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What effect do cruise ships have when they dock in town ?

Melbourne, Australia
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677 posts
83 reviews
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What effect do cruise ships have when they dock in town ?
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Hi, we are off to Vanuatu soon for our first trip to Vanuatu. We are spending some time on another island then will come back to Port Vila to spend the last few days here. We have booked a self contained place about 15 mins (near airport) from central Port Vila > We will be staying in Mele Bay area I have looked up cruise ships dock times in Port Vila and one will be there for the first day have in Port Vila as we arrive late the night before.

We will want to do some shopping, supermarkets to get groceries and local markets to buy fresh fruit and veggies. So what is town like on these cruise days ? Do the prices go up ? Do we need to avoid going here shopping for groceries and fruit and veggies ? Should we avoid being in town this day ? Would there be any choices for grocery shopping for food near our accommodation or do we need to go into town ? Thanks

Sydney, Australia
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3,174 posts
89 reviews
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1. Re: What effect do cruise ships have when they dock in town ?
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Prices in the tourist shops go up, and the town can be packed. We try to avoid Port Vila and around island tours on those days.

However, normal living is not affected.

Blue Mountains...
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73 posts
296 reviews
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2. Re: What effect do cruise ships have when they dock in town ?
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Your better options for shopping are in town itself but having a cruise ship in won't affect the prices in the supermarkets such as Au Bon Marche, bus prices and taxi prices tend to vary but really the only places you should avoid are major tourist spots such as the Cascades etc. If your on Mele Bay just spend the day swimming.

Melbourne, Australia
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677 posts
83 reviews
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3. Re: What effect do cruise ships have when they dock in town ?
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Thankyou TimberBlueMountains :)

J O
Brisbane, Australia
Destination Expert
for Vanuatu, Port Vila, Espiritu Santo
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4,138 posts
27 reviews
37 helpful votes
4. Re: What effect do cruise ships have when they dock in town ?
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Some weeks there are lots of cruise ships so picking a day when they're not there might be more trouble than it's worth.

Brisbane, Australia
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4 posts
67 reviews
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5. Re: What effect do cruise ships have when they dock in town ?
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is there a port authority or tourism centre to email or google to find when there are few or no cruise ships.?..there must be some regular pattern !

Woombah, Australia
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1,324 posts
72 reviews
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6. Re: What effect do cruise ships have when they dock in town ?
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I use whatsinport Port Vila, has all the dates.

Brisbane, Australia
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4 posts
67 reviews
18 helpful votes
7. Re: What effect do cruise ships have when they dock in town ?
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Thanks , Kath..obviously you know your way about the area regards Riq.

Auckland, New...
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1,227 posts
150 reviews
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8. Re: What effect do cruise ships have when they dock in town ?
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OP--if itys not too late--if you are staying out at Mele Bay then I'd argue theres no point going "into town"

Theres a nice Fruit n Veg market your side of town and a Au Bonne Marche out there too.

The other thing is that the ships get in at 7-8 am and the cruisers have to be back by 4.-5 pm so town is empty of cruisers outside of those times.

Brisbane, Australia
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4 posts
67 reviews
18 helpful votes
9. Re: What effect do cruise ships have when they dock in town ?
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Thank u 4 the follow up..I have checked out whatsinport port vila....only 1 cruise ship the week we are there ..mid -sept..so no probs...Staying in Ramada on the lagoon behind Mele Bay...googled Au Bon Marche and there is one not far from there (believe they have a good money exchange there), and on a bus route...regards Riq

10. Re: What effect do cruise ships have when they dock in town ?

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