Photos from my trip to England and Scotland, March/April 2015

The reason for my trip was two-fold. I lived and worked as a freelance photographer in Edinburgh from 1992 - 1998 and, apart from a flying visit in 2005, I hadn't been back in 17 years and wanted to spend some 'quality' time in the old hometown, especially.

My First Class flight (Sydney to London) on a Qantas A380

When I lived in Scotland during the 1990s I twice flew Business Class (return) to Australia.

Voyager of the Seas revitalisation, November 2014

In November 2014 Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas went into dry dock for a month-long $80 million refurbishment that upgraded much of the ship.

Quantum of the Seas...a sneak peek inside cruising's new wonder ship!

Quantum of the Seas is the smartest cruise ship to ever set sail and she offers more in the way of innovation than any cruise ship before her. She is the wunderkind of world cruising right now.

Inside Regal Princess (fabulous photos...she looks stunning!)

Princess Cruises christened its newest ship, Regal Princess, in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, on November 5, 2014.

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At the start of 2011 I vowed I would never go on a cruise in my life.

Carnival Spirit cruise, August 2014 (Pt I)

This was my first cruise with Carnival and I knew very little about what to expect, so it was a little bit exciting discovering this new ship.

Carnival Spirit cruise (Pt II) - Ports of Call

PORTS OF CALL

The ship's three ports of call in New Caledonia were, in order, Noumea, Lifou and Mare.

Queen Victoria cruise, March 2014

From March 3-5 I embarked on a two night, mini-cruise aboard Cunard's Queen Victoria, departing from my home town/port of Brisbane to Sydney.

Rhapsody of the Seas cruise, November 2013 (Pt I)

I'd heard great things about Rhapsody of the Seas from fellow cruisers who had spent time on her, so I had been looking forward to this cruise. And I wasn't let down - Rhapsody is a splendid ship.

Rhapsody of the Seas cruise (Pt II) - Ports of Call

The ports-of-call on my 11-night Rhapsody of the Seas cruise (November 19-30, 2013) were, in order, Sydney-Newcastle-Cairns-Willis Island-Airlie Beach-Brisbane-Sydney.

Ocean Princess ship inspection

On November 2, myself and around 30 travel agents were invited aboard the Ocean Princess for a ship inspection - a walk-around - while she was docked at Portside in Brisbane.

Celebrity Solstice cruise, March 16 - 28, 2013 (Pt I)

Imagine walking into the lobby of a five-star hotel with sumptuous furnishings, fine dining and stylish bars. Now transport this onto the high seas and you have Celebrity Solstice.

Celebrity Solstice cruise (Pt II) - Ports of Call

The Ports of Call we visited on Celebrity Solstice were mixed and varied but all afforded

us a lifetime of memories and amazing images.

Voyager of the Seas cruise (Pt I), Oct 22 - Nov 5, 2012

This cruise on Voyager of the Seas was booked 198 days out and waiting for the boarding date was, at times, tortuous - like being a kid again, waiting for 'next Christmas' to arrive!

Voyager of the Seas cruise (Pt II) - Ports of Call

The ports of call during my Voyager of the Seas cruise were as follows -

Singapore (not a port of call but I boarded Voyager there)

Pattaya (Laemchabang port), Thailand

Vũng Tàu (Phu My port), Vietnam

Port Hedland, Western Australia

Fremantle, Western Australia (not a port of call but the ship disembarked there)

Pacific Dawn cruise, Feb 2012

This was my first P&O cruise and I didn't have to look far to find it, as the Pacific Dawn calls Brisbane's Portside Cruise Terminal its home.

Radiance of the Seas cruise - Honolulu to Sydney Sept/Oct 2011

The Radiance of the Seas at Bora Bora, French Polynesia.

This was my first cruise and I loved every moment of it! 

Cruise from the Gold Coast to Brisbane? It's possible...

In early 2011 I had a couple of weeks off and decided I wanted to play tourist in my hometown of Brisbane.

Ship Spotting

Mangroves, storm clouds, mosquitoes, fading light...the wait to photograph Rhapsody of the Seas
begins at low tide on the mudflats at Nudgee Beach, Brisbane.

If you love cruise ships, then have a look at this gallery of photos of the ones I've come across.