Home Sweet Home

No other city can beat this view!

Our final sea day delivered quite the dramatic farewell. Big swells and stronger-than-expected winds meant plenty of exhilarating motion on the ocean! With the open decks wisely closed and evening shows cancelled, it was a perfect excuse for some enforced quiet time in our cabin, catching up on truly "relaxing" activities like reading, watching Netflix, and, of course, napping!

The feisty weather also nudged our arrival back into Sydney by an hour and a half. The silver lining? We were treated to the iconic, stunning Sydney views as we sailed in with sunrise, rather than at some dark, ungodly hour. There’s truly nothing quite like sailing back into this magnificent harbour – I absolutely love it! However, this beautiful entrance also brought with it the bittersweet realisation that our cruise had sadly come to an end. While this particular voyage won't rank among my "top" cruise experiences, I genuinely cherished the time spent with my fantastic cruise buddy, and I managed to tick off many exciting "firsts" from my travel list!

Final Thoughts: Has Princess Cruises Redeemed Itself?

So, after this voyage, has Princess Cruises managed to turn the tide and fully redeem itself? The answer, I'd say, is a nuanced yes and no.

This cruise experience was undeniably an improvement compared to our previous sailing on the Royal Princess. The food, for one, was generally better. While it never quite hit the "excellent" mark, it was consistently good and never plunged into "bad" territory. Being on a longer cruise also changed the dynamic among passengers and how they sought to spend their time. People were more relaxed and friendly, spaces felt less crowded, and there was a wider array of activities on offer. Our waitstaff also appeared noticeably happier, and getting to know the crew emerged as a genuine highlight of the trip. And let's not forget, the drinks offerings remain a strong point for Princess! 

However, some aspects remain unchanged. The ships still felt old, dated and tired. Our cabins were tiny. Whilst there were many offerings in terms of activities, they weren't outstanding.

Would I Sail Princess Again?

The answer remains the same as before! I would consider sailing with Princess Cruises again, but only for the right itinerary and at the right price. It's a balance, and while this trip showed definite progress, there's still room for improvement to truly elevate the overall experience.

Stormy weather

Last chance to enjoy the bars

What a way to come home!

Thank you to my cruise buddy for an amazing trip!

A Royal Princess Adventure

Nothing beats an all girl crew! The backdrop ain't too bad...

Last weekend, I set sail on a three-night sampler cruise aboard the Royal Princess, joined by seven fabulous friends for a quick getaway at sea. This was my first time cruising with Princess Cruises — a line that's long been a favorite among traditional cruisers — and I was genuinely curious to see what all the fuss was about.

The Royal Princess, launched in 2013, is a big girl — 3,500 passengers big. And we wanted big. Mainly because a few members of our party are prone to the kind of motion sickness that could make a teacup ride at a funfair seem like a poor life choice. Theoretically bigger ship = smaller swell. So we boarded with expectations low, excitement high, and scopolamine patches securely stuck on.

Here’s a breakdown of the experience — the highs, the lows, and everything in between.

The Cons

❌ Dated Design and Cramped Spaces

Public spaces were plentiful but often felt crowded, especially around the atrium. The decor leaned toward “classic,” but in a way that felt more tired than timeless. Think browns and beiges in ways that don’t spark joy.

❌ Small, Underwhelming Cabins

Our staterooms were disappointing — compact and showing their age. The balconies were so shallow we had to sit sideways like demure ladies at afternoon tea, and reclining the chairs was more theoretical than functional. 

❌ Hit-or-Miss Dining
Food is always subjective, but for us, the meals skewed average. Several dishes leaned overly sweet (including savoury items, oddly enough), and overall the cuisine lacked finesse. The "premium dessert" experience consisted of a few rotating cakes and syrup-heavy sundaes that felt more cafeteria than cruise indulgence.

❌ Service That Missed the Mark

The crew was polite but lacked warmth. Our dining room servers were slow and at times gave the impression they’d rather be anywhere else. While not unfriendly, the service lacked the sparkle you’d hope for.

❌ Juice bar, Where Forth Art Thou?
Included in our Princess Plus package, the mythical juice bar was more concept than reality. Unless you count orange cordial in a plastic jug — which we do not.

Beds were comfortable but the space was lacking

The Pros

✅ Seamless Embarkation
We were pleasantly surprised by how smooth the boarding process was. Despite a large volume of passengers, the lines moved quickly and efficiently. We were on board, settled in, and sipping mocktails in no time.

✅ Entertainment and Onboard Fun

There was a solid variety of activities and shows — we especially loved the ABBA dance party, which delivered feel-good energy and a reason to bust out some very questionable moves. There was always something happening, just enough going on to keep the FOMO alive without being overwhelming. Was it Cirque du Soleil? No. Was it fun after a cocktail or three? Absolutely.

✅ Impressive Drink Selection
While the fresh juice options were a letdown, the cocktail and mocktail lists were fantastic. We made it a mission to try as many as we could — purely in the name of research, of course. Each bar had its own vibe and menu, which kept things interesting.

✅ Hidden Gem: Eden, NSW

Our one port stop was in Eden, a charming town on the NSW South Coast. We chose a 3-hour guided kayak tour along the Pambula River and were the only passengers from the ship on it (either a secret find or a complete oversight by the masses). It was calm, and scenic. We paddled past oyster farms, watched sea eagles circle overhead, and finished the morning with freshly shucked oysters that were, quite honestly, perfection. 

Superb Sydney Rock Oysters

Gorgeous Pambula River near the mouth

One of many excellent drinks. This one was the Tokyo Tea

The premium desserts range

Final Thoughts

Despite the flaws, we still had a fun and relaxing weekend — mostly thanks to great company, calm seas, and a well-priced package that included Princess Plus perks. That said, Princess Cruises feels like it’s aimed at a more traditional cruising crowd, with a focus on the “classic” cruise experience — familiar menus, predictable programming, and a slightly older demographic.

Would I cruise with Princess again? Possibly — but it wouldn’t be my first pick. For the right itinerary and value, it could still be a great option, especially for a short escape sailing out of my home port or a leisurely itinerary. 

Next up: Crown Princess, sailing from Perth to Sydney in May. I’m boarding with cautiously optimistic energy, a backpack full of snacks, and yes — still on the hunt for a juice bar that actually exists.

Cheers ladies!

Like There Was No Tomorrow

The title says it all. Today was all about maximising our last day on the ship. We took as many photos as we could, attempted multiple trivia quizzes, ate all the short ribs, prawns and lobster tails, had silly fun with old and new friends, as well as farewelling the amazing crew who looked after us for the last 2 weeks. 

Time had never passed by so quickly. We had such an incredible time. The extended duration with so many sea days let us settle into a wonderfully relaxed, comfortable routine with crazy step counts, as well as getting to know the cast members and fellow cruisers. It had been 8 years since our last Disney cruise! And our first without the children...hopefully we'll be back for more. 

Unfortunately the grand entrance into Sydney Harbour was in the wee hours of the morning. The big fanfare is being saved for her reposition from White Bay to Circular Quay.

Tim the weather man from Channel 9's Today Show. We tried to be in as many shots as we could for various segments

We had to sail through a cold front to reach Sydney which meant high winds and rough seas

Our eventual medal haul!

The saddest sight :( means it is home time

Last chance for character photos!

As well as ones of the 2 of us...

Koala?

Home James

The last day of any trip is always emotional. So much to be thankful for but also some sadness that good things have to come to an end. This was our first international trip as a family post pandemic and it felt good to be travelling again. The children were so relaxed and we had some great family conversations!

We woke up to crazy winds which slowed our journey back to the coast somewhat. Luckily we had shops to stop at, and free space in our luggage. The rest of the drive back to LAX was fortunately uneventful. Car drop off was efficient, and we soon found ourselves waiting to board our evening flight back to Sydney. Sydney immigration was also surprisingly efficient, as was luggage pick up! Super grateful that on our multiple leg journey around the world none of our suitcases were lost. Until next time!

The driving scenery

The driving conditions...

Might as well stop and spend some money

It was MASSIVE!

Last chance for Starbucks

Gotta fill up space in the suitcases!

We did manage to refrain buying more for the dog...

A G&T for the road...or rather for the air

And we made it home safely as did ALL our bags

Cockatoo Island

An introduction to camping was in order for my brother, Brian, and his family. So "glamping" we went on Cockatoo Island, the largest island in Sydney Harbour. It had rained the whole morning and as we ate at the Woolwich Pier Hotel prior to catching our ferry, we wondered if we had made the right decision.

As soon as we hopped on to Cockatoo island after our 5 minute ferry ride, the sun and blue skies graced us with their presence! Check in to our 2 bedroom tents (permanent erected tents) was quick and easy. The tents were spacious and toiletries and linen/mattresses/camp cots were provided. The shower block was clean and had hot water as well as power points! The kitchen block was also well equipped with communal fridges and boiling water at the ready. A selection of cafes and restaurants were also available on the island providing a variety of food as well as coffee and alchohol. Camping doesn't get any easier than this...

The sunny weather allowed us to explore the island and learn about its history as a former convict establishment and ship building site. There were activity books for the children available and we let the children guide us around. It was soon nearly sunset and we farewelled Oma as she headed back home. The rest enjoyed their dinner with a harbour before settling down for an early night in our tents. We brought our own breakfast as the cafe didn't open early enough for Brian's girls and it was goodbye to Cockatoo Island!

Having lunch and waiting out the rain at the Woolwich Pier Hotel

Brian and Alana

Jonah and the kids fish and chips

A quick ride on the ferry!

We're here!

One of our two 2-bedroom tents

The middle "living" area

One of these on each side of the living area. Beds all made!

Let's go exploring!

Solitary cells for the convicts

A glimpse into the Island's ship building past

Heritage convict buildings

There was an art exhibition on as well

The view down to the campsite

Our tents

Time to relax...

Oma has had enough of walking

Baby duties and alcohol can mix

Oma's ferry

Enjoying Sydney Harbour