11 tips for first time cruisers that I wish I’d known before my first cruise

Tendering at Mare from Explorer of the Seas

Getting ready for your first cruise is daunting. It’s a little bit like flying when you check-in and go through customs, but then it’s also not. It’s like staying at a luxury hotel, but then it’s not. I mean, how do you prepare for this thing that is really unlike any other travel experience. For … Read more

12 Things I’m Thankful For This Christmas

Mt Warning Sunset

It’s Christmas Eve, and that means tomorrow is Christmas! Looking back over the year, there are so many things that have made this year a challenge. Things that are painful, things that are stressful and things that are just frustrating. The year started out with news, both good and bad. My sister was in Australia … Read more

Mystery Island, Vanuatu – A Day Destination From Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas Cruise

Our second port of call on our South Pacific cruise this year aboard Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas was Mystery Island.

We really weren’t sure what to expect as we had read and been told many different things about this little island at the Southern end of Vanuatu. In spite of all the things we had heard we were very pleasantly surprised!

Mystery Island is a tender port, so the ship comes to a stop quite close to the island and it is then about a 10-15 minute tender boat ride to the small jetty on the island. We arrived a little bit early at 8am so some early bird tenders were run before the shore excursions began. I’d definitely suggest if possible, do a shore excursion first thing in the morning so you are guaranteed off the ship early in the morning and have the most time possible on the island. 

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