Golden Princess Review
Rating by category
Additional details
I have no idea why we picked this cruise.
At the time if seemed like a good idea to take my disabled (wheel chair bound) wife on a cruise to PNG to see where I grew up.
Bad move - this cruise was full of the rudest people I have ever met; and, I am ashamed to say they were all Australian. So bad in fact that the crew were visibly upset and stressed due to the behaviour and attitude of some of the passengers.
Cabin Review
Balcony
Cabin, small and not suitable for wheel chair but with help from cabin steward we made do. Designers of ships really need to consider the bulk of their passengers are aging and getting frail. Beds were bent but mattresses were new immediately prior to the cruise (allegedly).
Balcony was small but serviceable and made up for the lack of space in the cabin with the door open. Lighting is a little poor but serviceable, decor is dated and faded, and the mini-bar fridge is wasted space as there is no ice, nor drinks, nor places to acquire or purchase drinks etc. to put in the fridge.
Port Reviews
Sydney (Australia)
Been here before many times. easy to get on and off the ship with all amenities near by.
Sydney is truly metropolitan city with wonderful views. The ferries at circular quay are a cheap and excellent way to see the harbour.
Brisbane
the raised rail line in front of the gangplank makes it very hard to board and disembark the ship and Fisherman;s Island is over 1/2 hour out of the city so one needs to spend $85 to get into town in a cab and the same amount back again.
Alotau
Small port, not much to see. wonderful people.
Kiriwina (Papua New Guinea)
Hey great people, I want to move there. The art is still reasonably authentic and inexpensive. Just watch out for the wood you buy and stay away from anything with skin on it or lose it to customs when you get back. Take Kina with you and you will be swamped with the locals wanting to change AUS dollars into Kina.
Rabaul
We hired a local taxi to take a small group around the key sights close to town. The volcano is interesting and the views from the hill tops is also very good. On the route you can also see the warren of tunnels dug by the Japanese during the war.
The harbour is a volcanic crater and it is worth noting the rock formations (volcanic plugs)in the middle of the harbour to realize how large the volcano actually is.
Luganville
Arrived Sunday, nothing open, only activity is to stroll the native market and walk into the main street of town which looks like every other run down street in third world countries.
Port Vila
been there before. it has become too commercialised. very difficult to get out of the port as the market is set up like a maze that you have to get through before you can even get to the gate to fight your way through the locals touting for your business. Use a cruise arrange tour if you are going here or go by plane and stay at a resort.
Noumea
Excellent place to visit. use the hop on hop off bus. cheap, convenient and covers most of the key places in Noumea. including the beach for a swim.
Just beware the cost of the hamburgers. a basic lunch for 3 people was just under $100 Australian at a not so flash restaurant including two beers and two soft drinks.