Thursday morning and we have 2 more days left on board, all the stopovers have been done. It looks like a relaxing time ahead with plenty of time to check out the ship and explore areas previously unvisited. There is a daily bulletin listing all the activities on all the decks with entertainments for our enjoyment, this will be studied and a plan formulated but for now the only decision is will we have breakfast from the buffet or have it served in the restaurant.
After breakfast there were several options but the ones that June found most interesting were the Pacific Market where all kinds of goods were sold at "bargain prices" and the Destination's Future Cruise talk. I had given thought to see the golf putting tournament but there wasn't the time for trivialities. Bargains were bought and dreams of future cruises floated through our minds.
There are many things to do and watch but by lunch time I had decided on my afternoon. How long could I sit by the pool before getting in to it then how long to stay in. How long could I lounge in the sun before getting an ice cream. This is heady stuff and by 4pm I was exhausted and had to give it away and go to the cabin to have a shower. Don't know what June did 'cos this was my afternoon.
Spent a few minutes reading the forum and looking at the blog stats, checked out emails etc. and had a quick look at facebook before heading off to dinner resplendent in my new Vanuatu collared shirt. We have had several meals with Bob and Hazel over the past week and have seen them several times at different venues, they have expressed an interest in the blog and have been given a card with the URL listed.
We have decided to book another cruise and went down to the office and paid our deposit. We are going on the 18 night Polynesian Passage Tour on the new ship the Aria sailing from Brisbane mid August 2016. Visiting Santo, Vila, Port Denerau, Vava'l, Nuku'Alofa, Apia, Dravunni Island, (Fiji, PNG, Tonga and Samoa) There are many advantages to be made by booking whilst on the current cruise, prepaying, onboard credits, previous passenger discounts, VIP status, discounted tours etc. Another advantage is that should anything prevent us going we can get a full refund prior to June 2016 and if the tour is discounted more before the cruise we can get the reduced price.
So the last cruise day is here, Friday, with pretty much the same decisions as yesterday with the same good weather. I have been round various places on the ship and taken photos and will upload them to finish the tour. Today I have to fill out the disembarkation forms and we have to do our packing to be put outside the cabin prior to 8pm tonight. Bit tricky so you need to have another small bag to carry off those items needed for Saturday morning.
It all is very well organised and we have a flyer giving up detailed instructions as to our tag colour (Yellow 1) and we have to be on the Promenade Bar Deck 7 by 7am tomorrow. Breakfast is served at from 5.30am. Expecting everything to go as planned I will go online later and post Cruising part 3 to finalise the tour report. As can be seen from the photos we have had a great time and now are even more excited by the prospect of doing it all again with even more next year.
THE BEST IS YET TO COME SO ENJOY IT AS IT UNFOLDS. John
Loving your input John, makes me want to go on a cruise, don't think it would be much fun on my own though, LOL
Keep on enjoying - Fran
John, please forgive the intrusion
Fran
I've done three cruises on my own and have two more booked for 5/6/2015 and 6/8/2016. I always enjoy myself and you can always find someone to talk too. I'm used to traveling on my own so don't find it a problem
Loving your input John, makes me want to go on a cruise, don't think it would be much fun on my own though, LOL
Keep on enjoying - Fran
John, please forgive the intrusion
Fran
I've done three cruises on my own and have two more booked for 5/6/2015 and 6/8/2016. I always enjoy myself and you can always find someone to talk too. I'm used to traveling on my own so don't find it a problem
Thanx Clare46, maybe one day, spur of the moment I just might book a cruise.......
__________________
"I'll know what I've been searching for, when I find it"
Thank you John for a great report - all your reports are interesting. Cruises are a great holiday - you can a lot or not much at all. I have been on 2 cruises and I fully recommend them - go for it Fran.
i investigated cruises late last year but was put off on solo prices. It would seem a solo pays extra, almost as much as two people. So I have a question.
am I missing something or are there special solo prices to be found? And where do I look for them?
Share Cabins are cheaper. I had a Twin-share with another lady. Two actually. One changed Cabins at Singapore, when another person who had pre-booked my cabin from Singapore to Southampton came on board.
Ask the the Travel Agent about other options.
Cheers,
Sheba.
-- Edited by Sheba on Monday 16th of February 2015 06:07:24 PM
i investigated cruises late last year but was put off on solo prices. It would seem a solo pays extra, almost as much as two people. So I have a question.
am I missing something or are there special solo prices to be found? And where do I look for them?
peter
chicken strangler
Don't know about other cruise lines but P&O used to arrange for you to share with another person of the same sex but they no longer do this. If you want to share you need to make your own arrangements.
On P&O the fare is the twin share cost plus 60%. I find that it usually costs me around $200 a night. I can't stay in a decent hotel and pay for meals for much less than that. Then there is the entertainment and different ports that you see.
