Cruises
Stories, Tips & Adventures
From Our First Date at Sea to Crossing Oceans Together
Cruising has always meant more to us than simply travelling from one port to another. For us, it is quite literally where our life together began. Our first date started in Sydney in April 2019 and continued aboard Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas, sailing through the South Pacific to New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Six years later, cruising became part of another milestone when we boarded Regal Princess in Florida and crossed the Atlantic to Southampton, celebrating both our anniversary and another year of full-time travel along the way. And our story at sea is still evolving. In 2026, we're returning to the water for two very different MSC Virtuosa sailings from Southampton, a short escape to Ireland followed by a longer journey through Spain to Marseille. Those very different voyages give us plenty to talk about. From sea days, cabins, dining and entertainment to port stops, accessibility, connectivity, and the extras that can quickly change the cost of a cruise, we're experiencing both the magic and the practical realities of life at sea. This is where we bring all of that together: our cruise stories, ship reviews, port guides, videos, and the things we wish we had known before sailing.
Our Cruise Story
The moment we met, the voyage that shaped us, and the crossings that followed.
Long before Closer Lives existed, cruising played an unexpected part in bringing us together. After meeting online through our shared love of poetry and spending months getting to know each other from opposite sides of the world, we made a slightly crazy decision: our first meeting would be in Sydney, followed by eight nights together aboard Royal Caribbeanโs Ovation of the Seas. On 9 April 2019, Leon arrived in Sydney from London, and Jenn was waiting at Circular Quay. We met face-to-face for the first time, grabbed a coffee, walked along the harbor, and then boarded a cruise ship together. Not exactly the conventional first date!
That South Pacific voyage took us to Noumรฉa in New Caledonia and Mystery Island in Vanuatu, but the destinations became only one part of the story. Eight nights at sea gave us something an ordinary first date never could: time. Time to talk, explore, laugh, learn about each other, and discover whether the connection we'd built online was just as real in person. Six years later, cruising became part of our story again. This time, we boarded Regal Princess in Florida for a transatlantic crossing to Southampton, celebrating our anniversary and four years of full-time travel along the way. And the story is still unfolding. In October 2026, we're heading from Southampton to Cork aboard MSC Virtuosa for our first MSC cruise. Just a few weeks later, we'll be back on board for a longer journey through Spain to Marseille โ this time celebrating Jenn's birthday along the way. That second sailing came about in typically Closer Lives fashion. We had a ten-day gap between housesits in the UK and discovered that the cruise would cost us roughly the same as booking accommodation for those days. So rather than stay in one place, we thought: why not cruise to Spain instead? Different ships, different destinations, and very different stages of our lives. From the cruise where we first met to voyages that have simply become part of how we travel, it's fair to say the sea will always have a special place in our story.
Life at Sea
A glimpse into the ships, destinations, and moments that have shaped our time at sea.
AFFILIATE PROMOTION
Why We Love Cruising
The journey becomes part of the adventure, not just the way you get there.
Effortless Exploration
Unpack once and let the destinations come to you. We love being able to visit several places without repeatedly navigating airports, changing hotels, or hauling our luggage between stops.
A More Accessible Way to Travel
Cruising can remove some of the barriers that make multi-destination travel difficult. Accessible cabins, lifts, and onboard facilities can make life at sea considerably easier, although accessibility can vary between ships, ports and shore excursions.
The Journey Actually Matters
Some of our favorite cruise memories happened nowhere near a port. Sea days give you permission to slow down, enjoy the ship, watch the horizon, and appreciate the journey rather than simply rushing towards the next destination.
So Much Is Already On Board
Dining, entertainment, activities, and quiet spaces are all part of ship life. You can do as much or as little as you want; it's something we particularly came to appreciate during our transatlantic crossing.
The Value Can Surprise You
A cruise fare can bring accommodation, transport, meals, and entertainment together in one trip. We recently experienced this firsthand when a ten-day gap between UK housesits led us to compare accommodation costs, and an MSC cruise through Spain worked out at roughly the same price as an Airbnb. Extras can still add up, though, so it pays to know what's included.
Cruise Lines We've Sailed
Different ships, different styles, and very different journeys.
AFFILIATE PROMOTION
Cruise Tips & First-Time Guides
First-hand cruise advice, practical planning tips, and lessons we've learned at sea.
Whether you're planning your first cruise or looking for ways to make your next sailing smoother, this is where we share what we've learned from our own voyages, from choosing a cruise and understanding the real costs to cabins, dining, accessibility, connectivity, and life on board.
Planning Your Cruise
โ Choosing the Right Cruise Line
โ Cruise vs Flying: What's the Real Cost?
โ What to Pack for a Cruise
โ Accessible Cruising
Life On Board
โ Cabins & Ship Tours
โ Food & Dining
โ Sea Days & Entertainment
โ Wi-Fi & Staying Connected
Cruise vs Flying: What’s the Real Cost?
Compare the full journey, not just the ticket price.
Flying can look cheaper at first glance, while a cruise fare can look more expensive until you consider what's included. Our interactive calculator lets you compare the wider cost of both journeys, including fares, baggage, transfers, accommodation, meals, gratuities, Wi-Fi, and other extras.
โน๏ธ This calculator is designed as a planning tool rather than a booking-price comparison. Costs vary considerably by route, season, cruise line, and airline.
Cruise Destinations & Port Guides
First-hand port guides from the places we've explored while cruising.
From South Pacific islands to European port cities, these guides are based on the places we've actually explored during our cruises. Find what we did ashore, how we got around, what we'd recommend, and practical tips for making the most of your time in port.
South Pacific
Europe
Bruges
Belgium
Western Europe
Princess Cruises
Rotterdam
Netherlands
Western Europe
Princess Cruises
North Atlantic
Ponta Delgada
Azores, Portugal
North Atlantic
Princess Cruises
Staying Connected at Sea: eSIM vs Ship Wi-Fi
What we learned after skipping the ship Wi-Fi package and testing GigSky across the Atlantic.
Staying connected on a cruise isn't quite as simple as choosing between an eSIM and ship Wi-Fi. Coverage changes depending on whether you're at sea, approaching land, or exploring a port, and the right option depends on how connected you need to be.
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On our Regal Princess transatlantic crossing, we skipped the ship's Wi-Fi package and tested GigSky instead. Here's what we learned, along with the key differences to consider before your own cruise.
Feature | GigSky eSIM | Ship Wi-Fi Package |
|---|---|---|
How it connects | Mobile/cruise network, depending on plan | Ship's satellite internet |
At sea | Depends on provider and cruise plan | Generally designed for use at sea |
In port | Can connect to supported mobile networks | Primarily intended for use aboard ship |
Cruise Vlogs
See our cruise adventures come to life through our vlogs and walkthroughs.
Popular Videos
Watch the journey, not just read about it! Our cruise vlogs take you aboard the ships we've sailed, through the ports we've explored, and behind the scenes of our life at sea, from cabin tours and sea days to the moments that don't always make it into the blog.
Cruise Resources
Hand-picked tools and services we use at sea, curated for your next cruise.
Stay Aboard the Journey
Cruise stories, practical tips, and new adventures—straight to your inbox.
From new port guides and honest cruise reviews to connectivity tips and stories from life at sea, join us for the latest from Closer Lives as our cruise journey continues.
Cruise FAQ: Plan with Confidence
From choosing the right sailing to understanding costs, connectivity, and life on board, the right information can make every stage of a cruise easier.
Explore our first-hand answers to common questions about cruising, eSIMs, and travel insurance, based on what we've learned from our own journeys at sea.
Got a question we haven’t covered? Get in touch with us here.
Jenn & Leon at Closer Lives
Full-time travellers sharing the cruise experiences we’ve actually lived.
Weโre Jenn and Leon, the couple behind Closer Lives. Cruising has been part of our story since the very beginning; our first meeting in person was in Sydney in 2019, followed by eight nights together aboard Royal Caribbeanโs Ovation of the Seas. Six years later, we returned to sea aboard Regal Princess for a transatlantic crossing from Florida to Southampton, celebrating our anniversary and another year of full-time travel along the way. In 2026, our cruise journey continues with two sailings aboard MSC Virtuosa. Everything on this page grows from those real experiences. We share what worked for us, what surprised us, what weโd do differently, and the practical details we wish we had known before sailing.