Last December I was frantically finishing off the Christmas shopping and it occurred to me that my husband had been desperate to go on a cruise since the day I met him! Whilst I have travelled extensively it was the one type of holiday that I had never experienced. So in January this year we were all booked to join our P&O cruise onboard the Dawn Princess from Brisbane.
The day arrived and once clearing customs we walked onboard the ship. My first impression was how huge it seemed and how spacious. The reception area was well laid out and whilst waiting to check in I had chance to window shop at a couple of the onboard boutiques. After getting our key cards we checked into our very well appointed cabin that had ample storage, comfortable beds, and a TV that showed all the latest releases.
Once unpacked we made our way to deck 12 and enjoyed a fantastic buffet lunch as the ship set sail down the Brisbane River. We sat in the sun by one of the 2 pools (one adult only) and enjoyed waiter service cocktails whilst the children swam. After lunch it was off to the kids clubs to organise the week’s activities for the children. Our eldest son was in seventh Heaven as he could sign in and out on his own. There were heaps of activities during the week from Pizza parties, movie nights, pool games or just hanging out with his new friends in H20 playing Playstation. My younger daughter was also thrilled at the prospect of entering dance competitions etc. that were arranged for her age group.
That evening I decided to make a reservation at the Palm Court restaurant which offers silver service dining. There were 2 dining times to choose from so you had the opportunity to decide on the day to eat early or late. Later in the week we tried the self service buffet option which offered an amazing array of food. The service and quality in both restaurants was excellent. For a nominal amount we also had the opportunity to try the fantastic steaks in the steakhouse and sample the Italian Cuisine. Evenings onboard offered an array of choice from live shows to trivia nights, a flutter at the casino or dancing the night away at the Dome nightclub.
The following afternoon I treated myself to a beauty treatment at the day spa. This was a totally relaxing experience and proved very popular with many of the passengers.
During our trip we stopped off At Noumea, Lifou and Vanuatu and all offered us a great cultural experience. My daughters highlight was getting her hair braided by the locals in Lifou. For my son swimming with the local children and seeing a huge turtle swim by made his day. Myself I loved Vanuatu, the people are so warm and friendly. We went to a local Island for the day and my husband did a dive whilst I had lunch and snorkelled with the family. Vanuatu is also a great place to stock up on your duty free items and these are packaged up and delivered back to the ship for you. Our last stop before going back to the ship was the local markets that set up alongside the ship selling gifts. We stocked up on bits and pieces for the evenings “Island Night”. The atmosphere was great as everybody decked out in Hoola skirts and Lei’s danced onboard the open deck in the tropical evening air.
I would recommend cruising to anybody. It offers exceptional value for money and gives you the opportunity to do as much or as little as you like. Once you have unpacked you can start relaxing. It appeals to a diverse cross section of people. We met elderly couples, ladies away on a girl’s holiday, young people who were travelling with a group of friends and families like ourselves. For the single travellers it is also a great way to meet people in a safe environment. The only downside I could find is that the saltwater shrinks your clothes!!! That’s my excuse anyway; it had nothing to do with the chocolate puddings, full buffet breakfast, afternoon teas, and evening dining.......
If you would like any more details on Cruising the South Pacific, or indeed anywhere in the world, please give me a call and I would love to help you organise your next cruise.