Radiance...South Pacific review, Sydney Australia lots of photos

[Yillup]

Looking forward to seeing this cruise through another's eyes! Cyclone Edna certainly made for a fun night. We spent it in the champagne bar people watching. Hilarious!

 

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Forums mobile app

[aussie cruzer]

Second port of call was too be Mystery Island,Vanuatu.....due too the recent cyclone ,troprical storm that passed over a couple of days before we arrived,the Radiance had too skip this port because of damage to the pier.

 

The captain decided to head north and a extra sea day was included.....the only benefit was we had extra time at Champagne bay,Vanuatu on the island of Espiritu Santo.

 

We were to have a half day and this was changed to a full day.

 

 

Champagne Bay,Vanuatu

 

Ships arrival 7.00

Last tender 6.30 pm

 

Champagne bay turned out to be one of the highlights of this cruise.....we headed off early on a early tender and joined our cruise critic friends from Greece to share a tour.

 

The locals were selling tours to the Blue hole & blue lagoon.....I had done research before arrival and had read the blue lagoon was not to be missed.....it is a natural spring that feeds water into a crystal clear lagoon.

 

The blue lagoon is 20 km from the cruise port and cost us $25 p/p and $5 entry fee.....the blue hole is only a short distance from cruise port,but not as good.

 

I heard onboard that some folks paid a taxi driver before tour started and got left behind at the blue hole and had to pay again for return trip....one should always pay at the end of a tour with taxis.

 

Champagne bay

 

 

 

 

 

[aussie cruzer]

 

 

 

[aussie cruzer]

Markets and drinks to be bought.

 

 

 

 

[aussie cruzer]

Blue Lagoon Tour

 

 

 

 

 

Local taxi

 

 

 

 

Had a ladder into the water and you dive in as well

 

 

[aussie cruzer]

Changing area and entry

 

 

 

A 20 minute trip back to cruise tender.

 

 

Spent some time on the beach and a couple of beers and had a great day in Champagne bay.

 

 

The local school kids were singing and raising some money.

 

[aussie cruzer]

Looking forward to seeing this cruise through another's eyes! Cyclone Edna certainly made for a fun night. We spent it in the champagne bar people watching. Hilarious!

 

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Forums mobile app

 

I heard there was a fight in one of the bars and it got out of hand.

 

We saw them getting dropped off in Port Vila.......costly exercise.:)

[BecciBoo]

That was lovely! Keep 'em coming!

[TxKroozer]

I just sailed via Tahiti on a trans pacific a few months ago in Sept. But this review is about a cruise that goes to the Vanuatu Islands & New Caledonian Islands so the OP didn't go to Tahiti. :)

 

I was aware the only port I could gain some insight on from this review was few Caledonia, but we will also be finishing our cruise in Sydney, as such the review would be helpful in that regards as well.

[aussie cruzer]

Port Vila,Vanuatu

 

Ships Arrival 8.00

All Aboard 5.30

 

Weather 30 c / 86 F

 

This was our second visit to Port Vila,last time we stayed for a weeks holiday in one of the resorts.....we fell in love with Vanuatu...the people are so nice and friendly.

 

First appearance is not the best,but Port Vila is what it is......a small town in the South Pacific.

 

It has some of the best duty free prices in town for alcohol you will find....a lot cheaper than the ship....Example 2 litres Jim Beam white $20 Aus or $17 US .

 

 

Tours

 

Most tours at the pier are taxi tours....lots of taxis lined up to take you wherever you wish to go.

 

You can hire a taxi all day for $130 ,it depends on your bargaining......we decided to hire a taxi and head out to the Mele Cascades water falls,these falls are a highlight on any trip to Port Vila.

 

You can walk up the falls....ideal on a hot summer day.

 

The falls are 20 mins from the cruise port and there is a $25 p/p entrance fee....we paid our taxi $80 for the three of us for 5 hrs.

 

We got our driver to drop us off at the Anchor Inn for lobster and steak lunch-overlooking Port Vila harbor.

 

Port Vila Harbour

 

 

Markets lined up

 

 

 

 

 

[aussie cruzer]

Port entrance

 

 

 

Official taxi prices....guide only

 

 

[aussie cruzer]

Cascade waterfalls

 

 

 

 

 

[aussie cruzer]

You can abseil the falls if you like......Rcl have a shore excursion $139

 

 

 

 

 

[aussie cruzer]

Port Vila harbour

 

 

Helicopter tour - from $99

 

 

 

Lunch time at the Anchor Inn

 

 

 

[aussie cruzer]

Heading back to the ship.

 

 

 

 

Met Chrissy the expat who raises money for Port Vila hospital at the pier....I had a nice chat with her and gave her our remaining Vatu (money).

 

She does great work in helping the locals with hospital funds.

 

 

[aussie cruzer]

A quick shout out for Rcl.

 

 

In Port Vila there was traffic accident at the port......we saw the ambulance arrive in a hurry.

 

I didn't see what happened,but heard from someone who was there and they said some passengers were on a private tour and there van didn't have a handbrake.

 

The van had a rock under it's tyre as a brake while it was parked at the pier and brake broke free.....a young man in his 20's was thrown from the van.....he suffered some injuries.....suspected broken arm/hand.

 

The local hospital didn't have the correct X-ray machine that was required.....the local vet was the only one to have this.

 

Rcl staff took the young man back to the ship and from what I heard gave him fantastic treatment from the ships doctor and 1st world facilities onboard.

 

I heard there was no charge from the ship....but this was second hand information......a good outcome in the end.

[aussie cruzer]

Lifou,Loyalty Islands

 

Ships Arrival 8.00

Last Tender 5.30

 

Weather 28 c / 82 F

 

Lifou is a nice beach stop....it was a short tender ride to the pier.

 

The locals were selling 2 hr tours of the Island for $35 p/p.....we had a look at the tour options and decided it was better to have a lazy day on the beach.

 

We walked up the hill to the church in 20 mins and had a great view of the ship and island.

 

The new stairs for the snorkeling was open....$15 p/p to enter....the beach at the pier is free.

 

The locals were selling beer & soft drink and there was plenty of shopping in the markets.

 

Arriving in Lifou

 

 

 

 

[aussie cruzer]

 

 

 

 

[aussie cruzer]

Markets

 

 

 

 

Tours for sale

 

 

[aussie cruzer]

Walk up to the church and snorkeling area.

 

 

 

 

$15 p/p to enter

 

 

[aussie cruzer]

 

 

 

Beach time

 

 

 

[Australian family]

Our room,

 

We booked a E1 balcony for the three of us....two adults and 1 child (15)

 

We were on deck 10 #1508...five cabins from the front starboard side.

 

This cabin sleeps four.....it has the bed slide out of the roof as well,we tried this bed and found it got in the way more than the sofa bed....plus in swayed a little in rough seas.

 

The sofa bed was comfortable by all reports.

 

Our cabin.

 

 

 

 

 

Where does the 4th bed fold down from the ceiling?

 

Also the sofa bed, does it block you from going to the bathroom?

 

We nearly went on a Radiance of the Seas cruise in a 4 berth cabin.

[aussie cruzer]

Where does the 4th bed fold down from the ceiling?

 

Also the sofa bed, does it block you from going to the bathroom?

 

We nearly went on a Radiance of the Seas cruise in a 4 berth cabin.

 

The other bed pops out of the ceiling above the double bed.....the sofa has wooden base,so very sturdy to climb over.

 

We tried the pop out bed but the guard rail is small and you could easy fall out,our 15 yr said the sofa was comphy and we stuck with that.

 

In the morning we folded it up easy and used the sofa.

[aussie cruzer]

I kicked the young bloke out of bed early and used the sofa as lounge again.

 

[aussie cruzer]

Isle Of Pines,New Caledonia

 

Ships Arrival 8.00

Last Tender 4.30

 

 

Last port of call on this cruise and with Champagne Bay our favourite......clear water with sandy beach awaited us.

 

We took another local tour at the pier....this time a 2 hr Island tour around most of the Isle Of Pines...cost $25 p/p...it was on big bus.

 

Arriving at Isle Of Pines