There is nothing more exciting than going on a cruise. I remember the first time I set sail with my best girlfriends for our 40th birthday celebration. We had the time of our lives, and I will cherish that holiday forever.
It was only a three day cruise to the Mexican Rivera, but it made me realize how great cruising is and how much I couldn’t wait to board a ship again.
My husband and I travel quite a bit, usually by plane or car, but this time we wanted to do something different for a change. He had never been on a cruise before and was well aware of what a great time I had when I went to Mexico. Neither one of us had ever been to Hawaii, so we decided to take a cruise as there are quite a few ships that will take you to Hawaii and beyond. We chose the Princess line because of its great reputation. We ordered our tickets online and couldn’t believe the deal that we got. We chose a 29 night cruise and expected to pay much more than we actually did, especially with 14 ports of call that would include Fiji, Honolulu and French Polynesia.
One of the best things about the Sea Princess is that it plays host to fewer guests. We felt like we had the whole luxury liner to ourselves. We when boarded in Sydney we really didn’t know what to expect, sure I had been on a cruise before, but never on a boat this size. We booked a mini-suite with a balcony that came with a queen sized bed, and a walk-in closet. After we unpacked we took a tour of the ship. We were really impressed with the Monte Carlo Club Casino, and my husband could not wait to try out the computerized golf centre. I was really looking forward to a relaxing massage at the Lotus spa.
When we left Sydney I was a bit worried because I forgot my sea sickness pills. I could have bought them in the shop onboard, but I was so enthralled with the ship, that I completely forget. Needless to say I didn’t need them. Even when we got out to sea I felt terrific.
We spend our first couple of days relaxing by the pool. We spent quite a bit of time quenching our thirst in the Wheelhouse Bar, and it seemed like we were always eating. My favorite restaurant was the Riviera Grill, while my husband couldn’t get enough of the Steakhouse.
The entertainment on the Sea Princess was second to none. We loved watching movies under the stars, and really enjoyed Karaoke. It seemed like there was always a party, and the friendly cruise director always made sure that everyone had a great time.