I was on a Cruise from Dubai to Sydney!

From November 5th, 2023 to December 5th, 2023 I was on a Virgin Voyages cruise from Dubai to Sydney. Here are just some highlights from the trip.

Dubai

I just finished my residency at the Crown Perth, so I got dropped off by my friend Hank at the airport. And I arrived in Dubai the day before I needed to board the cruise so I had some time to explore. I immediately did the most touristy thing: go to the top of the worlds tallest building the Burj Kalifa. The view from the top were incredible. I also walked around the Dubai mall for a few hours also.

Home for the next 30 days

The Resilent Lady is a Virgin Vogages ship that is really different from other cruises. First off, its an adult only cruise (18+) so it’s much more catered to adults. There are a bunch of restaurants instead of buffets, and the the layout has a modern feel. As a guest artist, I also get a standard room just like any other guests.

Mumbai, India

the first port stop of the cruise was Mumbai, India. There were some issues with the visa process, but luckily we were there overnight, so the second day I was able to venture out from the ship and explore. I got to visit the flower market, and a few other markets early in the morning but the city is loud, cramped and crowded. I even stepped on some dog shit on the sidewalk. I was constantly bombarded by vendors trying to sell me their wares, and also different people asking to take pictures with me like I was a celebrity. I was exhausted by the time I arrived back at the ship.

Goa, India

The next port was Goa, India. right off the ship we needed to get a taxi to go see a different part of the city, so I linked up with some other guests and we shared the day together. it’s always nice making new friends. we got to see some churches and walked around a bit.

Sri Lanka

the next port was Sri Lanka, and I was a very cool experience. A group of six of us was able to tour the city in two tuk tuks for a few hours. We explored temples, shrines, and parks here.

Phuket, Thailand

Phuket is a place i’ve been before so I was looking to do something different here. My friend found a local farm that was doing tours so I opted for that experience. I got to learn how to make rubber from the sap of a tree, harvest a pineapple, and open a coconut.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

This was my first time exploring Kuala Lumpur, and it was special because it happened to be my birthday too! so we had an overnight stay here I booked at hotel for the night because the taxi from the port to the city was about an hour (plus traffic). some friends and I did some exploring that went late into the night, and we randomly met up with some other friends from the ship so it was a good time. the next morning some of us explore a lot of what the city offered: The Batu Caves, Petronas Towers, and a food street that offered all the delicious street food.

Singapore

Singapore has been a place that i’ve lived before, so I met up with some friends that live there and we had a nice korean BBQ Lunch and I got my guitar fixed at a shop there. (the electronics broke on the first day of the cruise).

Sick 🤒

I was sick for a few days after that so I missed going out to port in Bali. But luckily I got tested for Covid 19, and It came back negative. I spent a few days resting, watching movies in my cabin, and ordering room service.

Darwin, Australia

I felt a lot better when we arrived to Darwin, which is located at the very top of Australia. There was a big group of us that hung out at a cafe, explored the beach (it was really muddy) and the botanical gardens.

Cairns, Australia

pronounced “Cans” this is another Australian paradise. I linked up with some friends that were on a mission to hold a koala. This was really exciting. so I held my first koala, saw some kangaroos, and then rode the skyrail and did some hiking. epic day.

Airlie Beach, Australia

I decided to bring out my guitar to the beach and sing. I had a great time just playing some music and relaxing. I did get to enjoy some delicious seafood with some friends before I went back to the ship.

Sydney, Australia

after 30 days the ship made it to Sydney harbor. This was the first time a Virgin Ship has arrived to Sydney so Sir Richard Branson himself was circling the ship in his own little motorboat while we were arriving. I got to spend some time exploring the city for one night before I had to leave the next day.