Cruises, River & Sea

A journey along China’s Yangtze River aboard the Victoria Selina became one of the calmest and most memorable chapters of my travels. This cruise carried me through the legendary Three Gorges, past mist‑covered cliffs, quiet riverside towns, and centuries of history unfolding at a steady, unhurried pace. Life on board settled into a comfortable rhythm, meals, talks, excursions, and long stretches on deck watching the river do what it does best: steal the show.

This page brings together my stories from the voyage, from boarding in Yichang to unexpected moments in the gorges, lively evenings on the ship, and a rain‑soaked farewell to Chongqing.

I sailed aboard the Queen Mary II from Southampton to New York with my mum, and we made our return trip the same way. We were going to my home in Cape Canaveral. Because of mum's health at the time, we booked a round-trip on the Queen Mary II before driving down the East Coast of the USA to stay at my apartment in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Cruising on the Costa Toscana was a brilliant way to explore the Mediterranean, with great food, relaxed sea days, and colourful ports to wander through. On this page I’ve shared my personal cruise experience, what the ship was like, the places I visited, and the highlights that made this Mediterranean journey memorable. If you’re researching a Costa Toscana cruise or planning your own Mediterranean getaway, I hope my photos and stories give you a clear feel for the trip.

A winter sailing aboard the MSC Lirica took me from Alicante across Spain, France, Italy, and the northern coast of Africa, a route filled with dramatic coastlines, lively cities, and a few surprises along the way. This wasn’t just a cruise; it became a mix of new friendships, unexpected challenges, memorable excursions, and the usual quirks of life at sea.

In this section, you’ll find my day‑by‑day account of the journey: the places that impressed me, the ones that didn’t, the people I met, the food, the entertainment, and the small moments that made the trip worth documenting. If you’re considering an MSC Lirica itinerary or simply enjoy following real travel experiences, this is an honest look at what the voyage was really like.

A week aboard the Costa Diadema was meant to be sunshine, smooth sailing, and a few long‑awaited excursions. What I actually got was a mix of cancelled tours, unexpected detours, dehydration, good company, stubborn bottle caps, and the occasional perfect moment that made the whole thing worthwhile. This section follows the trip exactly as it unfolded, the ports I reached (and the ones I didn’t), the food, the people, the frustrations, and the small victories that make travel such a reliably unpredictable adventure.

In 2023 I took a respositioning cruise from Barcelona, Spain to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These stories, bring together every step of my Costa Favolosa journey, a full Atlantic crossing from Barcelona to Rio de Janeiro, complete with the good, the bad, and the occasionally ridiculous. From chaotic airport moments and priority boarding perks to Cádiz wanderings, Tenerife tours, and six long days of open ocean, each entry captures what life on the ship was really like. If you're planning a Costa cruise or simply curious about the day‑to‑day reality of crossing the Atlantic, these stories offer a candid, first‑hand look at the ship, the destinations, and the characters met along the way.

Sailing from Hawaii’s heat to Alaska’s ice, this NCL Spirit adventure had everything: airport chaos, lost luggage, volcanoes, whales, glaciers, a madam named Shirley Wood, and the occasional cocktail to keep things civilised. Each day’s story is here exactly as it happened, the good, the breathtaking, and the bits that made me question my life choices.