2011 – 2013
Pacific islands • Australia • ASIA
Your port Sydney, Brisbane, Fremantle, Newcastle and Melbourne
Your choice From 2 to 28 nights
Your price 7 nights from $749pp quad share Largest number of cruise departures. Lowest ever Price Breaker Fares.
Cruise to...
With so many destinations available, a memorable holiday is guaranteed with P&O Cruises. The question is, which cruise will you choose?
Semarang
Bali Komodo Lombok
Christmas Island
Darwin The Kimberley (scenic cruising)
Cooktown Port Douglas Cairns (Yorkeys Knob) Willis Island (scenic cruising) Townsville Whitsundays
Broome
Emer
Exmouth
HMAS Sydney (cruise by)
Steep Point (scenic cruising)
AUSTRALIA BRISBANE
Geraldton
FREMANTLE
NEWCASTLE
Bunbury Port Lincoln Albany
Kangaroo Island
SYDNEY
Adelaide
MELBOURNE Phillip Island Burnie Wineglass Bay/ Great Oyster Bay (scenic cruising)
Port Arthur Hobart
Fiordl
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Contents
FRENCH POLYNESIA
VANUATU Champagne Bay Santo Wala
NEW CALEDONIA
Pentecost
Savusavu
Port Denarau Suva Mystery Dravuni Island Island
Emerald Bay Noumea
FIJI
Vila
Lifou Mare Isle of Pines
Niuafo’ou
(scenic cruising)
Vava’u Nuku’alofa
TONGA
LOYALTY ISLANDS
Bora Bora
Moorea Papeete
(Tahiti)
Rarotonga
COOK ISLANDS
Norfolk Island
Bay of Islands
AUCKLAND
Tauranga
Napier
NEW ZEALAND Fiordland National Park
Wellington Picton
Christchurch
(Akaroa or Lyttelton)
(scenic cruising)
Dunedin (Port Chalmers)
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Holidays that have it all
Incredible inclusions. No hassles and no worries. Fun for the whole family. Now that´s what you call a holiday – a P&O Cruises holiday. 2 pocruises.com.au
Welcome to P&O Cruises
How to create an unforgettable
holiday? Adventure, new discoveries and beautiful destinations. A warm welcome followed by a smile. Fresh white towels and fluffy pillows. A vast array of delicious food. Most of all, the freedom to choose what you want to do, every single day. All this and more is why P&O Cruises is such a popular holiday choice for Aussies.
We entertain you You also get more activities and entertainment than you thought could be squeezed onto a ship. Enjoy spectacular stage shows, gasp at aerial acrobatic displays high above the deck, laugh at comedy acts … and never have to buy a ticket. Enjoy a movie on the Big Screen or just sit by the pool if you want. That´s just day one with P&O Cruises; what landbased holiday offers all that? With so many options available, you can see more and do more on a cruise than on any other type of holiday.
We deliver fun Now, with all this excitement, don´t forget to bring the kids. A cruise is great for family fun. You can let the kids and teens loose in our specially designated clubs and enjoy some adult time. Set them free to enjoy
a terrific range of child-friendly activities and entertainment, from Wii competitions to circus juggling. It´s all included, which is great for the Aussie family budget.
We think of everything You deserve a stress-free break with those you love. Isn´t hasslefree the way to holiday? That´s right, unpack only once. Plus, everything is done for you. No grocery shopping or washing up. No need to drive anywhere, study maps or worry about getting a taxi home. Your most difficult task will be to decide what to order for dinner. Though, come to think of it, that might be a challenge given the array of dining options and our constantly changing menus.
Unlike a normal land holiday, everything below is included in the cost of your P&O Cruises holiday.
Main meals Land holiday Included
Daily activities Land holiday
We offer more For almost 80 years, Australians have enjoyed the unprecedented levels of service that make P&O Cruises holidays so memorable. With the arrival in late 2010 of our latest superliner, Pacific Pearl, which joined Pacific Jewel, Pacific Dawn and Pacific Sun, we now offer more than ever before. And with sailings from Sydney, Brisbane, Fremantle, Newcastle and Melbourne what could be easier? Come join us today.
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Included
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Entertainment day and night Land holiday Included
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Children´s centres with supervised programmes Land holiday Included
Visit pocruises.com.au and follow the link to our P&O Cruises blog where you can check all our latest news and updates.
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Travel to exotic destinations Land holiday Included
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Facilities and services vary by ship and cruise. Charges apply to some facilities, services and activities. Please refer to pages 54–55 for more information.
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Take a look inside... 7 Live circus
5 Outdoor pools
1 The Oasis
Cool off in one of the swimming pools or take a soak in a spa. Relax with a poolside snack or drink.
An adults´ retreat where you can laze on a daybed in peaceful surroundings taking in the ever-changing horizon.
6 Bars and entertainment
2 Dining venues
8 HQ and HQ+
Live music, karaoke, adults-only Sit Down Comedy Club, late night Piano Bar, cocktail nights; there´s something to suit every mood.
Enjoy à la carte dining at the Waterfront Restaurant or choose from delicious buffets and casual dining at one of the alternate venues.
HQ and HQ+ are hangouts for 11–17 year olds offering a supervised age specific programme of entertainment and activities.
3 Deck sports
9 Photo and Video Studio
Jogging track, chess, table tennis and more – all the action you desire.
Fully equipped studio for portraits, group and family photos.
4 Shark Shack and Turtle Cove
Age specific Children´s Centres offering supervised, entertaining activities for 3–10 year olds.
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Be dazzled by the outdoor arena where amazing circus acts and jaw-dropping acrobatics are performed by Pacific Cirque™.
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The Waterfront was designed to create an intimate dining experience, so when you sit down at your table to enjoy your meal you will be able to see no more than 60 fellow passengers.
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On board Pacific Jewel
10 Players Bar and Casino Try your luck at roulette, cards and the poker machines in the casino or relax in the Players Bar.
13 The Attic An exciting late night venue with a vibrant atmosphere complete with dance floor.
11 Salt Grill by Luke Mangan Created by our celebrity chef, Luke Mangan. For a small cover charge, this intimate venue offers the ultimate dining experience. It´s the place to come for a mouth-watering culinary masterpiece.
14 Atrium The hub of the ship with bars and great shops offering tax- and duty-free items. Every evening the Atrium turns into a three-storey entertainment venue with special events such as the viZion Laser Light Show and Syzygy.
12 The Café For a little extra, indulge in all things lusciously chocolate at Australia´s first chocolate café at sea. The Café has its own internet facilities, so you can sip a hot chocolate while you tell your friends about your adventures.
15 Cabins and suites So much choice – quad or twin share, inside or outside cabins, balcony cabins and spacious mini-suites offering extra luxuries.
16 The Marquee Theatre Be dazzled by spectacular musical productions and stage shows or catch one of the special guest entertainers in the two-storey Show Lounge. 17 Aqua HealthSpaFitness The largest spa afloat in the southern hemisphere, offering tranquil relaxation areas, oceanview treatment rooms and soothing signature therapies. Includes a yoga room, steam rooms, and more. Take in a fitness class, or join in Bootcamp at Sea for a rigorous workout. Charges apply. 18 The Big Screen Relax on a deck chair and take in all the action on a giant entertainment screen, day and night.
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Pacific Jewel – Illustration only and not to scale. See pages 58–59 for detailed deck layouts. Facilities and services vary by ship and cruise. Charges apply to some facilities, services and activities. Please refer to pages 54–55 for more information.
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Your Choice Dining One of the great things about cruising is that you don´t have to shop for food, cook it, serve it or clean up afterwards.
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Dining
Dining with P&O Cruises is
Whet your appetite
always memorable. While at home, you probably stick to the same dishes each week because, really, who´s got the time to create a three-course meal? However, when you are on board one of our ships you can dine à la carte three times a day; you can tuck into something different at each meal, for each and every course. Just as you would on land, you can choose when, where and with whom you dine, thanks to Your Choice Dining.
At dusk, delicious aromas drift from our dining venues. You can enjoy casual dining at the buffet or on deck, with crowd-pleasers such as a steak sandwich, garlic prawns or a traditional kebab. The main restaurant offers multiple course, à la carte dinners: perhaps sesame-crusted chicken wings, followed by roasted sea scallops with barbecued pork belly, and cardamom-cherry crème brûlée to finish.
Choose your brekkie
Salt Grill by Luke Mangan
Breakfast kickstarts your day with a buffet of tropical fruits, freshly baked breads and pastries, cereals and juices. Embrace a healthy lifestyle with low-fat yoghurt and muesli or choose café-style favourites. But hey, you´re on holiday, so if you want to go for the full big brekkie with the traditional fry-up, why not?
You could also try Salt Grill, an exciting addition lo e to on board dining from Aussie celebrity chef Luke Mangan. Book early to sample delicate crab omelette, kingfish carpaccio, or a scotch fillet grilled to your liking. All this, plus renowned Australian wines, swish décor and water views, for a fraction of what you´d pay on land (a small cover charge applies). That´s bon appétit in any language.
Have a bite Lunch, after a leisurely swim, might be a quick-and-easy sandwich by the pool or one of the many delicious choices at the buffet. Sea air made you peckish? Chill out with ice-cream or grab a snack to go with a refreshing cold one … You can work off the kilojoules in a fitness class later.
you´ll
On your cruise, try our most popular dishes and see what everyone is raving about.
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Coral trout with prawns and a delicious white wine butter sauce. Grilled 250g beef striploin steak with potato wedges and mushrooms on the side.
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Spring roast chicken served with oven-baked vegetables, tomatoes and new potatoes.
fact
Australians consume approximately six kilos of chocolate each a year. So why not make up your yearly intake by sinking your spoon into the Warm Chocolate Volcano at The Café on Pacific Jewel?
Facilities and services vary by ship and cruise. Charges apply to some facilities, services and activities. Please refer to pages 54–55 for more information.
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Daytime delights With so many things to do and people to meet on a P&O Cruises holiday, whiling away your ship time will be sheer pleasure.
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We
know you have good intentions but please don´t promise anyone a postcard. With so much to do on board, who has the time to write home? After all, with a P&O Cruises holiday, you can get active, be creative, socialise or sit back and do nothing at all.
Rise and shine On any given morning, you might slip into your exercise gear and head to the deck for a session of Bootcamp at Sea, or do some yoga at the Fitness Centre. Later, browse the tax- and duty-free shops for a souvenir or three. Then head to your favourite sun lounger for a little downtime beside, or in, one of the swimming pools.
Fun and games By afternoon, you may take one of many craft classes or learn how to make the perfect coffee at one of our seminars. That´s if you aren´t busy meeting new-found friends for some deck sports, a dance lesson or a round of trivia.
Read, relax and enjoy If you´re seeking the ultimate in tranquillity, then for a little extra, a spa treatment is the perfect pastime. A simple manicure or some decadent pampering? Leisurely days at sea are also ideal for enjoying a good book from the library on board, or perhaps catching up with fellow passengers for an afternoon game of chess or scrabble. And The Oasis is an adults´ haven where you can laze on a comfy daybed and watch the world go by in a state of total relaxation.
The bigger, the better There´s plenty to see on the Big Screens, new to Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl, so make sure you check them out. The Big Screens are fully visible during the day as well as at night, with sound systems that ensure the programming is clear and easy to hear. Enjoy recent movie releases as well as Big Screen karaoke, or join in live PlayStation and Wii tournaments. Do it all, or nothing at all. Make it your holiday, your way.
Try some of the signature treatments at Aqua HealthSpaFitness.
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The Elemis Oxydermy Facial uses pure oxygen to rejuvenate the skin. The Thai Herbal Poultice Massage applies medicinal heat to the muscles to induce deep relaxation.
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The Fire and Ice Pedicure soothes your feet with cooling gels before warming them with a heated stone massage.
Juggle your day But wait a minute. You might want to rediscover the child within by playing a game of ping pong. Or, if your inner clown is calling, take a circus workshop, or get an impromptu juggling lesson from members of Pacific Cirque™.
Meet other passengers before you board your cruise on the event page at facebook.com/pocruises. Facilities and services vary by ship and cruise. Charges apply to some facilities, services and activities. Please refer to pages 54–55 for more information.
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Activities by day
Get ready, it´s show time! Evenings are your chance to enjoy the amazing variety of entertainment on offer. Let the fun begin!
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Entertainment by night
The
sun has gone down but the fun isn´t over yet. On the contrary, it´s time to cue the music and lights for an evening of entertainment and excitement. Take a spin of the wheel in the casino. Or spin yourself around the dance floor instead during one of our cocktail evenings. Have a good belly laugh in the adults-only Sit Down Comedy Club, or catch a high-energy production show. Or why not take in a movie on the Big Screen. P&O Cruises has it all!
Roll up, roll up! If it´s big shows you enjoy, Pirates II – The Mutiny, new to Pacific Pearl, follows the huge success of Pirates of the Pacific, with all the same fun, comedy and high-octane routines. On Pacific Dawn the latest spectacular from Pacific Cirque™, titled Transformation, will amaze audiences with aerial displays from energetic performers who make it all seem so easy. They will thrill you with their use of fabric to wrap, suspend and spiral their bodies through the air.
Light spectacular
designed, mirrored costumes. It´s an Australian cruise industry first, and a truly unique event to experience while at sea.
Let Me Entertain You We are not done yet. P&O Cruises´ new game show Let Me Entertain You offers a grand prize of a Short Break cruise. But, there´s a catch: contestants must correctly complete the next line of a chosen song. So it´s not how well you sing, it´s how well you know the words. Brush up on your knowledge of song lyrics for your chance to win!
Tap your toes Our late night venues and multiple bars will have you kicking on well into the evening. Grab a cocktail and step up for a bit of karaoke or sit back and watch the fun unfold. Live bands and talented singers will help you dance the night away if you wish. After all, it doesn´t matter what time you go to bed. Or wake up. You´re just cruisin´ along having a good time.
There´s so much to see on the Big Screen, on Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl.
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Recent release movies and family favourites will play day and night. Cheer on your family and friends when they make the plunge and compete in Big Screen Karaoke.
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Kids (and kids at heart) can join in PlayStation and Wii tournaments on the Big Screen.
viZion Laser Light Shows feature energetic strobes of light pulsing around a darkened room to the powerful beat of the latest music, while performers dance in specially
On cruises of seven nights or more, there are at least two theme nights, such as Island Night, Country and Western Night or a Rock ´n´ Roll dance party.
Facilities and services vary by ship and cruise. Charges apply to some facilities, services and activities. Please refer to pages 54–55 for more information.
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A room of your own Unpack just once, settle in, and enjoy cabins and suites that meet your budget and needs.
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Cabins and suites
Sailing the Pacific is no longer what it was in Captain Cook´s day, me hearties. Forget slinging a hammock in a corner. Instead, lie down on your ultra comfy bed, and ring for the steward if you fancy a continental breakfast without getting out of bed.
Plenty of choice
That´s right, when it´s time to put your feet up – or lay down your head – your own private cabin awaits. Whether you´re a romantic couple on a longed-for break, a family looking for a fun-filled holiday or just someone with a taste for ocean adventure, P&O Cruises has the cabin or suite for you. The choice includes great-value inside cabins, outside cabins (each with a window or porthole), and affordable balcony cabins offering endlessly changing ocean views. We also have quad share options so you can holiday with family or friends, as well as wheelchair accessible cabins.
Relax in comfort
No matter which type you choose, each cabin has an ensuite and is comfortably furnished, with wardrobes and a writing desk. Thoughtful touches include quality bed linen, and airconditioning with personal controls. Your in-cabin television offers a wide range of channels (where
satellite reception permits) and a great choice of recent release films.
All you need
We don´t overlook practicalities, either. You can expect a safety deposit box, telephone, hairdryer and laundry facilities and service. And with a cabin steward taking care of the details, 24-hour room service and the daily evening turndown service, sailing the high seas has never been so good.
A little extra
If you´re looking for that added something, mini-suites and suites come with dozens of luxury extras such as priority check-in, fresh fruit and flowers, a pillow menu that includes goosedown and tempur, complimentary shoeshine, and canapés on cocktail nights. It´s our pleasure to look after you, so you can relax and thoroughly enjoy your time in your home away from home.
Your cabin or suite includes a few extras to help you enjoy your holiday with P&O Cruises.
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The Pacific Daily: our on board newsletter that includes a daily timetable of all activities.
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A copy of Pacific: our in-cabin magazine that makes for a great read. A handy pocketsized map of your ship so that you can explore all it has to offer.
Find your cabin and online take a look inside at pocruises.com.au. Facilities and services vary by ship and cruise. Charges apply to some facilities, services and activities. Please refer to pages 54–55 for more information.
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Great family fun for everyone What´s the secret to a successful family holiday that everyone can enjoy? Plenty of things to do, both together and apart.
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Holidays are all about
´together´ time, and P&O Cruises has a raft of activities to please the whole family, on board and on Shore Tours. But we know you need some adult time, too. That´s why the cost of our children´s centres and most activities on board are included in your fare. Friendly, experienced Youth Staff can look after your kids and teenagers. And, for a little extra, child minding is available until late in the evening, so you´re free to have a night out as well.
Kids are covered The free kids and teens programme is divided into age-appropriate clubs: Turtle Cove (3- to 6-year-olds), Shark Shack (7- to 10-year-olds), HQ (11- to 14-year-olds) and HQ+ (15- to 17-yearolds). Characters Skipper and TC will stop by the kids´ clubs and perform a family show. But that´s far from all.
Activities abound Kids will love reading all about what´s on offer each day in their own newsletter. Activities at Turtle Cove include musical chairs, a Wacky Facts or PlayStation contest, and an evening movie or line-dancing party. At Shark Shack, it might be a Guitar Hero or air hockey challenge, a mocktail demo and scavenger hunts. And at HQ and HQ+, teens can throw all their
enthusiasm at cruise quizzes, hip-hop dance classes, and on board versions of The Amazing Race.
Family time While the kids will love their ´me´ time, we pull out all the stops to remind you how enjoyable cruising can be for the entire family. Our Beach Sports programme includes beach volleyball, cricket and soccer games at various ports of call. On board, make your kids giggle until their sides ache as you juggle with Pacific Cirque™.
All together now! It´s all about doing things apart when you want, and then coming together. Parents can learn some Latin-inspired dance moves in Rhythms Dance Classes, while kids can perfect their moves in special Niño Rhythms Dance Classes. Then everyone can strut their stuff at our fun theme nights. Now that´s something you can´t do on a driving holiday. And no more moans of ´I´m bored´ from the back seat, just a whole lot of delighted giggles.
friends club We have three great reasons why Aussie kids will love P&O Cruises´ Ocean Friends Club.
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The Ocean Friends Club is operated in association with Sydney Aquarium. Club activities include crafting items from fish scales and making colourful seahorses.
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Kids will learn all about protecting marine life.
Download our free online Family Information Pack at pocruises.com.au. Facilities and services vary by ship and cruise. Charges apply to some facilities, services and activities. Please refer to pages 54–55 for more information.
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Kids, teens and families
Spotlight on: Vila
Vanuatu
If you want to know why the Pacific is so terrific, look no further than Vanuatu, which showcases the best of island life.
When
you´re lying on a beach in Vanuatu, your troubles are far behind and magical islands await you. Try Mystery Island, where you´ll find no resorts and no roads, just sandy pathways leading to beaches and clear lagoons where you can swim and snorkel. Or Champagne Bay, the perfect spot for a game of beach volleyball. Just don´t forget your sunnies; the sand here is surely the whitest in Vanuatu.
Customs and cannibals You could do a whole lot of hardly anything in Vanuatu, but its cultural attractions might get you off the beach. On a P&O Cruises Shore Tour, for a small fee, you can visit the
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Ekasup Cultural Village near Vila; the award-winning attraction that brings alive the world of ancient Melanesian culture. Learn how locals prepare food and traditional kustom medicines and shiver at spine-tingling tales of cannibals in days gone by. In Vila itself, you might want to visit the Chief´s Nakamal (meeting house), only available on a P&O Cruises Vila City Highlights Shore Tour, and admire canoes and headdresses in the National Museum.
Capital appreciation Clinging to steep green hillsides and offering marvellous views over the harbour beneath, Vila is a lovely town with meandering
streets and a thriving café scene. Nip into a local restaurant for a taste of laplap, the national dish of ground taro with fish or meat, marinated in coconut milk and wrapped in a banana leaf. Yum!
Wet and wild But wait, there´s more! Kayaking and sailing a classic ´60s yacht are just the start of your aquatic Shore Tour choices. For close encounters of the octopus kind, you could take the plunge at renowned dive sites like Konanda Reef. If you´re ready to ramp it up a notch, how about a head-spinning, high-speed harbour dash in a jet boat? Abseil a waterfall in the jungle. Adventure? Vanuatu has it in spades.
Destinations
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Champagne Bay was voted the top port in P&O Cruises´ on board passenger survey. Santo is home to the world´s largest, most intact and accessible shipwreck, the 22,000-ton President Coolidge. Mystery Island has a NEW community-run Shore Tour to the nearby island of Aneityum. Pentecost is famous for its land divers, the original bungee jumpers, with cruises timed so you can be there for the spectacle. Wala and its adjacent islands are home to 30 indigenous languages, spoken in an area of just 2,000 square kilometres.
Charges apply to Shore Tours. See page 25 for more information.
Reserve your Shore Tours before you cruise at online pocruises.com.au. pocruises.com.au 17
Spotlight on: Noumea
New Caledonia New Caledonia, a French territory right on our doorstep, provides a flavour of Europe matched with tropical scenery and activities galore.
Who
knew France is practically in our backyard? Locals enjoy baguettes and brie for lunch, combining French chic with laid-back Pacific attitudes and the charms of native culture.
´Allo ´allo, Noumea Your ship docks in the heart of Noumea; your dilemma is choosing your value-for-money P&O Cruises Shore Tour. You might want to tuck into some seafood on the popular beach of Anse Vata or head with the kids to the shelter of Baie des Citrons beach (Lemon Bay beach) for a safe and easy dip in the ocean. If you are looking for a few more thrills, a zodiac ride to Duck Island will certainly get your blood pumping. Or maybe you
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will want to hop aboard the Yellow Tchou Tchou Train Shore Tour to see all the local attractions the easy way.
Green peace One of the great things about a P&O Cruises holiday is that our range of affordable Shore Tours reflects the different personalities of our passengers. For some, the best things about Noumea may lie beyond the city. Fine by us. Pedal the bays and beaches by bicycle or kayak the pretty Dumbea River if you feel you have to work off last night´s dessert. You can even monkey around in the rainforest treetops along an adventure course 20 metres off the ground. It´s a dizzying experience, so mind your French!
Blue lagoon New Caledonia features the world´s biggest lagoon and second-longest reef. For a little extra, you can admire both of these on a P&O Cruises Shore Tour to Amedee Island, where you can catch a glimpse of large sea turtles and take a swim with the fish. In Noumea, the Aquarium showcases the amazing nautilus or ´living fossil from the deep´ as well as fluorescent corals, seahorses and Napoleon fish (well, this is part of France, after all). The jewel in the island group´s crown? A stop at Isle of Pines, with whitesand beaches perfect for a sunny snooze. And don´t forget to go snorkelling: you´re sure to find Nemo in no time.
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Destinations
From Emerald Bay, you can take a short tender to Divine Island where a BBQ lunch is provided for all passengers (check your on board magazine for timings). While on Isle of Pines, you can go snorkelling in the famed Natural Aquarium, found on the lagoon edge of Oro Bay. Reserve your Shore Tours before you cruise at online pocruises.com.au. Charges apply to Shore Tours. See page 25 for more information.
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Spotlight on: Lifou
Loyalty Islands Part of New Caledonia but a world away, the tiny Loyalty Islands beckon with a rich culture and brilliant scenery. Relaxation, here you come.
If
Tom Hanks had been stranded here in Cast Away, he wouldn´t have bothered building a raft. Who would want to leave? Shed your city clothes, stick a hibiscus flower behind your ear and say bonjour to the French Loyalty Islands. This string of shimmering atolls is home to just a few thousand islanders, most living off fishing and agriculture. Life´s a beach, set between basalt cliffs and water so blue it looks fake. (But we promise you, it´s real.) Squint out over the lagoon and you might just spot a turtle luxuriating in their surroundings.
What lies beneath A perfect pool. Crystal-clear water. Flitting fish and a wandering turtle.
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Slip into what the locals call ´natural aquariums´, created when these islands rose out of the lagoon. Then head underground to see the Loyalty Islands´ other striking natural feature. At the Secret Grotto on Lifou, explore the atmospheric underground world and gaze up at stalactites by torchlight.
Lovely Lifou The largest of the Loyalty Islands, Lifou has an abundance of natural wonders, all the way to the compressed coral Cliffs of Jokin. You might opt for the reasonably priced Shore Tour that takes you on a scenic 35-minute drive across the island to Luecila Beach. It´s a wonderful stereotype of the classic castaway island, where white sand is
shaded by coconut trees and lapped by a blue lagoon.
Tribal traditions Lifou is rich in culture. The islanders speak an indigenous Melanesian language, plus French, and live in tribes associated with local chieftains. On the Melanesian Encounter Shore Tour, for a small fee, you´ll be invited inside a chieftain´s hut at Hnathalo village to meet the local chief. Then learn how to cook a traditional bougna, the island version of the backyard barbie. Choose from tasty chicken or seafood, add local vegetables and fruit, wrap it all up in a banana leaf and roast it on hot stones. If you had to become a castaway, what better place to be?
Destinations
mare What do you know about our newest Pacific Island port?
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Just 42 kilometres long and 33 kilometres at its widest point, Mare was formed by a coral reef that lifted 120 metres out of the ocean.
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The 7,000 residents of Mare are known as Mareans and are of Melanesian heritage. They live in tribes associated with one of 29 chieftains. Reserve your Shore Tours before you cruise at online pocruises.com.au. Charges apply to Shore Tours. See page 25 for more information.
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Spotlight on: Port Denarau
Fiji
Fiji is one of our favourite neighbours, and no wonder. These islands offer entertainment that always seems to sparkle, above and below the water.
Sunny people, alluring
landscapes, a bula! welcome, palm-fringed coastlines and tumbling waterfalls: for many of us, Fiji is all about its sun-kissed islands. Savala Island is the place for kayaking above or snorkelling below the blue waters. From this gorgeous South Sea Island, for a little extra, you can take a P&O Cruises Shore Tour on a semisubmersible to see a world of tropical fish. Of course, no worries if you just want some beach time…
Port pleasures
Fishy business
Port Denarau is quite the place for stylish entertainment: it contains an attractive retail centre, tennis courts and water sports galore. Could there be such a thing as too much choice? You might be torn between having morning tea with an amazing performance of firewalking (ouch!), a Fijian cultural experience and a traditional lovo lunch; or a beautiful beachfront Seafood Buffet at The Hilton Resort.
Two great value P&O Cruises´ Shore Tours make the most of the marine wonders of Fiji. Above water, you can head out to sea and try to hook yourself a wahoo for the ultimate boasting rights over dinner. Below the water, whether you´re a beginner or an advanced diver, a PADI dive in the Mamanuca Islands will take you to brilliant underwater sites where bright fish play tag among the coral. Fine times in Fiji at every level.
To check out more of our Pacific Island ports, including those in French online Polynesia, Tonga and the Cook Islands, visit pocruises.com.au. Charges apply to Shore Tours. See page 25 for more information.
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Destinations
Spotlight on: Tauranga
New Zealand New Zealand is full of natural wonders, so make sure to practise your jaw-dropping before arrival.
Ah
, New Zealand! What can anyone say about this stunningly beautiful country that doesn´t become wild praise? The Bay of Islands must be one of the most scenic cruise spots in the world. Cape Kidnappers near Napier is filled with seabirds that know all about location, location, location. At Picton, the landscape is one of fiords and vineyards, and cruising into Milford Sound is nature in such majesty that it is bound to produce a chorus of ´oohs´ and ´aahs´ from everyone on deck as soaring snowy peaks and tumbling waterfalls drift by.
Tauranga temptations
The port of Tauranga has been much lauded, too. The first Maori landed here when migrating from Polynesia. Captain Cook, who cruised around a bit, was mighty impressed and named the surrounding Bay of Plenty. For a
little extra, book a Shore Tour that includes a scenic helicopter flight and take in the magnificent views. As your ship docks at the suburb of Mount Maunganui, sandy beaches, waterfront cafés and fascinating walking tracks unfold.
Feeling hot, hot, hot
Spectacular erupting geysers, bubbling mud pools and hot springs: you could only be in Rotorua, 80 kilometres inland from Tauranga and one of the world´s strangest landscapes. Pohutu Geyser puts on a show 20 times a day, shooting boiling water 30 metres into the air. At Wai-O-Tapu, colourful volcanic vents hiss among gigantic kauri trees and silver ferns. Then there are Rotorua´s 16 lakes, perfect for scenic cruising, trout fishing and swimming. Rotorua is also at the heart of Maori culture, with a historic living village where you can enjoy Maori music, singing and dancing.
you´ll
lo e
Follow in the footsteps of the popular Lord of the Rings movie trilogy on a P&O Cruises Shore Tour from the world´s ´best little capital´, Wellington. Visit locations featured in the films and take a look inside Peter Jackson´s Weta Cave, where the magic of the movies was created. Charges apply to Shore Tours. See page 25 for more information.
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Spotlight on: Cairns
Australia Australia will show you that your own backyard can be full of unexpected pleasures.
Sometimes the best of
cruises means never leaving home shores and certainly, our own good old Aussie coastline has variety to rival any in the seven seas. Want the hustle and bustle of the city? Try Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, or the delights of Adelaide, Darwin and Fremantle. Want pioneer history? Albany has an old penal colony and museum devoted to whaling and Broome is full of fascinating stories about pearl diving. On a value-formoney P&O Cruises Shore Tour you can visit a lavender farm, a winery or the convict ruins of Port Arthur, or snorkel Ningaloo Reef. There´s no doubt you´ll have a whale of a time along our wonderful coastline.
Above and below
Naturally, Cairns is the place from which to hit the Great Barrier Reef, where you can get up close and personal with moray eels, giant clams, turtles and, if you´re lucky, perhaps a gentle reef shark. On the Atherton
Tablelands nearby, bandicoots snuffle by the roadside and coffee plantations alternate with waterfalls and pioneer cattle stations. A scenic train journey or cableway ride to Kuranda is one of the highlights. Browse Kuranda´s arts and crafts market in the shade of giant figs, then head to Rainforestation Nature Park to see wombats and crocs, or learn to throw a spear at Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park.
Jungle fever
OK, so you´re feeling adventurous. Why not trek or horseride into the surrounding rainforest where pythons lurk? Or get off the beaten track on a trip to Wooroonooran National Park, listening to Aboriginal legends on the way. On a white-water rafting trip through the gorges of the Barron River, you´ll experience a ride wilder than those at any Gold Coast theme park. More sedate but just as rewarding is a Daintree River cruise for some wildlifespotting among the mangroves. Watch out: there are crocs about!
Charges apply to Shore Tours. See page 25 for more information.
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Take a look at all our Australian ports of call online at pocruises.com.au.
P&O Cruises Shore Tours
Discover more on shore With more than 500 Shore Tours, P&O Cruises offers the very best highlights at every port of call.
We´ve
all experienced turning up in an unfamiliar destination uncertain what to do and worried that we aren´t making the most of our time. But at P&O Cruises, our intrepid researchers have explored on your behalf. The results are Shore Tours (charges apply) that give you real insights into every destination, accompanied by experienced local guides who will always have you back at the ship in time for sailing. You can even head to our website and book all your Shore Tours before you cruise.
Adventure
Wilderness and wildlife
Horseriding along a beach, parasailing above a lagoon or scuba diving in stunning waters: if you like holidays to be action-packed, we have it covered.
If you want a walk on the wild side, how about whale watching, handfeeding manta rays or kayaking among sea lions? On land, walk through pristine rainforest or try your hand on a working sheep farm.
Sport and recreation Relax and enjoy yourself: our sports and recreational tours are fully guided. Kayaking along spectacular Dumbea River in New Caledonia is a huge favourite, but we also have fishing excursions, cycle tours around stunning island bays and rounds of golf.
Local cuisine Taste a world of exotic cuisines, tour a chocolate factory or take a French wine and cheese tour in New Caledonia. Eat, drink and be merry: that´s what P&O Cruises Shore Tours are all about. Reserve your Shore Tours before you cruise at online pocruises.com.au.
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Cruise Master
For bookings see your Travel Agent