On Location
Beijing … where the old world meets the new world
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Stepping off the plane in Beijing, China I am greeted with a sense of conflict. The old world meets new.
Luxperience recap
Friday, 14 September 2012
In its first year on the MICE scene, Luxperience - the sold out three day exhibition - starting with a traditional ribbon cutting and ended with new found friendships and new business contacts.
Alaska with HAL’s Zaandam Day 8: Inside Passage
Wednesday, 22 August 2012Last night the comedian Julie Barr performed in the Mondriaan Lounge and we were reliably informed that she was very funny and I’m sorry we missed the show.
Crystal Serenity Day 1: A Crystal clear embarkation
Tuesday, 31 July 2012 
Embarking a ship is always a tedious experience, so when my cruising buddy, Elysia and I were ushered through check-in and sitting in the Crystal Dining Room within thirty minutes of getting off the bus, we knew we were in for something special.
Alaska with HAL’s Zaandam Day 7: Ketchikan
Thursday, 26 July 2012We didn’t have a ship’s shorex organised but a cruise journo friend had recommended zip-lining in Bear Creek, near Ketchikan, and as we hadn’t seen any bears in the wild thought this might be our last opportunity to do so.
Carnival Breeze Day 12: A final Breezy day in Palma
Tuesday, 24 July 2012 
Our final day had come around quickly and there was still so much I wanted to do and see aboard Carnival Breeze.
Carnival Breeze Day 11: Laughs a plenty
Monday, 23 July 2012 
Dragging myself out of my comfortable bed, I am determined not to miss the last comedy brunch of this voyage.
Carnival Breeze Day 10: Maybe next time Messina
Friday, 20 July 2012 
It’s not often that I decide not to get off the ship at a port, especially when I haven’t visited the city before, but cruising the Mediterranean can really be exhausting so I decided a quiet day relaxing onboard was what this cruiser needed.
Carnival Breeze Day 9: Monopoly, Motown and a Mexican Fiesta
Thursday, 19 July 2012 
A fun day at sea was exactly what this cruiser needed after another late night carving up the dance floor in the Liquid Nightclub!
Alaska with HAL’s Zaandam Day 6: Juneau
Wednesday, 18 July 2012We docked in Juneau, the capital of Alaska, at 7.43am and it was interesting to see modern office blocks alongside little wooden quayside shops and cafes.
Carnival Breeze Day 8: Vaporettos and vino in Venice
Wednesday, 18 July 2012 
The early morning sailing into Venice harbour was reminiscent of sailing into Sydney for this cruiser. The hush of the sinking city that lay in slumber was palpable.
Carnival Breeze Day 7: Dubrovnik dreaming
Tuesday, 17 July 2012 
The heat was palpable on arrival into Dubrovnik and I was glad that I had booked the ‘Best of Dubrovnik’ shore excursion rather than relying on just wandering around on my own.
Carnival Breeze Day 6: Hairy chests and evening gowns
Monday, 16 July 2012 
When one goes to bed at 8am, it is normal to not wake before midday is it not? Just in time for lunch was the perfect time for me to wake on our first fun day at sea in the Med.
Carnival Breeze Day 5: Cruising the Amalfi Coast
Friday, 13 July 2012 
Waking to picture perfect weather for a private tour of the Amalfi Coast makes this cruiser bounce out of bed regardless of the lack of sleep from a very late night!
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Thursday, 12 July 2012
Welcome to a new age where the first international flight from Auckland landed at the Sunshine Coast Airport on the 1st of July 2012.
Carnival Breeze Day 4: Cruising to visit the Pope
Thursday, 12 July 2012 
Having spent some time in Rome just before this cruise, I was keen to return to the city that had truly captured my heart.
Alaska with HAL’s Zaandam Day 5: Haines
Wednesday, 11 July 2012Today, June 20, was the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the ship docked in Haines just before 6am.
Alaska with HAL’s Zaandam: Day 2
Tuesday, 10 July 2012The day dawned bright and extremely early – there’s about 22 hours of daylight here on the summer solstice and we’re only a couple of days away from that.
Alaska with HAL’s Zaandam: Day 3, Gulf of Alaska
Tuesday, 10 July 2012Today passed by in a pleasant relaxed haze after a tour of the Rotterdam Dining Room’s galley in the morning (I love seeing those acres of gleaming stainless-steel and industrial-sized pots and pans).
Alaska with HAL’s Zaandam Day 4: Glacier Bay
Tuesday, 10 July 2012While the Glacier Bay Park rangers boarded the ship (left), my day started with a 45-minute yoga session at the well-equipped gym and fitness centre on the Lido deck.
Carnival Breeze Day 3: Pisa and Pasta
Thursday, 5 July 2012 
Something that never fails to amaze me when cruising in Europe is how you can go to sleep one night in one country and be in another country when you wake.
Carnival Breeze Day 2: Adios Barcelona, Bonjour Marseille
Wednesday, 4 July 2012 
A mere several hours of sleep (albeit in a ridiculously comfortable bed) does not make one look forward to a self tour of a new city, but Marseille was calling and I was determined to put those French skills to the test for my last day in France for this trip.
Alaska with HAL’s Zaandam: Day 1
Tuesday, 3 July 2012It takes three flights (Sydney to LA, LA to Seattle, Seattle to Anchorage) to get to Alaska, America’s 49th State – and it’s probably a miracle that only one bag was (temporarily) lost in transit.
Carnival Breeze Day 1: Breezy Barcelona
Tuesday, 3 July 2012 
Anticipation mounted as I met my cruising buddy, Travel Manager Michelle, at Barcelona Airport to embark on a voyage aboard Carnival's newest ship, Carnival Breeze.
