Voyaging into Adventure: Week One Aboard the Voyager
Embarkation day is always our favorite—it’s like Christmas morning but with more champagne and fewer ugly sweaters. We boarded with the first wave of passengers, bubbly in hand, and immediately set off to explore our new floating home. Every cruise ship has its own quirks, and we were on a mission to find all the best nooks and crannies.
After a quick, casual lunch on the pool deck, we eagerly awaited the announcement that our stateroom was ready. When they finally called our cabin number, we practically sprinted to our Voyager Suite. And let us tell you—it did notdisappoint.
Awaiting us inside? Chilled champagne and chocolates—clearly, the ship knew us well already. Our suite was everything we had hoped for, laid out in four fabulous sections:
A welcoming entryway complete with a desk and powder bath
A sitting area featuring a comfy couch, club chair, coffee table, and a small dining table
A built-in cabinet area housing a flat-screen TV, bookshelves, and a bar setup (essentials!)
A separate bedroom with an en-suite bathroom
And let’s take a moment to appreciate the walk-in closet—so spacious that both Mike and I can get dressed in there at the same time (cruise veterans will know how rare and wonderful this is!). Two bathrooms and a large verandah with deck chairs and a cocktail table? Absolute game-changer.
Then, we met Anbu, our butler and soon-to-be best friend, who hails from India. With his help, we got settled in, and—miraculously—all six of our suitcases found snug hiding spots. We are feeling spoiled, well cared for, and incredibly grateful for this adventure.
First Port: Bay of Islands, New Zealand
Our first stop was the beautiful Bay of Islands, where we hopped on a tender and kayaked through serene waters. We paddled past native birds, took in the peaceful surroundings, and made it to a waterfall—without capsizing OR bickering, which we consider a huge success. Not a lot of steps on our fitness trackers, but we’re counting it as an upper-body workout.
Dodging Storms and a Speedy Sydney Stop
Between Bay of Islands and Sydney, we had a few sea days—our absolute favorite. Unfortunately, a brewing storm meant our two-day stop in Sydney got cut to one, so we had to make the most of it. We scrapped our zoo plans (because rain + zoo animals = soggy sadness) and opted for a bucket-list visit to the Sydney Opera House. We snapped some rainy-day pics, treated ourselves to gelato, and popped into the Museum of Contemporary Art, which featured a standout exhibit by 12 female Australian artists. Not bad for just a few hours in the city!
Weather Woes & Tasman Sea Cruising
The storm continued to throw curveballs at our itinerary. Both Newcastle and Mooloolaba had to be canceled due to unsafe sea conditions, so instead, we embraced ship life in the Tasman Sea—which, honestly, was no hardship. We filled our days with naps, reading, and making new friends (both crew and fellow passengers).
Week one aboard the Voyager has been a mix of adventure, unexpected twists, and pure relaxation. And we’re just getting started. More stories to come!
