Widebay

I forgot to mention another island, very close to where I live, and that is Fraser Island or K'garri island (name given by the Butchilla aboriginal people - which means "paradise")

K'garri Island has wild dingoes, beautiful long stretches of sandy beaches,

and wonderful inland fresh water lakes for swimming, or cleaning your rings in (apparently one lake's water does just that)

There is a large resort on Fraser Island (K'garri) called Kingfisher, with a number of restaurants, fresh water swimming pool, canoes, guided bush walks, etc, etc.

Where I live, we are fortunate to be able catch a ferry from River Heads over to Fraser for a "Day out excursion" - that is, lunch, bush walking tours, use of Resorts swimming pool, and a visit to Z-Force old jetty area (Z-Force were an elite group of Australian soldiers trained to sail an old japanese junk up to Singapore, then at night, place mines on the side of the Japanese ships in port. If they were captured, they shot on the spot...very brave men)

I agree with all the other replies - GBR is quite long, and in most cases some distance from the mainland. In the northern section (near Cairns) the reef is closer to the mainland, and in the south, a bit further out.

Where I live in Hervey Bay, we have small planes that fly out to Lady Elliot Island, a beautiful coral cay island, largely unknown to many tourists.

Excellent diving, swimming, a small resort on the island to buy a meal. An airstrip across the middle of the island which consists of coral rock, with grass growing over it.

As you walk around the island, the cabins & hotel section, you will see thousands of sooty tern birds in the bushes, just everywhere, the island really is a nature gem, something you don't see on the northern touristy islands.

Another island I visited 2 years ago was Lady Musgrave, again similar to Lady Elliot island,....both coral cay islands.

Both islands get large turtles laying their eggs on the islands at certain times of the year........these 2 islands are the REAL GREAT BARRIER REEF.

not like the "touristy" continental islands further north.

Whoooops, I put my reply in the wrong cruise post.

I have a saying, "Enjoy today, tomorrow we don't know about, and its long time in that burial plot" - so get out, live for today, as if it was your last day on this planet".

Try to help other people on this planet, who need help. Be nice, thankful, and friendly to as many people as possible, including staff on cruise ships, who work under stressful conditions, eg. demanding passengers.

Always remember, we are not here on this planet, for a long time, hopefully, however, for a GOOD TIME. I have always found, whenever, I treat people (including cruise ship staff) the way I would like to be TREATED, I was always get back the same respect, that I would like to receive.

Psssst, I used to live in Sydney, and the Sydney Ferries are the BEST way of tourists, getting around the beautiful Sydney Harbour.

It's not only going to Manly, but to other places around Sydney Harbour!!!!

Every time I do a cruise which ends in Sydney (I now live in paradise - Qld)

I tell the overseas visitors, lots of information regarding to the harbour, ferries, beaches, boutique breweries in the Rocks area, etc, etc......I still have that little bit of Sydney still in me, and enjoy it when I go down to Sydney to see my sister & husband.

Last time I finished a cruise in Sydney, was on the Celebrity Millenium, after a transpacific cruise from Hawaii, via Tahitian Islands (god's country), I was fortunate to be able to advice some nice Americans about what to see in Sydney, and the hidden or secret parts of Sydney, that the tourist guides don't tell you.

Norovirus is quite common on cruise ships, nursing homes, etc.

It wouldn't happened if bloody people just washed their hands prior to go into dining areas. People who don't wash their hands, are just plain lazy, with no respect for others. Perhaps they don't wash their hands after they have been to their own toilets, etc.

Suva, is a good shopping precinct, if you know where to go. Lots of new modern shopping centres. Dear Wife & I have been there 3 times now, on various cruise ships. We like the National Museum, in the gardens (the timber from the Bounty is on show there, even, the shoe of the last white man to be eaten by the natives, years ago.

The Grand Pacific Hotel, is still in its finishing stages, it should be a wonderful place to call into for a meal or drink. It dates back to Queen Elizabeth 2nd day when she visited it many, many years ago.

On each visit to Suva, my wife & I have visited the clothing stores, and bought some great clothing, for our next cruise somewhere in this big planet.

Okay everyone, I guess you have seen the latest round of riots in Bangkok city. Give a lot of consideration to your safety at this present moment.

I know the cruise companies, will also consider if this city is to be included in shore excursions, for the immediate future.

Horrie33 - that's what I wanted to hear, someone who has been on a P&O cruise, but found drunken behaviour not a problem. I can handle drunks in a bar at 2am, as my wife & I wouldn't be there, at that time.

Horrie - we are now thinking of booking a PNG cruise with P&O - for 2 reasons, to get a feel for P&O ships, and see PNG.

Thanks once again, everyone & especially Horrie33, appreciate your advice.

Some Hotels have free shuttle bus to & from Hotel/Airport eg. Mercure Grand Roxy Hotel.

Taxi's in singapore at plentiful, not that dear, and a great way of getting around quickly.

I often stay 7 days or more in Singapore at my son's place near Bukit Timah, and we use buses, MRT trains or taxi's every day we are there.

The MRT ( Mass Rapid Transport) is fast, allows you change at interchanges onto different lines to go all over Singapore (just about). Because we stay in Singapore for a longer period of time than a person just waiting to go on a cruise, we purchase what they call Ezi-Link Card, from Railway Stations, for around $10, then later you can top them up at Railway Stations, even a 7-11 stores near my son's place.

As you enter a railway station, you scan the card at a reader before going down the stairs to the platform, and when you alight from the MRT at your destination, you scan the card before leaving the station. Singapore buses also operates on the same card, same thing scan when you enter the bus & again as you leave the bus at your destination.

We always get Ezi-Link Cards soon as we arrive in Singapore, the cheapest & most convenient way of getting around Singapore. At Interchange Stations you change from one line to another without scanning the card, and when you finally leave MRT system at your final station, you scan the card, the computer knows how far you have travelled, and deducts the amount off your card.

I have cruised with POA through the Hawaiian Islands, Sun Princess in the South Pacific, and lastly Celebrity Millenium on Transpacific cruise via Tahitian islands, and I have never taken formal gear on any of these above mentioned cruises. My wife & I "like" to travel light. Our "main attractions" on cruises are the ports, not what to wear on formal nights.

When the formal nights cropped up, we just went to a specialty restaurant, where formal clothing didn't seem to be enforced. In fact, on those formal night, we found the specialty restaurants to be almost empty, so we enjoyed having a restaurant almost to ourselves. In fact, on those nights, some of the ship's officers dined in those "other" restaurants. It made for a nice romantic dinner for my wife & I, away from the crowded MDR, so much so, that we made a point of visiting those restaurants more often during the course of the cruise.

Last time we stayed in Singapore visiting our son & family, we caught the high speed ferry to Bintan Island for a 5 night stay, very relaxing. You could see the Kampongs on stilts out in the water, but more so at night when their lanterns were on.

On our next visit to Singapore probably in March/early this year, to see our son, we are not cruising, but spending time with him & his family. We enjoy taking our grandson over to Sentosa Island, to the Water Park, with all the slides, feed the sharks, and that big water bucket that drops heaps of water on you......If you haven't been to Sentosa, you must try it.

We use the MRT to get around Singapore, otherwise, catch a cab (all so affordable)

Hi guys, well yesterday booked & paid the deposit for the following Sapphire Princess Cruise -

Departs Singapore 13th February 2015:-

Visits - Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Ko Samui, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, then back to Singapore.....a total of 11 days.

We didn't book the cruise that visits Bali, as we want to fly there from Australia, and stay a week or two.

After booking the cruise - rang my son in Singapore & he is looking forward to seeing us in 2015 (but we will fly over before then, for a little holiday with him & his family - We are thinking of 7 days in Singapore, then fly over to Tioman Island for 5 nights stay)

Thank you for the advice given, it all helps. Well, just finished booking & paid a deposit, on Sapphire Princess Cruise (10 nights) out of Singapore, visiting -

Penang, Kuala Lumpur (which I visited a long time ago), then back to Singapore, then to Ko Samui, Bangkok, then Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

As my son lives & works in Singapore, we will be able to stay with him before & after the cruise, so we are really looking forward to this trip.

It departs on the 13th February 2015.

My wife & I have finally decided not to do the P&O Papua New Guinea cruise, but now fly to Singapore either this year or early 2015 for "Vietnam, Thailand & Malaysia Grand Adventure Cruise" (10 nights round trip from Singapore).

This cruise will also allows us to stay a few days prior & after the cruise in Singapore with our son & his family.

I will no doubt book the cruise sometimes this week, after conversing my son in Singapore, as to any plans they may have in that period.

Would love any advice on the Sapphire Princess itself, what cabin would you choose (oceanview or balcony) Would a balcony be worth it for what I would see on the cruise? or should I just book an oceanview?

Also would appreciate any advice on the ports of call, and which shore excursion, you would recommend, and for what reason?

By the Bay - sorry, when I quoted Nelson by the Bay, I must have been looking at where you come from.

Nelson by the Bay....many thanks for your advice, I will look into that cruise.

Thanks for replies, your all most helpful. So the Pacific Pearl will be in dry dock in Singapore.

The cruise appealed to my wife & I as we could fly to Singapore, before the cruise, then cruise back through Indonesia, then Papua New Guinea.

Now I have second thoughts - my wife & I were down at the beach this morning doing stand up paddle boarding, and I spoke to a good SUPB friend, who just returned from a fly/stay holiday in Bali, and after speaking to him, my wife & I now want to fly to Bali instead of a cruise out of Singapore.

So now I am considering a P&O cruise late 2014 or early 2015 to Papua New Guinea on a P&O ship. I had reservations of doing a P&O cruise altogether, as a friend of mine who did on to Sth Pacific, said there were a lot of drunks on the ship, and he didn't like the cruise at all.

Been browsing through cruise brochures, and I came across this cruise which interests me, for a number of reasons, 1st it starts in Singapore (allows me to fly to Singapore, see my son & family there), then it cruises via Indonesian Islands & Papua New Guinea islands, then finishes at Brisbane. The cruise ship is Pacific Jewel.

My wife & I often visit Singapore, and love returning there, as for the other ports - we never visited the ports mentioned above.

* Is this a new cruise for P&O?

* If not, has anyone on this board, done this cruise?, if so, what did you think of it - the ship, the ports, shore excursions, etc?

I appreciate the advice your guys give.

We are thinking of visiting Papua New Guinea on a cruise next year.

Possibly the P&O cruises that operate from Brisbane, inexpensive, and Brisbane is close for us to drive to, put the car into security carpark, then cruise off into the blue yonder.

However, having said that, I did see a P&O cruise that departing from Singapore, visiting lots of ports in Indonesia, then across to Papua New Guinea, then back to Australia, now that would be interesting.

I stayed a few years ago at Mangoes Resort in Port Vila, and its amazing how different the prices are (eg taxi's/market items/etc) are when there is NO cruise ship in port, and how peaceful the little town of Port Vila is then.

I guess the locals just view the passengers getting off, as $$$$$'s

When I was in Noumea a few months ago, on transpacific cruise from Hawaii to Sydney, I had 1,100 XPF's from a previous holiday (I never cash the money in , as you never know when you might return to that destination)

As you would expect I spent that money in Noumea having a lot of fun.

Its better to have more than not enough, and of course, you can always use an ATM to get more out, if needed, plenty of ATM machines in Noumea.

And of course, you can always purchase items in many shops of Noumea with your credit card, just like in Australia. (there will be a small additional fee added to the transaction, just like anywhere else in the world)

Bosn1 - I have been to Noumea on 2 visits, one with Celebrity Millenium & the other with Sun Princess. The hop on/hop off or Noumea Explorer Bus works well. After buying the day ticket from the driver, the bus stops at nearly all the main attractions.

What we did last time, after buying the ticket was to get off at Anse Vate Beach for a nice swim in the ocean & not a cruise ship pool. After the swim we walked from one bay to the next, checked out the shops, had a nice coffee, and then after our 2nd swim, we flagged down the bus at the bus stop, back to the cruise ship, after a very pleasant day. At Anse Vate Beach we also enjoyed a nice local New Caledonian beer each.

The Explorer Bus that we caught does a circle of all the main attractions including cultural centre, Anse Vate Beach, etc.

All pretty pictures of the ship bow, but where are the reports of the various ports in Papua New Guinea????

Perhaps no one visited New Guinea on the P&O ship????

Hey Tikiintahiti - great photos, especially the one looking down on the cruise, I would swear its identical to the photo I took from Belevedere Lookout?

We did AITO shore excursion in yellow coloured 4WD vehicle, lot of fun. We stopped at the lookout & got the same photo.