Help with my silly questions :)

[meljup]

We look like we might be travelling on the Pacific Dawn in late November.

I have read through all the threads and can't find answers to thses questions, apologies in advance if they are ridiculous questions.

1. How safe is travel in the Cyclone season ? I would hate to have an experience like the Pacific Sun had this week.

2. We have 5 children, probably a dumb question, but is there any chance of them going overboard easily ? I have visions of my 4 year old escaping the kids club and climbing the fence.:p

3. How much time do you have in port ? Is it rushed or will be have a leisurely day ?

Do you have any other tips for a large family. Our children are very well travelled,and well behaved, but this will be a new experience all together.

I will have 2 in Shark Shack, two in Turtle Cove and one with us.

Thanks Cruise experts !

[Ela 2]

We look like we might be travelling on the Pacific Dawn in late November.

I have read through all the threads and can't find answers to thses questions, apologies in advance if they are ridiculous questions.

1. How safe is travel in the Cyclone season ? I would hate to have an experience like the Pacific Sun had this week.

2. We have 5 children, probably a dumb question, but is there any chance of them going overboard easily ? I have visions of my 4 year old escaping the kids club and climbing the fence.:p

3. How much time do you have in port ? Is it rushed or will be have a leisurely day ?

Do you have any other tips for a large family. Our children are very well travelled,and well behaved, but this will be a new experience all together.

I will have 2 in Shark Shack, two in Turtle Cove and one with us.

Thanks Cruise experts !

Hi,

1. I wouldn't worry about cyclones at the end of November. They are more likely in January/February. We cruised last December (8th to 18th) and it was very humid in the islands, but the seas were very smooth. Bottom line is that no-one can guarantee smooth seas, but it is likely you will be OK.

2. This isn't a dumb question. I think every mother thinks (or worries) about this before going on their first cruise. I did. Mine were 6, 9 and 12. I don't think cruise ships have ever lost a kid overboard anywhere in the world. The people who have gone overboard have been adults, often drunk. After reading reports of people lost at sea it looks as they either deliberately jumped, or were climbing from one balcony to another and fell! Put this one out of your mind and rest easy.

3. You will have plenty of time in port but plan what you want to do. Maybe you are going on the 29th November cruise? Let us know which cruise and I (and others on this board) can make suggestions of things to do that won't cost a fortune.

Other tips - My children are grown up now but we cruised as a family when they were young. Before going ashore I made sure they had a good solid breakfast so they wouldn't get hungry in a couple of hours. You cannot take food ashore (quarantine laws) and it is easy to go back to the ship for lunch.

There is a packing list at the top of this board. I don't take all the items on that list but I make sure I have pegs, a clock with bright digital time display ($7.95 at Crazy Clark), power board, water bottles, backpack for days ashore. You are obviously used to travelling wth a family so you would know to take a first aid kit (visits to the medical centre are expensive), seasick meds, sunscreen.

 

You will probably think of other questions, and you will find many people on this board who will be happy to help you.

 

Have a great cruise. :):)

 

Evon.

[meljup]

Thank you so much, I will go through the sticky's tonight.

yes, will be going on the Nov 29 Cruise.

 

I am also trying to work out how much extra spending money we will need, is there much on board that will be "extra".

Thanks

[Ela 2]

Thank you so much, I will go through the sticky's tonight.

yes, will be going on the Nov 29 Cruise.

 

I am also trying to work out how much extra spending money we will need, is there much on board that will be "extra".

Thanks

This is like the proverbial 'how long is a piece of string'. I will try to give you a guide. Expenses can fall into several different areas -

1. Tours - Ship's tours are fairly expensive and there are other ways to go to the same places under your own steam and at lower cost. We do our own shore tours so they are not part of our on-board expenses.

2. Alcohol - Drinks are around $5, $6, $7 each. How much do you drink?

3. Gambling - casino and bingo. This is an individual thing. We don't gamble.

4. Kids' spending money - You can set a certain amount per kid on their card.

5. Food for sale - There is plenty of food available. You might want to buy specialty coffees ($2.50 I think), pies, pizza. Specialty restaurant has a $20 pp cover charge.

6. Souvenirs - You might want to buy a few ship's souvenirs.

7. Photos - You will probably want a few. I think they are around $12.95 if I remember correctly. I recommend you consider having a family portrait done. You only buy if you like it, and it makes a lovely momento. We spent $40 for a large framed pic, and there is no "sitting fee". We had quite a few taken over a couple of sessions and then chose the best. It was a family group of seven. Lovely!!

8. Tips - Adults have the amount of $7.50pp per day automatically added to their cruise account. You can remove this if you wish, but the staff are so fantastic we always leave it in place.

 

You can see from the above that the amount you spend can vary enormously. Some people spend more on their cruise account than they spend on their cruise tickets. We don't set a budget, and can afford to spend as we choose to. We cruise quite often and usually spend not much over $50 per day for two adults - but that does not include tours or money spent ashore. It is tips, a couple of drinks each per day, an occasional item from the shop and maybe one meal in the alternative restaurant.

[meljup]

Thank You, that is a great guide to work off.

 

Do you have any suggestions on websites or somewhere I can plan my own excursions, I think I would prefer to tailor it to suit us anyhow.

This is great advice coming..Thank You so very much !

[Gratz]

HI, just checking that you have checked that kids different age quota isn't full for your cruise?

 

My sister in law was planning to come with us in december (the cruise after yours) with 4 kids and had to pull out as the 7-12 age group had filled their quota

 

I just thought I'd let you know

[meljup]

Oh, thanks, will check now.

[Ela 2]

Thank You, that is a great guide to work off.

 

Do you have any suggestions on websites or somewhere I can plan my own excursions, I think I would prefer to tailor it to suit us anyhow.

This is great advice coming..Thank You so very much !

Yes - this forum. If you scan through the various threads you will come across suggestions.

 

Noumea - Maybe Petite train (to appeal to the kids) but buy it in the terminal for A$20 not $59 (ship's price). We are going to get the Noumea Explorer bus. All day pass 1,000xpf ($13.75) adults and 500xpf for kids. The bus drives past the beaches. I suggest you visit the aquarium, the zoo/botanical gardens and maybe Tjibaou Cultural Centre. If you are interested I have entry prices etc.

 

Ouvea - swim and snorkel.

 

Vila - Get a taxi from the wharf gates and go to the Cascades. This place is absolutely gorgeous. Not only you, but the kids will love it. The taxi should cost around A$25-$30 for everyone - not per person. Entry to the cascades is A$20 per adult (I don't know if it is less for kids). Take swimmers and towels. It is a 20 minute walk to the falls.

Duty free shopping in town (Fung Kuei) and wander through the markets.

 

Wala - The locals offer a tour. I think they ask for a donation.

 

:):):)

[Gratz]

Ela I'd love that info on the zoo etc if you don't mind

 

gt76 at internode dot on dot net

 

with the bus, can you catch it in the morning, do your thing then go back to the ship have lunch, get back on and not have to pay? or do you have to pay for another round trip?

 

 

I know my son would love the train thing but i think we'll do the bus, get more out of the day and I can't see my 68 year old mum copig on the petit train :)

[karmac]

I know my son would love the train thing but i think we'll do the bus, get more out of the day and I can't see my 68 year old mum copig on the petit train :)

 

Obviously I don't know what your mum is like but I would think that most people would cope with the train.

[Ela 2]

Hi Gratz,

I have travelled with three kids and know how the dollars add up. If you decide to go on the train sit as close to the front as you can. The ticket is a day pass and it is a hop-on/hop-off service. We will be using in October so I can let you know how it works. We are planning to go back to the ship for lunch. The bus goes about every hour so if we get off a few times, we will have to watch the time.

 

We will be home from our Tahiti cruise ten days or so before your cruise so I have time to do a review.

 

I'll send an email with the bus timetable.:):)

[Ela 2]

Hi Gratz,

My emailed bounced. I don't know if I made an error putting the address in. Would you like to send me an email and then I can respond? My address is peter and evon @ bigpond.com (without the spaces of course!).:):)

[Gratz]

Ok have sent it,

thanks

[meljup]

Bah, November is out.

Gratz, thanks for the heads up kids club is full for our dates.

As are all the December cruises, Jan is out no quad rooms available.

Looking at Feb 6 now, but that is the first week of school, so I am torn.

At least I can get to Fiji, which I originally wanted.

Weather is probably dicey in Feb too...:confused:

[Ela 2]

Weather is probably dicey in Feb too...:confused:

Hard to be sure. We were on the Pacific Sun from 23rd Feb to 8th March and again from 19th April to 3rd May. The Feb/March cruise had perfect weather. During the April/May cruise the seas kicked up a little bit and it was cloudy at times and raining when we arrived at the Isle of Pines.:( Still had a fantastic time.:):)

[LouLou28]

Bah, November is out.

Gratz, thanks for the heads up kids club is full for our dates.

As are all the December cruises, Jan is out no quad rooms available.

Looking at Feb 6 now, but that is the first week of school, so I am torn.

At least I can get to Fiji, which I originally wanted.

Weather is probably dicey in Feb too...:confused:

 

What a pity meljup!

 

For our first cruise, we took our kids - they missed out on the first week back at school after the summer holidays. Wasn't too bad --- it was really only 3 days (when we factored in pupil free, etc) - and they really didn't miss a lot - it was possibly a lot less disruptive than when we took them out for our cruise this year in Feb/March! :)

[meljup]

Yes, you are probably right, I think we will go ahead and book February. It looks a better cruise in the sense of the varied port experiences.

Thanks again !

[LouLou28]

Certainly more varied experiences then they'll get in the first week back at school !!!! :D:D:eek:

[Gratz]

oh whata shame meljup....how annoying. sorry to have beent he party pooper but i thought I'd let you know of what happenned to My Sis In law,

 

Hope that you get to go in feb. Don't worry too much about the first few days of school.....at my school it's mainly the teacher getting to know the kids, working out who to sit where, working on bookcovers, getting to know one another, teaching kids the routines of the new classroom etc.

[Brossy]

Hey Meljup. Just a thought...What about the ship The Rhapsody of the Seas that is crusing out of Sydney later this year? You might be able to get on one of the cruises in November. There are some great specials with some of the online t/a's. It might be worth looking into. Good luck.

[rugbypopsie]

Obviously I don't know what your mum is like but I would think that most people would cope with the train.

 

The train is fantastic way to see around the island, little open carriages. My elderly father in law loved it and he is in his eighties!:)