First time cruising - a couple of questions

[Yamatji_]

Hello,

i’ve had a browse through the forums and i can’t see much for the ship I’m going on. There’s still many months to go before my cruise but I would like to get my head around it early. 
i will be cruising with my sister who has an intellectual disability and she doesn’t do well with changes to her routine and that’s why i’m trying to understand everything as early as possible. This way she will have many months to ask questions and i can reassure her. 
We’re going on the Pacific Adventure on July 30 to New Caledonia and Vanuatu. 

questions:

1) should we take a powerboard if i have a plug with 4 USB ports? I think the 4 usb ports should be enough as we only have 2 iphones, 2 apple watches, a GoPro to charge as well as her c-pap machine. 

2) New Caledonia: are there any suggestions for activities in Noumea that give the opportunity to learn about Melanesian culture? I can’t find much. I’m aware there’s a cultural centre but it’s not quite what i’m looking for. At the moment we’re thinking about snorkeling at Signal island, hoping to see turtles, but after that we have nothing for about 3 to 4 hours.

 

3) Vanuatu: we’ll be there on a Sunday. Most things are closed on a Sunday. I know they say some things will open on a cruise day but should i trust that the places i want to go to will be open in Port Vila? 
also, they don’t sell alcohol on Sundays. I always buy a bottle of local rum when I visit a country. Will the duty free store be open even on a sunday? And will they sell alcohol? 
 

4) we can’t take alcohol on the ship but i read that they will store our duty free alcohol until we return to Sydney. If i buy alcohol in New Caledonia that isn’t from the Duty free store, will they also hold this for me until Sydney or does it have to be specifically bought from the dutyfree store? 
 

I do have a few more questions that are ship specific but i will ask those at a later date. 
 

thanks for the help

Edited January 10 by Yamatji_

[crystalspin]

30 minutes ago, Yamatji_ said:

i’ve had a browse through the forums and i can’t see much for the ship I’m going on.

Hello and welcome to Cruise Critic! I think the board you should be posting on is here:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/332-pampo-cruises-australia/

 

There might not be posts specific to your ship, but others in the area may be similar/visit the same ports.

 

Here's to a safe and fun trip, for you and your sister!

 

ETA: There is also a board for Aust/ND cruisers, here:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/564-australia-new-zealand-cruisers/

 

And one for cruising with disabilities:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/114-disabled-cruise-travel/

 

And Pacific Islands (most for French Polynesia, but scan a few "pages")

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/62-pacific-islands-all/

 

Edited January 10 by crystalspin

[Mum2Mercury]

On 1/9/2024 at 5:12 PM, Yamatji_ said:

i will be cruising with my sister who has an intellectual disability and she doesn’t do well with changes to her routine and that’s why i’m trying to understand everything as early as possible.

I know you've already chosen a sailing, but Royal Caribbean does a once-a-year trip called a Buddy Cruise, which is about 50% people with a wide variety of disabilities.  We accidentally sailed it once and would absolutely sail "with the Buddies" again.  It was a quiet, family-oriented cruise and everyone was very friendly /understanding of the children and adults with disabilities.  

 

[Yamatji_]

14 hours ago, Mum2Mercury said:

I know you've already chosen a sailing, but Royal Caribbean does a once-a-year trip called a Buddy Cruise, which is about 50% people with a wide variety of disabilities.  We accidentally sailed it once and would absolutely sail "with the Buddies" again.  It was a quiet, family-oriented cruise and everyone was very friendly /understanding of the children and adults with disabilities.  

 

Thanks for the tip. I looked it up but it’s nowhere near us. We’re in Australia. 

[bbwex]

As for the powerboard, it seems as if the plug you already have will be sufficient for the limited number of items that you have. 

 

Jumping to the question about storing liquor, you are going to have to ask your cruise line about that one.  They generally don't allow you to bring liquor on board, but they might allow it under these circumstances.  What one lines does or doesn't do is too specific a question to not ask them, unless you posted that question on the section for your cruise line.

[DeclanAllen]

While your 4-port USB thingy (technical terms!) might charge most of your devices, a powerboard can be handy. Some cabins have outlets that are spread out, and a powerboard lets you charge multiple things at once.

Some cruise lines offer shore excursions that include cultural performances or village visits. Check the Pacific Adventure's website closer to your sail date to see what they offer in Noumea.

Also Noumea has a few markets where you can find local crafts and chat with vendors. This can be a more informal way to experience the culture.

[chengkp75]

On 5/23/2024 at 3:54 PM, DeclanAllen said:

While your 4-port USB thingy (technical terms!) might charge most of your devices, a powerboard can be handy. Some cabins have outlets that are spread out, and a powerboard lets you charge multiple things at once.

But, just be aware that a power board (or power strip) that has surge protection is not only prohibited, but actually dangerous to use on a ship.

[CDNPolar]

Because so many tech items now charge at 110 or 220 with no concern, we find that having a couple of multi-plug adaptors is all we need.  We have recently replaced ours with ones that have multi USB and traditional plug outlets.  These are not surge protected (the ones we have) so they are easily allowed on ships and not bulky to carry.

[sharkster77]

Phone, tablet, laptop, CPAP, curling iron, all have dual voltage, so on 6+ trips to Europe we have NEVER needed anything more than a plug adapter, have never needed a voltage converter.

 

When we take our first ocean cruise next year, we fully expect to need just plug adapters.

[CDNPolar]

The plug adapters with several USB are handy because often there is only one USB beside the bed, and between the watch and the phone, and then whatever else, that is just not enough.

 

 

[ldubs]

On 5/26/2024 at 2:06 AM, chengkp75 said:

But, just be aware that a power board (or power strip) that has surge protection is not only prohibited, but actually dangerous to use on a ship.

 

I find the wording in Princess' written policy to be kind of strange.  If they don't want surge protectors they should just say they aren't allowed (without a valid lawful reason).

 

*Electrical devices such as small fans, multi plug box outlets/adaptors, power strips/extension cords without surge protectors and electric extension cords with surge protectors are allowed onboard when used with proper caution and following inspection/tests from the onboard electrical department. However, if such devices are determined to pose a hazard then they will be removed and returned the last day of the cruise prior to debark.

[chengkp75]

1 hour ago, ldubs said:

 

I find the wording in Princess' written policy to be kind of strange.  If they don't want surge protectors they should just say they aren't allowed (without a valid lawful reason).

 

*Electrical devices such as small fans, multi plug box outlets/adaptors, power strips/extension cords without surge protectors and electric extension cords with surge protectors are allowed onboard when used with proper caution and following inspection/tests from the onboard electrical department. However, if such devices are determined to pose a hazard then they will be removed and returned the last day of the cruise prior to debark.

I think this is a case of not proof-reading, by non-technical people.  And, there is no "valid lawful reason" to have a surge protector onboard, unless it is one that is designed for shipboard use (which normally cost over a grand).

[ldubs]

2 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

I think this is a case of not proof-reading, by non-technical people.  And, there is no "valid lawful reason" to have a surge protector onboard, unless it is one that is designed for shipboard use (which normally cost over a grand).

 

Thanks, I appreciate the response.  

 

The "without valid lawful reason" wording is also from the Princess prohibited items list.  Who knows, maybe an agent from MI6 needs to recharge their particle beam gun or something.  😀

[CDNPolar]

I think regardless, there are likely many of these "prohibited" items that make it onboard and are in use because people just don't think that they would be, or know that they could be a potential fire hazard.

 

I had no idea before reading this on CC and I had been on several cruises before I was a diehard CC member reading stuff all over the board.  Before this I would have taken a surge protected power bar with me.

 

I think that perhaps it is Cabin Attendants that catch these items in use if the initial screening does not?

[chengkp75]

11 minutes ago, CDNPolar said:

I think that perhaps it is Cabin Attendants that catch these items in use if the initial screening does not?

Unfortunately not.  The cabin stewards are not technically trained, and determining whether something is surge protected or not can be difficult.  Also, the cabin stewards are trained in "service etiquette", where they try not to "discomfort" or "annoy" the passengers for any reason, which is why enforcement of many shipboard rules is spotty to nonexistent.

[PoppyVelvet]

We take a Heymix GaN charger each - they are tiny and plug into the PowerPoint and have 1 x USB A and 2 x USB C plus we each take a ChargeASAP fold out charger that plugs into the Heymix (C to C) and does our iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously. It uses a C to C cable so when our iPads, camera gear or my MacBook Pro need charging we remove it from the three way charger and use that. My Bose headphones are micro USB as is my make up mirror so a USB A to micro looks after those. Our Philips toothbrush charging case has built in USB A so that goes in the Heymix charger too when required (about once every two weeks). The only other thing is my hair styling tool, which uses AC power. It doesn’t have dual voltage so I have an Australian version and a US version. I have adapters for EU and UK for the Australian one. This is a long description but it all packs into a very small pouch each and is lightweight. 

[CDNPolar]

23 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

Unfortunately not.  The cabin stewards are not technically trained, and determining whether something is surge protected or not can be difficult.  Also, the cabin stewards are trained in "service etiquette", where they try not to "discomfort" or "annoy" the passengers for any reason, which is why enforcement of many shipboard rules is spotty to nonexistent.

 

That makes sense to me, what you are saying. That would put a lot of pressure on the Cabin Stewards to "police" what guests have in their belongings.

 

I guess that the detection of surge protectors would be done when onboarding the checked luggage?  I would assume that each piece is x-rayed?  Same with the carryon being x-rayed on embarkation?

 

If they found a surge protector in your checked luggage, or suspected this, would you be called to have your luggage checked through?

 

[chengkp75]

Yes, the luggage is x-rayed, both checked and carry-on, just like airports.  And, it depends on the cruise line or the port as to whether your luggage would be held at security for you to come down to witness the searching of it for the power strip, or whether they would just take it and leave a note in the luggage about reclaiming it at the end of the cruise.  Ticket contracts typically give the line the right to search your cabin, luggage, and belongings with or without notice or presence.

[CDNPolar]

3 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

Yes, the luggage is x-rayed, both checked and carry-on, just like airports.  And, it depends on the cruise line or the port as to whether your luggage would be held at security for you to come down to witness the searching of it for the power strip, or whether they would just take it and leave a note in the luggage about reclaiming it at the end of the cruise.  Ticket contracts typically give the line the right to search your cabin, luggage, and belongings with or without notice or presence.

 

This is what I anticipated would happen.  Thanks