We Almost Didn't Go on This Australia Cruise — Here's What Happened
Bora Bora PortAustralia CountryNew Caledonia CountryVanuatu CountryPort Vila PortSydney PortCarnival Splendor Cruise Ship
12 days before this cruise, we lost our son Michael. We were scheduled to sail to Australia for my 50th birthday — and we made the hardest decision of our lives to go anyway. What happened on the other side of the world changed us in ways we never expected. In this video we take you on our healing journey aboard the Carnival Splendor from Sydney, Australia through the islands of Vanuatu — and share every sign, every excursion, and every moment that reminded us that joy and grief can exist at the same time. If you are planning a cruise to Australia or Vanuatu, we have the costs, logistics, and honest details you need. And if you are navigating unimaginable loss, we hope this story gives you hope. ✅ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Why We Almost Canceled This Australia Cruise 1:02 - First Signs in Sydney: The Driver Named Michael G 1:54 - Sydney Private Tour: Koalas, Platypus & 30,000-Year-Old Petroglyphs 2:56 - Boarding Carnival Splendor at Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal 3:50 - New Caledonia Canceled: Rerouted to Vanuatu 4:04 - Santo Beach Escape Excursion ($229/Person) & The Vanuatu Blue Hole 4:49 - Port Vila Vanuatu: Beach, Starfish & Waterfall Rope Swing 5:32 - Carnival Splendor Casino Wins & Piano Bar Night 6:28 - Vivid Sydney Light Show & The Fall Out Boy Phoenix Moment 6:58 - Same Driver Home: Michael's Final Sign 7:13 - How This Cruise Accelerated Our Grief Healing If you are planning a cruise out of Sydney, the embarkation process at the Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal is smooth and nearly identical to the US — you will have zero issues. The Vanuatu stops at Santo and Port Vila were unexpected gems after our New Caledonia itinerary was changed due to civil unrest. The Santo Beach Escape excursion at $229 per person and the Blue Hole were among the most beautiful places we have ever visited. The private 9-hour Sydney tour ran us $850 for just the two of us and covered koalas, the platypus habitat, Bondi Beach, Manly Beach, and 30,000-year-old Aboriginal petroglyphs. We were on the Carnival Splendor for the fourth time — and it delivered again. If you are sailing on her, do not miss the piano bar. 📦 ULTIMATE TRAVEL PACKING LIST → https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F18nwsACJMID5964jQi4426g80-92a6E/edit?usp=drive_link 🦈 Watch our Bora Bora shark tour next → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6koy5FCl6A