Pacific Sun

New to cruising and have booked for Sept 09 N930 on Empress Deck E120, 2 adults, 2 children. Questions, have been reading about upgrades, is there a way to make sure we are not upgraded ie to front or back of ship as we are pretty much in middle which DH is happy with. Unless of course they want to upgrade us to a suite with a balcony happy with that.

Also after some feedback on the kids club. We held off going this year as our girls would have been in separate clubs, but next year will be together being that they will be 7 and 9. I read in previous posts that when they say 3-6 they actually mean 6 until the day they are 7, is that right.

We are going Noumea, Lifou & Vila, is it good idea on first cruise to do P&O's port tours or can we safely and cheaply do our own with plenty of prior research.

So ok, I know these questions are probably asked all the time so sorry and thanks for all advice that will be given.

Jingles83

Hi Jingles83,

Just a quick reply to your question about the kids club. Our personal experience with Pacific Sun has been that they put the kids in the kids club with the age they board at, regardless whether they have a birthday on board. My friend had to cancel coming with us as her daughter turned 7 the day after boarding and they said they could not change the rules under any circumstance. And we did come across that with other passengers comments on board. But saying that, I have heard others on this sight before say that they have been able to do it. I think it just depends on who is in charge and how many kids are on board at the time.

Our last cruise on Pacific Dawn, I do know they did waiver the rules for a couple of kids though.

Hope that helps a little.

Catherine

New to cruising and have booked for Sept 09 N930 on Empress Deck E120, 2 adults, 2 children. Questions, have been reading about upgrades, is there a way to make sure we are not upgraded ie to front or back of ship as we are pretty much in middle which DH is happy with. Unless of course they want to upgrade us to a suite with a balcony happy with that.

 

Jingles83

Alas, you do not get to choose your upgrades. If you want to keep a specific cabin due to it's location, you advise when you book that you do not wish to be upgraded.

However, in your situation, you have already booked the 2nd highest category, so there is only one category of upgrade available - UP - to a suite on the Verandah deck.

There are others that can offer plenty of advice with doing your own shore tours. Pacific Sun does several of these 7 night itineraries, so there is also 100's of answers to this question for these ports already. From the P&O forum page, high on the RH side there is a forum search. Open that and type in Vila tour, or Noumea tour and you will find plenty of advice to compare.

Alas, you do not get to choose your upgrades. If you want to keep a specific cabin due to it's location, you advise when you book that you do not wish to be upgraded.

 

However, in your situation, you have already booked the 2nd highest category, so there is only one category of upgrade available - UP - to a suite on the Verandah deck.

 

There are others that can offer plenty of advice with doing your own shore tours. Pacific Sun does several of these 7 night itineraries, so there is also 100's of answers to this question for these ports already. From the P&O forum page, high on the RH side there is a forum search. Open that and type in Vila tour, or Noumea tour and you will find plenty of advice to compare.

Thank you for the info on upgrades. I will make sure I let them know we don't want an upgrade (unless of course it's a suite LOL).

Thank you also for the forum search hints. That will save me heaps of time and asking questions that have been asked a thousand times already I'm sure. Much appreciated.

Jingles83

Hi Jingles83,

 

Just a quick reply to your question about the kids club. Our personal experience with Pacific Sun has been that they put the kids in the kids club with the age they board at, regardless whether they have a birthday on board. My friend had to cancel coming with us as her daughter turned 7 the day after boarding and they said they could not change the rules under any circumstance. And we did come across that with other passengers comments on board. But saying that, I have heard others on this sight before say that they have been able to do it. I think it just depends on who is in charge and how many kids are on board at the time.

Our last cruise on Pacific Dawn, I do know they did waiver the rules for a couple of kids though.

Hope that helps a little.

Catherine

Thanks Catherine

This is also why we put off the cruise this year until next year as my daughter will be 7 in July 09 so will definitely be in the same kids club as her sister who will be 9 1/2. My TA did say this year that they are very strict on the ages in the kids club and you can sometimes ask when you get on board and it was up to the captain but it would more be the older sibling going down a club. I also rang P&O direct and they pretty much said the same, I would have to ask on board and depended on numbers and if the captain agreed. So we changed our plans to next year at least they can stay together then as they will be in the same age bracket. Oh well lets hope good things come to those who wait, I'm sure the waiting will go quickly.

Jingles83

We went on the Sun last year when my son was 6/1/2 - they would not let him go to the Shark Shak but i did hear that a couple of the kids who were nearly seven were allowed to go up because the kids clubs wasn't full. We went of the Dawn in May this year when my son was 7 & just out of curiousity i asked them whether they would have allowed a nearly 7 year old to go into the Shark shak. The staff on this particular cruise said no & were quite definate about it. The kids club was once again not full. They do allow 7 year olds to stay in Turtle Cove if they want to be with their younger siblings. Good luck & have a great cruise.

New to cruising and have booked for Sept 09 N930 on Empress Deck E120, 2 adults, 2 children. Questions, have been reading about upgrades, is there a way to make sure we are not upgraded ie to front or back of ship as we are pretty much in middle which DH is happy with. Unless of course they want to upgrade us to a suite with a balcony happy with that.

 

Also after some feedback on the kids club. We held off going this year as our girls would have been in separate clubs, but next year will be together being that they will be 7 and 9. I read in previous posts that when they say 3-6 they actually mean 6 until the day they are 7, is that right.

 

We are going Noumea, Lifou & Vila, is it good idea on first cruise to do P&O's port tours or can we safely and cheaply do our own with plenty of prior research.

 

So ok, I know these questions are probably asked all the time so sorry and thanks for all advice that will be given.

 

Jingles83

Hi Jingles83

We've sailed twice now - once on the Pacific Star and then on the Sun. On our first cruise, my daughter was 6& 11/12ths:p - she was in Turtle Cove. My son was 10 and in Shark Shack ... on the Pacific Star, the two kids clubs were next to each other ... and they did sometimes let my son come in to check on his sister (not that she needed it!!!).

She was more than happy to be in her 'own' club and made her 'own' friends!

On our last cruise, she was turning 8 three days after we returned (so was in Shark Shack) ... cut off for 'privilege' (which is where they can sign themselves in and out of the clubs) is 8 ... one of the staff members gave her the wrist band that identifies them as having privilege early on in the cruise, and then another staff member found out she wasn't 8 and took it off her (yes ... there were tears!!!). The original staff member who had given it to her suggested I speak to the supervisor, and she happily gave it back to her with my permission!

(I guess my ramblings here are ... ask if you want something out of the ordinary - - - it will depend on who's on duty, what their instructions are, how full the kids clubs are, etc ... but hey - if you don't ask - you don't get!!)

Our first cruise was the Week Fantastique ... and we did some of the P&O Shore tours on that cruise as it felt 'safer' I guess, given it was our first time on a cruise - and we had young children ...

On that first cruise we did the a bus tour in Noumea, Cliffs of Jonkin in Lifou and two tours in Vila (including the glass bottom boats and snorkelling ... why our kids LOVED - they always ask if we can do it again when we go back to Vila!!). We did go shopping in Vila independently ... but by then we were feeling very brave!!

On our second cruise - we did a mixture of our own thing and some of the P&O tours where they held specific interest for us (we also had some first timers with us ...).

On our next cruise - there's probably only one P&O tour we'll do - the rest we'll do independently.

There's plenty of info on these boards - or from other posters about some of the options to do independent, safe tours at the ports you're visiting as well as some of the better P&O tours. Do a search by all means, but also ask if there's a specific port or tour your interested in --- people are coming and going on these boards so you will get some new/updated/different info as well as what's already there!:)

Enjoy your cruise!!:)

My suggestions of tours -

Noumea - You can book the Petite Train in the terminal building on the wharf and pay A$20 instead of $59. Disembark promptly so you can get a tour without too much delay. Sit as close to the front of the train as possible because the back moves around a bit and can cause motion sickness.

Lifou - A possible is the Cliffs of Jokin tour. Otherwise you can book a local tour when you go ashore. It is A$15 and it goes to a village. Book it in the little hut near the market stalls. Go snorkelling and swimming.

Vila - I recommend the Mele Cascades. Go by taxi (around A$25 to A$30) for all of you then entry fee of A$20 per adult. I don't know the kids' price. Take your swimmers and towels. Fantastic. Then go shopping and wander through the markets in town (between the main street and the harbour). At the end of the day look at the markets on the wharf.

Taxi fare from town to the ship is A$15. Agree on the price before you get in the cab. If the driver tries to then say 'per person', get out and find another cab.

Have a great cruise.:):)

Thank you for the info on upgrades. I will make sure I let them know we don't want an upgrade (unless of course it's a suite LOL).

 

Jingles83

As I mentioned in the earlier post - you can't pick and choose an upgrade.

In your case though let them know you DO want a free upgrade if available, as the only upgrade available to you IS a suite.

You have booked in Cat DD. If you say no upgrade you will cruise in E120. If you say upgrade, you will travel in Cat DD (your current cabin); or Cat AA suite if you are lucky enough to get the upgrade. You will not be moved to forward or aft cabins in a lower category.

Hi there

I read a post on product review that said the cabins directly under the kitchen can be noisy from the commercial diswashers going all hours of the night.

I notice that you have children so considering you are talking about possible cabin changes, you might like to ask around the forum to see if anyone can validate this.

Might save some sleepness nights. Hope this helps.

Cheers and see you on board

New to cruising and have booked for Sept 09 N930 on Empress Deck E120, 2 adults, 2 children. Questions, have been reading about upgrades, is there a way to make sure we are not upgraded ie to front or back of ship as we are pretty much in middle which DH is happy with. Unless of course they want to upgrade us to a suite with a balcony happy with that.

 

Also after some feedback on the kids club. We held off going this year as our girls would have been in separate clubs, but next year will be together being that they will be 7 and 9. I read in previous posts that when they say 3-6 they actually mean 6 until the day they are 7, is that right.

 

We are going Noumea, Lifou & Vila, is it good idea on first cruise to do P&O's port tours or can we safely and cheaply do our own with plenty of prior research.

 

So ok, I know these questions are probably asked all the time so sorry and thanks for all advice that will be given.

 

Jingles83

we have stayed not far from your cabin its cool not noisy

We are in E163. Is this one ok do you know?

We are in E163. Is this one ok do you know?

starboard side mid to rear should be great and a out side cabin

excellent.

i believe there is a time when too much information is a bad thing. i think i have read too many forums :rolleyes:

excellent.

 

i believe there is a time when too much information is a bad thing. i think i have read too many forums :rolleyes:

hope you and co have a great cruise

We are sailing on the Sun 03/10/09- we are also booked in E120- Although it will just be hubby and myself in the cabin, can't wait- enjoy your cruise:D

great ship, in some ways better than the pacific dawn. it may be smaller but there is still a stack of room in the public area. I noted on photos that the water slide at the pool has been removed. shame that was good fun

baker65, will be joining you on the 3 October cruise - less than 6 weeks to go but who is counting?? We are in E103 so just down the hall from you. Am really looking forward to going on my first cruise since 1974 (actually we were on board when Cyclone Tracey hit Darwin)not so much for the places we visit but for the time on the ship. Have really enjoyed reading all the posts and am sure the Pacific Sun will be just beautiful.

Hi Keen cruiser,

can hardly wait another 5ish weeks, might see you on board

Wendy and Shane:D

Wendy and Shane,

The 6 weeks has now become only 5 weeks tomorrow so am starting to get a bit organised - bought lighted alarm clock for my dark cabin, visor and a couple of outfits today.

Am meeting a friend (recent cruiser on the Sun)on the weekend for a chat about Shore Tours. That seems to be a bit of a hit and miss topic and has been discussed a lot on the forum. I want to see all I can but get the best value for my $.

Jan

Hi Jan,

We seem to be thinking along the same lines as you regarding the tours, think we will take Gaye's advice and book on shore( if we are brave enough)- So looking forward to this trip- unsure if I will make it through another 5 wks( guess I don't have much choice) Have done the clothes and nik nak shopping, just waiting to get close enough to the date to actually pack that suitcase, heading to Brisbane on the friday so we don't miss a minute.- See you onboard

Wendy and Shane

8 more sleeps. :D

My biggest worry at the moment is being fogged in in Canberra next Saturday morning.

Does anone know how much on board stuff can be put on your cruise card. My main thing I guess is drinks. This way I don't have take as much cash.

Ta's

8 more sleeps. :D

 

My biggest worry at the moment is being fogged in in Canberra next Saturday morning.

 

Does anone know how much on board stuff can be put on your cruise card. My main thing I guess is drinks. This way I don't have take as much cash.

 

Ta's

With the exception of a small number of activities which require real money (eg the Casino) - everything you buy will be charged to your cruise card. The ship operates as near to cashless as it can.

With the exception of a small number of activities which require real money (eg the Casino) - everything you buy will be charged to your cruise card. The ship operates as near to cashless as it can.

Excellent. Many thanks.

I have already loaded up my credit card so it will be easily reconciled at the end.