to put a Hawaii review together. It was on Ruby Princess. 

 

However, I may have to give these lovely folks a bit of time to recover from my verbal and photographic diarrhoea....😉

[ellie1145]

Goodnight, Sleep Tight, See You in the Morning..

 

Well, it’s getting late so I must stop now but I will be back tomorrow with a bit of shopping, a trip in my recently upgraded Tardis, and as azbirdmon says, one of the most beautiful sunsets of the whole cruise. 

 

Thanks for staying the course! 

 

Back tomorrow with lots more photos. 

[azbirdmom]

3 hours ago, ellie1145 said:

 

I was just about to ask if you had a different perspective on Noumea, azbirdmom. Thank you for posting your expedition and all the lovely photos. I like the look of the aquarium which we’ve not visited before. Last time it was shut as I believe we visited on a Monday, when lots of things are shut.  You certainly did some interesting things. 

 

What a giant moth! You wouldn’t have seen me for dust! 

 

Sorry this has taken so long, we seem to have been in Noumea for ages, but it’s been a busy week. 

 

I will try and finish it ASAP.

 

 

We liked what we saw!  And I took a lot more pictures of the aquarium, just didn't post them.  It was larger than I expected.

 

No worries about the length of the trip.  Cruises are supposed to be relaxing!  And none of us are doing the real thing any time soon so spending a long time on our last port stop is good.

[azbirdmom]

2 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

It's amazing!! You have a strong resemblance to members of my family (my sister and her daughter)...maybe a little bit like me.

 

Well I learned last year that I have a whole lot of blood relatives that I never knew about so it is possible!

[dickinson]

15 hours ago, ellie1145 said:

 

Wow! That sounds brilliant. We had, from memory, 4 days outgoing and 5 days on the return. It would have been much better to spend more time at the islands. There is so much to explore. 

 

I will look forward to your input if I manage to put a Hawaii review together. It was on Ruby Princess. 

 

However, I may have to give these lovely folks a bit of time to recover from my verbal and photographic diarrhoea....😉

 

I would love to read a Hawaii review of your trip! 🙂  

[cnd crsr]

16 hours ago, ellie1145 said:

Goodnight, Sleep Tight, See You in the Morning..

 

Well, it’s getting late so I must stop now but I will be back tomorrow with a bit of shopping, a trip in my recently upgraded Tardis, and as azbirdmon says, one of the most beautiful sunsets of the whole cruise. 

 

Thanks for staying the course! 

 

Back tomorrow with lots more photos. 

 

I think most of us are having such a great time reliving all the things we love about cruising through your eyes and photos that we will stay the course and beg for more!

 

I have certainly enjoyed "our" day on Bird Island and the bus tour taken by azbirdmom and am rushing to my balcony in anticipation of a spectacular sunset!

 

Gail

[ellie1145]

17 hours ago, azbirdmom said:

 

We liked what we saw!  And I took a lot more pictures of the aquarium, just didn't post them.  It was larger than I expected.

 

No worries about the length of the trip.  Cruises are supposed to be relaxing!  And none of us are doing the real thing any time soon so spending a long time on our last port stop is good.

 

Feel free to post more fishy photos if you have time. They were great. 👍

 

[ellie1145]

3 hours ago, dickinson said:

 

I would love to read a Hawaii review of your trip! 🙂  

 

Thank you. Maybe when we have returned to base I will see if I can do that. 😉

 

But I’d better get this one finished first! 

[ellie1145]

2 hours ago, cnd crsr said:

 

I think most of us are having such a great time reliving all the things we love about cruising through your eyes and photos that we will stay the course and beg for more!

 

I have certainly enjoyed "our" day on Bird Island and the bus tour taken by azbirdmom and am rushing to my balcony in anticipation of a spectacular sunset!

 

Gail

 

That’s so nice of you to say so, Gail. 

 

Just relax with a glass of something on your balcony and you will be flooded with sunset pictures! 🤣

 

But first I’d better get us all back on the ship. 

[ellie1145]

Now for a bit of retail therapy! 

 

 

We are deposited where we picked up the double decker bus this morning, so we must walk along the promenade to the Cruise Terminal which houses the Information Centre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We glimpse the beautiful Majestic Princess in the distance, but it’s pretty hot so we are glad to reach the Terminal.

 

 

Inside there is a second level, and as we have some time to spare we walk upstairs where there is a huge area of stalls selling all sorts of souvenirs.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the stall look to be selling items made by local artisans and not imported directly from China, so that is nice to see.

 

 

Sometimes it seems as if all the souvenirs are the same apart from changing the names of the places. Although there are the usual ‘tacky’ souvenirs there are some which appear to be more locally produced.

 

 

 

 

No, that’s not me in the mirror! 😉

 

We wander up and down and I buy a wooden duck whistle which I think will amuse my little grandson. The lady who is selling the wooden items is offering to write names on for you, so we get her to write his name on the whistle, on the other side.

 

 

Edited August 25, 2020 by ellie1145

[ellie1145]

 

There are coaches waiting to transport us back to the ship so we queue up and find a seat for our short journey through the town and back to the ship.

 

 

We are soon walking up the gangway and back into the welcoming coolness of the ship.

We are feeling quite peckish so after a very quick shower we run up to the buffet for a bite to eat. We are in time for afternoon trivia at 3.00 pm and then it’s afternoon tea as usual.

 

 

 

[ellie1145]

 

So what have we missed today?

 

Well, of course there is the Movie of the Day: ‘John Wicks: Chapter Three - Parabellum’ in Princess Live at 11.30 am and 2.00 pm, repeated at 7.15 pm and 9.45 pm in the Vista Gaming Lounge. There is also a Movies Under the Stars Music Concert: ‘Mumford and Sons Live from South Africa - Dust and Thunder,’ at 2.15 pm followed by ‘Brits Icon: Elton John,’ at 4.00 pm. The evening movie, ‘The Aftermath’ is in Princess Live at 9.00 pm.

 

There seems to be a lot of unhosted events today - does anyone turn up for them? Ping Pong at 9.15 am, Pickle ball and Paddle Ball at 10.15 (what on earth is pickle ball?) Bridge and Whist, Canasta and other card games at 1.00 pm and 1.30 pm.

 

For the energetic there is Water Volleyball at 4.00 pm with the Cruise Staff in the Fountain Pool.

 

There’s Trivia - at 11.30 am, 3.00 pm, 4.30 pm and Taboo at 1.45 pm.

 

Sunsetters Karaoke Power Hour takes place at the Fountain Pool at 7.30 pm.

 

Not a lot really, but I guess most people are onshore.

 

The evening Headliner Showtime stars Chris Watkins in ‘Fireworks on Four Strings.’ Apparently this is an ‘eclectic repertoire of music from Lord of the Dance to ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ and it is at 6.00 pm and 7.30 pm. We miss this as it clashes with my daily swim and our dinner.

 

Now I have to tell you that I am truly devastated. Today I really was going to join all those seminars on wrinkles, flat feet, weight loss, and rejuvenation. But can you believe it - there was not a single one! What is going on?

 

[PaulS]

Ellie:

I also would enjoy another of your reviews. This one has been great. You have done an excellent job.

[ellie1145]

Just now, PaulS said:

Ellie:

I also would enjoy another of your reviews. This one has been great. You have done an excellent job.

 

Thank you very much, PaulS. Much appreciated.

[ellie1145]

A Quick Trip in the Tardis..

 

 

Now we just have time for a quick swim at Limon Bay, before sailaway. I'm sure that azbirdmom's photos of this beach whetted your appetite, so let's go!

 

To get there you would normally need to catch one of the Hop on, Hop off buses that operate along the coast. But we are going straight there, so have your cozzies on ready!

 

As you can see, signposts are in French only! 

 

There is a long promenade which stretches the length of the bay. Access to the beach is very easy, but when we were there the tide was up quite high so there was a very narrow stretch of beach available. It is sandy, but with a bit of coral. 

 

It is  sheltered bay so the sea is very calm, which for me is paramount, as I won't swim if there are any waves. It was lovely in the water which iss warm. 

 

There are lots of trees which provide shade, and there are showers available. 

 

Opposite the beach there are cafes and shops. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In these photos you can just see Duck Island in the distance. 

 

 

 

Edited August 25, 2020 by ellie1145

[ellie1145]

Goodnight, all, see you tomorrow.

 

I’m afraid time has caught up with me and I will have to post the sunset photos tomorrow.

 

But maybe azbirdmom will post some more fishy photos to keep you going?

 

Sleep tight (or have a good day in Oz!).

[azbirdmom]

4 minutes ago, ellie1145 said:

Goodnight, all, see you tomorrow.

 

I’m afraid time has caught up with me and I will have to post the sunset photos tomorrow.

 

But maybe azbirdmom will post some more fishy photos to keep you going?

 

Sleep tight (or have a good day in Oz!).

 

Goodnight Ellie!  Since you've asked nicely twice, here are some of my other pictures of the aquarium.  Sorry if there are duplicates!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ellie1145]

20 hours ago, azbirdmom said:

 

Goodnight Ellie!  Since you've asked nicely twice, here are some of my other pictures of the aquarium.  Sorry if there are duplicates!

 

Thank you, azbirdmom. 

 

What fantastic photos. I certainly had no idea that the aquarium contained such a variety of fish and turtles. Should we ever return it will be on my list of things to do.

 

Do you happen to remember what the entrance charge was? 

[azbirdmom]

9 minutes ago, ellie1145 said:

 

Thank you, azbirdmom. 

 

What fantastic photos. I certainly had no idea that the aquarium contained such a variety of fish and turtles. Should we ever return it will be on my list of things to do.

 

Do you happen to remember what the entrance charge was? 

 

Yes, I still have the brochure.  It was 1500 XPF so roughly 11 GBP.  I thought it was worth it!

[ellie1145]

3 minutes ago, azbirdmom said:

 

Yes, I still have the brochure.  It was 1500 XPF so roughly 11 GBP.  I thought it was worth it!

 

Sounds like a bargain to me! 👍

[ellie1145]

Another quick question for you, azbirdmom. Did you bring French francs with you or did you get cash there, or use a card?

 

We wished we had purchased francs before we got there. There was a cash machine opposite the Terminal outside a supermarket but we didn’t try that. 

 

Thanks.