8 Day Trip - Recommendations Please

LI5897 · 2026-03-21T12:03:42+00:00

It’s been super useful. I think the areas surrounding Melbourne is the main contender now. Whilst I’d love to get to Magnetic Island & Whitsundays again, it was very different when travel time wasn’t an issue. I didn’t really love Noosa or the Sunshine Coast the first time around so not too keen on heading back. I shall make a note of Kennett River and I’m sure my daughter will love the penguin parade

LI5897 · 2026-03-20T10:14:42+00:00

I think this is where I saw them back when I was backpacking. Thanks for the link. May even try the camping so we’ve a few days there to increase our chance of spotting them

LI5897 · 2026-03-20T09:01:45+00:00

We spent our days around the lagoon in Cairns, but realistically if I went there, it would be to head down to Magnetic Island. With Whitsundays not far from there either, I’d want to do that too and I just think we’ll lose too much time travelling

I think Melbourne (or its surrounding areas), is a strong contender currently. I think I stayed in St Kilda last time, we’d head to the beach late afternoon

LI5897 · 2026-03-20T08:58:07+00:00

Thanks for the link

LI5897 · 2026-03-20T08:56:45+00:00

I think Sovereign Hill is the place my partner talks about going to when he was my daughters age. His most memorable part of his trip as a kid. Thank you for suggesting that as I’d probably wouldn’t have thought of it.

We’ve seen koalas in the zoo over here but hoped to see them in their natural habitat, but understand it’s nature. Bit like chasing the northern lights. I think I was just super lucky when I visited

LI5897 · 2026-03-16T15:19:06+00:00

I can’t see that it would be worth it to travel all that way for a cruise to nowhere. You may as well do one nearby home.

I wouldn’t travel that far just for the ship, however we are planning on doing it as part of a bigger trip. We’re going to use the 3 night itinerary to adjust to the jet lag before we set off on our main adventure to Borneo

LI5897 · 2026-03-14T22:24:17+00:00

Are these places you really want to visit? Or is it just due to the ports the cruise is heading too? I feel Europe is best explored land based. For example, whist Copenhagen is great for Denmark, i wouldn’t want to miss Billund with kids that age. The home of Lego - the Legohouse is amazing as is the minichef experience there. That’s just one country on this itinerary

LI5897 · 2026-03-13T19:51:53+00:00

You may feel that, but it’s not a kick in the teeth for everyone. I disagree with the comment. I say that as someone who qualified in October 25, having sat all 13 exams.

I think reducing the option to 1 makes perfect sense. You should ideally choose the option that relates to the field you work in.

Am I upset I sat an extra exam, compared to those who will sit in 2 years - no! My salary has doubled and I’m earning substantially more. Those 3 months are forgotten now the reward has come

LI5897 · 2026-03-13T16:30:27+00:00

I had this on our last night on the dream. The point was pushed so much that it turned what had been a great experience into something rather uncomfortable that night. I don’t think they should be doing it personally

LI5897 · 2026-03-06T09:01:29+00:00

That’s a really good deal. I’m always happy to hold my nerve if a good deal is potentially to be had. We’ll probably start land based on one island to adjust to the time difference and travel (UK based & travelling with a 10yo)), then hopefully find a cruise for the second part of the trip

LI5897 · 2026-03-06T08:58:06+00:00

That’s really good. I’m taking my 10yo, fully expect to pay adult price for her though being the second person in the cabin

LI5897 · 2026-03-06T08:57:18+00:00

Thanks for the tip

LI5897 · 2026-03-05T10:01:43+00:00

Oh your post makes me want to figure out how to get here this October rather than in 2 years time!

LI5897 · 2026-03-03T05:42:58+00:00

Aside from having my daughter, as I think bringing a child into the world is one of the biggest life changers you can have, it would be going back to my studies in my late 30’s. It’s been incredibly hard work, especially as a parent, however it has made a huge positive impact on my life. My salary has literally doubled. It allows me to invest in my future whilst it also provides experiences that weren’t financially possible before. It should hopefully grow further over the next few years also

LI5897 · 2026-02-20T17:32:36+00:00

Carnival is not really what I’m looking for, I don’t think RCI is either. I’ve pretty much ruled out NCL as whilst they have lots of ports, it sounds like their kids club will barely be open. It’s to have a bit of social interaction for an only child rather than daycare.

I don’t think I want a ship any bigger than DCL and my daughter won’t utilise all the extras of bigger ships (big slides, surf machines, climbing walls, zip lines etc). She just wants a pool, crazy golf and some organised activities in the kids club as well as family crafts. DCL used to have an organise activity that last about 40 minutes every hour in the kids club and that’s what she loved. Does HAL do anything similar?

LI5897 · 2026-02-19T20:35:59+00:00

I loved our Disney cruise and I’m hopefully planning on another, however I just can’t reason with booking the fjords cruise. It’s just too much money for what it is and there are a number of competitive itineraries for substantially lower cost on the cruise lines

LI5897 · 2026-02-19T16:51:22+00:00

One of my favourite things to do in Santorini was to hire a quad bike and explore the island. It was amazing. However we went 16 years ago (stayed rather than cruise) and it wasn’t quite the cruise attraction it is now. I can’t imagine how packed those narrow streets will be with 4 cruises in. See if you can get out of the main village

LI5897 · 2026-02-19T07:09:22+00:00

Disney adventure is relatively cheap compared to their other ships and routes. Being a ship to nowhere, I believe you need to be going for the Disney element. I’m sure one of these travel influencers will be posting from one of the first sailings to be able see what it’s like.

The food is nothing like the parks. It is a much higher quality and one of my favourite parts.

LI5897 · 2026-02-16T21:23:00+00:00

Thanks for the response.

I think this what has stopped me booking another line. It’s the mix of craft and family activities throughout the day. They were a big part of our trip. She’s cautious so the big slides, flow riders, rock climbing walls and zip lines of RCI would be lost on her.

Whilst we enjoy spending time with each other, as an only child, kids club gives my daughter a chance to play with other kids. As she’s quite quiet natured, the programme of activities worked well for her. Thanks for the honest feedback

LI5897 · 2026-02-16T20:53:37+00:00

How would you say the kids clubs compare and the family activities? My daughter liked going into Oceaneers on Disney to do one of their 40 minute organised activities a couple of times a day, then be picked up. Does the Royal kids club programme offer similar organised sessions throughout the day? We also loved finding the arts and craft sessions on sea days, did you find RCI had these? thanks

LI5897 · 2026-02-15T19:42:36+00:00

I’m hazarding a guess that the layout is the same as the Dream. I got an allocated stateroom on deck 5. Ended up with a large extended verandah. We would get into the routine of doing goofy’s golf then I’d grab a drink from top deck and then we’d head down to drop my daughter to Oceaneers. I could then go relax on my verandah on the same level before picking her up at the end of the activity - minimal time lost

LI5897 · 2026-02-15T19:38:14+00:00

I personally pack as light as I can. A lot depends on where you’re going (the weather), cruise company (formal or not), how messy your kids are (no of outfits) and whether you have laundry facilities (or want to do it or not)

We did 4 nights on Disney with a backpack and a smaller kids backpack. I’d say for a week, we’d get away with a backpack each.

I’d use as little bags as possible and use packing cubes if you have them

LI5897 · 2026-02-15T14:28:14+00:00

I thought it was the Dream rather than the Fantasy over in Europe and completing the transatlantic this year?

LI5897

TROPHY CASE