In March this year, I booked a cruise for Peter and I to the Coral Islands in the South Seas. Namely, Isle of Pines, N.C. Lifou, N.C. Vila on Efate the main Vanuatu Island, Wala, Vanuatu, Champagne Bay on Espirito Santus, Vanuatu and Noumea, New Caledonia. The cruise was for 12 nights on board the beautiful Dawn Princess (my favourite ship).

After my big holiday overseas this year, it was really nice to spend some time with my son who always looks after the house and pets when we go away. He's done it a few times, for 8 weeks this year and 3 months when we stayed in England in 2006. This trip was to be a big "Thank you to Peter!"

We boarded on 26th October, and sailed out of Sydney Harbour. At first, I thought the whole cruise was going to be a disaster as two days into it Peter hadn't made any friends on board and was getting bored as we were at sea for two days before reaching our first island. Most of the onboard activities are suited to kids, middle age and old people so he really wasn't having much fun.

On the second night of the cruise, he made friends in the nightclub on board and to cut a long story short, he started having an absolute ball. Boy, was I relieved! He met four American lads from Utah who were so genuine and out to have a lot of good clean fun, also two nice young ladies and various other really nice young people. He was set now, dancing, karaoke, drinking and lots of laughing.

I myself made some nice friends both in the Dining Room, playing Trivia with the same group everyday and three nice ladies who took me under their wing who I hung out with, very down to earth and great fun.

Peter and I really enjoyed the islands sometimes we went our own ways, he with his friends and me with mine but most islands together enjoying snorkelling and touring (see photos).

We had a wonderful time, in fact, Peter said it was the best time he had ever had in his life. So the cruise was a big hit, we disembarked the ship on 7th November Peter with his souvenir spear and bow and arrrows and me with sarongs and beads.