Return from halfway around the world

Posing for a snapshot in front of a Paris landmark.

I’ve covered a lot of kilometres (or nautical miles, in some cases) over the past month visiting some great destinations in Europe. The highlight of the epic journey was an 11-night voyage on the huge Independence of the Seas, until recently the world’s biggest cruise ship boasting a full complement of almost 4000 passengers.

Royal Caribbean International treated us to a return cruise from/to Southampton visiting many Spanish and Portugese ports along the way. Our stops included Vigo, Lisbon, Las Palmas, Tenerife and Funchal and La Coruna.

I have always been very impressed with the quality of service delivered by Royal Caribbean aboard its ships and this cruise did not disappoint. Along with great service, good quality food and reasonably priced drinks, the cruise was a memorable event.

Not surprisingly, most of the passengers were British. I’m pleased to say, overall the term of endearment ‘whinging poms’ we often lavish upon Britons here in Australia did not apply. Sure there were a few obnoxious passengers onboard, but their nationality was not identified, they could have been Aussies for all I know!

All jokes aside, it was a very pleasant cruise and we will definitely return for more before we get much older. Thank you Royal Caribbean for providing us with a great time.

Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas moored at Funchal, Madeira.

Praise should also go to Etihad Airways for getting us everywhere on time and safely, although that last leg from Abu Dhabi to Sydney in Economy Class was a task I’m not keen to repeat in a hurry. 

However, if you live in Australia and want to visit Europe, there is no choice but to endure about 25 hours upwards of laborious travel.

And now I’m back at my desk – almost ready to record another podcast in the Travel Radio Australia series. Keep an ear and an eye out for the next show! 

Luckily on the outward route from Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow we paid a small fee to upgrade to vacant Business Class seats which also included entry to the Etihad lounge in AD…well worth the money! Unfortunately the finances did not permit another upgrade on the return leg, even though they phoned several times to offer the opportunity to upgrade.

-Ren Zwiers