P&O Pacific Sky Cruise, NEW CALEDONIA
Airing Date: Apr 21st, 2003
The P&O Pacific Sky is a four-star cruise liner that sails the South Pacific. A seven day return cruise will take you from Sydney to New Caledonia. The ship itself is enormous with 600 staff on board who provide personalised attention to the 1,500 passengers.
With equally as many cabins as staff, there is an accommodation option for every taste and every budget.
Four berth cabins are perfect for families and young singles, but if total luxury is the focus of your holiday, opt for the top of the line Balcony Suite with a private uninterrupted view of the Pacific.
To avoid cabin fever, sailors can join in more than 30 onboard activities including Latin American, rock 'n' roll and line dancing classes.
If you think a holiday is the perfect time to kick start a new, fitter lifestyle, you can hit the gym, take a soak in the spa, or even join an on-deck exercise class like boxercise.
The seven day cruise has two ports of call; the stunning Isle of Pines and Noumea, the colourful capital of New Caledonia.
The Isle of Pines is a tiny island that boasts long white beaches, clear blue water and a really warm welcome - the water is a tropical 24 degrees. You'll have the opportunity to spend the entire day on the Isle of Pines and sample some of the local culture and cuisine. For a refreshing drink try the milk of the island's green coconuts.
With two separate dinner sittings at 6.30pm and 8.30pm, dinner aboard the P&O is a grand affair and every second night is a themed dinner, such as an Italian special. With nine bars and lounges, a casino and a 600 seat theatre there are plenty of entertainment options.
The kids don't miss out on the fun either, with the Kids' Club running until midnight. When the kids are finally tucked into bed, the ship's night patrol will check on them once every half hour, allowing the mums and dads to slip into the nightclub and party all night long.
Be careful not to party too hard, or you may not be up for the second island stop of Noumea. A local specialty in New Caledonia is coffee, and local specimens are grown on the island before being sold at the morning markets. Noumea can be expensive so the markets are also a good place to pick up some fresh fruit for a snack.
There's plenty to see in Noumea. A great place to start is at the Tjibaou Cultural Centre, which is a cross between an art gallery and museum. You'll have the whole day free to explore the local spots before you head back to the ship at sunset to set sail once more.
The facts
The seven night New Caledonia cruise aboard P&O Pacific Sky starts from $1277 per person for four berth shared cabin.
Pacific Sky cruises the South Pacific year-round from Sydney. For a limited time, P&O Cruises is offering special fares on Pacific Sky this year, with nine or 10 night cruises, available from $1099 per person including all onboard meals and entertainment. Conditions apply.
Travelworld
Tel: 13 14 35
Entry to the Tjibaou Cultural Centre is $7 per person. A bowl of coffee costs at the morning markets in Noumea costs around $3.50
New Caledonia Tourism
Tel: 1800 673 745
