JeffroK

We were there about 23/1/24, you missed a hot sweaty day on a tiny island made from broken coral, not sand.

😎

We have just been advised of minor changes to the 18 Jan Noumea-Fiji-Mystery Is itinerary in that we leave Dravanui an hour early and arrive at Noumea 2 hours later than scheduled.

ITINERARY CHANGE

Please be advised that due to newly scheduled engine maintenance, Majestic Princess will now depart Dravuni Island, Fiji at 4:00 PM on Friday, January 26, 2024 rather than 5:00 PM as previously scheduled. Additionally, we will now arrive in Noumea, New Caledonia at 9:00 AM on Sunday, January 28 rather than 7:00 AM.

Minor Problem.

As long as they are confident of getting us back to Sydney!

My impression, she is old, top of the line when she first sailed everything has moved on. You compare er with newer ships and things are a bit smaller or older fashioned.

The Grand is making a habit of this, on the Christmas/New Year cruise we circled (a figure 8 ) to investigate an abandoned yacht which later washed ashore on Great Barron Island.

63 days on the Grrand??

We did 13 days over Christmas and were not impressed, she's seen better days.

No convicts in my family, jumped ship and went to the Ballarat Goldfields!!

My suggestion is because I dont rate Hobbiton that highly whereas Rotorua is a fantastic cultural location. You can then do

Day 1 Auckland - Hamilton - Taupo.

Day 2  Taupo - Desert Rd - Whangerei. 

Day 3 Whangerei - Mt Egmont/Taranaki - New Plymouth 

Day 4 New Plymouth - Hamilton - Auckland.

Take a day or 2 to see the Auckland area, West Coast beaches, Waiheke Island etc.

If you had an extra day you could find plenty of worthwhile spots on the way an you would have an equally interesting journey if you went north.

Rotorua, Taupo, The Desert Road, New Plymouth.

But I'd change your excursion from Tauranga to visit Rotorua.

Beautiful place, honeymooned here in 1985, revisited about 5 years ago.

Calling Kingscote a city is going too far, a small town is more accurate 🙂

You chose a great way to get 5-6 people around the island, I would only add a visit to the North cost for more scenery.

My wife, on return from NZ, declared she had wooden products.

She was diverted to the lane for that, she showed her wooden book mark, they smiled and waved her through.

I was in the main queue with a thousand others, drug dogs climbing over everything and after 15-20 finally surfaced to see my wife enjoying her cup of tea.'

Next time...........

You think only Australians are on board, you are in for a surprise.

1 of 2 listed on the Roll call for my cruise are from the USA

What Bank???

It is so easy to go to a currency exchange and buy some of the local currency, exchange rate may be average but a minute part of your holiday budget.  I planned on the equivalent of AUD$100 in Fiji Dollars, CPFrancs and AUD$50i Vatu's (You can order on the net for pickup at the airport or local exchange.

If I purchase something major I would wave the credit card.

As mentioned, many cruises stop at a "Mystery" island, do you think its the right thing to pay in AUD/USD, would you do the same in some Cornish Village???  Many of the shop owners will rely on your payments to make a living, do you think they run a currency exchange on Mare, Dravanui or Mystery Island. maybe the local shylock would exchange your payment at ridiculous rates.

I'm sure Hogbay running his shop in Coffs would be happy to take in payments from a half dozen different countries, ater all Coffs is a tourist town.

Try buying some local currencies, Fiji Dollars and CPF.

The alternative is being another annoying tourist!

There are usually operators at the port, however you are best booking in advance if you want to go to a specific place.

Often they are small 10-20 seaters which can fill up quickly.

On 12/14/2022 at 10:01 PM, Ozwoody said:

I think it has something to do with peoples work where other people are trying to kill you.🙄😁

 

Maybe if your were a lousy butler, and your employer wanted to kill you for messing things up, it might count.🤣

But it also covers those who sat behind a desk in Vic Barracks but put on their Khakis everytime there is a benefit to be gained.

Barossa, traditional SA wineries. . Adelaide Hills, the new kids on the block.

Flight delays and cancellations are the norm now, if you have to get somewhere you have to take what it=s offered.

You could get a bus to Rose Bay and then ferry ti Circular Quay.

I bet there are 100"s of ways to do it.

Torquer,

This is a ship requirement, not a Government edict.

Princess require a RAT, Photo ID and proof of time/date.

Would a bus back to Sydney be an option, you get to see a different view of the scenery an wildlife?

Shanks's Pony!

Also, be aware taking your RAT to the port would invalidate the result.

This isnt rocket science, billions of RAT's have been done

RAT available for about $20 for a box of 5 tests.

If you dont tell them you are American you should be OK.

I dont know what you mean about your phone, we stick a small stick up our nose. not a phone.

As for timing, why not the morning of sailing, leave the bad news for last.

I dont know why you would have any problem in getting a Taxi or Uber.

I think it will be  a struggle.

It isnt a long trip but those on Ship tours get priority on the tenders, you might make it but......

Surely the tour will wait a bit, especially if you contact them (They will probably have other cruisers on the tour)

Or,

Just like many cities the Boxing Day sales will see most of the CBD shops open.

You would have to check tourist sites but I imagine they will be open as well.