Noumea On A Sunday!!

[Izabelle]

I was just wondering if anyone has been to Noumea on a Sunday and if so are the shops open?

 

It will be our first port of call on our ROS cruise in 3 weeks time.:):)

 

We don't have any ship tours booked as we like doing our own thing so we are really hoping everywhere is open even though it will be Sunday.

[Ela 2]

I think Sunday is a better day than Monday to visit Noumea. The shops are not great so don't worry if they are closed. A couple of the main attractions (Aquarium and Tjibaou Cultural Centre) are open on Sundays but closed on Mondays.

 

Have a fantastic cruise. :):)

 

Evon.

[raringtogo]

i've only ever been in Noumea on a Sunday and although I know heaps of people just aren't crazy about Noumea (on any day:( ) we always have fun- firstly go out into the terminal and take a bus tour around the place - back to the ship for lunch, then, in the afto take a local bus over to Ansevarte and Bai au Citron- walk around, windsurf just enjoy the place.

 

getting ready- less than 3 week's to go now.

 

p.s. we read on a notice board somewhere that they have local 'singers and dancers' on a sunday, but, I've never seen them, so will be looking out for them this time.

[rkmw]

I was just wondering if anyone has been to Noumea on a Sunday and if so are the shops open?

 

It will be our first port of call on our ROS cruise in 3 weeks time.:):)

 

We don't have any ship tours booked as we like doing our own thing so we are really hoping everywhere is open even though it will be Sunday.

 

hi izzy, i havent been to Noumea on a sunday but on our cruise we are at the Isle of Pine on Good Friday and at sea for Easter, do you think the Easter Bunny will come whilst aboard

 

rkmw

[tazza]

Hi raringtogo, just so I understand when you say take a bus tour around the place where would we find this and are they actual tour buses or just local buses like you mentioned for the afternoon? Also, what else is there to do, windsurfing is not our thing but are the beaches good for swimming and sunning? Thanks!

[raringtogo]

hi tazza

we walked off the ship, outside into the Port Terminal there will be heaps of tour buses- they do exactly the same tour as the ship offers but for SO much less- about U$15 last time we went. You will do a nice sightseeing tour of Noumea, up to a lookout for some photo ops. then it will deliver you back to the terminal. It's not terribly long, maybe a couple of hours all up.

 

I did contact the Le Petit Train months ago, as I thought it would be a bit of fun, but, they say they're contracted to the ship and will not book privately (silly them) whether or not that will change on the day, is anybody's guess. It looks fun for kids especially and is a 'hop on hop off deal' but, we'll wait and see about that, otherwise.....

 

.....you can walk outside and catch a local bus to the beach, which, yes, assuming the weather is good in April, is lovely to sit on and while away a few hours, also, you can walk around the shops which are not THAT brilliant,imho, but interesting none-the-less.

local buses are very easy to catch and cheap. make sure you have some local money for your bus trip-

 

I didn't do it last time, but, I fancy having a squizz at one of their local supermarkets just to see how they differ.. see all the lovely French produce.

The other thing I think we might do this time, is hop off the local bus at the Latin Quarter just to look around.

 

hope this helps. are you on 'our cruise'?

 

hi B...haven't heard from you for quite a while- you are still joining us I assume? Easter Bunny eh....just bring on the hot-cross buns (prefereably choc-chip) and the easter eggs.

My son (who is on Rhapsody right now, and then he's home one week before joining us on April 2nd again) says, for Afternoon Tea on the ROS the scones were the most gigantic he's ever seen, and they also come in Choc-Chip, so here's hoping for the hot-c buns with choc-chips:D

[Izabelle]

Thanks everyone always lots of good tips on here and a tour and then a bus to the beach sounds great..

 

Definitely want the Easter Bunny to pay us a visit :D:D

 

Those scones sound great...not long now :):)

[rkmw]

when we arrive at Noumea we dock at the container terminal as the Rhapsody is too big to dock in town and everyone has to catch a shuttle bus to the tourist info, it was free in December so i suppose it will be free also

 

rkmw

[raringtogo]

now that is news to me...we went on Pacific Princess twice before and of course, PP is very small...I never thought of that at all!

thanks for that info RK

 

out of curiosity, how far is the container terminal from the main terminal?

[Izabelle]

Raringtogo, can the tour of Noumea be paid with Aussie dollars?

 

Thanks for your help:)

[raringtogo]

my info about that could be a little outdated and to tell the truth, I cannot exactly remember but, I think we paid in AU$- it was a office tour desk, and I'd hope they'd take credit card even as they have so many different cruise ships coming through there.

 

RK...do you have the answer for that?

[cruiselover53]

I like Noumea.On our last visit I spent a couple of hours with le boys in la blue after my camera was stolen.I had to get a statement to say I had reported it stolen (for insurance purposes). It was lucky for me because my camera had broken the day before.Unfortunately le sergeant didn't speak a word of Anglais and I don't speak of word of le french.How you say .....ces't la vie ?.Just in case he is looking for me I have purchased a large moustache for disguise.

The Goddess of course is way above such menial things and just waves her arms in an imperious manner.

[rkmw]

Raringtogo, can the tour of Noumea be paid with Aussie dollars?

 

Thanks for your help:)

 

hi isabelle, if you get the tours from the tourist info they take AUD and i think the 1hr tour is $20 and the 2hr is $40, in the tourist info they have market stalls

 

if you need a taxi you will have to change your money over, not sure about the private buses running around town as i didnt catch any

 

if you need an internet cafe they are in town, normally $5 per half hour, cheaper than the ship

 

rkmw

[tazza]

hi tazza

we walked off the ship, outside into the Port Terminal there will be heaps of tour buses- they do exactly the same tour as the ship offers but for SO much less- about U$15 last time we went. You will do a nice sightseeing tour of Noumea, up to a lookout for some photo ops. then it will deliver you back to the terminal. It's not terribly long, maybe a couple of hours all up.

 

I did contact the Le Petit Train months ago, as I thought it would be a bit of fun, but, they say they're contracted to the ship and will not book privately (silly them) whether or not that will change on the day, is anybody's guess. It looks fun for kids especially and is a 'hop on hop off deal' but, we'll wait and see about that, otherwise.....

 

.....you can walk outside and catch a local bus to the beach, which, yes, assuming the weather is good in April, is lovely to sit on and while away a few hours, also, you can walk around the shops which are not THAT brilliant,imho, but interesting none-the-less.

local buses are very easy to catch and cheap. make sure you have some local money for your bus trip-

 

I didn't do it last time, but, I fancy having a squizz at one of their local supermarkets just to see how they differ.. see all the lovely French produce.

The other thing I think we might do this time, is hop off the local bus at the Latin Quarter just to look around.

 

hope this helps. are you on 'our cruise'?

 

hi B...haven't heard from you for quite a while- you are still joining us I assume? Easter Bunny eh....just bring on the hot-cross buns (prefereably choc-chip) and the easter eggs.

My son (who is on Rhapsody right now, and then he's home one week before joining us on April 2nd again) says, for Afternoon Tea on the ROS the scones were the most gigantic he's ever seen, and they also come in Choc-Chip, so here's hoping for the hot-c buns with choc-chips:D

 

 

No we are not on your cruise but are doing one on Jan 11th - I suppose my participation on the boards is a bit premateur but oh well, I am looking very forward to the trip and gathering up all my info!!! Thanks for all your help.

[raringtogo]

cruiselover..same thing exactly happened to my sister and her hubby- it was quite an adventure and something they still talk about 5 years later- they had so much trouble with the language and they were so late getting back to the ship, they were brought back by the gendarmarie in a police car. (a new camera was duly claimed for)

 

tazza- I started planning this trip almost a year ago and whilst it seemed so far ahead way back then, it has flown by. And the sad thing, we'll be on in three week's time, and in the blink of an eye, it will all be over, but, I've already got my plans almost in place for next year already.

 

RK - i guess it would have been totally unrealistic to expect them to still be doing the tour for AU$15- nice, but not expected however, $40 for two hours is WAY steep. I was going to do it again, just to accompany some of my group who haven't been there before, but, at AU$80 for me and Joe, I'll spend my money on something else (maybe)

 

Certainly Le Petit Train sounds like a better deal...do you have any idea if they took on casual passengers when you were there? (i believe it's AU$20 hop-onand off)

[rkmw]

cruiselover..same thing exactly happened to my sister and her hubby- it was quite an adventure and something they still talk about 5 years later- they had so much trouble with the language and they were so late getting back to the ship, they were brought back by the gendarmarie in a police car. (a new camera was duly claimed for)

 

tazza- I started planning this trip almost a year ago and whilst it seemed so far ahead way back then, it has flown by. And the sad thing, we'll be on in three week's time, and in the blink of an eye, it will all be over, but, I've already got my plans almost in place for next year already.

 

RK - i guess it would have been totally unrealistic to expect them to still be doing the tour for AU$15- nice, but not expected however, $40 for two hours is WAY steep. I was going to do it again, just to accompany some of my group who haven't been there before, but, at AU$80 for me and Joe, I'll spend my money on something else (maybe)

 

Certainly Le Petit Train sounds like a better deal...do you have any idea if they took on casual passengers when you were there? (i believe it's AU$20 hop-onand off)

 

hi marilyn, from where the ship docks to the info office is only a 5 minute drive, the 1hr tour was $20 but the Pacific Sun was in there at the time so i think the locals jacked up their price, with the 2hr tour i would have a look at the prices first maybe if there is no other ship in town it might be a bit better than $40

 

as for the Le Petit Train i dont know about prices as i have not used them

 

rkmw

[raringtogo]

thanks Bob-

 

you packed and ready?

[rkmw]

thanks Bob-

 

you packed and ready?

 

hi marilyn, i am ready but not yet packed, i leave it till the last couple of days

 

that other site has got inside cabins still available for US $1199

 

bob

[raringtogo]

i know, i've been watching the prices cause we had another couple who wanted to join us, but they weren't prepared to pay that sort of money, considering we paid WAY less than that for an o/v.

 

just for the sake of interest, i kept a note of all the prices offered by RCI as they went up and down, and this is the note I made on the 29th December:

Interior Outside Balcony Deluxe/Suites

$619.00 $849.00 $1,399.00 $1,744.00

 

it kinda makes being offered an inside for $1119 extraordinary don't you think? I thought last minute prices went down, not up up up:confused:

[Izabelle]

we paid $980 for an inside guarantee on deck 2 which includes prepaid tips, we had no intention of this cruise but while looking for accommodation for Sydney for 5 nights following the 1 nighter RFDS on 1st April our TA sent us an email with the 2nd April cruise for 11 nights, so for the price we went ahead and booked and when we checked the personaliser we had an upgrade to a large oceanview stateroom on deck 4.

 

We are now sooo excited to be on ROS and look forward to seeing you all soon :):D

[kaseyoz]

No we are not on your cruise but are doing one on Jan 11th - I suppose my participation on the boards is a bit premateur but oh well, I am looking very forward to the trip and gathering up all my info!!! Thanks for all your help.

 

 

Hi Tazza.

Have you booked the jan 11th sun princess cruise.?

I have and posted a roll call as well.

 

Never too early to start looking for information

[raringtogo]

i read about your amazing upgrade- good for you especially for the deal you got- pretty much unbeatable.

 

i kept checking my booking over and over- hoping against hope, but, nah, no luck here. an upgrade to a balcony woulda been fantastic, but, our bookings are all locked together so I'd think any of us would have very slim chance of an upgrade.

 

never mind, in less than three weeks we'll all be onboard, having a brilliant time.

 

looking forward to meeting everyone too

[bobhsv]

Hi there,

 

Noumea on a Sunday sounds perfect to me. Far better than Vila on a Sunday! We are not great fans of Noumea, perhaps cos we have been there several times. Agree with others though.....book a tour from the Passenger Terminal in town. ROS does stop at the container terminal, free buses all day long to transport you out directly to the Passenger Terminal, which is where we recommend you find a tour to enjoy. You cannot walk from the container terminal for two reasons.... firstly it is a restricted area, and secondly it is a bit too far to walk into town anyway. The prices are very reasonable at the Passenger Terminal and all take aussie dollars. Everywhere else you will need their pacific francs. Take a wander around the 'Casino' which is just opposite the Passenger Terminal, and is like a Coles/Woolies store with extras.....very interesting. We purchased some chockies and cheeses which we took back onboard with us to munch on.

If you want to do it on your own, then go to the centre of town, Coconut Square, where you can catch all the local buses, using pacific francs of course. Personally wouldnt suggest this option for first timers in Noumea.

 

Hoping this helps a bit.

 

Cheers,

Bob and Jen

[Izabelle]

Thanks again everyone, excellent tips from all of you and much appreciated, I will look out for the casino supermarket as I love seeing different brands of things and comparing prices etc which means I better get some pacific francs for some french chockies :D:) well it is going to be Easter, thats my excuse anyway;)

[Diddles62]

They also take Aussie Dollars in the "casino" Store thats like Coles/woolies, notes only no coin thou.