This was an Australia Day cruise. I booked it six weeks prior to departure as it was a great special. We booked two outside cabins one for my wife and her three friends and the other for myself and our three young children aged 10, 8 and 5. My mission to let mum have a good time and the boys not annoying her. Although I believe during the cruise she started to have withdrawal syndrome.
Embarkation was a breeze. We arrived at the terminal and had all formalities completed within half an hour and where on the ship within the hour. Even though we were in the early boarding group our cabins (outside) on deck 9 where already ready and we were able to drop of our hand luggage. As it was not yet lunch time the boys and myself got in our swimmers and headed to the pool. We were one of the first in the pool and we had a great time. My wife and her friends disappeared and we did not see them until late in the evening.
After swim we changed, had lunch at the buffet which was fine and varied and I then registered the boys into kids club. Registration was fairly straight forward and they now use sea passes for checking in and out.