I recently returned from a two-week Australian cruise to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef. It was an amazing adventure shared with my wife, sister, and brother-in-law that taught me several things. Chief among them: worth it!
Here are five lessons learned from my second trip down under:
- It’s far out (literally). Not only is Australia well out of the way (nearly 20 hours flying for me), it requires noticeably more sea days (and fewer ports) to cruise when compared to other global itineraries. Be patient with it.
- The “outer” reef is all that matters. Forget the more accessible “inner” reef. Most Great Barrier visitors come all this way… only to stop short of the real star of the show: the “outer” reef. Don’t make the same mistake even locals do (and I almost did). Heading further north and farther out to see is worth it (like underwater mountains, canyons, and trenches covered in corral and insanely vibrant marine life).
- Shore excursions and porting can be tricky. Think long tender lines, limited bookings, and tours that fill incredibly fast. You can’t book last minute tours here on the dock like they do in the Caribbean and beyond.
- Queensland resembles Hawaii. Who knew the South Pacific would look so similar!? Although the area puts off heavy Hawaiian vibes, the wildlife is dramatically different. Which brings me to…
- This continent will eat you. Dangerous animals. No swimming its beautiful beaches. Scorching sun that burns in seconds. This dazzling but harsh environment might be even more deadly than an African safari.
Lastly, with current exchange rates, everything in Australia is around 40% off for Americans right now, making it a great time to visit the otherwise costly continent. If you have the means, make it happen, cap’n!
Courtesy Celebrity Cruises
FORT LAUDERDALE—Celebrity Cruises look different, taste different, sail different, and value things that other cruises lack, like “all included” packages, plus ship layouts and guest rooms that feel more like a spacious resort than cramped passenger ship.
They are not the funnest ships on the high seas—nor the biggest or family-friendliest. But they are the most relaxing, delicious, and healthy ships sailing today. And thanks to incentivized fares that are only slightly higher than its competitors, Celebrity is also a “best buy” in cruising, despite their premium digs.
The recently launched Celebrity Ascent is the embodiment of this approach. Built for nearly a billion dollars, the 1,000 foot, 3200 passenger vessel doubles down on what its three older “Edge Series” siblings do so well. It’s 20% more fuel efficient, which is good for the planet. And it serves a greater variety of global cuisines, fanciful restaurants, and fresh produce than others, which is good for the belly.
On the inaugural christening last month, my daughter and I boarded the Ascent in less than five minutes, while armed with Celebrity’s snazzy app. We then devoured two charcuterie plates, a wholesome salad, and washed it all down with a pretentious Pellegrino from the Ocean View buffet, which seriously gives Vegas buffets a run for their money. Not exactly. But close.
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My latest for Paste Magazine: “It took a minute, but cruising is back. Although most liners halted their sailings over the last couple of years, all ships are now full steam ahead.
“The same is true of Celebrity Apex, the best-rated, recently launched ship from the ocean’s top-rated cruise line, according to passenger reviews. After being christened just before the pandemic, Apex basically sat unused for the better part of two years, before settling into its current Caribbean itinerary last fall.
“The week before Christmas, my family boarded Apex in fantastic Fort Lauderdale for a week of all-you-can-eat fun, island hopping (e.g. Key West, Cozumel, Grand Cayman), and sunny relaxation. Here’s what we liked most about the ship.”
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Tucson courtesy Shutterstock
Excluding my non-bylined or ghostwritten commercial work, here’s what I published recently:
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