We’re Paul and Lee
Welcome to Late to the Sail Away our dedicated page for all things cruising! Our cruising journey began in 2023, when we sailed on Queen Elizabeth, all thanks to a mother’s day chat with Paul’s mum, and we’ve been hooked ever since! Click here to learn a little more about us.
Featured Videos: Carnival Adventure
Our diary and review of Carnival Adventure
Our tour of Carnival Adventure (2026)
Crown Princess 2026 – A Short Cruise, and Big Turnaround
Brisbane: March 2026
After a busy run of cruises, we found ourselves squeezing in a short three-night sailing on Crown Princess, as we wanted to see how she fared after her dry dock last year.
So, flights booked from Melbourne to Brisbane, bags packed, and off we went.
We arrived at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal well before our allocated boarding time—almost three hours early—but everything moved quickly, and we were on board just after 2pm.
Our First Carnival Adventure
Sydney: January 2026
After four cruises in 2025, a bad case of the post‑cruise blues saw us take a chance on Carnival Cruise Line for the first time. We had some room in our calendar, and our three‑night cruise from Sydney was, on paper, a bargain.
We’d seen plenty of negative reviews of Carnival Cruise Line in the past—and of the old P&O Adventure and Encounter—but we wanted to see what it was like for ourselves.
Having never sailed with a mainstream line before, we went in with very low expectations…
Celebrity Edge’s New Ship Smell
Sydney - New Zealand: November 2025
After 12 nights onboard Celebrity Edge, it’s easy to see why this ship gets so much attention — but the real question is whether it’s worth the premium price.
Starting with our Concierge Class Infinite Veranda stateroom, the design is modern, bright, and genuinely spacious, with one of the best bathrooms we’ve had at sea. The trade-off is limited wardrobe space, and the Infinite Veranda — while great for making the room feel bigger — won’t suit everyone, especially since opening it disables the air-conditioning.
Experiencing the Disney Wonder
Melbourne: November 2025
We recently sailed on the Disney Wonder for a 3-night cruise and came away genuinely surprised by just how much this ship offers for adults travelling without kids. With the Wonder home-porting in Australia for a limited season, we couldn’t pass up the chance to finally experience a Disney cruise — and it delivered far more than we expected.
Embarkation was one of the smoothest we’ve had. Check-in was quick, and the moment we stepped into the atrium and were welcomed onboard, the famous Disney service and attention to detail
Crown Princess Charm
Melbourne - Hobart - Sydney: October 2025
We recently sailed on the Crown Princess for our very first cruise with Princess Cruises, a 4-night voyage from Melbourne to Tasmania and Sydney in an Oceanview cabin. As longtime Cunard cruisers, we were curious to see how the Princess experience compared — and overall, it delivered a relaxed, traditional style of cruising with plenty to enjoy.
Embarkation at Station Pier was quick and efficient. Despite arriving early for our allocated window, we were checked in and onboard within around 15 minutes. One of the first things that stood out was the elegant multi-deck Piazza, the social heart of the ship and a hub
Return to Queen Elizabeth, Such a Suite Ride
Sydney - Queensland: January 2025
It was coming up to 12 months since the end of our first-ever cruise, and our second cruise was only a few short weeks away. Shortly before departure, I received an email from Cunard with an “invitation” to bid on a stateroom upgrade. Considering that this would likely be my last cruise (yeah right! – Lee), I thought it would be nice to go out in style and put in a minimum bid for a Princess Grill mini-suite.
I later received an email saying that our upgrade bid was unsuccessful, so I logged in again and increased the bid by $20….
Where It All Began, Queen Elizabeth
Melbourne - Hobart: December 2023
Our cruise journey began in May 2023 when, during a Mother’s Day lunch, my mum mentioned that she was going on her first cruise.
I’d never really considered cruising myself, as I had always assumed it was much cheaper to fly to a holiday hotspot and stay in a hotel for a couple of weeks — but I listened with some curiosity.
She then went into a few of the details: it was a five-night voyage to Hobart, departing from and returning to Melbourne, and the statement that really caught my attention was, “and it’s on the Queen Elizabeth.”