Cruise in Review - 2022 my most travelled year yet!
By Cruising With Honey - 15:33
2022 – The Cruising Recap and my most travelled year yet!
Before kicking off on my recap for 2022, I wanted to extend the biggest, squishiest hugs to each and every one of you for all your love, support, well wishes, kind words and loyalty. I know I keep repeating myself, but Cruising With Honey would not exist without all of you. Our community means the world to me, and I am so honoured that you follow along as I Cruise Through This Thing Called Life!
I don’t want to re-live the heartache all of us experienced with the pandemic and the effect it had on the cruise industry, but I can honestly tell you all I threw everything I had to help keep a positive message in the media, add my voice to the many who fought to bring cruising back to Australia, keep you all informed and lend my support to all the cruiselines and associated businesses. I’ll never forget the moment the cruise ban in Australia was lifted – it will live with me for ever.
As this is a recap, I’d like to write a little paragraph on each of the 11 cruises I took this year. 2022 has been my most travelled/cruised year of my life and I am grateful to the cruiselines who invited me to experience their ships.
I know I’ve inspired and motivated so many of you to try a new brand or destination. This gives me much joy. And to those of you who haven’t had the chance to cruise this year, it gives me even more joy that you can live vicariously through me and ‘live’ through my words and photos.
January
Destination
Fiji
The world was still in the grips of the pandemic, but slowly opening up. Fiji was welcoming visitors and I wanted to show Australian cruisers that there were options to explore the sea that wasn’t too far from our home. Back then, there were still rigorous testing requirements and quite a few hoops to jump through.
But, I achieved my goal and had a wonderful cruise aboard Captain Cook Cruises. This was my first ‘expedition style’ cruise and was certainly an eye opener. Not everything went to plan, but what a way to kick off the year and show people that cruising was still possible for Australians, despite the ban in Australia.
Cruiseline
Ship
Reef Endeavour
Best memory
Being embraced by some of the most loving people on Earth. Fijians and their Bula spirit is magical. Exploring the limestone cave of Sawa-i-lau and hiking up a mountain.
Not so best memory
Being stuck in a cyclone and having my 7-night cruise cut to 4. I’ll never forget the sound of those howling winds. Shudder
Word of the cruise
Bula!
Grateful to…
Allison-Howarth West, the whole crew aboard Captain Cook Cruises and Fiji Tourism.
Numbers at a glance
2 flights (including my first business class flight)
1 cruise
4 nights at sea
5 port/island stops
May
Destination
Europe
Cruiseline
Royal Caribbean
Ships
Wonder of the Seas and Odyssey of the Seas
Best memory
Wonder of the Seas
Flying into Europe for the very first time. Boarding the Wonder of the Seas – the largest cruise in the world and being astounded at the sheer size and what could only be described as a city on water.
Odyssey of the Seas
Ticking so many bucket list places I had only seen in travel brochures. Rome, Naples, Sorrento, Positano, Pompeii, Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Crete and Turkey (Ephesus). The history and the landmarks that I have yearned to visit since I was a child.
Not so best memory
The disappointment of the customer service/guest services on both Royal Caribbean ships.
Word of the cruise
Europe!
Grateful to…
Royal Caribbean, Alex from BCW Agency and cruising companion Christ Stead. Friend for life!
Numbers at a glance
5 flights
2 cruises
14 nights at sea
8 port stops
2 cruises
14 nights at sea
8 port stops
May-June
Destination
Australia, Brisbane
31 May and here I was – along with 222 Cruising With Honey family members - about to board the FIRST cruise out of Australia since the cruising ban was initiated in March 2020.
The excitement was palpable and to share it with so many of my CWH family was the icing on the cake. It was a super busy cruise and I did over a dozen media interviews – many live on TV!
Cruiseline
Ship
Pacific Explorer
Best memory
Boarding the first cruise out of Australia in more than 2 years
Not so best memory
Being secretly photographed at the cruise terminal and having my photo taken without my knowledge and posted publicly on social media with defamatory, derogatory comments.
Word of the cruise
We’re back!
Grateful to…
Cruising with Honey family who joined me, P&O Cruises Australia, Today Show.
Numbers at a glance
1 cruise
4 nights at sea
1 port stop
4 nights at sea
1 port stop
July
Destination
Alaska
Cruiseline
Ship
Koningsdaam
Best memory
Having Mr CWH all to myself for a week. It was the first time we had been away together overseas since our honeymoon in 2002. Surprising him with a fabulous cabin.
Not so best memory
Air Canada – the worst flight I’ve ever taken and terrible service.
Word of the cruise
Glacier
Grateful to…
Nikki Glading, Brendan Wall, Holland America
Numbers at a glance
Numbers at a glance
2 flights (including my first time in America)
1 cruise
7 nights at sea
3 port stops
1 cruise
7 nights at sea
3 port stops
Cruiseline
Ship
Egil
Best memory
First ever River cruise and seeing parts of Europe that were mind-blowingly beautiful. Wachau Valley, Bavaria, Vienna…
Not so best memory
The langos (street food pizza) in Hungary.
Word of the cruise
Prost!
Grateful to…
Viking, Michelle Black, Nicole Henry, Jane Moggridge, the whole crew and my bestie Nurse Jo Jo who was the perfect cruising buddy. Shout out to the Kempinski Hotel for hosting me.
Viking, Michelle Black, Nicole Henry, Jane Moggridge, the whole crew and my bestie Nurse Jo Jo who was the perfect cruising buddy. Shout out to the Kempinski Hotel for hosting me.
Numbers at a glance
4 flights
1 cruise
7 nights at sea/on the river
5 ports stops
1 cruise
7 nights at sea/on the river
5 ports stops
October
Destination
Moreton Island, Queensland
Cruiseline
Ship
Splendor
Best memory
First Carnival Ship back in Australia in more than 1000 days! So happy to be back on the fun ships. Going up in a helicopter for the first time.
Not so best memory
The tender ride back to the ship from Moreton Island. Not the cruiseline’s fault – it’s just one of those things. It’s a rough stretch of water.
Word of the cruiseFUN
Grateful to…
Kara Glamour, Amy Ward and the whole Carnival Cruise Line Australia marketing team. And shout to Carnival President Christine Duffy
Numbers at a glance
1 cruise
4 nights at sea
1 port stop
4 nights at sea
1 port stop
October
Destination
Eden, South Coast NSW
Cruiseline
Ship
Coral Princess
Best memory
Sharing this cruise with 88 CWH family and MY PARENTS! It was super exciting to be back aboard a Princess ship – my first in 13 years! Blown away by Medallion Class. Also, our fabulous Masquerade Cocktail Party. It was also fabulous to share this cruise with lifelong friends who I've converted to cruise addicts!
Not so best memory
My mum’s dog died while we were cruising.
Word of the cruise
Margarita
Grateful to…
Meg Koffel, Princess Cruises and the whole crew who took care of out CWH passengers.
Numbers at a glance
1 cruise
4 nights at sea
1 port stop
4 nights at sea
1 port stop
October
Destination
Mexico
Cruiseline
Ship
Prima
Best memory
EVERYTHING! Being aboard a nearly-new ship, the food, the destination, the entertainment, visiting Chichen Itza, the spa. And trying NCL for the first time.
Lining up for EVERYTHING during transit. The super long layovers.
Word of the cruise
Prima
Grateful to…
Norwegian Cruise Line, Harry Sommer, Ben Angell, Anna Bathgate, the team at Anne Wild and Associates
Numbers at glance
4 flights
1 cruise
4 nights at sea
1 port stop
1 cruise
4 nights at sea
1 port stop
November
Destination
Doha, Qatar
Cruiseline
Ship
World Europa
Best memory
EVERY SINGLE MOMENT! To be part of the official naming ceremony, being on a brand-new ship, the sustainability program, the crew, the SHIP – the most incredible I have been on, Doha (top 5 cities I’ve visited this year), the food, the drinks, the cabin... EVERYTHING. The first time on MSC and can’t wait to try this cruiseline again.
Not so best memory
Having to go home
Word of the cruise
Naming Ceremony
Grateful to…
MSC, Lynne Clarke, Leisa Chell and the entire MSC Australia team, Qatar Tourism, Qatar Airways. Grateful to my travelling companions and now life-long friends.
Numbers at glance
2 flights
1 cruise
7 nights at sea (in dock)
December
Destination
French Polynesia/ South Pacific
Cruiseline
Norwegian Cruise Line
Ship
Norwegian Spirit
Best memory
Swimming with stingrays and sharks in Mo’orea. Being aboard a ship that has just undergone a $100 million makeover. The stunning islands and most beautiful water I’ve ever seen. Flying into Tahiti.
Not so best memory
Going home and not having time in Fiji. Croatia losing semi-finals in the World Cup.
Word of the cruise
Blue
Grateful to…
Norwegian Cruise Line, Harry Sommer, Ben Angell, Anna Bathgate, the team at Anne Wild and Associates and the entire crew on board.
Numbers at glance
3 flights (including one premium economy)
1 cruise
8 nights at sea
5 Port stops
Gosh, actually looking at how much I have cruised and flown and seen in one year is flabbergasting! I never thought I’d do this much travel in a LIFETIME, let alone a year.
1 cruise
8 nights at sea
5 Port stops
Gosh, actually looking at how much I have cruised and flown and seen in one year is flabbergasting! I never thought I’d do this much travel in a LIFETIME, let alone a year.
Bring on 2023 – new adventures still await as I'm Cruising Through This Thing Called Life!
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