I am on the verge of embarking on an exciting 10-night cruise to the Pacific Islands aboard the Carnival Splendor, setting sail from Sydney. The clock reads 10:30 AM, and the announcement calls for passengers with an 11:30 AM boarding time. I ensure that I have all my essential documents at the ready: my passport, boarding pass, travel insurance, and evidence of a recent RAT (Rapid Antigen Test). With some time to spare before my boarding slot, I decided to take a leisurely stroll and catch a different view of the magnificent ship from another angle. Sydney's weather is stunning today, and my excitement is palpable as I look forward to this incredible adventure. Allow me to introduce myself; I go by the name Julie, better known as Jules Cruise Companion. Today, I am faced with a rather unique challenge. Unfortunately, my cruise buddy couldn't make it, so I will have to inform the cruise staff during check-in. The departure hall appears almost deserted, and the lines move swiftly, making the boarding process surprisingly easy. As I go through the boarding process, everything proceeds seamlessly. I ensure all my documents are in order: my RAT test result, government-issued ID, boarding pass, international COVID certificate, and, of course, my travel insurance. It is worth mentioning that contrary to certain social media posts, both vaccination and insurance are essential for cruise travel, unless one has specific exemptions. Initially, my plan was to embark on this adventure as a solo traveller. However, I encountered a minor booking hiccup. The booking system did not permit me to proceed as a solo traveller when I reached the payment section. Consequently, I had to restart the booking process and make a reservation for two people, using my buddy's details with her kind consent. This resulted in an additional cost of $300, bringing the total expense for this 10-night Pacific Islands cruise to $1,020. Concerns loomed in my mind about how the cruise company would handle my buddy's absence. Nevertheless, it turned out to be a rather straightforward affair. I had prepared my cruise buddy for the possibility of contact from the company, drawing from my previous experiences. However, on this occasion, there was no need for such preparations. Upon reaching Jake, who was responsible for scanning passengers on board, I was pleased to discover that my cabin had already been updated to a single occupancy. Despite the extra expense incurred for two people, it didn't pose any significant inconvenience. It is worth noting that the cruise industry's prevailing business model primarily revolves around the notion of two individuals sharing a room, which can be a bit of a hassle for solo travellers. While this may not be everyone's cup of tea, I found that I can manage the added complexity with relative ease. Thus, I opted to pay for two slots while embarking on this solo adventure, ultimately resulting in substantial savings. I've encountered similar situations on a few occasions in the past, and if you maintain open communication with the cruise staff, it typically works out quite well. In a subsequent video, I plan to provide a comprehensive breakdown of the overall costs associated with this cruise, which encompasses not only the expenses of the voyage itself but also the additional costs incurred by having to travel to Sydney instead of departing from my home port in Brisbane. Although Carnival Splendor may not be my preferred choice of ship, I intend to elaborate on my reasons for this in a separate vlog. For now, I am eagerly anticipating the forthcoming 10-day adventure in the picturesque Pacific Islands. This is Julie, your Jules Cruise Companion, signing off with well wishes for safe travels and delightful adventures. My book HANDY CRUISE COMPANION, Cruise with Confidence is available on Amazon http://bit.ly/HandyCruiseCompanioneBook Check out my website http://www.julescruisecompanion.com.au/ Follow me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/julie.burgess.5011/ Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/julescruisecompanion/?hl=en Edited by VideoGuru:https://videoguru.page.link/Best Copyright JCC