Prior to this past weekend I was a cruise virgin. I’d never been aboard a cruise ship, and my freshness was evident by the fact that I repeatedly called the ship a boat, even to the Captain. He wasn’t very impressed. “Do you know what the difference is between a ship and a boat?” he asked. I shook my head and moved the conversation on as quickly as possible. Whoops.

The great thing about press-trips is that I mostly have very little expectations. When planning a trip of my own, I plan the heck out of it and get excited over the little details – hoping that it will live up to my every expectation. I did wonder, as I packed my suitcase, just how small the rooms were, if I’d get claustrophobic or sick of the seeing the same people on the ship over the weekend. {For the record the rooms were bigger than I imagined, I didn’t feel closed in at all and I rarely saw the same person more than once – unless of course I intended to}.

One thing I hadn’t even thought about was the movement of the boat. It totally slipped my mind. I imagined that we’d cruise through the water without feeling a thing. Some parts of the trip and others were more ‘moving’. Sunday night was a really rough night. With swells of around 10m it felt like I was sleeping on a trampoline with a herd of children bouncing around me. The bed slipped from underneath me as it bounced off the waves, and returned me back when it found the water again. Hubby had become well acquainted with the bathroom, sea-sickness in full force. It was unusual, we were told by the well-traveled cruise-lovers. I didn’t mind the movement. It was different to anything I’d ever experienced. I didn’t sleep much, more worrying about Hubby than anything else.

Before boarding the ship.

Checking out the ship. Lacey decided it was a great place to try some ballet.

Our cabin. Hubby took the top bunk.

Heading out of the Harbour. A band played, guests lined the decks and it had a real celebratory vibe.

Is there a better place to see how beautiful Sydney is?

Looking up at the Plantation Restaurant.

Deck chairs begging to be relaxed on.

The side decks were always quiet, like little hidden gems, so it was a good place to chill and look out at the ocean.

Looking down at the adults-only area.

Uninterrupted views. Stunning.

The Pacific Jewel.

We played Bingo twice, and didn’t win. It’s so much more fun than I remembered it {from when I played it with my Nanna}. A comedian ran the event and he may have made a few people do the chicken dance. Hilarious.

One of the bars, The Atrium.

The view from The Bridge {where the Captain does his thing}. That pool you see is just for the staff. Lucky buggers.

And the pool for the rest of us, which was located on one of the top decks – surrounded by all the action. There’s restaurants, a spa, a gym, an ice-cream bar {for after the gym!}, loads of deck chairs, heaps of activities, spas, live music, a big screen, kids club and more.

Meeting the Captain. He said, “Look out at the horizon, can you see there’s a little bit of swell?” I think he was trying to gently tell me that it was going to be a bumpy night.

Another deck. I was surprised that, with a fully booked cruise, that I didn’t see more people everywhere. The ship is so big that there’s enough room for everyone and more.

The Pacific Jewel is home to Salt Grill by Luke Mangan. While food from two of the restaurants are included in your package, Salt Grill is an extra $40 for a 3-course meal. Definitely worth the money. We would easily pay $100 each on land for such a meal. You can also get the most delicious Thai meal {8 courses, no less!} at La Luna for just $25. Bargain.

Creme Brulee. Hello!

The view from one of the back decks.

There’s so much to see and do. On the Saturday night there was a circus show that was pretty darn amazing. One of my sister’s friends is the Dance Captain on another ship and she does acts just like this. Some people are far too talented.

Most people left the ship on the Saturday for a day on Moreton Island. I’ll share a little more about that in another post as this one is getting loooooong.

Pulling into Sydney Harbour. It was exciting to see land again. We were home! {This is the view from our room}.

I’ve had a handful of people ask me via email and elsewhere what I thought of the cruise, and whether I’d recommend it. This particular cruise is only a short one, a total of 4 days away. It’s the first that’s ever been done to Moreton Island. We had a 4-berth room with a window {or porthole} and I think it cost around the $450 per person mark. That includes entertainment and food. I thought that was quite good for a family trip – because you could definitely holiday without finding any unexpected costs. You can of course spend more by adding in onshore activities, alcohol, kids club fees, spa treatments… etc, but the financially savvy could make sure that they stayed on budget. I found the drinks and extra on board to be affordable. We put Lacey into Kids Club a few times for short periods and it was free.

I was also lucky enough to have a spa treatment, a enzyme facial, which was beautiful. One of the journalists I traveled with also found it different to be moving around with the movement of the ship as we had our treatments. It wasn’t distracting, just so new for someone who has only done such things on land!

Would I recommend it? Yes. I think it’s a great family-friendly way to holiday – with lots of yummy food and ways to be entertained. Lacey and I had a great time, and so did Hubby until the very last, bumpy night – where he decided that he would probably never cruise again. Seasickness is the pits, apparently!

Have you ever cruised before? Where did you go to? Or are you a cruise-virgin like I was?

My family and I traveled as guests of P&O Cruises Australia. Please see my disclosure page for more details. You can keep up to date by liking their Facebook page.

We didn’t holiday much as kids {the budget didn’t stretch that far} but when we did, just once mind you, it was to the Gold Coast. My parents piled us 4 kids into our Tarago and we drove the 16 hours to the sunny Gold Coast. I was so beyond excited, and wanted to remember EVERYTHING that I kept a journal of all the little details. Including how many stairs from the front door to our hotel room. Oh yes, that’s a kid who needs to get out more. I was always destined to be a blogger, wasn’t I?

Now that we live up north, the Gold Coast is just a short drive away, I’m loving it. We’re close enough to the theme parks, and there’s so much to explore. Last year we spent a weekend doing just that, and here are all the juicy details {minus the stair count!} below:

Where to stay

I have to start with where to stay, because this place was so ‘me’. As soon as we walked in there was eye candy everywhere. SO MUCH TO LOOK AT, and that means SO MUCH TO PHOTOGRAPH! {Yes, shouty capitals are necessary!}. The staff at QT wear the coolest outfits, the girls at the check-in were perfect in powder blue jumpsuits, bright red lipsticks and manicured nails. I was far too excited and had to ask Hubby to, “come and check out the cute check-in girls!” I could rave on about this place forever so I’ll try and bridle my enthusiasm and keep it short{er}.

Things I love about QT: the decor, the staff, the free lemonade service {every afternoon the staff go around to the rooms and make complimentary REAL lemonade}, the vibe, the mini bar {we bought some gummy lollies and the pick-up sticks} and the price. I loved this place so much that I’ve since sent my sister there, and it’s one of the cheaper, luxury places to stay on the coast. I checked for last weekend {I wanted a night away} and on lastminute.com.au it was the most affordable out of all of them. I’m so excited that ProBlogger will be held here this year too, such a treat.

You can check out QT online here.

On the second night of our weekend stay we moved to Peppers on Broadbeach, and if you asked me which I preferred – I actually couldn’t pick. While I loved the vibrancy of QT, I loved the luxury and peacefulness of Peppers just as much. We had an apartment so if you were staying for an extended period of time this would be the ideal choice, plus Broadbeach is just so beautiful and trendy. We were treated like VIPs with cold water on arrival {which we needed after a day in the sun at Dreamworld!}. Peppers is located in the heart of the activity at Broadbeach, with the Oracle Boulevard located just outside it’s doors. You can find Max Brenner, trendy cafes {for the coffee and cake lovers}, little boutique stores and more. The beach is a short walk away too.

You can find out more about Peppers Broadbeach here.

What to do

There are a handful of fun parks to try out on the Gold Coast, on this particular weekend we tried Dreamworld. We also have annual passes to Sea World, Movie World and White Water World. Dreamworld is perfect if you have kids that aren’t interested in the scary rides {well, great for those too! But Lacey isn’t at that age yet}, so we explored the kid section which has The Wiggles, Madagascar, Shrek and Kung Fu Panda. There is also the wildlife section so you can hang out with the animals, feed some kangaroos and make your way back to the front of the of the park for a face paint. For lunch I recommend the Billabong Buffet Restaurant, where you can sit down in the cool air-conditioning and choose between roast meats, vegetables, canapes and salads. They also have a dessert bar which is worth exploring.

Check out the Dreamworld website for more information.

You know life is tough when you’re struggling to decide between a facial and a massage, right? It was quite the dilemma I was faced with when offered a treatment at Spa Q. I sat in my fluffy white robe still pondering when my therapist came out to grab me. The good news? You don’t have to choose. They cater the treatment to you. So we did half and half, the best of both worlds. I have to say it was one of the best hours of my life, I walked out like a zombie, in another universe. So relaxed and preened, and blissed out.

Check out the Spa Q menu here.

A few weeks before our Gold Coast trip, Lacey and her class had been on an excursion to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary so we let her play tour guide for our visit. She showed us around, introduced us to all the animals, escorted us on our little train ride to the park and was a proud little guide. Hubby likes to see me squirm so he insisted we watch the bird show, and because I like to make him laugh – I agreed. I sat through that show in complete anxiety. Those birds are big, and the thought of them landing on my head freaked me out. But they were great. It was really interesting to hear about how they live off the land. A word to the budget-conscious Currumbin Wildlife Park isn’t cheap. We visited complimentary, but when we eyed off the prices we were surprised {$164 for a family} so make sure you pack a picnic and make a day of it.

Visit the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary site here.

What to eat

If you take just one thing from this post, I want it to be this: You simply must endeavor to eat at Bazaar once in your life. Please.

We all love a good buffet, right? Well, this buffet {which they call an Interactive Marketplace, because it’s a step-up from a buffet} is so good that people raved to me about it before I’d even had time to get excited. On my itinerary for the weekend it told me that we were eating there, but I didn’t Google it. I was mid-facial when my beautician asked where we were having dinner. “Oh, I hope you haven’t eaten all day!” she exclaimed. I didn’t know it was a buffet, but when I told Hubby he was thrilled.

This is like no other buffet I’ve met. The food is stunning, fresh and just beautiful quality. You want a wagyu steak? They’ll cook you one. My tip is to grab their tasting plate for the night. Ours had little pork buns, tuna tartare and other divine bits and bobs. You can get dumplings to order, eat from their fresh seafood bar, try one of their many dishes and salads, or do as you please. The salads were crazy. Full of flavour, and so fresh. I may have gone home and replicated some the next week. Just beautiful. And then there are the desserts – little bite-sized pieces of deliciousness. They also have an ice cream station, just like Cold Rock where Lacey had a little masterpiece created.

I took my sister and her boyfriend to Bazaar a week after we visited and they loved it. My sister was actually shocked that I knew about something so ‘hip’ before her. Puhlease.

Breakfast is just as beautiful. We visited last weekend and at only $25 each {plus Lacey is free}, it was a great morning out.

Find out more about Bazaar here.

Back over at Broadbeach we were treated to fine dining experience at a restaurant called Moo Moo. It was located just metres away from Peppers, where we were staying, and was a whole lot of fancy. Lacey was the only child in the restaurant, but we’re lucky that she’s her best-behaved while we’re out {she keeps her naughty for when we’re at home}. Moo Moo’s specialises in meat, so we both order a steak {but different cuts} with a bunch of sides. Lacey ordered her all-time favourite, spaghetti bolognaise and gobbled it up quite promptly. Being a meat-lover, this was a big hit with Hubby. He raved about it. The atmosphere was relaxing. It’s a bit more upmarket, so wear something nice {by nice I mean no thongs!} if you plan to visit.

Visit Moo Moo’s website here.

Just before heading home from the weekend away, we stopped into Oskars at Burleigh Heads for lunch. The views here are to die for, and the food is just as good. Think beautiful fresh food, perfect portions and taste that packs a punch. Just like Moo Moo it’s fine dining, but they cater for kids too. Lacey had a serving of fish and chips while sitting comfortably in a high chair.

I’ve been trying to find an excuse to get back to Oskars again. I said to Hubby over that lunch that I wanted my work Christmas party there, {work = me & him} but we had a hectic December and it didn’t happen. I think I can feel a birthday lunch coming up.

Visit Oskars on Burleigh for more details.

Where did you travel to as a kid? Have you ever been to the Gold Coast?

My family traveled as guests of Tourism Gold Coast {thanks for a fab weekend away}.

I paced up and down the busy street, my anxiety growing with each step. I’d officially lost my hotel. I was alone, in a foreign country with a phone that wouldn’t work. Alone.

My heart raced and I fought back tears. ‘I knew you shouldn’t have come’, I told myself. ‘I’m never EVER travelling alone again’, I vowed. And I kept walking, looking up for my hotel. I reached a corner, and spotted a motorway and felt officially helpless. I turned around walked ten metres back up the street and into a building, and as fate would have it, it was mine.

I wanted to get down on that ground and kiss it, but I must have already been giving an odd vibe as the guard approached me and asked, “Miss, are you OK?”

“Oh, yes!” I smiled. I was more than OK. Ten minutes prior to that I was in a complete state of panic.

I marched straight to level 3 and got myself a fancy, relaxing massage to undo all the knots and tensions I just created from my first solo trip in big foreign city. As you do.

It’s only in the past year or so that I’ve really been bitten by the travel bug. We’ve always loved visiting new places, but my fear of flying has held me back. Before each plane trip I used to agonise over mortality. ‘What if I die?’ I’d continually ask myself.

Now I have better perspective. I still ask that question, ‘What if I die?’ but it’s quickly followed by, ‘But what if I didn’t truly live and fill my days with living?’ Deep, right?

On that trip to that big foreign city on my own {which was Malaysia for those wondering}, I spent the days before leaving excited but anxious about traveling alone. Well, travelling alone with a group of people I’d never met. It was one of my favourite trips. There are some pretty awesome perks:

∇ I could do what I wanted without having to make sure the rest of my ‘party’ was happy.
∇ I had a room to myself and a bed to myself. I could wake when I wanted, sleep on whatever side of the bed I wanted, and dance around the room if I wanted {which I may have done}.
∇ I’m an early riser, where Hubby and Lacey aren’t. So usually I lay around waiting for them to wake so we can finally go and have breakfast. Travelling alone means no waiting.
∇ Meeting new people. It’s kinda easier to engage with new people when you’re not caught up with your own people.
∇ Getting a massage without having to justify it. I am my own boss always. But there’s a big difference between announcing to the family that I’m ducking out for an indulgent treatment and just sauntering in to the salon without telling a soul.
∇ There’s something soul-satisfying about being in my own company, nurturing my soul and filling my days with new experiences. It’s hard to describe but it’s a little bit empowering.
∇ Oh, and mentioning to the air crew that I was a nervous flyer and scoring a whole row to myself on the way there AND back. Winning.{Not sure it will ever work again, but it was good while it worked}.

And the downfalls:

∇ Eating alone. I can do it with ease, but eating with friends is always much more fun.
∇ Reliving the memories isn’t as fun. It doesn’t work when I say to myself, “Oh remember that time we went to Malaysia and we did X and saw Y?” Yeah, doesn’t quite work.
∇ There were plenty of moments when I thought that I’d love to be sharing moments with someone I love. I kinda wanted the best of both worlds.

Have you ever travelled alone? Or eaten alone in a restaurant? Do you prefer to be with others, or do you enjoy your own company?

So far I’ve shared a bit about Singapore; a few photos of our trip and the food {seriously, the food!} and now it’s time for the best bit – the things you need to put on your to-do list.

1. Singapore Zoo

I’ve seen a Zoo or two in my time. When I was nannying one of the kids I looked after loved going to the zoo so we’d go every single fortnight. I knew the animals by name. Seriously. We didn’t get our itinerary until the night before we flew out, so I didn’t research any of the places we were visiting… which actually turned out to be a great thing as I had no expectations at all. The first adventure on our trip was to Singapore Zoo for breakfast with the Orangutans. From first walking into the zoo my mind was blown. It’s absolutely beautiful. Imagine stunning, natural scenery and happy animals. The animals seemed happy. The enclosures weren’t as obvious as some of the zoos that I’ve seen. There were animals socialising with other animals {birds mainly, so no the lions weren’t frolicking with the zebras}.

We made our way to the dining area for breakfast with the Orangutans. It’s a buffet style breakfast with various offerings, and while the food was yummy that wasn’t really what I was interested in. I wanted to meet the little guys that we were dining with. Our table was situated at the very front, in close proximity of where the Orangutans hang out. So we sat down to breakfast and waited, they came from in the distance, navigating through trees and along ropes until they were alongside us. I loved that they made their own way there, right above our heads. They’re as sweet and human-like as I imagined and I kinda wanted to take one home, but resisted. Lacey surprised me with her bravery and held a snake. That look on her face is pure fear, with a smile thrown in.

We spent another few hours walking through the zoo. It’s designed in a figure 8 on flat ground, so for anyone that has ever had to navigate a zoo like Taronga in Sydney where it’s possible {and likely} to get completely lost and exhausted going up and down the hills, this is organised and well-planned. Perfect for my first foray into the Singapore heat.

We saw animals of all kinds, some I’d seen before and many I hadn’t. I was pretty darn excited to see pandas for the first time. They were beautiful {and not as white as I imagined}. Visit the Singapore Zoo website for more details and admission prices.

2. Singapore Flyer

The Singapore Flyer is one of the biggest attractions in Singapore. It sits at a height of 165m and is the tallest and largest in the world. Unfortunately on the day that we visited it was pouring, typical tropical rains that we assumed we’d experience every afternoon but didn’t. The view was still amazing and it was great to see Singapore from a bird’s eye view. It was during this little adventure that I fell more in love in which the way Singapore works. So there are 28 capsules in the Singapore Flyer, and each capsule holds 28 people. Each day the Flyer does 28 complete circles, and one rotation takes 28 minutes. All in the name of Feng Shui. For years the Flyer used to travel in one particular direction, and then was changed to go the opposite way, again because of Feng Shui. I love the way they work. So apart from the way it’s created and run according to Feng Shui, it’s a great attraction. It’s nicely air-conditioned, and a great way to take Singapore in. Check out their site for more details.

3. Universal Studios

Located on Sentosa Island, close to where we were staying, is Resort World Sentosa. It’s where Universal Studios is located, along with a few other attractions. Home to great attractions, huge roller coasters, street entertainment and loads of fun, it’s a place that you want to dedicate a whole day to, particularly if you have big kids that like to go on rides {or perhaps you’re a big kid yourself!}. The day we visited Universal was our busiest day. We were visiting the Oceanarium, the Water Adventure Park, a show, dinner and lunch, and we were supposed to go for a ride on the luge too {unfortunately we were too early and missed out on that one}, so we only had a few hours to make our way through the park. It suited us perfectly because Lacey is still not tall or big enough {or brave enough} to ride the big rides, so we hired a stroller for $10 and did the rounds. The Madagascar and Shrek areas were a HUGE hit for both Lacey and I {they’re my favourite movies}, with rides appropriate for her age and no waiting in lines either. Visit their site for details on attractions and admission prices.

4. Sentosa Marine Life Park – S.E.A. Aquarium

Another World’s Largest, the Oceanarium was a whole heap of amazing and a little bit mesmerising. From the moment you walk through the doors you’re treated to eye-candy. A huge ship greats you, and a story is told as you make your way to the start of the underwater displays. It’s really well organised and an adventure from start to finish. With a huge underwater viewing panel, you’ll want to take up residence in one of the provided beanbags and relax while you watch the world swim by. And see those windows up there underwater? They’re hotel rooms. I’m dreaming of staying there and waking up to a shark swimming by. How cool would that be? At the time of visiting the rooms weren’t quite finished but probably are now.

For more details, visit the Marine Life Park website.

5. Adventure Cove Waterpark

If you’re planning a trip to Singapore make sure you set aside a day {or at least a good part of a day} for this park. Not one to truly enjoy getting in a cossie in public, I wasn’t sure that I’d get involved in the water park. But when we were doing our tour I got excited and decided that we needed to start enjoying it straight away {immediately if not sooner}. A waterway snakes it’s way around the entire park, through caves, waterfalls and past the attractions, so once you’re undressed and ready to swim you grab a huge tube, jump on and let the water take you to where you need to be. Our first stop was the wave pool. There are loads of lifeguards around, in case you’re of the worrying kind {umm, me!}. The water is super clean {yay!} and it’s so much fun.

Lacey and I spent almost an hour splashing about in the big beach above {sometimes it has waves, and sometimes it doesn’t – they’re switched on and off in equal intervels}, while Hubby lined up to enjoy some huge water slides. Boys! We then made our way to a smaller pool where Lacey could splash about as she pleased with water only up to her knees. I loved that it wasn’t crowded {a huge turn off for me with these sort of places} and did I mention clean? It was so nice and clean. You can also snorkel in the fish pool or find a water adventure perfect for you. Once you’re done, there’s no need to walk back to the change rooms you just grab another huge tube, and join the waterway – letting it take you back to where you need to be. For more information visit their site.

6. Gardens By The Bay

The Cloud Forest and the Flower Dome at the Gardens By The Bay were a welcome change of pace for us after a fairly crazy day the day before. It’s a nature spectacular, with two areas of flowers and trees. The Flower Dome replicates the cool-dry climate of the Mediterranean regions, while the Cloud Forest is a world of mist, waterfalls and lush vegetation. Visit their site for more information.

Other places to visit:

• Chinatown – filled with sweet markets stalls and bustling streets, it’s a great place to visit to grab a bargain or a beer {like we did}.
• Chinatown Heritage Center – take a walk back through history and see the Singapore of years gone by. It’s a great look into what life was like back then. There are rooms set up just like they were so many years ago. It’s an interesting way to learn and feeling like you were actually there.
• Songs Of The Sea – Grab a monorail while you’re on Sentosa Island and head for the night performance on the beach. With music, actors, fireworks and water displays – it was a great way to spend the evening.
• Hajii Lane – Hidden away in Singapore is a little street called Hajii Lane. It’s filled with boutique stores and interesting finds. I definitely recommend setting aside some time to do this.
• Vivo City – One of the shopping malls in Singapore, it’s easy to get to from Sentosa Island. Our hotel {Rasa Shangri La} had a free shuttle there every half an hour, and I saw a lot of other hotels did the same. There are great eateries, shops and more.
• Orchard Road – This is one place I wish we had more time to spend. Because we were visiting at Christmas time it was like a street of magic, with beautiful lights, singers, entertainers, Christmas trees, shops and so much more. It had this magical feel about it. For the more upmarket shopper, there were some brilliant designer shops {a little out of my budget unfortunately} and there’s also shops for those who like it a little less pricey.
• Merlion – The Merlion is the mascot of Singapore. Part mermaid and part lion, you can find a huge version near Sentosa Resort World while you’re there and the smaller, original version in the marina area.

Where to stay

During our stay in Singapore we stayed on Sentosa Island at the Rasa Shangri La. It’s a beautiful place with it’s own beach, and beautiful pools. I actually can’t rave about this place enough – I sent my friend Rowe there last week {well, I suggested she stay there} and her family loved it. The food was delicious, the rooms perfectly sized and the service was wonderful. You know a place is good when regulars seem to come back every year. We noticed during our stay that families were very familiar with the staff {you know, first-name-basis-type-mates} and it was just a welcoming place to be. It’s very kid-friendly with a children’s pool play area, kids club and a day spa for weary mamas to retreat to.

I just want to share this photo, however not really relevant to this post on what to do. Oh well, I guess it is; put meeting the people on your to-do list. We spent an hour or so in Resort World Sentosa just passing time. Lacey discovered this little boy who understood no English and played with him for an hour. I loved that they were different ages, couldn’t communicate other than through their body language and gestures but they had the best time together. They made each other laugh, followed each other around and just played. It was kinda wonderful.

So it goes without saying, I guess, that Singapore has my heart. We have close friends moving there later this year, so we’re already planning our trip back. Plus we’re mates with Toon Hee {our guide} so we have to see him perform at some stage, right? Most of all I love that it’s not a terribly long flight away from home, the flights are affordable and if you budget well you can spend little and have a great getaway.

Lacey and I traveled as guests of Singapore Tourism Board. We paid for Shane to come along for the ride.