Here’s what our 7 day itinerary included:

The Westerdam waiting for its passengers

Day 1: Depart Seattle

We arrived a couple of days earlier to take advantage of the home of Starbucks and the famous Pike Place market. Not to mention the Seattle grunge music scene with live gigs in various bars across the city.

Boarding the Westerdam cruise ship with the thousands of passengers proved to be a seamless exercise through customs, where our bags were tagged and miraculously arrived in our cabin within moments of us completing our life-jacket safety drill.

I was thrilled to discover we also had our own balcony (as does 67% of cabins) a 2-seater sofa, TV/bar and a couple of chairs. Our attentive cabin-boy separated the beds from a queen size into two singles while we were enjoying the first of many five-course dinners.

Rooms can be Queen size or twin

Day 2: Day at Sea

Today is reading in our cabin, playing Trivial Pursuit with our fellow passengers in library, walking the decks and playing shuffle board with new-found friends. I checked out the kids clubs and was told by one family that their pre-schoolers were having more fun here than on their recent Disney cruise. I also checked out the gym at the stern of the ship with its amazing views. Note, I only checked it out I didn’t actually tread on the mill…

There's no excuse with this gym with a view!

There is a demonstration kitchen for those wanting gourmet cooking lessons, and nightly shows in the theatre or movies by day in the cinema if your book is boring. And don’t forget the spa and hair salon! Book your treatments early though because they fill up quickly. There is an extra charge for this.

Sit with friends or strangers, it's up to you

There are 4 restaurants onboard. The main Vista Lounge is part of your all-inclusive package, as is the breakfast and lunch restaurant and snack joints but you can also choose to pay a nominal $20 and dine at the fancy Pinnacle Grill for lobster and such. My fillet mignon was melt-in-the-mouth gorgeous, as were the fresh crab cakes that preceded it!

Day 3: Glacier Bay National Park

At 8am the enormous Margerie Glacier appeared through the mist. A mighty bang ricocheted across the water, causing much shrieking, and I unglued my eye from my camera just in time to see a huge piece of green-blue ice sheer off into the ocean from the 34km long glacier.

This glacier stretches 34 km and is a deceptive 30 stories high!

This area is the spectacular playground of humpback, minke and orca as well as dolphins, otters and other critters roaming the depths below. Standing on the stern a humpback leapt out of the water and crashed down on its side. According to those shrieking around me, they rarely do this in these waters, preferring Hawaii for such shenanigans.

Tip: bring spare batteries and an extra memory card for your camera. You’re going to need them in this wildlife wonderland.

Day 4: Juneau

I pulled back the curtains to be met by the cutest view of colourful quaint shops selling Russian knick knacks along the water front of this the capital city of Alaska. The Ruskies sold Alaska to America in 1867 but it didn’t become a United State until 1959.

Juneau is a cute little town to potter around in, drink a beer at the local pub, buy handpainted Russian dolls, pat a husky and take a gazillion photos of things like signs warning there will be a $100 fine for “contributing to the delinquency of a bear” should you not secure your rubbish bin.

Juneau looks like a miniature town from my balcony

Day 5: Sitka

This Russian town has a wonderful orthodox church, St Michael’s Cathedral, which is a treasure trove and for $2 you can go in and look around at the antiques, gold, jewels and religious paraphernalia. We walked the neighbourhood, past its famous totem poles and fir trees, found a hot dog stand selling reindeer dogs and came across 2 girls having a bake sale on their lawn. Cute!

Out and about in Sitka

Greenpeace would kick up a ruckus here because real fur is sold in the form of mink coats for $4000, rabbit stoles and Daniel Boone-style hats. I’ll leave it you to decide that one!

Day 6: Ketchikan

This is where you can choose to go on an excursion by helicopter to the glacier for dog sledding or by seaplane to the river to watch bears. The fog had rolled in cancelling the sledding so we chose bears and I am sooo glad we did! It is still one of the highlights of my life seeing black bears wander out of the woods and catch salmon in the river about 30 metres away from me while Bald Eagles hovered overhead waiting for a morsel.

Sashimi anyone?

Day 7: Vancouver Island

A quick day stop here ensures our cruise is “international” and it’s another chance to explore a town I’ll likely never see again. The next morning we arrive back in Seattle full of memory cards and stories to entertain our friends ad nauseum.

This post is sponsored by Francis Travel Marketing. For info on cruising Alaska on a Holland America Line ship, click here >>>

Read about my cruise with my sister in the Caribbean here >>>

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Goodbye Miami!

Each cruise line and destination offers such different experiences. You can have the whole 5-star posh frocks and tiara deal or a family ship with waterslides, outdoor movie screens and loads of activities that are (almost) as much fun as the countries you visit.

When my sister Pip and I decided to go for a week’s cruise we chose the Caribbean because our brother lives in the Cayman Islands, and we wanted to add a couple of days in Miami at the end of it with a few American friends. To be honest, we didn’t mind whether the ship was going to be full of retirees and evening gowns for the captain’s dinner, we were more interested in visiting Cozumel Mexico, Ocho Rios Jamaica and the Caymans.

Sliding or sunbathing - it's up to you

We boarded the Carnival Liberty in Miami in a very slick operation of customs, luggage tagging (along with 3,500 others) and made our way to check out our cabin. Ours had a balcony and I’d totally recommend you do this to be able to relax in your own space. The Liberty is more party ship than stately. But don’t get me wrong, it has elevators if you don’t want to climb the stairs between decks (although this was our only form of exercise to allow us all the eating, so we staired it) and you can leave the clubbing to the uni students and tuck yourselves away in the theatre, casino, wine bar or have an early night.

We ended the week about even!

What we loved about this cruise was the people we met who were just like us, space to sit on our own balcony, read a book and watch the endless Gulf of Mexico as flat as a millpond, and the (non naf) activities we could choose from. We went to an art auction onboard where original paintings and etchings went for thousand of dollars to collectors. We also got to know our cabin boy who brought us hors doerves and created crazy towel animals for our beds and our waiters who served us each night in the restaurant and gave us tips on what to do the next day. Oh and we quite enjoyed our self-imposed $20 per day limit to have a flutter at the casino …

Stop for a cheeky beer at Senor Frogs in Cozumel before reboarding

First stop: Cozumel, Mexico – Day 2

I was a bit concerned that this port town might be a tourist trap and not really a taste of true Mexico, and while it is like that, there is great shopping! Cozumel has a reputation for good prices on diamonds and the new gemstone, Tanzanite, from Tanzania. Alas the prices are still a bit beyond our budgets, but I did manage to haul back a Mexican rug on which I plan to have picnics with nachos and margaritas, a handpainted plate and an enormously heavy coral chess set. I love chess sets and this now boosts my collection to 3. However I did not personally lift this one up until the man had wrapped it for my voyage home. It weighs as much as a small child. But it’s really cute, it has Mayan styled castles and its pawns are little Mexican men wearing sombreros.

You don't have to be toooo brave to do this!

Second stop: Georgetown, Cayman Islands – Day 4

The Cayman Islands are edged with hotels along pristine 7 Mile Beach, but only a few blocks back from the sea it is more typical of a Caribbean island with dilapidated houses and funny old cars. As Pip described it when our ship pulled away later in the afternoon, it’s less manicured than she expected it to be. Since our brother and his wife live here, we didn’t purchase one of Carnival Liberty’s shore excursions to go out to Stingray City, they organised a mate and his boat to take us.

Stingray City is a sandbar in the middle of the bay where dozens of wild Southern rays flock to greet tourists who dive off the boats with squid for their lunch. They’re huge – about a metre in diametre and slimy like a wet mushroom. The younger ones are soft as silk and the old girls (boys are smaller than girls in the stingray world) have freckly, rough backs. We trepidaciously tiptoed around them being gingerly brave, but they’re as safe as houses really.

After about 20 mins we headed off to their favourite restaurant, Calypso Grill, right on the water and indulged in delicious crab cakes and a couple of wines.

We bought paintings from our mate in Jamaica

Third stop: Ocho Rios, Jamaica – Day 5

Today most of the folks onboard headed up the stunning Dunn’s River Falls. And by that I mean 2000 people wading through the waters, climbing up and down these staircase-like falls. Decision time: shopping or holding hands in a human chain and climbing slippery rocks….

We chose shopping and contented ourselves with postcards of the falls and had no regrets. Of course you will get every vendor in the land calling at you to come and look ‘no pressure’. Yeah right. But we were up for it and nabbed some great bargains on paintings, rasta hats with dreads, porcelain, souvenirs. Ocean Village Shopping Centre, about 200m up the road, is a styly complex with fancy jewellery and watch shops and boutiques.

We found Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville where a man was busking out the front by turning his body inside out. (Check out the vid below).

Tip: bartering is expected. Offer about 50% below what they ask and work up. For the really intrepid, walk up the main road to Ocho Rios Craft Market where 135 vendors all have cubby’s the size of a phone booth invariably selling the same stuff that they buy in from Kingston. You will certainly be ‘cajoled’ here. We loved it. Just smile, look at their wares and tell them you’re from NZ – mon!

On the 7th day we arrived back in Miami and as we speak are trying to figure out when we can go cruising again!

Check out these cruise itineraries on Carnival Cruise ships with Francis Travel Marketing and starting planning your trip of a lifetime!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdB6qLelJXs

What I’ve done though is make my first ever proper, edited video with Brooke Fraser accompanying us on our 3 minute excursion up the river without a paddle and owner of Unforgettable Houseboats, Mark Flanagan, at the helm explaining just how easy it is to drive it yourself. It’s the parking that requires a bit more practice!

Hope you enjoy it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZslMKynJXI

Come and follow me on Facebook and you’ll get a note on your News Feed each time a new blog goes up!

And click here if you want to see a collection of my favourite photos on the Murray River.

Here’s my favourite photos of sunsets, sunrises and views along the Murray from our Unforgettable Houseboats. I’ve also just made a 3-minute video of a tour through the boat along with  instructions on how to actually drive it. Because yes, you do drive it yourself! Click here for How to drive a houseboat video tour.

Verdict: this would be a brilliant holiday with 8-10 friends – and check out the prices on the link above, because it’s surprisingly affordable.

Sunrise on the Murray River

King size room on the houseboat

Mark Flanagan, owner of Unforgettable Houseboats and teacher of how to drive!

Check out those knots!

Can you see the faces in the cliffs?

Calling at Younghusband to buy beer and a fishing rod

The booming shop at Younghusband!

The bbq at the front is under way for dinner

My Monet impression as the sun rose

Just another Murray River sunset

The Murray Princess paddle steamer underway at dawn

Yabbies for brekkie!

Come and join me on Facebook! Click LIKE and you’ll be kept up to date with my latest blogs – including my video on how to actually drive this here houseboat!

One of Paul Gaugin's big bottomed beauties

The half freighter/half passenger ship Aranui III was in Devonport dry dock undergoing it’s tri-annual spring clean before a soft refit will be carried out back in Tahiti and this lifeline to the outer Tahitian islands, will be cruising again. For 50 years the Aranui has serviced the Marquesas and passengers have been tagging along now for about 20 years. Only 200 passengers are onboard when the ship is full.

The pool deck in Auckland

Today a whole bunch of travel agents and me got to have a sticky beak onboard, meet the owners and execs and look at a DVD of her two-week itinerary. I’ve heard about the Aranui, seen pictures, even trawled the website in times gone by, but I still wasn’t entirely sure that this was more a working ship with a rough and ready ambience or whether the cruise passengers had a bit of luxury. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the latter is true.

You’re not going to find a casino or a stage for caberets, but you will find carpetted suites with full size bathrooms, queen size beds and balconies, right down to a bunk room that can sleep up to 8. There’s a lounge with comfy chairs and a bar in the bow, and upstairs is an open plan dining room where buffet meals are served.

The Aranui III is the third ship to serve the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia. To get there it takes about 36 hours of sailing from Papeete – plenty of time to unwind, read a book, sleep, meet your fellow passengers, check out the captain on the bridge … and by the time you arrive you’re refreshed and ready to roar. Well, as much roaring as one can expect in the tropics.

Where will the Aranui visit?

You’ll jump on in Papeete and set sail at 11am on Day 1. Day 2 is in Fakarava then Day 3 at sea as you’re full steam ahead to the Marquesas. Day 4 is in Ua Pou, Day 5 Nuku Hiva, Day 6 Hiva Oa, Day 7 Fatu Hiva, Day 8 at Hiva Oa again – this time a different port, Day 9 Tahuata, Day 10 Ua Huka, Day 11 Nuku Hiva and Ua Pou again on the other side of these islands, Day 12 is at sea as you head back to Tahiti breaking it on Day 13 at Rangiroa Lagoon and arrive back in Papeete at 9.30am on Day 14.

The Aranui lounge

Who will love this cruise?

Typically your experienced cruiser who is over the glitz and glam of onboard entertainment and is looking for an authentic experience of Tahitian life. And since they’re two weeks long, you’re probably retired or have a nice chunk of leave to use up. Excursions on these remote islands include plenty of hiking, picnics, meeting local villagers and shopping at their handcraft markets, photographing waterfalls and archeological sites, even riding horses. Not to mention swimming on idyllic and remote beaches. Back onboard there are lectures for those interested in artist Paul Gaugin, who spent the latter part of his life in Tahiti, and other stuff like archeology, culture, history – all taught by experts in their fields.

Family style dining

One day there is a 17km hike over the island and everyone does it. I LOL’d at the management who told me this. I’ve never walked 17 kms in my life! But apparently its very popular and with lunch at the top, I guess it might be the only way to get fed! The ship meets you on the other side of the island.

There is a gym onboard, but I’m reliably informed that there is so much to do on the islands that most people are knackered and just to come back for a glass of wine and a delicious dinner at the end of the day.

The Aranui suite

What are the cabins like?

Suites: There are 14 suites (12 with balconies). They have a spacious studio layout with a lounge area and a large bathroom that has a full size bathtub. Air conditioning, queen size bed, flat screen TV, fridge.

Aranui Deluxe cabin

Deluxe Cabins: There are 9 of these with opening doors that you could pull a chair up to for a breeze but not actually a balcony. These are also very spacious with a queen size bed, bathroom with bathtub, air conditioning, TV, fridge.

Aranui standard twin room

Standard Cabins: 63 standard cabins have a porthole window and are twin share with some triple share. Air conditioning and TV as well as small bathroom with a shower. You can keep your luggage here, or there is storage that the crew will arrange.

The unisex dorm

Dormitory: This ‘Class C’ room is for those who are travelling with mates or alone and want to mingle. (I met one travel agent who told me a 75-year man booked himself in the dorm and had a whale of a time!) These can sleep up to 8 in bunk beds with shared facilities and of course, air conditioning.

For more info on the Aranui III, click here for www.aranui.com

Whiling away the dusk

I’m cruising along the Mississippi on the American Queen paddle steamer from New Orleans and each evening the sky burns from bright orange to pale pink as the sun sizzles into the horizon over the chocolate brown river, carrying tonnes of silt to the Gulf of Mexico, shines like it’s silver-plated.

I am following the river down the highway through the cradle of the civil war, is the next line in a confused song about going to Graceland.

This seven-day tour of history through the cradle of the Civil War stops at towns, cities and former enormous and powerful plantations dotted along the mighty Mississippi.

We start alongside the French Quarter where the river banks have formed a natural levee over thousands of years and were the reason this part of the city escaped damage during Hurricane Katrina. Across the river industrial ports and large ships are docked and on the busy waterway between river barges push up to a hundred carriages laden with coal and crops.

This working river starts some 3700km north in Minnesota near the Great Lakes and if it could tell tales it would speak of wars, strongholds, slavery, dividing lines and places of terrible tragedy where friends fought friends as Confederates and Unionists from 1861-1865 when 600,000 American soldiers died.

I’m looking forward to exploring this part of history, as the little steam-powered calliope sounds our departure tune and the paddle wheel rolls us gently upstream while I sit on the veranda outside my room, French doors flung open, sipping a sauvignon blanc and chatting to my neighbours as we watch the sun melt. These are more boutique hotel rooms than cabins, with plush down pillows on scrumptious beds, antique furnishings, a tiffany lamp harking back to the 1920s when steam boating was in its hey-day. The addition of flat screen TVs and DVD players are a sneaky touch. Most of the passengers onboard are war and history-buffs and all of them great travellers. I’m delighted to find over half have visited New Zealand.

Houmas House - open for lunch and dinner

The mighty Mississippi is a law unto herself. She flows as she pleases, carving her own path, cutting off bends and even entire plantations only 100 years ago leaving landowners waking in the state of Mississippi instead of Louisiana where they were the night before. A few of these elegant ‘Scarlett and Rhett’ homes still exist on former sugar and cotton plantations with Houmas House being the best example I saw stocked with priceless antiques and a highly acclaimed restaurant.

Delta plains stretch for miles and fields are lined with oaks as we glide easily into Mark Twain country. The Civil War ended the famous writer’s life as a steam boat pilot on these waters and he turned his acerbic wit to telling great yarns, coming out with cynical quotes like, ‘It was wonderful to find America, but it would have been more wonderful to miss it.’

Samuel Clemens took his pen-name from a river measurement: mark twain equals two fathoms, or three metres. (I must have missed that day in English.) So with my own copy of Life on the Mississippi (the forerunner to Huckleberry Finn) I try to keep up with his random, wry and often hilarious adventures on these same waters 125 years ago.

He lived and breathed the Mississippi, coming to know every nook and cranny of its ever twisting, hazardous ways to steer a steamer down the inky black in the dead of night, first as a trainee ‘cub’ then as an accomplished pilot. Pilots of his day had to be able to draw the entire journey from memory, with every landmark and potential pitfall, to pass their pilot’s exam (which he did) and earn the prestige that went with it.

A fine antebellum home

Fortunately there are no such dangers these days as the kilometres disappear gently behind us and we dock in Natchez at first light the next day, site of one of the most intense Civil War battles due to its importance as a strategic port.

This is not stereotypical America. There are no fast food restaurants or theme parks within view, no mega shopping malls or high rise buildings, just small-town heartland reaching down to the silence of the river which today is running so low its silty banks reveal the concrete retaining mats leaning up the sides.

It hasn’t rained in months so the locals are thrilled the skies have opened today. I’m none too pleased but decide to go exploring anyway. It’s Sunday and eerily quiet, but the First Presbyterian Church is a must-see (even if not attending a service) with 500 photographs hanging in an upstairs gallery documenting over 100 years from the Civil War to WWII. I gaze at snaps of families and friends, formal portraits of children and notable people and am particularly fascinated by the wealthy black families who were slaves before the Civil War and land owners after it, owning their own slaves.

Oh for a spare few thousand dollars...

The next morning in Vicksburg the sky is grey but one bright spot is the Attic Gallery bursting with literally a million pieces of art, jewellery, sculpture and eclectic bits and bobs. I’m looking forward to buying a piece of original art as it’s the one thing I wish I’d done from every amazing country I’ve been to. Unfortunately I fall for a US$3000 Kennith Humphrey painting of a black lady with a very large bottom, but after about an hour of rifling through canvases I come upon a fabulous painting of jazz trumpeter Blue Mitchell painted by David Baum. I can almost hear it. Apparently my purchase might cover his rent this week, which is a nice thought as I stagger out with a painting the size of half a door figuring out how to get it home.

I disagree with Mark Twain, it’s wonderful they found America. Well, this part at least.

Have a look at the steam piano (calliope) being played on the back of the steamship here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZRveGv8rGU

On new reservations on these voyages, every second person gets to travel half price:

Photo credit Mike Murphy

Voyage PLA27 aboard “Plancius”
18-nights voyage to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula
04 – 22 February 2011

Cruise fares:
Quadruple cabin: US $ 10,950 for the first person, and, the second person 50 % off = US $ 5,475
Twin cabin: US $ 13,290 for the first person, and, the second person 50 % off = US $ 6,645
Superior cabin: US $ 15,450 for the first person, and, the second person 50 % off = US $ 7,725

Voyage PLA28 aboard “Plancius”
10-nights voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula
22 February – 04 March 2011

Cruise fares:
Quadruple cabin: US $ 6,390 for the first person, and, the second person 50 % off = US $ 3,195
Twin cabin: US $ 7,750 for the first person, and, the second person 50 % off = US $ 3,875
Superior cabin: US $ 8,950 for the first person, and, the second person 50 % off = US $ 4,475

Voyage PLA30 aboard “Plancius”
11-nights voyage to the Polar Circle and Antarctic Peninsula
15 March – 26 March 2011

Cruise fares:
Quadruple cabin: US $ 6,150 for the first person, and, the second person 50 % off = US $ 3,075

Twin cabin: US $ 7,490 for the first person, and, the second person 50 % off = US $ 3,745

Superior cabin: US $ 8,490 for the first person, and, the second person 50 % off = US $ 4,245

These cruise fares rates and discounts apply to every party of two persons booked on the same voyage (first pays full fare and the second person receives 50 % discount).

The Great Wall of China

I haven’t yet been to China and it’s certainly right up there on my list. If for the sole reason that there is a big drawing-pinless gap on my world map. But ever since Philip Bailey sang in his high pitch about ‘walking on the Chineeeeeeeese wall’ sometime in the long distant 80′s (?) I’ve wanted to do that. (Click here for a blast from the past courtesy of YouTube.)

The trip is 12 days from June 1, 2010. It includes Beijing, Xian and old Shanghai, the Terracotta Warriors and a meander one of the famous Great Wall of China. You’ll sail the Yangtze River through the scenic Three Gorges and impressive Three Gorges Dam, visit small villages and modern metropolises (metropoli?), take photos of ancient history and futuristic technology on the state-of-the-art Viking Century Sun. It can accommodate only 300 guests and all rooms have balconies so you slip away, put your feet up and relax as the scenery floats past.

The price includes return flights ex Auckland on Cathay Pacific, 12 days ‘Imperial Jewels of China’, one night in Hong Kong and transfers in Shanghai and Beijing.

See ya later alligator, as Danny would say…

*Sorry folks, this deal was in 2010.

Luxury on the Yangtze - Viking Century Sun

This amazing state of America was owned by Russia until 1867 but didn’t become an official United State until 1959. It is very different from any other state in the US. I mean you’re hardly likely to see bears wandering out of the forest to catch a salmon in a Californian river. And if you do you should call a policeman.

Salmon sashimi anyone?

I did a 7-day cruise onboard Holland America Line and saw some of the most spectacular scenery on earth. We did a slow cruise up the Inside Passage (no I’m not going to labour the gag) which includes the towns of Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and Skagway as well as Glacier Bay National Park. This was a real highlight.

Margerie Glacier

The 104 km fjord meets in a cul-de-sac of glaciers and is also unreachable by road – although you can fly there.

We didn’t get off the ship to join the hikers or kayakers, rather did a half-hour slow donut, taking photos and listening to the cracks that echo like rifle shots across the water just before the blue-tinged ice calves into the sea with a roar. Margerie Glacier is the main one that comes down to the water’s edge – actually it reaches 30m below sea level. It’s also 76 m above sea level – about 25 stories high! Whales also play in this area and we nearly capsized the ship rushing to one side just in time to see one breach, which I’m told is rare in cooler waters. Mind you, after a few days at sea seeing whales all around us we got very blaze. Poor things. Try as they might to show off rounding up fish and gulping up through the middle of the frenzy.

Juneau from my ship balcony

As with all cruises, shore excursions should be booked as soon as possible once you get onboard, or better yet, add them at the time of booking so you don’t miss out on something as remarkable as dog sledding or taking a ski plane to see those bears in the river catching their own sashimi as American Bald Eagles sit beady-eyed hoping for a morsel. Only limited numbers can hop on these planes and sleds.

Onboard there is loads of very good food. Several dining options from posh restaurants with a couple of dress-up nights to pizza bars. On the deck the kiwis took on the Belgians at a game of cut throat shuffleboard and after losing the 1st (warm up) game, we whipped them soundly. Of course a mighty shuffleboard win should be celebrated by a drink with an umbrella in it on the deck, but even though it was summer in Alaska, you can only expect temperatures in the mid to high teens celcius. And d’you know that Juneau is officially the wettest city in the United States? (Say that outloud. It’s my terribly funny d’you know/Juneau gag.)

I bought 4 sets of these cuties

Well it is, so bring your coat, a beanie and your hiking boots so you can spend the day pottering through the towns, patting husky dogs, buying Russian dolls (and there are gazillions of them here), trying on Daniel Boone hats and popping in for a beer at the local before dinner is served onboard.

I’ve done 5 cruises now on everything from paddle steamers in the Mississippi, to luxury in Alaska and a rollicking party ship in the Caribbean. They were all brilliant in their own way, so the biggest tip is knowing what kind of experience you want and who you want to have it with.

Let's get the party started!

This blog is about the rollicking latter.

How about this for a fun (and quite possibly dangerous!) time… Grab your girlfriends (or boyfriends for that matter) and hit the seas on an all-inclusive cruise from Sydney to Auckland in March next year.

You’ll fly over (for a shopping weekend) and spend 2 nights at the stylish Breakfree on George Hotel right near Pitt St and all the shops you could want. Hit the town, buy up large in the summer sales, then cruise back on P&O’s Pacific Sun for 4 fun days at sea where restaurants, bars and dancing under the stars is all you’ll have time for – and no taxi’s home!

The Pacific Sun has just had a recent multi-million dollar makeover. And unlike days gone by when you were assigned a table at a specific hour for dinner, this time it’s up to you. Your Choice Dining is their cry. Don’t mind if I do: how bout the buffet or pizzaria or a la carte Burgundy restaurant, or dress up with an excuse to wear those killer heels you bought in Sydney and try the library/turned fine-dining seafood restaurant.

After you’ve had dinner, all new Las Vegas-style revues and the adults-only Sit Down Comedy Club shows are on, or you could a soak in the whirl-pool spa. Or if you need to work off the never ending supply of food, a vigorous bout of synchronised swimming in the 2 pools or a gym workout with views of the Pacific Ocean will make room for the next 3-course meal.

Watch the world go by from the Oasis

Inside cabins are great if price is the main issue and you intend to be outside on the decks, reading a book, sipping drinks with umbrellas in and generally lounging about. An outside cabin is great for watching the world go by from the comfort of your twin (or quad) room, or splash out entirely and get a balcony suite for some quiet te ta te and a pre-dinner cocktail.

Prices (including flights, hotel, 4-night cruise with all meals and entertainment) start at $999 per person in an Inside Twin Cabin or $1099 for an outside. And if you really want a slumber party, book a quad room from $949.

If you’re in NZ and fancy rounding up your mates for this deal, click here to Harvery World Travel for more info or phone 0800 75 87 87 and book before 31 December for the March 20 cruise. Oh, and don’t forget to tell them Blogger at Large sent you and get some duty free vouchers for your troubles.

Ask them about adding on the Fashion Secrets Tour in Sydney too for $114. You’ll walk through the upmarket enclaves in Paddington, and check out the established designers to the up and coming of Sydney’s best kept fashion secrets.
Includes: Gift bag, VIP discounts, lunch and a glass of wine/soft drink.