Murgat

I am guessing you already have a good Melb laneways map ?

 

if not

http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/visitors/Documents/Melbourne_ArcadesLanes.pdf

 

http://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/melbourne-laneways#.VqwbfTbwwzE

 

http://walkingmaps.com.au/walk/106

 

Its fun pretending to be a tourist in your own city. Discovering stuff you have walked straight past every day and not realised it was hidden in there !!

I can definitely recommend the third option - the Street Art Walk. I did the guided tour two years ago and it was excellent. I also did Yum Cha and bought shoes - only one pair!

In terms of really free wifi NZ have it over us here in OZ. There was a free Telstra service from phone booths but that has been phased out and now it is only free to Telstra customers ( well sort of free) . In Sydney harbour ferries have wifi hot spots and both Circular Quay and Central railway stations have free wifi hot spots. Otherwise it is the usual Gloria Jeans, McDonalds and more expensive cafes. Some tourist attractions E.g. The National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour and libraries have free wifi. To get email access you will need to have access via a web based email site. Outlook and other email clients do not seem to work.

Google free wifi in (city) and you will get some answers for other places.

My aunt uses a walking frame for balance and gets around well if slowly on uneven terrain. Not OK with slopes so Cascades in Port Vila is out or the Natural Aquarium on Isle of Pines. I have not done any tours - ship or independent - on the islands that do not involve snorkelling or more walking than she could handle. I need advice on a few that could suit - quite happy to book a ship's tour or go independent and take any suggestions!

Ekasup Cultural Village (Port Vila)

Mele Village (Port Vila)

Island Discovery (Isle of Pines - Ship tour)

Melanesian Encounter (Lifou)

Vanilla House (Lifou)

Noumea is sorted.

Thank you!

I agree with GUT2407. Always ask as it does vary from attraction to attraction. I know from experience overseas that it always pays to ask - you may well be pleasantly surprised. As said they can only so 'no' and it doesn't hurt to ask. Welcome.:)

I agree. I got free entry to the Roman Forums which were closed to all tourists ( including tour groups) due to a strike by the employees of the Monuments and Ancient Sites (etc) Union. I produced my Teachers Federation card and was welcomed, given a recorded guide and set off around an almost deserted site.

Yeah, always tempted until you see the price and then it is I don't want it badly enough.

I booked HMB Endeavour for a day cruise - $250. Endeavour won the Tall Ships race and docked at the OPT after the race which qualifies the outing as something to report on Cruise Critic. We saw everything at water level; the ferry race, the yacht ballet, the fly over and the scary helicopter dance.

Thank you all. I am from Sydney where the water temp is at max 25 about what it seems to be in New Caledonia but it is what the water feels like. We will

beach swim on Isle of Pines. I was disheartened by the damaged coral there on my last visit. I will aim for an afternoon ticket for Jinek Bay on Lifou and early afternoon beach day on Mystery Island.

I have been to New Caledonia for cruising and and based holidays but not in May. I am travelling with my aunt who will expect me to have advice on weather. There are web sites with monthly levels of precipitation, average temperatures etc but I would like to hear from others who have been there in May. E.g Is it warm enough to swim off the beach on the Isle of Pines?

Thanks!

Bus 10 or 11 follows the beach route. Pick it up at Place des Cocotieres (Spelling!) - Coconut Square. Near the Tourist Information Centre I think. About Pacific Francs 200 - roughly $3.00 Australian. Only take Pacific Francs.

Hi, do you know if they accept Australian dollar on the buses, not the hop on hop off ones, would like to just go swimming, so just need to catch a bus there

Thank you in advance for all help

I think it is Bus no 10 or 11 for the beaches and they only accept Pacific Francs. The New Caledonia Weekly Site lists up to date fares and bus routes for most tourist attractions. See A day in Noumea or the Read it tab to find the latest edition of the Weekly. The Weekly is the local free tourist publication handed out in the cruise terminal.

http://www.newcaledoniaweekly.nc

I did cruise #2 on Aria and am going back on 3 Jan 2016 for Fiji 11 days. Will post a balanced review on return.

 

My experience - most of the issues were teething issues which will be well sorted out by Feb (if not now). Overall the ship was OK, much better decor that Dawn/Jewel.

Thanks for posting your review. I am feeling much more positive about our May sailing on Aria. Have they sorted the issues with the lifts? How Was the tender service ?

We had a lovely cruise on 7 Dec Eden

 

 

Just a mention - no CHEESE selection whatsoever - for a daily cheese person it was missed and mentioned by many on board

 

.. :)

I did a three week land tour of China 20 years ago and several guests complained of cheese deprivation syndrome. Rarely on a cruise ship have I been served cheese as a dinner course at the optimum temperature. I do like to be offered ham and cheese slices for breakfast and always remember to ASK for smoked salmon. It may not be on offer but is usually available. Ask nicely.

Is it usually 50%??? seems rather high

I think they mean it is 50% of their standard deposit rates which are from memory.

$150, $250 and $450 according to length of the cruise. I copied across their on line information to your question on the P&O board.

Is the deposit usually 50%???

Standard deposits for P&O Au are

Your booking is not secure until we have received a deposit. If your deposit as indicated on your booking confirmation is not received within three (3) working days, your booking will be cancelled automatically.

Cruise duration (nights)

4 or less - $150

5 to 11 - $250

12 or more - $400

They are half that for children under 18 years.

P&O have been advertising a 50% deposit rate on some cruises and for returning cruisers. They mean 50% of the standard deposit rates as above. Well that is what it meant to me.

Thank you for the info.

Land line is of no help to me as I am calling from US (not a free call) :(

Which is the one suite with a walk in shower? Is it a handicap cabin?

Also, what prior status counts for OBC? Is it only P&O or Princess as well?

TIA.

The suite is 10058. In place of the shower over bath set up which is standard in many staterooms on Aria (Ryndam that was), 10058 has no bath but a walk in shower with a shelf seat (I think) which is much better for my aunt . The other suites have spa baths with overhead showers. 10058 is classed as a modified accessible cabin. The only change is in the bathroom set up. It IS close to the aft lift well.

Princess cruises do not count towards P&O Australia credits. MY OBC was based on a P&O Australia cruise about six years ago.

Tried booking a suite on Aria and the booking is going through OK but there is no option to choose a specific cabin by number. This is for Feb 2017 - so I can't imagine that it would be a guarantee only.

I tried calling P&O Australia but hung up after a 15 minute hold as I live in US.

Any insight into why I can't choose a specific cabin during the booking process? Is this normal?

TIA

I had the same problem. I did it by telephone to P&O. There was a wait so I used the land line which gives me untimed calls for 13 numbers. It was worth it to get the one suite with a walk in shower for my aunt. Very helpful and they also sorted out my previous passenger statues to get us OBC.

I wonder if the outside deck muster is a hangover from when Aria was Ryndam and a HAL ship. We did an Oosterdam cruise from Sydney and had a similar open deck muster experience. In our case with a view of the Opera House and lower temperatures. It was a problem for anyone who needed to sit down. It may have something to do with the design of the ships or the safety/emergency drills approved by whoever does this???

Meyer is a better bet for what they call "plus sizes" There is a large plus sizes section in their Sydney store with prices ranging from cheap and (sometimes) cheerful to high end and OTT flashy. Sometimes the mid range lines are better designed, heavily discounted and can be a good buy - better fabrics for rinsing out on a cruise. You can buy on line but not recommended unless you are buying a known brand; one manufacturer's 18 is another's 16 or 20! I write from experience.

The NSW final exams should be over by November 4 in 2016. Dates for other Eastern seaboard states will be similar. Final year students are not required to attend regular school during and after their exams. Many students will finish earlier than that. Schoolies weeks commence in early November. I have done a Tasmania and a NZ cruise from Sydney in November to December and a longer 2 week Pacific cruise in November and all were free of schoolies. They were on HAL and Princess which would not be the line of choice for a schoolies group.

We used Rite Price twice and their service was good. Cars were late to new models and pick up/drop off was efficient. Do take their advice about when to return the car based on your departure time and make sure you do this at the agreed time so the drop off service is ready for you. From our experience they do respond to emails to sort out these details.

I agree with GradUT. We did an Overnight in Melbourne and enjoyed being able to explore in a relaxed way. The tram service into the CBD and back again at night is excellent - efficient and safe. I booked a theatre visit on line for the evening and there were lots of fellow cruisers on the returning tram who had enjoyed Melbourne at night.

I agree with the recommendations to take the shuttle into Brisbane if none of the ships tours attract or they are OTT expensive. In Brisbane we scored a sunny but very hot day and elected to explore via the ferry and riverboat services instead of walking the steamy streets. A nice breeze on the water! You can go as far as Hamilton where the Cruise Ship Terminal (for the luckier smaller ships) is located. We stopped off at Southbank and it was crowded but a pleasant stroll through landscaped gardens with an artificial beach for swimming. Plan to eat where you can and probably informally unless you book ahead for one of the restaurants. There are some interesting exhibitions on at the Art Gallery and the City Hall if that would interest you or you are dying for some air-conditioning. Here is a link to a map of the ferry and river cat stops along the river.

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/public-transport/citycat-ferry-services/citycat-ferry-terminal-locations

Our ship should arrive in Sidney on Good Friday and flying out on Monday (after Easter). We understood most of the places/shop would close on this day, anybody has any recommendation for tours / things to do that are available?. We probably will be going to see four famous opera on Saturday (closes on Friday but opens on Saturday).

 

Thank you.

You would be wise to book if you are intending to do a guided tour of the Opera House. This is easily done on their web site. You can choose your time and you will not need to line up on the day. The backstage Tour is excellent but starts at 7AM and is pricey. The standard tour has 200-300 steps. If anyone has mobility problems the 12 noon tour is "accessible" using lifts and passages not usually open to the public. If you choose a Tour and Taste Plate option aim for around lunchtime. It is a generous serve. It is our favourite pre theatre treat.

My Mom and I are scheduled to go on the March 12th Auckland to Sydney Cruise on Holland America. It arrives on Friday and we are planning to fly out on Sunday. We are debating between doing the Holland American post-cruise Tour for Sydney and the Blue Mountains and doing both on our own.

 

Has anyone done the Holland America Pre or Post cruise land tours in Sydney? What did you think?

 

My mom has some mobility issues so if you can speak to that too that would be great information.

 

Thanks,

 

Lisa

I would not attempt a DIY tour to the Blue Mountains with mobility issues. The Ho Ho bus around Sydney could also present problems as many of the stops are at places where walking is involved. A harbour Cruise is a good choice and you can do this with an organised tour or simply by hopping on and off ferries or the Ho Ho cruise boat. Taronga can combine a cruise across the Harbour by ferry with a Zoo Visit. They have a small "train" that meanders around the zoo and a Sky Gondola to take you from the bottom, where the ferry docks to the top. See comments above about accessible tours of the Opera House.

I agree that food that is in commercially-sealed packets is usually OK. Maybe the OP is going on tours and wouldn't have time to buy snacks ashore.

 

.

Agreed. We took commercially sealed snacks ashore when booked on tours that began with early start coach trips. E.g Tauranga to Rotorua. We had no problem.

Speak for yourself, I am not odd, but I am eccentric.:cool:

They are strange

You are a bit odd

I am eccentric

People do seem to find it easier to criticise especially when it comes to reviews.

I don't take any notice of people's reviews - prefer to make my own decisions. I have not been disappointed with any of my cruises and can hardly wait for the next whichever ship I'm on. :)

I read reviews but I take more notice of comments made on the

CC forums where there is talk back and forth with the opportunity for comment/correction/clarification. I am suspicious of reviews (positive or negative) that are the only posting by the reviewer.