J&B Travels

We re-boarded in Singapore for the final leg of our journey to London . Dinner was served soon after take-off and then the cabin settled into that familiar long-haul hush. Joe slept for most of the flight, while I drifted in and out of rest, read a little, and did some gentle learning as sleep didn’t quite come for me. At one point there was epic snoring going on—I did a quick check to confirm it wasn’t Mr C, only to discover it was the gentleman opposite me. Small mercies 😄 The flight itself was uneventful, calm, and surprisingly peaceful —one of those journeys where time seems to move quietly rather than drag. Breakfast was served before landing, and everything felt straightforward… until we touched down. That’s when the real adventure began. The airbridge wouldn’t work , so we sat on the plane for over an hour while stairs and buses were organised to take us to the terminal. Once finally inside, ground staff told us they couldn’t help with the luggage transfer and that we ne...

I woke to my last Sydney sunrise , easing gently into the day and letting it sink in that this chapter really was closing. The morning was all about packing and one very important mission: recovering Joe’s missing bag . I’m pleased to report that both were successful . Joe jumped in a taxi to the pier and retrieved his bag, which had been kept safe for him—huge relief all round. Then it was time to vacate the room , with the concierge collecting our luggage. I checked us out, and just in time Ellen and Joe arrived , so we managed to share one last coffee together before saying our goodbyes. Never easy, but always filled with gratitude. And then… the travel fun truly began. Despite the travel company having pre-booked a saloon car , it was clearly never going to take four suitcases and two carry-ons , so we had to grab a street taxi instead. Off we went to Sydney Airport , only to discover another complication: our luggage could not be tagged just to London . It had to be tagged all...

  Happy Australia Day to all my friends in Australia. It was a real privilege to spend this special day here in Sydney with you all. I was up early again to watch the sunrise and do some gentle stretching—especially those calf muscles , which were definitely reminding me about yesterday’s bridge climb! I then headed out for a walk to soak up the atmosphere. It was incredible to see so many people out and about so early , already in celebration mode. I stopped for breakfast, caught up on messages, and enjoyed that quiet hum of a city waking up to a big day. Then it was back to wake Mr C , as we’d decided to jump on the hop-on hop-off bus . It was a great way to see more of Sydney, even if it only confirmed what I already know—I really do need to come back and spend proper time exploring this beautiful city . Once the bus tour wrapped up, Joe was more than ready for lunch, so we headed down to the Quays and ate at Harbourfront Seafood Restaurant , which Joe thoroughly enjoyed. ...

Today started bright and early , with the sunrise gently lighting up Sydney—perfect timing, as I needed to be at the Sydney Harbour Bridge for 8.15am to prepare for the climb. What a fantastic morning and another big tick off the bucket list ✔️ I was in a group of 14 people , a lovely mix of tourists, locals, and even a few children. Our guide, Pete , was absolutely brilliant—he’s been doing this for over 22 years and kept us thoroughly entertained with stories and facts throughout the climb. He was also our official photographer , which meant I could simply enjoy the experience without worrying about capturing it. The climb was incredibly safe, well organised , and while going up was definitely more challenging, coming down felt much easier. All in all, it took about three hours , and with the warmer temperatures I was very glad we were the first group of the day . On the walk back to the hotel, I stopped for a coffee from a local café , a small but satisfying post-adventure rew...

 I woke early and caught the sunrise , one of those quiet moments that instantly sets the tone for the day. I headed down to the gym, but it’s quite small and was already very busy , full of machines with little space for stretching. So I came back to the room, did some gentle stretches, and then headed out for a walk around The Rocks . There was a lovely weekend market on—such a great atmosphere. I may (once again) have bought another dress and picked up some jerky meats for my boys . I also popped into see the Ken Done exhibition , which Jane had recommended, and I’m so glad I did—it was vibrant, joyful, and full of colour. After grabbing a veggie juice , I headed back to the hotel to check in on Joe. Once Joe was up, we headed over to Darling Harbour . We went for lunch at a fish restaurant and then on to Wildlife Sydney Zoo . In hindsight, it probably would have made more sense to do the zoo first and then lunch—but you live and learn! It was still a fun and relaxed aftern...

 An early start this morning as we disembarked the ship. Joe was more than ready to go home, whereas I could quite easily have stayed on a little longer. Life onboard has felt like a comforting blanket , wrapped around you—safe, warm, and gently holding you in place. I know the last three months have been a bubble , a pause from real life, but it was one I deeply needed and am profoundly grateful for. This time has allowed me to rest , to reflect, and—most importantly—to reconnect with my boundaries and values , the foundations of who I am. I know I’m stepping back into the reality of everyday life, but I’m doing so stronger, clearer, and more grounded . As we move forward, I’m looking forward to these next chapters: a few days in Sydney with our friends Ellen & Joe , then the long journey home, time with the kids in London , and finally, on the 1st , back home to Gibraltar . Leaving the ship was emotional. Saying goodbye to the friendships we had formed was hard, but ...

 Our last full day on the ship … and I must admit, it feels quietly sad knowing that tomorrow morning we will be leaving. After so many weeks of life at sea, routines, familiar faces, and floating sunsets, it’s hard to imagine not waking up to this rhythm. I awoke bright and early to a beautiful sunrise, with seas that were thankfully a little calmer . I stretched, showered, had breakfast, and then headed to my final talk from Skip , this time all about Sydney . It felt symbolic—learning about the city that marks the end of this extraordinary voyage. Joe was also up early and ready for his facial , though his mind, like mine, was very much on the practicalities of what comes next. Packing was starting to loom large, so I made a proper start—sorting clothes for Sydney and London , and separating those heading back to Gibraltar . Thanks to Carlos , our complimentary Regent luggage forwarding was confirmed just in time. Even so, it’s clear we’ll definitely need another suitcase in...

Today was our final tour day , and I genuinely cannot believe I am typing those words. After months of exploring the world from the sea, this chapter is drawing very close to its end. We were awake early , greeted once again by a beautiful sunrise—something that always feels like a gift in this part of the world. From the balcony, I watched as we sailed into Brisbane Cruise Terminal , which, unfortunately, sits some distance outside the city itself. Still, there was a sense of quiet excitement in the air. The seas were calm, which felt like a kindness on such a full day. As this was another full-day tour , it meant an early start and a long walk through the terminal to reach the buses. We were lucky again— front-row seats , and even better, seat belts , which immediately put Joe at ease. With that reassurance, we settled in and listened as our guide shared the history of Brisbane and our destination for the day: the Gold Coast . Our first stop was the iconic Q1 Building , the talle...

Today was a sea day as we continue sailing toward Brisbane , and the sea has certainly been making its presence known. The swell has been dramatic , with waves rising higher than my balcony at times—absolutely incredible to watch, though not the easiest conditions for walking around the ship. The seas are set to remain choppy through the day and night, only calming once we begin navigating the smaller channels closer to Brisbane. Thanks to my early night, I was up with the sunrise , which always feels like a gift. I eased into my familiar routine— gym first , and to my delight it was blissfully quiet . I suspect the ship’s movement discouraged many others. Afterwards, I collected our veggie juices . Dennis, who has lovingly made them throughout the voyage, is disembarking in Sydney for a well-deserved break, so another gentleman has now taken over. Another subtle reminder that this chapter is drawing to a close. After a shower and getting ready, I headed to Skip’s talk on Brisbane ,...

As we head into the final few days of our big adventure, today brought another early start —this time for our much-anticipated trip to Whitehaven Beach . The tour was called Whitehaven Rib Adventure . The clue, as it turns out, was very much in the name… though Joe had clearly focused on the word beach and politely ignored rib and adventure when we booked it! The first challenge of the morning was the tender —our last one of the trip . Alongside us loomed the Carnival Splendor , home to over 3,000 guests , so the pier was understandably busy. When no one was waiting to greet us dockside, we found ourselves sharing space with Carnival passengers and made our way into the terminal to meet Captain Daisy and her deckhand Tamika . There we signed disclosure forms (another small clue we had missed!) before being walked to the rib boat. All bags and loose items were stowed away, followed by a safety briefing. Then Daisy calmly explained the plan: four stages of full-throttle fun . Ca...

Today was the day we had been waiting for throughout the whole trip —arriving in Townsville to finally see our dear friends, the Robinsons . It has been 20 years since we last saw each other in person, yet the moment we met it honestly felt like it had only been two days . We sailed into Townsville at 7am , and I watched our arrival from the balcony while sipping my coffee—one of those quiet, grounding moments that felt extra special knowing what the day would bring. Jane and I had been messaging, and we arranged to meet at the port terminal before heading into town for the Sunday market . Seeing Jane, Phil, and Tilly-Belle waiting for me was incredibly emotional. Real hugs instead of virtual ones—it was everything. Wandering through the market together, Tilly-Belle bought me a freshly made fruit juice , which was absolutely delicious and such a thoughtful gesture. After a quick stroll, we headed back to their very welcoming home for some delicious tropical fruits and to finally...