Cruise Excursion: Walking on the PNG Island of KITAVA @julescruisecompanion #cruise #cruiseship

A short tender ride from P&O Pacific Aria to Kitava. Good morning! Time for another walk — we’re just outside the Panama City area, and on our way to another exotic destination in Papua New Guinea. We’re actually here — yesterday we visited Alotau, and today we’re heading to Kitava, part of the Trobriand Islands. You can probably just see the sun peeking over the horizon — it’s this beautiful pink glow right now. Honestly, the video doesn’t do it justice, but it’s absolutely stunning with that red-orange light cutting across the ocean. We’re cruising quite slowly today because the distance between ports isn’t that great — which is perfect, actually. It means more time to soak it all in. Today’s port, Kitava, is what’s known as a tender port. So let me explain quickly how this works. When a cruise ship arrives in port, there are usually two options for getting passengers ashore: Docking — where the ship ties up at a pier, and you just walk off like you’re getting off a plane. Tendering — where the ship anchors offshore, and smaller boats ferry you between the ship and the island. And there are several ways a cruise handles tendering — it really depends on the cruise line, the ship, even the individual port. Some give out numbered tickets, others do first-come-first-served, and sometimes, you need to go to a specific lounge and wait for your group to be called. See those lifeboats being lowered? That’s our ride today! These actually double as tender boats. You can see the crew getting them ready — and yes, they do give them a thorough clean before passengers hop in. Just back in my cabin — and we had a public announcement about the tender process today. Originally, we were told to go to the Marquee Lounge to collect tickets. But they've just updated that — no tickets required now. You just follow the signs to the tender embarkation point and head down when you're ready. Much easier! Music playing… [clips of walking through the ship, down the stairs, and boarding the tender boat] We’re officially on our first tender ride of the day — off to explore Kitava. Now, something new I noticed right away — there are people in blue coats walking around, asking for money. This is the first time I’ve seen that on any of the islands here. Just a heads-up: wearing a fluoro vest or a badge with a name on it doesn’t automatically mean someone is authorized or “official.” So, a word of advice: negotiate everything. Whether it’s a souvenir or a tour, always ask the price and don’t be afraid to offer what you think it’s worth. For example — I saw some gorgeous walking sticks. One vendor asked for 400 kina — that’s around 170 Australian dollars — and another asked 500 kina for one with intricate inlay work. I’ll probably go back and have another look, but I’ll be offering closer to 250 kina. You just have to stand your ground, be respectful, and keep in mind that bargaining is part of the experience here. Kitava is part of the Trobriand Islands, sometimes called the "Islands of Love" — and it’s easy to see why. The people are warm and welcoming, the scenery is untouched, and the culture is deeply rooted in traditional customs. It’s been a beautiful day here — and an eye-opening one too. From tender rides to sunrise views, and everything in between. Time to head back to the ship for a late lunch — and maybe a nap after that heat! Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you’re enjoying this journey through Papua New Guinea with me. And I’ll see you in the next one! My book HANDY CRUISE COMPANION, Cruise with Confidence is available on Amazon http://bit.ly/HandyCruiseCompanioneBook Check out my website http://www.julescruisecompanion.com.au/ Follow me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/julie.burgess.5011 Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/julescruisecompanion/?hl=en Copyright JCC