Cruise Reflections – The Highs, the Lows & A Little Honesty
I need to start this one with a little honesty—and maybe admit a weakness of mine.
I’m not the person running around the ship taking tons of photos to share.
I tend to snap pictures of things that really stand out to me, not every detail.
Something I may need to work on a bit. 😄
I need to start this one with a little honesty—and maybe admit a weakness of mine.
I’m not the person running around the ship taking tons of photos to share. I tend to snap pictures of things that really stand out to me, not every detail. Something I may need to work on a bit. 😄
A Bit of a Rough Start
To be completely honest, this was a bit of a rough cruise for us—and I don’t think we were alone in that.
The weather didn’t cooperate much at all. It was either stormy or just kind of dreary most of the time, which meant not a lot of deck time. We found ourselves spending most of our time indoors.
On top of that, one of the ports we were really looking forward to—Tauranga—was canceled due to a massive landslide.
As disappointing as that was, our hearts truly go out to the families affected by it. Missing a port is one thing—losing loved ones is something entirely different.
When Travel Gets Real
Then came the part no one plans for.
My husband got sick about 4–5 days into the 13-night cruise. About five days later, I got hit with it too. We both ended up visiting the ship’s medical center.
I have to say—that was my first time ever needing medical on a cruise, and it was actually really impressive.
We were both treated for acute bronchitis, given antibiotics and cough suppressants, and sent back to rest. We later found out there were quite a few others experiencing similar symptoms, so something was definitely going around.
(For the record—we both tested negative for COVID and the flu.)
So yes… between the weather, the missed port, and getting sick, it would be fair to say this was a rough cruise in some ways.
But also—none of it was really anyone’s fault. Just one of those situations where circumstances stack up.
Finding the Bright Spots
Even with all of that, we still made the best of it—and there were some really great highlights worth sharing.
This was our first sailing on Discovery Princess, so there was definitely a bit of a learning curve as we figured out our rhythm on board.
The Room
We stayed in a mini suite, and it was lovely. Plenty of space and, more importantly, plenty of storage.
One of my favorite features was the closet and shelving area just outside the bathroom. You could step out, grab your outfit, and get ready without feeling cramped. It made staying organized so much easier.
Cultural Experiences Onboard
One thing I really appreciated was how much the cruise leaned into the culture of the destinations we were visiting.
Each day, members of the Māori community offered presentations—sometimes educational, sometimes interactive with games or dances. It added a deeper layer to the experience and made the trip feel more connected to where we were traveling.
Learning a greeting
360 Dining Experience
We also tried a specialty dining experience called 360, and it was incredibly unique.
You’re led to a hidden venue by musicians (ours were violinists), and from there the experience unfolds.
Through storytelling, projection, and beautifully prepared food and drinks, you’re taken on a journey through Italy.
It was immersive, interactive, and honestly just a lot of fun.
A Little Taste of Home
And one unexpected highlight—we were able to keep up with the Seattle Seahawks playoff run.
There’s something pretty special about sitting on a cruise ship, drink in hand, watching your home team make it all the way to the Super Bowl.
GO HAWKS! 💙💚
Final Thoughts
Even though parts of this cruise were challenging, the experience as a whole was still meaningful.
Travel isn’t always perfect—but sometimes those imperfect moments are what make the stories more real, more memorable, and more worth sharing.