Client Blog: Debbie and Steve’s bucket list cruises in New Zealand and Australia

Some holidays are special, and then there are those once-in-a-lifetime trips that exceed every expectation. When Debbie and Steve booked their dream anniversary getaway, a back-to-back cruise on Celebrity Edge, little did they know they were in for an experience they’d never forget - including an upgrade to the most exclusive suite onboard! Here’s their story...

We first came across Elaine when she was advertising a Celebrity Edge cruise around New Zealand. The itinerary looked incredible, and with our 25th wedding anniversary coming up, we thought - why not make this a trip to remember?

Elaine handled everything, from the cruise itself to sourcing flights, and as our excitement grew, we decided to extend the adventure by adding a second, back-to-back cruise up Australia’s east coast. Although we had to change rooms between cruises, we secured the same category of suite in our chosen location.

Elaine booked our business class flights with Emirates from Birmingham via Dubai to Auckland, where we spent three nights pre-cruise. Emirates exceeded all expectations: spacious seats, lie-flat beds, an onboard bar and incredible food and wine - a fantastic way to start our journey.

We had never cruised with Celebrity before, and this would also be our first time on an Edge-class ship - expectations were high!

Auckland

Neither of us had been to Auckland before and it was the perfect pre-cruise stop. We were instantly captivated by its laid-back charm.

Some of our highlights included a visit to the Sky Tower, where the panoramic views were spectacular, and a ferry trip to Waiheke Island, home to stunning vineyards and breathtaking scenery.

The First Cruise: New Zealand

The 10-night cruise around New Zealand was simply fantastic. The weather was perfect, every destination had something unique to offer, and the onboard experience was magical.

Tauranga was our first stop, where we enjoyed scenic views of Mount Maunganui before exploring the surrounding area by bus.

Napier, famous for its Art Deco architecture, was a highlight - not least because we arrived during their annual Art Deco Festival, complete with vintage cars, 1930s attire and an incredible air show.

Nothing, however, could compare to sailing through Dusky, Doubtful and Milford Sounds in the Fiordland, where sheer cliffs, cascading waterfalls and incredible wildlife sightings, including seals and dolphins, made for the most breathtaking scenery of the trip.

And having the Iconic Suite at the front of the ship with a huge balcony gave us the best view on board. Here’s how that came about...

A Once-in-a-lifetime Upgrade: The Iconic Suite

A few weeks before departure, I received an invitation to bid for an upgrade to one of the ship’s highest-tier suites. I asked Elaine for advice, and she sensibly suggested sticking with our original Sky Suite, which was in the perfect location for us. But on a whim, I put in a cheeky bid for both the Royal Suite and the Iconic Suite - the latter costing an eye-watering £26,000 per person! I quickly forgot all about it, assuming we had no chance.

Fast forward to a week before departure, and I got the shock of my life - we had won the Iconic Suite, the most exclusive suite on the entire ship! My husband was convinced it was a scam until we stepped inside, escorted by our butler, Karlos.

The suite was beyond anything we could have imagined - a massive private balcony, our own hot tub, and the best views on the ship.

We were treated like royalty, given prime seating in all speciality restaurants, and every little detail was taken care of for us. It was a surreal experience and one we’ll never forget!

The Second Cruise: Australia

After crossing the Tasman Sea to Sydney, we disembarked briefly for immigration before re-boarding Celebrity Edge for the next 11-night adventure along Australia’s east coast.

Of course, after the Iconic Suite, moving back to a Sky Suite took some adjustment, but it was still a fantastic balcony suite with access to exclusive areas and restaurants.

This cruise had a very different feel - the hot and humid weather made for relaxed days sunbathing and enjoying The Retreat, the ship’s exclusive suite area.

The ports of call except for Sydney were all new to us, with Port Douglas, a stunning, tropical town in far north Queensland a favourite with so much to explore.

The Great Barrier Reef was another key highlight, though sadly, our planned Whitsundays scenic flight was cancelled due to weather.

One slight downside to this itinerary was that most ports required tendering (boarding smaller boats to reach shore), which meant long waits for some guests - but thankfully, as suite guests, we had priority tendering.

Life Onboard Celebrity Edge

The ship itself was phenomenal. We’ve cruised with P&O and Marella before, but Celebrity are leagues ahead in terms of service, dining and facilities.

The specialty restaurants were well worth trying...

Le Petit Chef provided an incredible immersive dining experience (see video above).
Fine Cut Steakhouse and Eden were among our favourites.
The Grand Bistro was a must for lunch, though many of the premium options came at an extra cost - unless, of course, you were in one of the top suites!

Despite moving back to a Sky Suite for the second cruise, the staff continued to treat us like VIPs, and the experience remained outstanding from start to finish.

Final Stop: Sydney & Reflections

After disembarking, we spent some time exploring Sydney, taking the ferry to Manly Beach, a scenic 20-minute ride with stunning views of the harbour. Although we had visited before, Sydney never gets old, and we revisited some of its best sights, including the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

This trip truly was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we wouldn’t change a thing. Elaine’s support was invaluable from start to finish, from securing our flights and organising all transfers, to arranging every little additional detail that made the trip run like clockwork.

We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her, and we’ll absolutely be booking with her again! Thanks, Elaine.

Debbie & Steve