Carnival Spirit Pacific Cruise shore excursions

We (my wife and I) are going on a Carnival Spirit Pacific cruise stopping at Mare, Lifou, Mystery Island and Numea, over Christmas. Can anyone advise regarding shore excursions to go on or avoid either from the boat or local? Some of the cruise ones offered seem expensive but dont mind that if they are worth it, also dont mind going local, into snorkeling but not big on museums for this trip.

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

I would recommend posting this on the Ports Of Call Boards.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=-1&f=587

Keith

Thanks I will try that

Also, check the Roll Call for your cruise. There may be people planning private tours there

Lifou has wonderful snorkelling but numbers are restricted, to 100 people in the morning and another 100 in the afternoon. There is a small fee and you must book through Carnival. I'm not sure if you can do this online - if not go, straight to the excursions desk as soon as you board otherwise you may miss out. The beach near the tender dock is pleasant for swimming although you do need reef shoes there as there is a lot of coral fragments. There is a small market and some food stalls - the baguettes are very nice.

There isn't much where the tenders dock at Mare, other than a small market, but there will be shuttle buses, for a small fee, to a nice beach and lagoon where there is good snorkelling. There are food stalls at the lagoon.

I haven't been to Mystery Island but it's very small and I believe you can arrange tours or snorkelling trips once you get onto the island.

Noumea is a fairly big town. Some people love it and others hate it. We always enjoy going there but tend to just go out to Anse Vata and Baie de Citrons (Lemon Bay) on the HoHo bus - you can buy tickets for this at the terminal where the shuttle buses drop off. If you want local currency there is an ATM at the Casino supermarket diagonally across from the terminal. Amadee Island is a full day tour, usually only available through the cruise line. I did it many years ago and it was an interesting place to go. Duck Island is off Anse Vata and you can get a water taxi there. There is a very good coffee shop with free WiFi at Anse Vata, in the curved shopping complex near the roundabout, and the aquarium is at the other end of that bay. There is a back street that cuts through from the aquarium to Lemon Bay and there are some very nice restaurants there.

Thanks for your replies they have been a great help

You're welcome. Have a fun cruise. :D

Lots of good suggestions, but since the Spirit is in Australia, make sure to stop by the Australia/New Zealand board also.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=712