Hi there! Before you start reading, can I suggest you pop down just below and hit play on Enya’s song ‘Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)’. It’ll help set the mood for the post as you read it. I’ll wait … it’s ok.
Done? Ok great! Read on …
In exactly 4 days I will be sailing away on my first ever cruise! I know!
Ok – yes I have been on board a cruise ship before just once but it was docked and not cruising. I was on board the beautiful Sun Princess for a Culinary Immersion day in Sydney’s Circular Quay in June this year and what a fun day that was. It made me realise that perhaps a cruise might be a nice idea! So I am testing the cruising waters (so to speak) by starting with a reasonably short cruise of 8 days and 8 nights. Let’s see if I like it. What do you think? Will I?
We will be cruising for a few days before arriving at Port Vila, Vanuatu for the day. The next day will be spent at Mystery Island, Vanuatu. The following day we will be visiting Lifou, New Caledonia. And then we will be cruising our way back to Brisbane. I am thinking that I will most certainly be Lovin’ Life cruising to such wonderful places! No cooking, no washing, no housework, no responsibilities! 8 days of relaxation, fun and being waited on. I say … bring it on!!
I’ve been concerned about getting sea sick but never fear I have covered everything! I have sea sickness wrist bands, sea sickness tablets and I’ve been to the doctor and have any infection, diarrhea, vomiting and/or dehydration all covered. I am ready for any possible medical contingency – hopefully!!
While I’m away I won’t be publishing any blog posts. I’ll be using this time for a digital detox and a mind holiday! However, depending on how reliable the internet access is, I will try to post the odd photo to Instagram when opportunity presents (and that will go through to the blog’s Facebook page and Twitter also).
Finally, I will be able to add some new countries to my very embarassing list of overseas countries I have travelled to. Actually, it means I will now have a list. Before this cruise, the only overseas country I have travelled to is SINGAPORE (many years ago). Soon I will be able to add Vanuatu and New Caledonia and may the list begin, and hopefully be added to and continue to grow.
I crave travelling to places I have never been before and seeing, doing and experiencing things I’ve never seen, done and experienced before, and learning about other cultures and the world generally! I’m hoping to meet new people on this cruise and make new friends! This is an opportunity to open up my world to new experiences and friends and I hope to make the most of it!
See you on the flip side where I am sure I will have lots of stories and photos to share.
Ciao for now,
Link up here at WOTM or with another of us in the Lovin’ Life Linky team:
Leanne of Deep Fried Fruit, Johanna of Lifestyle Fifty, Lyndall of Seize the Day Project,
Kathy of 50 Shades of Age, and Deb of Debbish
It doesn’t matter where you link up as it will magically appear on all six blogs
28 Comments
So very envious. I really want to do a cruise. Or any holiday where you just turn up and everything is catered for you. Hubby however, heads to sea with work and suffers seasickness, so he refuses to entertain the idea. I refuse to entertain a real holiday without him. Perhaps that needs a rethink.
Oh that’s a shame that your hubby isn’t interesting in cruising when you are Raychael! Yes do a rethink – maybe you could do one with a girlfriend or two one day? x
Oh that sounds absolutely divine! I look forward to hearing your thoughts when you’re back. I’d love to go on a cruise but have never been. Have a wonderful time xx
Thanks so much Bec! There will most definitely be a blog post or two when I return! 🙂 x
Bon voyage Min! You will love cruising. It is the ultimate relaxing holiday. You don’t have to do a thing and the ship takes you from one destination to another without having to pack and unpack or even get off the ship if you don’t want to! But I do recommend getting off the ship at each port and exploring the islands. You will have the best time!
Oh it’s so nice to have someone say Bon voyage to me Kathy! lol I’m usually the one Bon Voyaging everyone else! I do love your description of cruising. As long as I don’t get sea sick then all should be fine and dandy and I’m sure to enjoy it immensely! 🙂 x
I hope you enjoy it Min. I can’t imagine cruising as it’s just not something that appeals. Plus I do tend to get sick on large vessels (like barges) rather than small ones. I do like the idea of not having to unpack so looking forward to hearing how you enjoy this!
Thanks Deb – I hope I enjoy it too! Cruising never appealed to me either but then I spend a good part of a day on a cruise ship and started to get an idea of the positives it offers. So this trip is to test the cruising waters and see if I like it. I do like the thought of not having to cart around luggage and unpack and repack and so forth. I also love the thought of a choice of entertainment and places to eat and being waited on. Yep should be good! 🙂 x
I’m so excited for you – if you are an outgoing, social person then a cruise would be just perfect. I’ve never done a big cruise – just the small European one a few years ago (which I absolutely LOVED). Enjoy your detox from the cyber world and all that relaxing x
Thank you Leanne! I can be outgoing and social person but I’m actually an introvert. All that means is that after a period of being social, I need to retreat to some solitude in order to recharge. Socialisation, though I enjoy it, drains me. Oh that small European one sounds good!!! I will very much enjoy my detox time (apart from posting a photo here and there to Instagram – can’t help myself! lol). x
Lucky you Min! I love cruising. You just unpack once and away you go. Have a fabulous time and can’t wait to read about your experience. I notice you say you like to retreat to some solitude. I love cruises because you can be as involved as you want or have time on your own when you choose. We usually find a nook in one of the bars to read our books or on deck. We are booked for a Mediterannean cruise next year departing Barcelona and visiting France, Italy, Sicily and Malta. I can’t wait. Bon voyage and enjoy!
Thanks Sue – I’m looking forward to it and hoping I don’t get sea sick! Yes I do need times of solitude to recharge, particularly these days because I’ve grown used to a lot of time alone. Good to know there are places I can go to do that. I hope to do a lot of reading while we’re cruising. Oh wow your Mediterannean cruise sounds fantastic! No wonder you can’t wait. I can’t wait to hear about that one! 🙂
I love Enya’s song.
I went on my first cruise 12 months ago – Port Vila, Vanuatu , Noumea and Lifou, New Caledonia (1st)
I loved it I longingly click on the links they send me but so far no dates have suited and I need to get my boys passports.
Food , food food galore – go to the formal dining as much as you can breakfast , lunch and dinner ! You get service, better cuisine and you’ll be less tempted to over eat.
I love Enya’s song too Trish. Your cruise sounds much like the one I’m going on except you went to Noumea and we’re going to Mystery Island. I’ve been told that tip about the formal dining room before so I’m definitely listening! I’m sure you’ll be off on another cruise before you know it. 🙂
Cruising is the best fun, fingers crossed for glorious weather and fabulous food. Just one thing to add to your list, a can of Glen20 and use it in ALL the things. As soon as you get into your cabin blast away to keep the bugs at bay. xx N
Thanks for the Glen20 tip Nikki! I will definitely do that – on ALL the things! I do not want to get sick. That would be awful. I hope we have great weather too. No cyclones or horrid weather events please mother nature! 😉 x
Sounds like the same cruise my SIL did & she loved it. Enjoy – I’ve wondered about a cruise for forcing me to relax, that it would be good for that. But then I remember I don’t like being around people that much and worry it would be too crowded.
Good to hear your SIL loved it! I don’t like crowds of people either so that concerned me about cruising too but then when I went on the cruise ship in June (not cruising it was docked) I saw that the ship is HUGE and there are SO many different places to go and things to do so it is actually possible to get away from crowds and find quiet places. I’ll report back on that more after I get back! 😉 x
So excited you will be adding to your list of places you’ve travelled to! And I’ve always wondered – Singapore is weird – is it a city or a country?! As a bit of a cruising queen myself I just KNOW you are going to have a fab time. Looking forward to seeing photos and hearing all about it in due course!
It IS exciting – and I’m adding to the ONE place overseas I have travelled to so that I will soon actually have a list! lol Singapore is a country! It seems I’m going to have a good time because everyone is telling me I will … so then I will! lol There will be photo’s and blog posts to come for sure. 🙂 x
Hope you have a lovely time Min, and that you enjoy cruising. The islands you’re visiting will of course, naturally be absolutely mind glowingly gorgeous and you’ll probably want to stay longer. BUT … there’s always another cruise! #TeamLovinLife
Thanks Jo – of course you would know ALL about cruising after your epic cruise this year. This is a tiny little cruise in comparison but it’s a good one to see how I like it and yes the places we’re going will be gorgeous and I’m looking forward to experiencing them. If I love this cruise then I’m sure there will be another! 🙂 x
So pleased to hear you have your medications and seasickness remedies sorted Min. Bon Voyage – have an awesome time. I look forward to seeing your pics when you get back 🙂 #TeamLovinLife
Yes I like to have everything covered Lyndall! lol I’m sure I’ll have a great time once I get on that boat and all my jobs here are done and behind me! 🙂 x
Enjoy your cruise…my daughter and I are planning one for next year to celebrate her 18th birthday. Haven’t decided where we are going as yet. It will be our first time too. I too will be prepared for sea-sickness!
Thanks Melissa! Oh what a fabulous way to celebrate your daughter’s 18th! Have fun deciding on a cruise and I look forward to reading about it next year! 🙂 x
This is so exciting. Last week as T and I were walking around Circular Quay we watched a P&O ship pull out. It was HUGE! We really want to do a cruise one day. But I live in fear of legs dangling in water in the big deep so it’s not high on my list of travel priorities. But it will happen. In fact, I am probably more likely to end up on a boat floating around the Greek Islands before I get on a cruise ship … simply because that travel destination is high on my list for the next 5 years.
Have fun!
Take loads of photos.
Can’t wait to hear all about it
#TeamLovinLife
OMG Leanne – legs dangling in the water in the big deep! LOL I am not going to be dangling my legs anywhere need the big deep … only pool water! Cruises have never been a travel priority of mine either but this was presented to me and after my day on the Sea Princess my appetite was whetted and I thought – let’s do this and try it out! I might love it and become the Queen of cruising! haha There will be loads of photos and blog posts to follow for sure. Look after #TeamLovinLife in my absence. Bon voyage! xo