As an older couple we gave the "kids" 12 months notice that we would be away for Christmas. As Australia is so far away we stopped off at Hawaii, Las Vegas and Jacksonville on the way to Fort Lauderdale. I love Christmas and enjoyed the different way Christmas decorations were presented.

The ship was festively decorated including 30 different trees, snow villages, huge nutcrackers as well as a menorah. Christmas Eve introduced me to eggnog (why didn't I ask for their recipe?) and the wonderful choirs of the Filipino, Malaysian and English speaking crew. Christmas day saw carol singing around the huge Christmas tree that went over 3 decks and the ending with realistic looking snow.The only disappointment was no Christmas cake as we know it in Australia but I settled for plum pudding with brandy sauce for dessert.

New Year's Eve was very festive with the ladies given a coronet in silver and blue with Happy New Year and the gents having a matching top hat. After dinner we had a quiet time in the crows nest with a guitarist before joining in the New Years Eve ball in the theatre with champagne at midnight. Read more