Upcoming South Pacific Cruise

[cruiseyboy]

We’ve got an upcoming cruise and doing some research to make use of the destinations. We’ve been to Noumea and Lifou before but not Vanuatu.

 

1) Looks like New Caledonia isn’t requiring COVID specifically mentioned so now we can use our Westpac card insurance (which does mention cruise)

2) Lifou, last time we were there was nothing to book on shore which was surprising. Is there a way of getting to Cliffs of Jofin without pre-booking a tour? 

3) Port Villa. We won’t have local currency on us only Wise travel card, is there a bus that transits to the city from the port like Noumea? From what I can see there isn’t but that seems weird. Possibly a taxi will take us on “yeah we’ll visit an atm and pay you” but can’t imagine any form of a good rate 😀

[Vader1111]

The usual thing to do at Port Vila is to just hire a driver/vehicle, to take you where you want to go, for the entire day.  Most of the nice places are outside of the city - e.g. Mele Cascades, Hideaway Island.

 

If you really do just want to go into the town centre, and back again, you can probably just get a driver to bring you back to the ship for a nominal charge.  You'll probably even hear them calling out to you, asking if you want to be driven back to the ship.

 

Don't worry about the lack of local currency (Vatu).  Australian Dollars are accepted pretty much everywhere, so take a reasonable supply of AUD with you and you should be fine.

[cruiseyboy]

Thanks Vader.

 

Do you hire them from the port itself, or is there  shuttle into town?

 

I was very surprised in Lifou when there were no “sales guys” waiting around, we’ve done a lot of travel and quite happy to pay randoms on the fly and wing it overall, rather than pay a premium for an organised tour which is often slow and includes something you’d rather skip anyway.

 

Any idea how much a day trip will cost?

[ceeceeDee]

We used AUD when last in Vila and didn't have a problem.

[Tripmode33]

On 7/10/2023 at 1:54 PM, cruiseyboy said:

 

1) Looks like New Caledonia isn’t requiring COVID specifically mentioned so now we can use our Westpac card insurance (which does mention cruise)

 

That's great news. I haven't been able to find this  New Caledonia update online anywhere. Did your cruise line let you know?

[Vader1111]

On 7/13/2023 at 5:06 PM, cruiseyboy said:

Thanks Vader.

 

Do you hire them from the port itself, or is there  shuttle into town?

 

I was very surprised in Lifou when there were no “sales guys” waiting around, we’ve done a lot of travel and quite happy to pay randoms on the fly and wing it overall, rather than pay a premium for an organised tour which is often slow and includes something you’d rather skip anyway.

 

Any idea how much a day trip will cost?

Sorry for the delay in responding.

 

Normally there are a whole bunch of drivers waiting just outside the port gate (sometimes inside the gate - depends on whether or not the port officials are having a crackdown).  You just hire them there, agree on a fare for the day's travels, and away you go.

[ceeceeDee]

My adult son did that in Vila and reckoned it was the highlight of the cruise