A cruise can be a cheap travel option
An RSL on water.
That was the response I got when I suggested to a good friend he bring his family on a cruise holiday with us.
Needless to say it was a tough sell.
So tough, it simply didn’t happen for his clan.
I must admit I had many of the same scepticisms before embarking upon a cruise.
If you’d asked me 10 years ago I probably would’ve given much the same responses as my friend.
Back then the industry laboured under something of an image problem in Australia; a series of well-publicised incidents including the drugs-related death of Dianne Brimble in 2002 and subsequent court case shining a light on the seedy side of a getaway on the seas.
While growth still remained steady during that time the tide has well and truly turned in terms of numbers since then; Australia tops the world in market growth and penetration after a record 833,348 Aussies took a cruise in 2013.
And I was one of them.
With my partner and two children we joined about 1700 other people on PO’s Pacific Pearl bound from Sydney to the Pacific Island ports of Noumea, Mare and Isle of Pines.
While initially sceptical about going on such a trip the bottom line was that is was simply impossible to go past the bottom line.
For two adults and two children we shopped around and managed to get change from $2200 for a 10-day trip.
These days that wouldn’t cover much more than your accommodation costs at a decent Australian resort for that period of time.
But for that we got all our meals, a liberal smattering of onboard entertainment and a brief chance to visit some international destinations.
Yes, a large chunk of that time is spent at sea, but if you’re after some serious relaxing time this will suit you just fine.
There’s a full range of activities on board from children’s clubs, swimming pools, bingo, trivia quizzes, shopping, a casino, movies, a gym and health spa.
Then there’s the food.
A breakfast buffet, lunch buffet and dinner buffet – or if you please white linen service for all three.
If somehow you’re still hungry and want to bill the charges there’s a cafe, barbecue stall and an ice-cream stand; you can even order in.
Or if you want to go up market you can pay a small premium to take advantage of more exclusive restaurants such as Luke Mangan’s Salt Grill. So of course we did.
Off the ship the ports themselves aren’t exactly epic destinations. For somewhere like Noumea it pays to hop on a bus and get out of town to explore. In Mare it is also well worth getting out of the main port to snorkel at Yejele Beach – though you won’t exactly be in a club of one here.
The Isle of Pines is perhaps the pick; a short cab ride and walk will get you away from the madding crowds to Oro Bay, a worthwhile investment for some seclusion and a swim in its crystal clear waters.
Back on board it would be disingenuous to say the whole trip was completely smooth sailing.
The oft-discussed bogan element is definitely there and certainly a little harder to avoid when on a board.
We encountered the `chair kicker’ early on. Aggressive, tattooed and argumentative, he got his nickname when it appeared he was dispatched from a bar one night. Making his way past the outdoor movie screening he proceeded to lay his boot into vacant lounge chairs as he mumbled and swore his way back to the rooms.
Still, he seemed to be in reasonable enough spirits the next morning when he backed up to the buffet with a schooner of beer – at 10.30am.
On a 247 metre long ship with 11 passenger decks it’s fortunate that it isn’t too hard to find your own calming space.
ROOKIE CRUISING TIPS TO SAVE A DOLLAR:
– Avoid the casino
– Limit your alcohol intake
– Research your destination ports before you go. There are frequently local alternate options for day tours that are far cheaper than what the cruise ship charges
– Pack all the things you’ll really need – little things like sunscreen and deodorant are expensive on board. It’s well worth investing in some cheap snorkelling gear before you leave if you plan on hitting the water too.
IF YOU GO:
PO Cruises offer a range of cruises departing Australian coastal cities within the country and to the Pacific Islands and Asia. Three night short cruises start from $299. See: www.pocruises.com.au for more details
The writer travelled at his own expense.
Share or comment on this article
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
Leave a Reply