P&O Cruises A Fantastic Family Holiday

I don't know about you, but when I go on a holiday, there are certain things I require to actually make it feel like a holiday.  I'm not talking about those self catering holidays we all know and love, where for a mother it's same shizz different location. They can be great, but sometimes you want a complete break from reality.  To me a holiday where I have to cater and look after my kids' needs 24/7 is not the kind of holiday I was looking for this time. If we are talking about getting away from the madness that can constitute domestic life, which I think we are, I am talking about a holiday where I don't have to put together three meals a day.

Luke Mangan's Salt Grill

Where the kids are constantly entertained

Kids Line Dancing Party

Kids Club

where there are fabulously relaxing options for me

The Aqua Spa

 and there are also places were I can learn

A Cooking Demonstration by Head Chef Patrice Mick and Maitre D'Hotel Darren Cholerton

and see new things

Ship Kitchen Tour

Where there is a new show to see every night if you feel like turning up

where I could get physical at a dance class if I wanted to.

Dance Class

Or pump it out at the gym

And just do nothing if I felt like it

And so it was that we chose to try a Cruise for the first time. We decided to go with P&O.  I wanted to be cooked for, pampered and waited on hand and foot.  I wanted to be able to check my kids at the door and just take some time for myself.  Selfish????  Probably, but every mother knows what I am talking about.  Raising kiddos, working part time and keeping a household running, can be a tough and soul destroying gig at times.......So these days it is not a real holiday for me unless all of the above luxuries apply.  But what to do, I have champagne tastes on a beer income.  So we chose to try a cruise.  It seemed like value for money and it was. We booked it in a sale last September, which made it even more cost effective. I think they are having a Summer Sale right now.  We chose to travel outside of school holidays to bring the price down even more.  There were still plenty of kids on board for mine to hook up with.

We decided to travel south to New Zealand so as to avoid cyclones that often develop to the north of Australia at this time of year.  Unfortunately we were snookered and the remnants of cyclone Oswald, decided to be very unusual and travel south to NZ as well.

We chose a 10 day cruise, but the weather decided to muck us around big time.  P&O puts safety above convenience, which when we finally got out to sea, I was most grateful for.  Stay tuned for what happened next.  I have lots more to tell you and have decided to do it in instalments.

 I should also tell you that we paid our own passage on the cruise, but once I knew we were travelling, I decided to track down the media company who handles P&O and asked if they were interested in doing a deal with me to write about the cruise.  They said 'yes' and offered me some cabin credits and a complimentary dinner in Luke Mangan's Salt Grill.  As always, I shall be telling it exactly as it was, but I didn't have to pay for all my drinks and a few other things due to the cabin credits.

More on what happened on the cruise up next if you care to join me.  I think you will enjoy it.

Linking Today with

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Feathered Nest Friday

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