Escaping to the South Pacific on the Emerald Princess (Part 3: New Caledonia and Vanuatu)

Part 1: Australia
Part 2: New Zealand
Part 3: New Caledonia and Vanuatu


Noumea, New Caledonia
I had to work port day supervision in the afternoon so I booked a tour: Noumea Scenic Drive & Aquarium for the morning.
The bus took us to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, the Ouen Toro Lookout and also the Aquarium de Lagons.
My favourite part of the whole tour was the aquarium because it was the closest I have ever been to a shark.

The tank at the Aquarium that contained giant fishes and reef sharks

The aquarium also had an outdoor sea turtle pond and a black-light exhibit room with illuminated jellyfish.

The jellyfishes illuminated in the black-light room

Lifou, New Caledonia
This was a tendered port which "docks" right at the beach. It was a nice day for spending some time in the ocean and on the sand.
Note: There are lots of sea coral so water shoes would make walking around less painful.

A photo from the tender to Lifou

Mystery Island, Vanuatu
The ship was unable to drop the anchor at this tendered port because of the wind conditions and sea swells.   


Port Vila, Vanuatu
Having been to this port last year my impression was that unless you book an excursion or want to spend a lot of money there's not much to do here. However, a friend of mine shared her secret beach location with us and it was inexpensive as well. We took the water taxi to Coco beach ($5 AUD one way, 15 minutes).

View from the water taxi

The best part of Coco beach was its seclusion. There was no one on this beach besides the four friends I went with and the locals who were working at the resort/bar near the beach.
Last year I named Luecila beach in Lifou, New Caledonia as the most deserted beach I have ever been to but Coco beach has now taken those honours.

View of Coco beach from the water taxi

View from the dock of Coco beach

I split my time at Coco beach between swimming in the ocean (being careful not to hurt myself on the coral/rocks on the ocean floor), exploring the beach, and lounging on the beach chairs. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Port Vila even if I didn't go on a shore excursion!


Champagne Bay, Vanuatu
This is my favourite beach port with its perfect combination of (mostly) coral-free white sand beaches and clear turquoise waters. I enjoyed my day alternating between soaking up the sun on the beach and cooling off in the water.

The best beach port in my opinion: Champagne Bay

The heat from the sun was intense so I bought a coconut from a local to stay hydrated. When I was done drinking the last drop from the coconut I went back to the local to get her to cut open the coconut so I could eat the flesh. I also snacked on some of the locally made banana chips and sweet potato chips that were sold at the stalls scattered around the island.
Champagne Bay is always a good time, even more so when the weather is nice. I couldn't have asked for a better port to finish my contract with!


My heart will always have a soft spot for the South Pacific islands and the laid-back and friendly locals who live there. South Pacific, hope to see you again soon!

Sea Princess sails the South Pacific (Part 3: Vanuatu and New Caledonia - again)

The third and final cruise of my Sea Princess contract was to Vanuatu and New Caledonia again. I enjoyed my time in Vanuatu and New Caledonia more the second time around because of the better weather and the awesome excursions I went on.

Read Part 1 (Vanuatu and New Caledonia) of my Sea Princess adventures here
Read Part 2 (New Zealand) of my Sea Princess adventures here


Champagne Bay:
This is my favourite port ever for having a beach day. The water is crystal clear, a beautiful light turquoise colour and warm. The sand under your feet when you are in the water is soft and free of rocks/seaweed/debris. When you are in the water and look out at the horizon all you see is turquoise waters and green hills - I loved it!

This picture can't capture the beauty of Champagne Bay

View while sunbathing

Port Vila:
I have mentioned my love for boats operating at high speeds in open waters before and the Jet Boat Adventure satiated my adrenaline cravings. Goggles were provided because the water in the harbour around Port Vila is extremely salty and it would be painful if it ever got in your eyes. I got completely soaked on the jet boat and the salt remnants in my hair were proof of the super salty water. Life jackets were mandatory in case anyone fell into the water while the jet boat was doing any of it's special tricks. We were treated to the jet boat making some fast turns, complete circles and bouncing on the water. Not only was the tour an adrenaline rush it also provided a nice way to see the island from the water.

Since the excursion was only 30 minutes long I still had a full day to explore Port Vila. I spent some time around the port looking at the souvenirs stalls lining the road and bought a wooden souvenir. When I got back on the ship I went on the crew deck to soak up the sunshine since I didn't want to waste a beautiful, sunny day.


Lifou: 
This is a tendered port and there is a beach right where the tender drops you off. I had a great time looking for "immunity idols" at the beach last year but this time I wanted to experience something different.

I went on the Luecila Beach & Scenic Island Drive excursion. We boarded our motor-coach and drove past roads lined with the beautiful greenery of trees, immaculately-built huts and homes.

Huts like this one were everywhere on our drive

Luecila Beach was our own little slice of a private getaway. It was quiet with the only people on the beach being a handful of locals and the 19 passengers who were on the excursion.

The most deserted beach I have been to - Luecila Beach

After the tour ended I spent some time at the beach where the tender docks. It was definitely a lot more crowded than Luecila Beach but still offered nice views! One big difference between the two beaches, besides how many people were on it, is the sand is softer and coral-free at Luecila Beach.


Noumea:
Noumea was never one of favourite ports but the Amedee Island Marine Reserve excursion changed my mind about this port. I would go back to Noumea again just so I can visit Amedee Island!

This was a full-day (8 hour) tour but it was so perfectly planned out with activities and free-time that we never got bored or felt rushed during our time on Amedee Island. A bus shuttle took us from the ship to Port Moselle. Then we boarded a catamaran for the 45 minute trip to Amedee Island. No one lives on the island but people will take day trips to it from Noumea.

Beautiful soft white sand at Amedee Island

Upon arriving at Amedee Island we had some free time to walk all around the island and explore the lighthouse. Then we went on a 20 minute glass bottom boat tour. We saw a variety of tropical fishes (including a parrot fish) as well as a giant sea turtle.

The lighthouse

We had some more free time on the beach before our barrier reef boat tour began. The loungers and umbrellas are provided free of charge for those on the excursion.

My lounging spot

We boarded the catamaran for our 45 minute barrier reef boat tour where we went to the largest lagoon in the world. The waters were crystal clear and a light turquoise colour. I kept marveling and saying out loud how beautiful the water was because I couldn't believe my eyes! I also fed french baguette to the fishes in the water.

So many fishes in that crystal clear water

Then it was back to the beach for a delicious buffet lunch. The variety and quality of food was impressive. It was a feast of salads, seafood, fried rice, potato gratin, spinach, roast beef, tuna steak, fruits, desserts and more. We were also treated to a Polynesian folkloric show with music and dancing while eating our lunch.

After eating a big meal I was ready for a nap! I spent some time on a beach lounger resting in the shade under an umbrella. When it got too hot I went into the water. Once again the water was so crystal clear you could see right to the ocean floor. There were lots of fishes swimming around me and I even stepped on a sea snake by accident. Apparently sea snakes are very common at Amedee Island. Luckily they are afraid of humans but they are still poisonous.

The crystal clear water is great for swimming or snorkeling

To finish off the day we watched a coconut grating demonstration and sampled the coconut pieces. It was a great day and I would highly recommend doing this tour if you ever go to Noumea! I know I would do it again if I got the chance.


A beach day in Champagne Bay followed by three wonderful excursions in Port Vila, Lifou and Noumea was the perfect ending to my South Pacific adventures on my Sea Princess contract. I am a happy girl!

Sea Princess sails the South Pacific (Part 1: Vanuatu and New Caledonia)

Since I had such a great experience in Australia last year I wanted to spend this Christmas/New Year on a ship based in Australia visiting New Zealand and the islands of the South Pacific again. Luckily the opportunity arose for me to be on the Sea Princess in December/January which meant another Canadian winter spent in the land down under.

I left Vancouver 3 days before I was scheduled to board the ship in Brisbane. I (along with all the fellow crew members joining the ship) stayed at a hotel located right in the heart of South Bank the night before embarking the ship.

Streets Beach (a man-made beach) in South Bank

It was a week away from Christmas when I arrived in Brisbane and the city had lots of events leading up to the big day. I checked out South Bank's Christmas Markets in the afternoon then found a spot to sit down and use the free WiFi available in South Bank Parklands.

One of the many fun Christmas events in Brisbane

At night I watched the Christmas Fireworks Spectacular over the Brisbane river from the Clem Jones Promenade in South Bank. The show was coordinated to Christmas music and I enjoyed my unobstructed view of fireworks lighting up the night sky. All in all it was a great day in Brisbane.


The first of three cruises on my Sea Princess contract was to Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

Port Vila:
This was the first port in our cruise and also my first time in Vanuatu. I was super excited as a Survivor fan knowing one season of Survivor was filmed here.

As you exit the ship and walk to your left (only those on a ship offered shore excursion were allowed to walk to the right) you will walk by many locals asking if you need a taxi into town. There is a long stretch of road where stalls selling souvenirs line both sides of the road.

Tip: It isn't possible to walk into town and there isn't anything to do around the port besides browsing the stalls selling souvenirs. If you want to get into town you will need to take the bus or a taxi (indicated by a red B or T on the license plate). The largest (and best according to many people) place to shop for duty free items is a store called Fung Kuei in town.

I did my research on Port Vila beforehand so I knew the best way for me to experience this port was to sign up for a tour. I went on the Rainforest Walk and Cascade Falls tour. I had always wanted to walk/swim under a giant waterfall and this was my chance.

Cascade Falls

Highlights from the tour: 
- Watching a group of 5 local men singing an acapella version of Silent Night about mid-way up the trail to the waterfall
- Taking a dip in the water under the waterfalls to cool off
- The refreshments (thinly sliced coconut pieces, banana chips, tapioca chips, kasava chips, watermelon, lemonade) provided at the end of the tour were very good


Mystery Island:
This was a tendered port. Mystery Island is a small, uninhabited island with no electricity or roads.  The middle of the island has huts with booths selling tours and souvenirs. There are also rustic toilets scattered around the island.
There is sandy beach space (albeit a bit rocky) for sunbathing as well as good areas for snorkeling or swimming.

A cloudy day in Mystery Island

I was able to walk around the whole island in about an hour (this included stopping along the way to take photos). While walking on the rocks in the water I slipped and fell into the ocean with all my clothes on. On the bright side I saw a tropical green coloured fish while in the water!


Champagne Bay:
This was a tendered port. As you get off the tender you are greeted by children singing which just puts everyone in a good mood. You will also see locals offering tours or photo opportunities with animals. There are booths scattered around the island selling souvenirs and refreshment/food.

The tender docks right on the beach. The scenery of the lush green trees surrounding the soft, sandy beach with crystal clear turquoise waters makes this the perfect port to have a beach day.

A picture just doesn't do Champagne Bay justice!

I am always on the lookout for a postcard-perfect beach and Champagne Bay is the closest thing I have experienced to that!


Noumea:
I was in Noumea last year so I knew there wasn't much to do within walking distance of the port. Since I was scheduled to work afternoon port day I decided to sign up for the Yellow Petit Tchou Tchou Train excursion to make the most of my morning in Noumea.

The train that drove us around Noumea

We went on a scenic drive by a marina called Orphanage Bay and a beach called Lemon Bay before stopping at a resort to have refreshments/snacks. The train went up to Iron Mountain which provided great photo opportunities of Noumea from a high elevation. Our last stop was at Notre Dame du Pacifique which has a statue of the Lady of the Pacific as well as a great lookout spot to the ship docked at the port.


Read Part 2 (New Zealand) of my Sea Princess adventures here
Read Part 3 (Vanuatu and New Caledonia - again) of my Sea Princess adventures here

A to Z: Australia to Fiji to New Zealand (Part 2: Fiji)

Part 2: Fiji and South Pacific

Welcome to the South Pacific!

When I first found out I was going to be on the Sun Princess over the winter break and saw Fiji and South Pacific on the itinerary I was over the moon! As a fan of the reality TV show Survivor I always wanted to go to a deserted island somewhere in the South Pacific and finally this was my chance to experience that part of the world.

Noumea, New Caledonia: The ship docked at a container port so the only way out of the port area is by getting on the free shuttle that takes you downtown. There is a cafe with free WiFi where the shuttle drops you off. The first thing I noticed was everything was in French. Turns out New Caledonia is an overseas province of France so it all makes sense. We walked around before settling down at a restaurant to cool off with a drink. I ordered a homemade mango iced tea and it was the most delicious drink ever!
Once again I had to go inside a supermarket to see what snacks they had. It was pretty neat to see French labels on items I would normally see in English at stores back home.
Tip: You can pay for items in Australian or US dollars but your change will be in Francs.

The Chinatown in Noumea

Port Denarau: This tendered port is essentially an island populated exclusively with resorts. However, there is a shopping centre right where the tender drops you off. There was a traditional Fijian dance performance at the shopping centre which was nice to see. Not really in the shopping mood we purchased a Bula bus ticket for $8 Fijian which allowed us to ride the hop-on-hop-off bus that takes you from the shopping centre to all the resorts located on the island. Since time was limited we chose to get off at the Wyndham to sit on their weaved wood beach chairs perched at the end of the beach.

The beach chairs are calling my name at the Wyndham

After an hour or so of relaxing at this hotel we needed to get back on the ship. On the ride back to the shopping centre we got a nice view of all the resorts. The resorts all had an open concept lobby and looked very new. There was something wrong with the tender so everyone had to get on a catamaran (owned by South Sea Cruise) to get back to the ship. We experienced rain showers off and on throughout the day but while we were in the catamaran the weather suddenly took a turn for the worse. I'm glad we left the resort when we did because there was a torrential downpour while we were in the comforts of the catamaran.


Suva: With a full crew drill in the morning and working port day supervision in the afternoon I was not able to get off the ship at this port.


Savusavu: This was another tendered port. I went on a shore excursion called Traditional Fiji: Nukubalavu Village. I had the most wonderful time and can't stop raving about it! When the bus arrived in Nukubalavu Village we were greeted with a choir of men, women and children singing to us. As we stepped off the bus a local villager placed a flower necklace around our neck and handed us a bottle of Fiji water. This island was full of beautiful forested mountains and coconut trees. 

The gorgeous beach at the Nukubalavu Village

We witnessed a traditional kava ceremony and some guests were even invited to participate. I was impressed to see a villager climb a coconut tree to chop down the palm leaves so a fellow villager could demonstrate basket weaving. 

Getting ready to chop down the palm leaves

The Fijian men performed a "sword" dance and the Fijian women did a dance performance as well. Coconuts were cut open and guests were invited to take a piece to try which I very happily did. We had some free time to browse the village and markets for souvenirs before the shuttle took us back to the port. While walking around the village I noticed there was a station set up for green coconut juice. The villagers skillfully cut open a green coconut with a machete in front of you and then stick a straw in it so you can enjoy the juice. The green coconut I was given was huge and very heavy but the juice from it was so fresh!
One of my favourite memories from this excursion was when a local boy came up to me and handed me a seashell he found on the beach. We then proceeded to head down to the beach to look for more seashells. I will never forget the friendliness and hospitality of the Fijians.
Since the excursion ended before noon, I had time to get off and explore Savusavu on my own as well. I took a taxi for $20 Fijian to Blue Lagoon beach - the only beach within a reasonable distance of the port. This was one of the strangest beaches I have even been to. The tide was very low so there was a pool of water in the middle of the beach and then just very shallow water for what appeared to be miles before reuniting with the ocean. As much as I enjoyed getting some sun at this fairly secluded beach I won't be going back to Blue Lagoon beach the next time I am in Savusavu.


Dravuni Island: Unfortunately it was too windy to tender here so we continued sailing to our next port.


Lifou, New Caledonia: This was a tendered port once again and the ship docked right by the beach. The water was the most beautiful turquoise colour. At the far end of the beach there were some giant rocks/cliffs that had a very Survivor-esque feel to it. I finally experienced my "let's pretend I'm on Survivor moment"!

Just look at those turquoise waters!

 

Is there a hidden immunity idol here?

One last look at the beach before heading back on the tender

Read Part 1: Australia here
Read Part 3: New Zealand here