We arrived at our final destination :( Isle Of Pines! We had an adventure filled day on the incredible island! It was a beautiful day in paradise! We hired a van for the 8 of us and we explored the island. It was hilarious trying to drive on the opposite side of the road in a manual car but dad figured it out after a little while. We were bouncing around and it was a lot of fun. Our first stop was the Natural Aquarium and it was amazing. Unfortunately the blue bottles followed us there but we still had an incredible time. We first had to walk through a lagoon, a waist deep waterway for around 15 minutes before getting to the main swimming area. It was absolutely beautiful! We were like an army! We all had flippers, noodles and sticks to ward the jellyfish away and it was so funny! We are starting to play dodge the jellyfish far too often. They were coming at us from everywhere! We are all laughing about it now but at the time it took extreme concentration.
We somehow made it unscathed to the swimming area and it was magical! The water was crystal clear and we saw so many beautiful fish and some cool Jellyfish! The water was so clear you didn't even have to put your head under to see the fish! It was magnificent. We then went to the 'Hortense cave' named after the first queen of the island who hid in the cave for 6 months when people were trying to kill her. It was an amazing cave! You walked through a beautiful forest for around 3 minutes before arriving at the gorgeous cave! It was huge. It was extremely dark so make sure to have a torch handy (the one on the phone was fine) so you are able to walk deeper into the cave! It was an amazing thing to see. There were bats on the roof and we felt like we were in Jumanji or the centre of the earth movie. After that we went to the big rock that Isle of Pines is famous for and everyone snorkels at. There were lots of amazing, colourful fish and quite a lot of coral. We also very much enjoyed a jellyfish free swim! When we arrived back on the ship we went up on deck for the Australia Day celebrations! There was lots of great Aussie music and It was a lot of fun! The atrium and the dining room were covered in Australia Flags and balloons and the crew went to so much effort! It was amazing! After dinner I watched a classic Australian movie 'Strictly Ballroom' on the deck and then went to the comedy show which was pretty average that night. At 9:30pm the lip sync battle final showdown was on in the theatre which was fun! They did really well and Eli the cruise director even performed! Afterwards we had a great chat to some of the performers who we had become friends with throughout the week and went for a walk around the ship, before heading to bed! Oh! And we met the Captain while roaming the ship. So cool!
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We woke to another beautiful island Island of New Caledonia! Mare! I had been really looking forward to visiting again after a few years. We arrived on the island at around 9:45am after a delicious buffet breakfast. What a stunning island! We paid $25/person and took the bus to the beach. The beach was incredibly beautiful. Beautiful green trees, pure white sand and magnificent blue crystal clear water! There was only one issue.... There was nobody in the water! I got some amazing photos without anyone in them but why wasn't anyone swimming?! Then we saw a 'lovely' sight of 1000's of blue bottles lining the sand and 1000's in the water. It was an infestation, but it was so hot and the water looked so inviting....
There was one man swimming so I thought, whatever, I am on a stunning island so I am going in! I played dodge the jellyfish, which was a great game. They were everywhere - I have never concentrated so much! I was probably one of 20 people that braved the water that day and also one of 20 people that got stung! It latched onto my arm while I was taking a video and I couldn't get the tentacle off! I was freaking out and trust me IT HURT! I got some vinegar from the locals and after around 30 mins the pain calmed down! Rotten stingers! Phew! But it was worth the beautiful swim! We saw two beautiful turtles from the shore which was wonderful. We had some coconuts which were very fresh and delicious. My family and friends decided to brave the water so I went back in again.... We looked hilarious! We all had palm fronds to ward off the jelly's and once again played dodge the jellyfish! Of course I was the one that got attacked again! And this sting was major! It wrapped itself around both of my legs and the pain was horrible! It made the day just that bit more exciting though! At least we can say we braved the water! It would have been a magical swim if it wasn't for those rotten creatures! We then caught the bus back to where you catch the tenders back to the ship and went swimming near the jetty at the rocky area. There were no Jellyfish there! So we had a really wonderful swim and did a bit of snorkelling. We saw lots of fish and coral. It was a really nice swimming spot. We also looked at a few market stalls and I bought a really cute pineapple outfit. After our exciting bluebottle adventures we relaxed on the ship for a little while before dinner. Dinner was great as usual and showtime was lots of fun! Lots of dancing that night! The show was 'The Gender showdown' which was ok, pretty average. We went to the Punchliner comedy club and watched the comedian who was hilarious! He made lots of jokes about cruising and we had a great time. That was our day! More adventures to come! We had a MAGICAL day at Lifou Island, another gorgeous island of New Caledonia. Despite the 80's party on the deck the night before, we still managed to get up early to make the most of a beautiful day on the island! After breakfast we got on the tenders and headed off the ship. It was magic! Although I had been to the island once before, I was stunned when I got off the tender as the island was even more beautiful than I remembered... The water was pristine!
A gorgeous tropical island surrounded by crystal clear blue water with a stunning cruise ship floating out in the ocean! It is so surreal! The first thing we wanted to do on the island was head to the cave! We had no idea what to expect as it is not advertised anywhere other than on the island but it was such an amazing experience. I 100% recommend it! It was about a 10-15 minute walk to the cave entrance where we had to pay $10 per person to the chief which we didn't mind as the money helps the people! We first walked through some bush and started the steep descent through a rock/cave area and then emerged into a green and lush forest which was absolutely beautiful! It was quite steep and a little difficult to get down to the cave but once you arrive it is worth it! It is a small cave, which is very dark and there is a swimming hole! The water was pitch black and the only way to get in was by jumping! It was a bit scary but absolutely amazing once you are in! The water was EXTREMELY deep so it was very exciting! There was a small rocky area you could sit on in the water. It was a bit difficult to get out of the water as you had to pull yourself up with a rope but we made it! It was a strenuous but beautiful climb back up. Definitely wear sneakers or reef shoes to go down. It was an awesome experience! We walked back to the beach area and had delicious fresh coconuts before heading to the beach on the left side of the jetty where it isn't as busy and more beautiful than on the other side where everyone swims! We had such a magical time! The water was crystal clear and a gorgeous colour and it was so lovely to swim with the ship in the distance! I swam out and managed to find a turtle which was such a special experience. We swam with it for around 5 minutes, we even pat it! It was incredible, what an amazing experience! We saw another one not long after! It was so beautiful to see such a gorgeous animal in their natural habitat. After our wonderful swim we headed back to the ship and had a late lunch before heading to Guess That Song trivia which was fun. We did pretty well! Before long it was time for dinner which was delicious like every night. I learnt something interesting! The waitstaff train for 5-7 months in the crew dining room before waiting for the passengers! Interesting! The show tonight was the Hasbro Game show which was ok, but I was a little disappointed that that was the show for the night. We then went to the shops for a little while and then sat in the Lobby and listened to the beautiful violin music until we headed to bed! I had an incredible day! I woke up at around 5:30am and watched the beautiful sunrise on my balcony and went up on deck to watch us sail into Noumea! It was so beautiful and serene! It was magic being one of a few people on deck revelling in the peace and quiet! I went to the 7:00am stretch class in the disco which was a great way to start off the day! It was so good to stretch and do a little bit of exercise! We then had breakfast at the buffet and headed out to the city of Noumea. Despite what a lot of people say, I love Noumea! I have been there numerous times and always manage to have a great day. We did the 'Double Decker bus' tour which went for 1 and a half hours and took us around the city and to the top of the mountain where the canons are which had beautiful views of Noumea! That was a really great way to explore the island!
That tour took us back to the tourist centre and from there we took the 'hop on hop off bus' to Lemon bay which we loved! The beach there is extremely beautiful. Crystal clear blue water! We had a wonderful time swimming and relaxing in the water. We also swam out to the floating pontoon and we had a blast there jumping off with all of the locals. ther things that we have done in the past at Noumea include Duck Island, Escapade Island and the choo choo train tour. We then took the bus back to the terminal and from there we walked to an amazing French Patisserie; Le Boun Choux! As Noumea has a French population there is delicious French food all over the island. So we had some delicious pastries and cakes before heading back to the ship. The terminal was full of passengers and crew sitting on their phones making the most of the free wifi so we spent some time there catching up on what is going on at home for a little while as well. When I got back on the ship I went to the 'Thriller' dance class ran by Panayiotis one of the amazing dancers and had a blast. Before long it was time for dinner!! More food!! Our waiters were wonderful and made the dining room experience that bit more special. It was 80's night! So we had a blast in the dining room dancing to YMCA and singing along to Tina Turner songs with all of the wait staff. The show in Pharaoh's Palace was '80's Pop To The Max' by the playlist cast which was a great show! Lots of wonderful 80's music and groovy moves! We then went to the Red Frog Bar and listened to the music before heading to the Piano bar with Rohan! I loved going there! I sang Rolling in the deep with him and it was so much fun to have everyone singing along. At 10:00pm we all went up on deck for the 80's pop and glow party! SO MUCH FUN!! Everyone had glow sticks and were singing and dancing and we had an amazing time. It felt like we were at a rock concert! Everyone learnt the Thriller Dance and the first lip sync battle occurred which was a bit of fun! Stay tuned for an exciting day at LIFOU ISLAND! Our second day onboard the Carnival Spirit was another splendid day at sea! I woke up at around 8am only planning to stay in bed for another 10 minutes but ended up sleeping in until 10:30am! NOOO! I HATE sleeping in on cruise ships because that is half my day gone and there are so many fun things to do! So I got up and found my family on the lido deck. TIP: Download the Carnival Hub app, it tells you the schedule for the day! Also make sure you pay the $9 per device for the chat function on the app. There is no wifi required and it is extremely handy to be able to contact other people on the ship! We went to the art auction for a little while which was sort of interesting and a bit of fun and then I went to the Hip-Hop class in the atrium area which was a blast! It was really fun to get involved and I did the dance classes every sea day! I also had a chat to the Playlist performer who ran the class 'Alex' which was really nice and interesting to hear about life on a cruise ship!
'Cluedo' the board game live was on in the theatre which we went to and it was very cool! The atmosphere in the theatre was awesome and it was a really fun activity! I then went to the buffet because it was the CHOCOLATE EXTRAVAGANZA!!! The food was delicious! I had pineapple and donuts dipped in chocolate which were amazing and there was chocolate fudge, cake, pudding and everything chocolate you could imagine! So yummy! After lunch I went and relaxed on the deck in the sun and read a fantastic book by Jackie French. We all then went and had a coffee in my favourite lounge 'The Alchemy Bar' which was lovely. It was 'Elegant Night" so everyone got dressed up and we had photos before dinner! Dinner was delicious! I had pumpkin soup for entree, roast beef for main and no dessert because I ate so much chocolate at lunch.... The show was 'Miss Houdini' which featured the Playlist performers and the illusionist 'Miss Houdini'! It was fantastic. It was a Las Vegas style show with amazing costumes and incredible dancing! There was some great magic tricks as well which were so hard to figure out!! After the show we went to the sit down comedy club at the Versailles lounge for the PG show! The comedian was HILARIOUS and we had a blast! How often do you get to go to comedy shows on land?! Not often! So that was fantastic. I then went to one of my favourite places on the ship, the Shanghai piano bar where I spent a lot of time throughout the cruise! Rohan the piano man did a Beatles tribute which was a lot of fun! Everyone was singing along and we had a great time. That was my day! Tomorrow is Noumea! Ahh.... That magical feeling of waking up to the gentle rocking of the ship and looking out the window/balcony to see the pristine blue ocean..... If you have been on a cruise before, you would know that feeling perfectly well! Take me back! We had a wonderful first day on board the Carnival Spirit. We woke to clear blue skies and an ocean that was calm, flat and perfect! The first thing I did was go up on deck for a quick dip in the pool which was so lovely and relaxing, especially because there was no one else in the water! Believe it or not my brother Isaac and Angie actually went to the gym in the morning, that is already a record for the amount of times we have gone to the gym on a ship! Haha, it is always one of the things that you say you will do but never get to.... lets just walk up the stairs to the buffet instead am I right?!
After my lovely swim, I then met with the rest of the crew and experienced our first breakfast onboard the ship which was wonderful. The breakfast options at the buffet were fantastic. There were delicious breakfast pizzas and omelettes made to your liking, plus the usual eggs and pastries etc. After breakfast I went to the water park and went on the Green Thunder drop waterslide! AHHH! I was freaking out while waiting for the floor to drop out beneath me, but I had so much fun! Plus there is a gorgeous view of the back of the ship from the top! Once I had had enough of an adrenaline rush for the day I relaxed on one of the sun lounges on deck 10 for a long time gazing out at the ocean and also reading an amazing book. In the afternoon we watched the Lip Sync Battle auditions on deck which was quite funny and a lot of fun to watch. I then sat in the alchemy bar, one of my favourite places on the ship, savouring the peace and quiet while watching the gorgeous ocean out of the window right next to me. I then went to the gym for a little while and went on some type of exercise machine for a little while and then relaxed in the spa. Dinner in the Empire Dining Room was delicious as usual! It was 'Island Night' so all of the waiters were in Hawaiian shirts. Showtime in the dining room was heaps of fun! We did a huge conga line through the entire dining room and had a blast. There was a gorgeous sunset (sunsets always look better from a cruise ship!) so I went out on deck 3 and took some photos before heading to the show which was the Playlist Productions cast in 'Getaway Island'. It was a really fun show with lots of colours, amazing costumes, fun dancing and energy! We then went to the Atrium for a little while and enjoyed listening to the guitar player before heading to bed. I had barely been able to contain my excitement when I arrived in Sydney on the 19th ready to board the gorgeous Carnival Spirit on the 20th! Read all about my day in Sydney on the TRAVEL section. When we saw the beautiful ship for the first time from the harbour we were beyond excited! We were travelling with another family who had never cruised before so it was wonderful to experience it with them!
The boarding process was extremely quick and easy which was wonderful. We barely had to wait anytime before we were stepping onto the ship for the first time! I sailed on the CS once before in 2014 and I had forgotten how beautiful the ship was. We boarded \the ship on deck 3 so the first place we saw was the Promenade/ atrium which is always beautiful. Although an older ship, she was still beautiful and looking fresh. As soon as we boarded the ship we did what every. cruiser. does. HEAD TO THE BUFFET!!!!! Of course everyone knows that you are going to be on the ship for 9 nights and the buffet isn't going anywhere but there is a reason people pack their fat pants.... After a delicious lunch we did one of my favourite things, explore the ship! We walked up and down all of the stairs and went all over the ship and of course we were all impressed. Personally, my favourite areas of the ship are the Alchemy Bar, Pharaoh's Palace and the Shanghai piano bar but more about that later. We sailed out of Sydney at 4:00PM which was amazing because it meant that we would actually be on deck for sail away as usually we can't be because we are the early sitting in the dining room. Unfortunately it was a cloudy day, but sailing out of Sydney was beautiful and exciting all of the same, for me it means that the cruise has officially begun! We then went to Dinner and enjoyed an amazing three course meal and were introduced to our amazing waiters, ; Robert, Kadek, Jeromil and Nyoman. I had a delicious chicken meal for main and the legendary 'Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake' for dessert....yyyuuuuuummmmmoooo! Lets say that that was definitely not the only time we indulged in that deliciousness! From dinner, we went to the welcome aboard show at Pharaoh's which was a bit of fun. We got introduced to our amazing cruise director Eli and the Playlist Productions cast and it was a good show. I was so tired from a huge 2 days so I took it easy for the rest of the night, listened to a band for a little while and then relaxed on my balcony! Stay tuned for more posts about our incredible 9 nights onboard the Carnival Spirit! |