Itinerary for our upcoming transpacific cruise…Sailing on April 14…Leaving Penguin in three days…

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In three days, we will begin the familiar ritual of packing up our temporary life and moving on, this time for the four-hour drive to Hobart. There is always something positive about these transitions. No matter how many times we do this, there is a moment when I look around and realize that this place, which only recently felt familiar after a ten-year hiatus, has become so comfortable.

Our plan is simple, and that is exactly how we like it. We will drive to Hobart and spend one night at the Mantra Hotel Airport, a practical choice that removes any unnecessary stress from travel day. Once we arrive and are settled into our room with our luggage, Tom will head back out to return the rental car at the airport. I always feel a sense of relief when that task is completed. It marks the official shift from land travel to air travel, from driving ourselves to being carried along by schedules and departure gates.

While he is gone, I will set up our chargers and electrical needs. There is something comforting about a hotel room before the next leg of a journey begins. It is a pause, a small pocket of stillness before movement resumes. When Tom returns, and we unwind a little, we will head down to the dining room for dinner. Nothing elaborate, nothing rushed, just a simple meal that allows us to unwind from the drive and ease into the next phase.

We have learned over time not to unpack for a single night. Instead, we keep everything organized in our carry-on bags with just the essentials within reach. Fresh underwear, a few toiletries, and whatever we might need for the next morning are all easily accessible. It may seem like a small detail, but it makes the morning feel smoother, almost effortless. These little habits, developed over years of travel, create a sense of calm that we have come to depend on.

The following morning, the hotel shuttle will take us and our luggage to the airport. There is something reassuring about not having to think too much on departure day. No navigating unfamiliar roads, no worrying about parking, just stepping onto a shuttle and allowing someone else to handle the logistics.

Our flight to Brisbane departs at 1:10 in the afternoon, which gives us a relaxed start to the day. We will not bother with breakfast at the hotel. Once we arrive in Brisbane, we will take an Uber to the Brisbane Pullman, conveniently located near the airport. I always enjoy that first glimpse of a hotel that is clearly hosting fellow cruisers. There is a shared sense of anticipation in the air, an unspoken understanding among strangers that we are all about to embark on something special.

That evening, we will dine at the Apron Restaurant, which we read is quite popular. for which we made a reservation. I imagine the dining room will be filled with travelers like us, some excited, some tired, all standing on the edge of their next adventure.

Our boarding time on April 14 is scheduled for 11:30 am, with sailing at 4:30 pm, allowing for a leisurely, low-stress start. We will take another Uber to the port, keeping things simple. There is no need to complicate what can be easy.

We will skip breakfast once again and wait until we are on board for a small bite, followed by dinner in the main dining room around 7:00 or 7:30 pm. It’s a routine that feels familiar now, almost comforting in its predictability.

As always, it is not just about getting from one place to another. It is about the quiet moments in between, the small decisions that make travel feel manageable, and the shared understanding that this life we have chosen continues to unfold one simple step at a time.

“The Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas departs on April 14, 2026, for a 25-night Transpacific cruise from Brisbane, Australia, to Seattle, Washington. Highlights include stops in Papeete (Tahiti), Moorea, Hawaii (Honolulu & Kailua Kona), and Victoria, B.C., featuring multiple days at sea for a transpacific crossing.

Royal CaribbeanRoyal Caribbean 
Itinerary Details (April 14 – May 8, 2026):
  • April 14: Brisbane, Australia (Depart 4:30 pm)
  • April 15-20: At Sea
  • April 21: Papeete, Tahiti (7:00 am – 11:59 pm)
  • April 22: Moorea, French Polynesia (7:00 am – 8:00 pm)
  • April 23-27: At Sea
  • April 28-29: Honolulu (Oahu), Hawaii (Our dear friends Kathy and Don, who live in Oahu, will pick us up at the port, and we’ll have lunch and spend the afternoon with them).
  • April 30: Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii (Cruising)
  • May 1: Kailua Kona, Hawaii
  • May 2-6: At Sea
  • May 7: Victoria, British Columbia
  • May 8: Seattle, Washington (Arrive 6:00 am)”

Hopefully, with all of our precautions in place, we will sail through this journey feeling healthy and strong. After the last experience, we are far more mindful, paying attention to the small habits that can make a big difference. Still, there is comfort in knowing that if illness finds its way to us again, we are prepared. With prescription medications and a well-stocked supply of over-the-counter remedies, we feel ready for whatever may come. It is not about expecting the worst, but rather about creating a sense of reassurance as we step forward into yet another adventure.

Tonight, we are heading out for one last dinner in Penguin at Neptune Grand Bistro, a fitting way to close out our time here. There is something bittersweet about a final meal in a place that has felt like home, even for a short while. From this point on, we will rely on what we already have on hand, with enough food tucked away to carry us through until Sunday, when we depart. It feels good to keep things simple now, easing into the transition while savoring these last familiar moments before the journey continues.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, April 9, 2016:

Colorful sunset over the farm in New Zealand. See the post from this date, ten years ago, when we posted our 666 days itinerary, found here.

Sydney in its full glory at night…Attempting to avoid repetition…

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A partial moon, boats in the bay and the Sydney Opera House.

There’s something magical about Sydney. Whether its the Harbor Bridge or the Opera House, both of which highlight the city and all of its charm and splendor, it has it all.

Last night, our ship Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas was almost 90 minutes late, heading out to sea, which with the fabulous views from our veranda, we couldn’t have been more thrilled.

With more photos than we can possibly share today with the slow wifi signal aboard the ship, we’ve decided to post them over the next several days. At times, we find taking photos of ships challenging. But, getting off at ports of call? Easy.

Let’s face it, there are only so many photo ops on a cruise ship. In some ways, they all look alike. That’s not to say that our enjoyment is diminished by familiarity. It’s not. We thoroughly enjoy the familiar aspects of many cruise ships.

Many of our long-time readers have seen it all based on our photos from the past 12 cruises (this is the 13th) over the past 42 months. As a result, we’re carefully pursuing more unique photo ops. Bear with us. It’s a work in progress.

The Sydney Opera House after dark.

It’s not easy to avoid repetition in life itself, let alone in our world travels regardless of how many new experiences we encounter along the way. Of course, our intent is to always provide a fresh approach with accompanying photos.

But that’s not always easy to accomplish, especially when we prefer to spend only the first half of each day posting, as opposed to the entire day. If we spent more time seeking photo ops surely we’d widen our scope.  Then again, having “free” time is as important an element in our lives as travel itself.

As it turned out yesterday was somewhat of a tough day. We both were awake at 3 am, unable to sleep a moment longer. To us, it was 5:00 am our usual wake-up time, due to a two-hour time difference from NZ to AU. As a result, we were exhausted all day.

I suppose as we’ve aged, sleeping only three hours leaves us dragging our feet. During the muster drill when we had to walk down and then back up several flights of stairs, we both struggled to make it. Today, after six or seven hours of restful sleep, we maneuvered the steps with ease. What a difference a day makes!

Last night, as we sat on the veranda, knowing after the ship set sail, we’d head to dinner, we’d yet to receive the balance of our luggage in our cabin. Usually, the bags collected at the port arrive well before dark. Not the case last night.

The skyline near the bay.

After a while, the only item missing was my suitcase with all my clothing except what I was wearing, a blue shirt and jeans. I started imagining that the bag would never come and although we’ve insured all of our belongings in our possession, it would be a challenge not having my shoes and clothing during a two-week cruise.

In an effort to stay positive, we remained on the veranda awaiting the bag before we left for dinner, taking photos of the exquisite views of Sydney. By 7:00 pm, my bag arrived. We were too exhausted to unpack until this morning and now everything is neatly put away for the next almost two weeks.

We never hand over our computers, phones, overnight toiletries in small sizes, or medications, just in case our bags are lost or stolen. In a way, we’re surprised we’ve never lost a single bag, nor do we leave items behind in vacation homes. We are as careful as we can be, reminding each other to check and re-check.

This morning, refreshed and renewed, we headed back to the main dining room for a delightful breakfast sitting at a shared table with six other passengers. The conversations were lively and animated. All were Aussies, which appear to be the bulk of the passengers. We’ve yet to meet an American passenger which doesn’t bother us one way or another. 

As the ship began to maneuver away from the pier, the views of the Opera House changed.

At the moment we’re situated in the Pig & Whistle Bar on the Promenade Deck which is like a “street” running the length of the ship, lined with shops and restaurants. It’s a fun and busy place to hang out. Soon we’ll move to another location with more comfortable seating.

At 2 pm, we’ll head to the Conference Center for a lecture about the upcoming ports of call. The next stop is tomorrow in Brisbane from 7 am to 4 pm during which we’ll get off the ship on our own. 

We’ve had our fill of ship-sponsored tours with the crowded buses and the outrageous costs. We’ve even lost interest in the small group tours. We’ve found over these past many cruises that ultimately we prefer to go at our own pace and do exactly what we’d like to do without time pressure and constraints.

This leaves us plenty of time to socialize and meet plenty of people. It made us laugh when we ran into two unrelated passengers at the cruisecritic.com meeting with whom we sailed on the cruise from Honolulu to Sydney last May. It is a small world.

Luna Park in Sydney, close to the Harbor Bridge.

This morning at breakfast I discovered that the lovely woman sitting next to me, currently living in Australia, is from New Plymouth, NZ, and even knew of Trish and Neil and their beautiful alpaca farm. It truly is a small world. 

At 3:15 pm, Tom will attend the first SHED meeting while I entertain myself elsewhere, which at the moment, I’ve yet to decide. No doubt, we’ll both have a good time, which is easy to do aboard a ship of “overly friendly” people.

May you have a good time today as well.

Photo from one year ago today, April 17, 2015:

In Kauai, spotting these yellow-tipped stamen on this Anthurium was a first for us. For more photos and the year-ago post, please click here.