12 night cruise 17 June 2017 Sun Princess to New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

Note: Our cruise is in reverse

Sat, 17/6/17     Sydney, Australia                                             4:00 pm

Sun, 18/6/17     At Sea

Mon, 19/6/17    At Sea

Tue, 20/6/17    Noumea, New Caledonia                                  8:00 am – 5:30 pm

Wed, 21/6/17   Lifou, New Caledonia Tender                           8:00 am – 5:00 pm

  

Thu, 22/6/17    Mystery Island, Vanuatu Tender                       8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Fri, 23/6/17      Vila, Vanuatu                                                   8:00 am – 6:00 pm

Sat, 24/6/17     Luganville, Vanuatu                                         8:00 am – 6:00 pm

Sun, 25/6/17     Champagne Bay, Vanuatu Tender                    8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Mon, 26/6/17    At Sea

Tue, 27/6/17    At Sea

Wed, 28/6/17   At Sea

Thu, 29/6/ 17   Sydney, Australia                                               7:00 am   

Three tender ports which mean three days we can get cheaper spa treatments!  Maybe..


Our cabin D311 - Accessible Oceanview 

Stateroom Details

 

Stateroom Number: D311
Type: Oceanview

Category: OF
Location: Forward
Deck: 8 (Dolphin)
Bath Type: Shower
Connecting Room: N/A
Total Size: 226 sq. ft.

Special Notes:
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

Christmas and New Year 2016 - 2017 Booked

We couldn't resist booking the 2016 -2017 Christmas New Year Golden Princess cruise back in October 2015 BUT when we were on board the Golden Princess we decided to upgrade from the inside accessible cabin on Emerald Deck to a Premium Balcony on Caribe Deck - starboard side this time.

Got a great deal (eventually) through the Future Cruise Consultant on board - $300 OBC (on board credit) 1 Specialty Restaurant Dinner.  We decided as we didn't have to fly we might as well pay a little more for the balcony.

Auckland return will be such a pleasure.   Have already put in the leave application at work!

Embarkation Day - Golden Princess Melbourne

Our boarding time was 12.30pm, so we had the hotel concierge book a Maxi Taxi for us.   The taxi arrived early, which in hindsight was a blessing.

Off to Station Pier to board the Golden Princess.   What we didn't know was how long this would take!!!   We got close to the wharf and encountered a horrendous traffic jam - cars and taxis trying to get onto the wharf.    We had an agonizing 30 - 40 minutes queuing on the wharf to drop the luggage and get out - a real shambles that Princess and Port Of Melbourne needs to sort out and sort out fast.   My personal feeling - no private cars should be allowed access and perhaps there should he an off site luggage drop and shuttles buses to get passengers to the wharf.

Once unloaded the bags were whisked away and we went upstairs by lift to start the embarkation procedure.     We were shown to the Wheelchair Embarkation area, which really could have been organised a little better.  We just 'pushed in' and completing the process was actually quite quick.

With Cruise Card in had we headed to go through Immigration and scanning.  Happened quite quickly and we declared our wine. As we went to board our timing was perfect - managed to get around the photographers and board without having that pesky boarding photo!

We were on board at 1.45pm - 1.45 hours from the time we left the hotel and actually had our feet onboard - terrible.  And we missed having lunch in the main dining room - dam!

As we had missing the MDR lunch we decided it was better if we went straight to our Cabin E716 and leave our hand luggage and see what was what.   We met our cabin steward - Eugene a very polite young chap.  (Forgot to get a photo)   Amazingly our bags had already started to arrive so we unpacked what we could.   And took photos of the cabin.



Entry - wardrobes to the right, desk on the left and bathroom.



Lounge area - TV opposite two tubs chairs, second TV above drawers (6) on the left.



Bedroom area - drawers on each side huge



Lounge view - more storage including cooler (fridge)



Accessible bathroom

On Sea Day 3 we asked our wonderful cabin steward to change the disabled toilet seat for a standard seat as it was proving too difficult.   He did this very professionally staying up to 9pm to ensure the Maintenance Engineer had completed to our satisfaction.   Well done.

Our thoughts on cabin/stateroom:
Very large - 310 sqft

Inside, so no window of course

Good bathroom - standard Princess accessible bathroom although the seat was rather small.
No noise from Vista Lounge at all

But noise and vibration when thrusters in use on arrival and departing a port (most of the aft of the ship would feel and hear the thrusters, so not a deal breaker.

Comfortable, but we did miss the balcony!

One down side is accessible the common areas of the ship when reliant on a wheelchair. You need to to down to deck 7 for access to the mid located dining rooms on 5 and 6.   Also the elevators banks aft were a little tricky - to outside two elevators covered 6-17 but the inside only 7-14!

Flight to Melbourne and Vibe Savoy Hotel Melbourne

Officially on holiday as we need to get up early - what's that about!!!!

Up at 5am to be at the airport for 6am with plenty of time for our 8.30am flight.   I like to have plenty of time especially as we are travelling for the first time with my LevoC3 power-chair and in a large box a portable shower commode.

We always park at Auckland International Airport Parking and this time when I booked only covered parking was available which was that much more expensive. Parked in Car park D which is a 2 minute walk to the terminal. (Had a map inserted but things keep changing at the airport so may not be up to date - Aug 2016)


Arrived early so had to wait until 6am when our parking time started!   Access is by inserting the credit card you paid with - easy.     Found a park at the end of a row under a light.

Check in was easy as we had Premium Check-in.   No problems with the large box.   Took our two carry-ons with us to the plane.

Our carrier of choice is Air New Zealand and we were booked on a 777-300 and upgraded to Premium Economy.




Wow - great seats!  We are totally converted to this class as it was so much easier for me to lifted in and out of the seat.   Heaps of room, great service and very nice food.



Plus:
The vast selection of activities on the inflight entertainment will keep even the most fidgety of flyers engaged for the whole flight. Enjoy over 1,700 hours of content - including latest movies, TV box sets, video games, and a dedicated kids section - all on a 10.6” personal touch screen in widescreen format. If you need more, there are always the USB and iPod connections to plug in to


Our flight over was fast and we were told there was a window of 15 minutes for our arrival on the new flight time.    Alas that did not work as we arrived early then had to wait on the 'apron' until our gate became available - 1/2 hour.     Due to the wheel chair passengers (me and others) we could not be disembarked on the tarmac which could have been an option.

Only disappointment was how long we had to wait for my power chair to arrive at the plane - think we waited another 1/2 hour.

Finally we were off and able to get through Immigration - airport helper insisted we use the fast track system, but for some reason it would not let me.  Pete went through and I was taken to the front of the queue to be processed.   Off to get the luggage - all relatively easy.  

I declared 'nuts' on the Agriculture form as we had taken Whittakers Chocolates with us.  Good move as we were sent to the red line which was completely empty and we got straight through!    Actually the Officer was annoyed with me.....    Tough worked for us!

We had been told there was no need to order a wheelchair accessible taxi, so we found the taxi area and the taxi rep ordered up a maxi taxi.    Didn't have to wait long at all.

Ride to to Vibe Savoy Hotel, on corner of Spencer Street and Little Collins cost around $66.00.  So we were glad it was a Sunday and not a week day.    The recommendation came from:
http://havewheelchairwilltravel.net/category/melbourne/




We had an Easy Access Room - not strictly fully accessible but did work for us.  Huge room although bathroom a little small, but no issue when using the shower commode.




Room overlooked the Atrium - bonus being no road or other noise!



Entry to bathroom




Shower stall - portable shower commode fitted.

Across Spencer Street there is an Outlet Store Centre, Foodcourt and Coles Supermarket.   Got our wine and water for the ship from Coles.    Pete had a neck and shoulder massage at one of the shops in the Outlet Centre.

On arrival in Melbourne it was a hot 35 degrees.   We walked into Coles it was that temperature and when we walked out 20 minutes later the temperature had dropped 10 degrees and was really windy.   By 6pm it was raining sideways.

We stayed in the hotel for drinks and dinner and were joined by our brother-in-laws cousins for dinner.   A jolly night was had by all!

Day Six - First day of the AROC AGM Weekend, Kingston Flyer

Oh dear Room 107 was not a good room!!   Turned out we were right by the facilities so very noisy, and the bed not comfortable so we had an awful sleep.

We had an early start as we need to be ready to go by 8.30am.   Showering was really difficult but worked eventually.    

Once organized, we went to Reception to get our room changed to the fully accessible room 235 before breakfast.   They were happy to do that and said they would move everything for us once we had packed.

Room 235

Bathroom - note how close the toilet is to the hand basin and the shelf beside the toilets - at head height!

The shower - small but worked

Of to breakfast to find we had been moved all the AROC guests downstairs, as the hotel was so full.   Great - the only access for me in the chair was via the Staff access.   I am getting to like this ‘standard’ of access for disabled guests.    And of course it wasn’t exactly a nice area to go through!       Although the breakfast was good (well what Pete gave me, as again I could not get to the food myself as it was down even more stairs!) it was obvious the hotel had 300 to feed this morning – it showed, tables not being reset and the staff appeared really stretched.    I have to say, if I was a tourist paying good dollars, I would have not been impressed.

After breakfast we packed so we could be moved. 

We left the hotel before the rest of the AROC members to get petrol and take photos as we were off to the Kingston Flyer.      A nice windy road and we managed to find a spot by a 30kmph corner so Pete could take photos off all the cars as they went by.  (Photos in a separate Post)  We arrived to find the car park full to busting.   Found a spot and as I got out of the car my mobile rang.   Two of the guys have got lost!   How I don’t know but once the train hooted its horn, they followed the sounds!

The Kingston Flyer is an old steam train running on a small disused train line and is purely a tourist activity.   Run by a private group and very well set up and even had a ramp which just took chair!   We parked the chair at the end of the carriage and took a seat in the first of the First class cubicle on Birdcage Carriage which were described as the ‘Brass and Leather experience’ – it sat 6.  Shared with Murray McCatney, Neil Miller (Auckland members now living in England), Fiona & Bruce.  

First class cubicle on Birdcage Carriage

Fiona and Pete were in and out like yo-yo’s taking photos as we steamed along.   Just over three quarters of the way to the turnaround the train was “held up” by 6 cowboys with ‘guns’ on horseback – absolute scream.   One of the guys cam on board and ‘kidnapped’ the train driver and another came through all the carriages looking for the loot!   The loot was an old suitcase full of Crunchy Bars!     The train was used in the ‘70’s for a famous NZ ad for Crunchy Bars!

The 'bootie'

The Engine Driver captured - he was soooo young!

We then proceed to and stopped at ‘Fairlight’ which was the turnaround point.   Cowboys gave out ‘crunchy bars’ and a few people got to have horse rides!   Bare in mind these people are aged mostly from 50 – 85!!!   All very young at heart.

The Crunchie Scramble!

Fred having his first horse ride in 60 years

By the time the ride was over the weather had turned as we had the first rain since our arrival which was a real pity.    We all headed back to Franklin to the Remarkables Primary School for lunch which was organized by the pupils and staff as a fundraiser. 

This was the venue for the infamous North V South Challenge!   And we were told this was to be Part 1 for the weekend!   A Tug-o-war.  Firstly the guys v guys, then girls v girls, mixed and finally the school pupils made up two teams!   The South thrashed the North!

Once back as the hotel we settled into our Accessible room.  It was much smaller but a much better bathroom!     Hopefully quieter at night and a decent sleep.

Went to the Lobby to use free internet but it ran out really quick, which was most odd.

So downloaded photos and did more blog notes.

As a member of the Executive I had to attend a meeting 4pm, which went quickly and smoothly.

Pre dinner drinks were held in the Lounge Bar.   While the drinks were on Part 2 of the North/South Challenge was on – each team had to name a car make from every letter of the alphabet!     From there we had a Gala dinner in the restaurant where we had breakfast.  Oh joy, another experience at the staff access only area!    This time there was only one seat I could sit at and we had to leave the power chair in the staff area.  So we were stuck in a far corner of a two tiered restaurant.  Such is life.

As the evening proceedings started our esteemed President asked everyone to turn over their side plates as see if there was anything on the under side.     I turned mine over and found a piece of paper with “AJ Hackett” written on it.  Thinking it was part of another Challenge, I ask the others at our table what their side places revealed.  The answers were all ‘Nothing’.     Odd.    Then El Presidente asked who had AJ Hackett, and that’s when we realized I had won a Bungy Jump!    The whole place erupted into laughter – the only disabled person out of 100 wins the bungy!    I have to mention the other prize was two nights at the hotel complimentary!     Talk about laugh!

We had a wonderful night and by the end it was decided Pete would be the jumper!

Day Five, Wanaka, Lake Hawea, and WIne!

Well today we didn’t quite know how it was all going to work.   Pete and I are checking out of the Kingsgate as we are moving to the Mercure Hotel on the other side of town to attend the AROC (Alfa Romeo Owners Club) AGM.     Also we were picking up friends Fiona and Bruce (who also belong to AROC) at the airport, getting them to their loan car (they have friends who have a bach/crib at Wanaka, who leave a car at the airport) and then??   All we knew was they wanted to go to Wanaka. 

So all that done, the big discussion was had!   Fiona was keen to wine taste but we could only do a minimal amount or we couldn’t do Wanaka and back!

First stop at 10am was Amisfield Winery at the foothills the Crown Range and only a few minutes drive from the airport.    Only Fiona and Bruce did tastings as it was too early for the rest of us!

Going up the Crown Range - looking back

The drive over the Crown Range was completely different than I had imagined.  There is a steep climb up then it plateaus out and is quite flat.   We drove through Cardrona which again was not what I expected.  A small settlement with the famous Cardrona pub and that was it!   It was some distance to the Cardrona Ski Field which is actually off the main road.

Famous Cardrona Hotel

Another long windy drive down into Wanaka where decided to have lunch.   Found a nice pub on the waterfront.     While there we saw a lot of familiar Alfa’s being driven around.  All obviously together on their way down to Queenstown.

Lake Wanaka

Next mission was to find Fiona and Bruce friends crib which turned out to actually be at Lake Hawea not Wanaka as I thought, about 20 minutes from Wanaka.   We played follow the leader and eventually we found the crib – right on the lake front no less!!!!   Section was a good quarter acre and the crib appeared to be one of the original cribs in the area.   Must be worth a bomb!   What a fantastic spot.

View from the front of the Crib!

Pete had the return trip all sorted – yeah right!   We eventually arrived back at the main highway to go south back Queenstown via Luggate and Cromwell (again!) Only problem was we encountered road works which slowed us down.  

So you know where we are going here is a map: http://goo.gl/maps/i0qSu

On the way we detoured and called into Pisa Moorings which we had seen from the other side of Lake Dunstan a couple of days before.   It was not a resort but new subdivision and some properties had moorings.   Again in the middle of no where!

Back in Cromwell Fiona and Bruce wanted to go to the Wooing Tree Winery which has come highly recommended.   The Winery has a little café as well, which meant we could have afternoon tea once we had done some tasting of course!  We tasted and bought the Blondie, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris and were able to shared case with Fiona & Bruce, which meant we could get a discount and free freight back to Auckland.

As it was getting late we headed back to Queenstown

As we need to collect our luggage from the hotel and drop Julie & Dave off.   We are keeping the rental car as they fly back to Auckland on the Saturday while we are staying on until the Sunday.

At check in at Mercure we were treated like royalty!!!  Fussed over and I was called Mrs. Kelly etc!   Hmmm they knew exactly who I was as I was the only one from the club arriving that used a wheelchair and I had complained when originally booking at being charged for the hotel portion three months out!  I don’t mind paying a deposit but not the full amount in advance!    Anyway it was worth being fussed over as check in was chaos!    Total Registration for AROC AGM was 94 and the car park full of Alfas and the odd rental car!

I had booked as accessible room with a standard shower (which had a small lip and would provide a shower stool) with a Lakeview.   Well Room 107 was a joke.  Yes accessible as it was large and on the Reception level, but a Shower stool in 700 x 900 stall was ridiculous.    We had a think about it and asked if we could change to a properly accessible room but alas no as hotel full to bursting.    So we were going to have to make do!   Wish I had taken photos.

Anyway we had a more pressing engagement – Registration and Pre-dinner drinks and socializing to do!    The reception rooms were full to bursting as not only was there all of the AROC there was about 4 busloads of tourists!

 

Dinner wasn’t part of the package so we decided to book Waterfront where we had been on the first night. Pete booked for 6, and on the way in we realized he had made a mistake so I had to call ahead and increase the number to 8.     We collected Julie and Dave and headed for the restaurant.   While waiting for the others to arrive, another AROC couple turned up, so we had to hastily arrange for them to join us!   The restaurant was very accommodating and we had a really nice night.

One very annoying thing was I decided I need to use the toilets.   We were told they were accessible.    OMG Toilets definitely not accessible friendly – goodness knows why anyone thought they were.   

Day One - Queenstown here we come....

We gave ourselves plenty of time to get to the airport by leaving home at 8am,even though it was a public holiday.

We pre-booked a car park in the Business Parking at Domestic Terminal.  Although it is more expensive the park is much closer and under cover.  $64 for 7 days so much cheaper than a taxi each way which would be at least $70.     We managed to get a park on the first floor right by the air-bridge.   We couldn't use a disabled park as we needed to take the mobility card with us - besides it was conned off!!!

Check-in was easy.  The Air NZ staff member was very help and got us sorted quickly even escorting us to the oversize baggage area.  Next stop was for a decent coffee and while I was waiting for Pete to arrive with the coffee I started to wonder where we had put the boarding passes.   It was then we discovered we didn't have boarding passes!   Somehow the lady had not bothered to give us!   So off trotted Pete back down the terminal to get new ones printed.  Apparently the lady who served us was off looking for us!   (we never saw her)

Our flight was allocated Gate 28 which Pete suspected we would not have an air-bridge meaning I would have to be 'craned' on.   Oh joy, at least the weather was fine!       We decided it would be sensible to go thru to Gate 28 and sure enough no air-bridge.      We found a seat for a short while before using the conveniences as the flight was nearly 2 hours so using the on-board facilities was not something I wanted to attempt.        

When we emerged the departure lounge was full to bursting as the area was shared by two Gates and the other flight was Jetstar.      We decided the best tactic was to stand by the boarding desk.    When the Air NZ staff member arrived things seemed a bit disorganised and no one had booked the 'forklift'    Didn't take long to sort thank goodness.       Once we had the 'all go' signal we headed out.   I decided it was easier to stand for the very short time involved than sitting of the tiny low transit chair and have to be lifted.   Pete had a week of lifting me ahead of us, so one less is good for both of us.

We had been allocated quite good seats on Airbus 320 – 3A 3B with spare seat so no one would have to be crammed in with us.  Air NZ are very good blocking a seat in a row three when the flight was not completely full.    The Airbus was quite comfortable in the domestic fit out.   We seemed to have so much more room between the seats as there is no entertainment systems in the backs of the seats etc.  

During the flight we were given the usual coffee and nibbles but then the flight became bumpy flight, so much so we needed covers on the coffees, then the staff we told to stow their service carts!   Thanks goodness that didn't last too long.

Apart from the bumps the flight went smoothly and once below the clouds the as we approached Queenstown the views were spectacular.  Not that we could really work out where we were!

On arrival we had to do the forklift thing again but this time in a rather windy and chilly 9 degrees!!   Eek.

Julie and Dave were waiting for us.  On the way to collect the baggage we called by Thrifty Cars so Pete could sign up as the second driver, after which Dave handed the keys!    Well Pete did volunteer!!

First stop -checked in at Kingsgate. Our Room is 111 on the ground floor with a courtyard.  The bed is Kingsize. The Bathroom large (read huge) and user friendly.  Overall the room was large.   However the Deck/courtyard not accessible as there was a huge step down and no ramp.  So perfectly useless.

Step down to courtyard

View from ranchslider

Our Room from Ranchslider

From the doorway

The shower - plenty of room

Toilet and hand basing at the other end of the room

After dumping our stuff we drove to Arrowtown –  a quaint village sheltered from wind.   It was busy but even at 2pm we managed to find a nice spot for lunch - nothing flash - just a toasted sandwich which was just the ticket.

For there we wandered through the village but we found foot paths very dodgy particularly for the powerchair and lots of shops not accessible or very small.

It turned out the Monday was the final day celebrations of 150 years in Arrowtown.  And at one end, close to where we parked the car, a Mock Court being held outside one the pubs which was packed with locals    We  missed most of it only catching the end.

We drove back via Millbrook and to be totally honest it seemed rather over rated and along way from anything.   And from there we went to Kawarau Hackett Bungy Jump.   It is very accessible with a lift down to shop level - Pete and I did the lift while Julie and Dave walked down to long spiral walkway.    We watched some jumps and it seemed about one every minute - not bad at $180 a jump.  Park of the place under construction so I viewed from inside while the others went out.   I could only assume the accessible view point was the part under construction.  It was quite busy and highly commercial - photos, Dvds etc of each jump was more dollars.

Time to head back to the hotel via a drive around town centre.   We had been on the go so we called 'time out' at the Hotel.     The Hotel while accessible it is not really wheelchair friendly.    When parking in car park (on level 1.5) you have to take the lift to the 4^th floor go across to the floor to the other lift bank and down to get to level 1 for Reception and our room!    To get to the restaurant from our room take lift to 4 go across and take lift to 2!!

Like when we are cruising we had 5.30pm drinks, this time in Julie & Dave's room – great view from 4^th level.    The weather was not great so we did not venture onto the deck, mind you it wasn't accessible anyway!  

We decided to have dinner out so drove to town as it is too far to walk as it was too cold.  6 degrees.    Parking is metered and charged up to 6pm then free, so that is a bonus.  Found a park on the lake front and the views were spectacular.     We found a lot of restaurants closed as it was public holiday.    We decided on dining at the Waterfront Bar & restaurant which is part of one of the Casinos.   As ‘walk-ins’ we had no trouble getting table.  It was busy place but we noticed most were walk-ins.  We were impressed with food.  We ordered the pizza with type of humus for starters – very yummy.     For mains, Julie & Pete had the Guinness Pie, Dave the Beef Thai Salad, I had the Risotto – beautiful bit I should have had the entree size.

At 8.45 it was just getting to get dark and we were pooped so headed back for an early night!