Cash off your cruise card????

[Tanijean]

Hi all.

 

Heading off tomorrow on the Sun (yay!!) and have a last minute question about the cruise cards. I know this has probably been explained a hundred times before but I just wanted to make sure I understood it correctly.

 

I don't have much cash to take, most of my money is on the credit card. I thought I read somewhere that you could go to the casino and get cash from your cruise card. Is this right? So for example, I can put say $1000 on my cruise card, then go to the casino and get however much cash from the card? Am I on the right track?

 

Also, I know you have to be carefull what you buy on the islands in regard to quarantine back home, but does that mean you can't bring back ANYTHING that is made of shell or wood? Even shell necklaces?

 

Thanks to everyone for all their help in the lead up to tomorrow. Much appreciated.

 

Jodie.:)

[kaseyoz]

You can go to the casino and $20 out with photo id and your cruisecard.

You do need some cash when you go ashore.

MOst of the little islands mystery for example take AUD. Also take lots of dollar coins as a lot of people on the islands ask for a donation to take their photos but well worth it.

you can also use atm in noumea and vial to get local currency but most places will take credit cards

 

Dont buy anything made from shells seeds wood etc. Saw a lot of people coming out of the cruise before us with those large bow and arrows so they must be ok. They do take them off you when you get back to the ship after being on the islands but return them to you when you get to sydney

[kaseyoz]

also everything you spend on the ship goes as one credit amount on your creditcard at the end of the cruise. Not lots of little amounts.

You can use your creditcard as well as cruise card for duty free shopping on the ship if your cruise card is getting low and you dont want to queue AGAIN at the pursers office to put more on

[suexxx]

Tanijean, have a great cruise. Is this your first? Not been on ours yet but get such a buzz reading and watching you all. Will watch you on cruise cam. Again have a ball suexxx

[Tanijean]

Thanks everyone for your help. Yes, it is my first cruise (as a guest, I did a stint as a crew member a few years back, not on P&O). I can't believe it has finally come. I'm so looking forward to it. I've heard the food is great and I can't wait for that.:D It's such a pity that you can't bring back any wood and shell products, as I'm sure that's what the majority of locals would make things out of.

[Skyrules]

Thanks everyone for your help. Yes, it is my first cruise (as a guest, I did a stint as a crew member a few years back, not on P&O). I can't believe it has finally come. I'm so looking forward to it. I've heard the food is great and I can't wait for that.:D It's such a pity that you can't bring back any wood and shell products, as I'm sure that's what the majority of locals would make things out of.

 

You can bring some wood products back, as long as they've been treated or varnished in some way, we bought some nice wooden plates in Suva, declared them with Quarantine when we got back and they were fine... Same would apply with shell necklaces.

 

In regards to the cash advances... If you use your credit card to put money on your cruise card, you'll only be able to get small advances from the Casino. If you put cash on your cruise card at the start of the cruise you'll be able to get a cash advance from the pursers office during the cruise. Of course this only applies on Pacific Sun - on Pacific Star it's a different system.

[Past it]

Have a great trip tanjijean, I bought a large shell and quarantinne man picked at the edges. Just make sure its clean looking with no plant life liiving on it. Also check out the small pearly looking shells as they are not shells but dipped seeds and are taken off you.They use these as fillers when they make things. Bon Voyage :D

[Tikibird]

We were in Papua New Guinea several years ago, though flying not a cruise. We bought lots of artefacts made of wood, no problem. They cut some seeds off and inspected the feathers closely but I got them in. Solid wood shouldn't be a problem.

[aussiedisneyfan]

We have brought shells and wood back. Most of our stuff has been fine but had a couple of necklaces confiscated which I was disappointed about but at least only a few dollars. I did like some necklaces that look kind of like they were made from apple seeds but didn't buy any coz I figured they would be confiscated but then saw people get through in Sydney with some.

 

There are some lovely carvings and things which can be more pricey. It really boils down to are you willing to part with the money and risk losing the goods back here.

[Tropicalshowers]

Hi all,

I e-mailed AQIS a while back asking specifically what the regulations were regarding 'Products made of wood'.

QUOTE:

"Wooden articles are permitted into Aust., provided the wooden items are free from bark, soil, insects or signs of insect damage (eg. borer holes.) To check for insect damage, look closely at wooden items for holes, sawdust or any signs of boring insects.

 

If the items contain bark, such as souvenir pencils, a treatment is required. Treatment options are:

Dry heat treatment, Ethylene oxide fumigation, Gamma irradiation or Removing the bark.

Once you arrive in Australia you must declare all items of food, animal or plant origin as well as any other articls covered on the Incoming Passenger Card (eg medicines, wooden articles.)......"

 

Whist dropping a friend off at our Int. Airport last week ,I also picked up the Quarantine brouchure from Customs.

Goods that are DEFINITELY PROHIBITED are:

Eggs & Egg products, Dairy products, Uncanned meat products, Live animals, Live plants, Seeds & nuts and Fresh fruit & Vegetables.

 

It's best just to declare everything. Shells & coral are listed under Animal products & must be declared.

 

Hope this helps.

[Skyrules]

Information about what is or isn't allowed back into Australia is provided on board; in the information folder in the cabins, at the Shore Tours desk, and during the disembarkation talk towards the end of the cruise.

 

Be careful of the information provided at some markets which puports to be from the local quaranitine office stating that all products purchased at the stall WILL be allowed into Australia..... They aren't always true.