'I took my kids on a cruise. It was nothing like I expected.'

When I was about six or seven, my family left the safety and familiarity of suburban Australia and moved to Papua New Guinea (PNG) for a two-year stint.

At the time, my dad was working for Telecom Australia (now Telstra), and when he was offered a role heading up PNG's telecommunications headquarters, my parents did what many would never: they packed up our lives and moved my two brothers and me to a developing country.

Those two years became some of the most treasured and joy-filled years of our lives. We made memories that never left us, and we spoke about our time there often. But we never went back. It wasn't considered safe, especially for families, and so PNG lived on as a beautiful part of our past.

Until now.

For the first time since we lived there 36 years ago, all five of us returned. We brought our entire extended family with us, including partners and children aged from four to nineteen. It was a multi-generational reunion, but in a country that shaped our earliest memories.

Watch: Before planning an international cruise holiday, make sure to check out these must-pack travel essentials. Post continues after video.

Stepping onto Papua New Guinean soil again, with my entire family and my own children at my side, was one of the most surreal and cherished moments of my life. There was a part of me that thought it would never happen. I'd always accepted PNG would remain something we'd talk about, not something I could physically share with my children.

But we did it. Safely and easily, and in a way that honoured both the nostalgia of our past and the reality of travelling with a large family in 2025.

How? Thanks to Carnival Cruises.

The Carnival Cruises ship. Image: Supplied.

It's eight-night cruise through Papua New Guinea allowed us to experience the beauty, culture and warmth of a place that means so much to us, without worrying about the safety concerns or logistics that once held us back. It was everything you want from a holiday —

Nicole's family on board Carnival Cruises. Image: Supplied.

It was easily one of the most stress-free and special holidays we've ever taken. So here are the top reasons why I'd recommend an international cruise with Carnival to pretty much anyone, but especially families who love their fun with a side of culture.

Five reasons to take an international cruise with Carnival.

Experiencing another culture (without the risks).

For me, this was the heart of the whole trip. Being able to take my children back to a place that shaped my childhood, and do it in a way that felt safe, organised and protected, was priceless.

We enjoyed an authentic, immersive experience without any of the stress that usually comes with overseas travel. We visited local villages, walked through markets, met artisans, listened to traditional music, and watched our kids absorb it all with wide-eyed fascination.

Learning more about the culture through art. Image: Supplied.

There's something incredibly powerful about watching your children connect to a place that once belonged only to you, talking to locals and laughing with the village kids.

Nicole's family visited villages, and met local children. Image: Supplied.

At the end of the day, we got to step back onto a secure, modern ship with all the comforts waiting for us.

Fun for all ages (literally).

Travelling with a group that spans from preschoolers to teenagers to adults can feel like more trouble than it's worth. Usually, someone is bored, someone is overtired, someone is glued to a device, and someone is saying, "what are we doing next?"

A cruise solves all of that.

On board, everyone was free to choose their own adventure. The little kids loved the freedom of roaming safely within a contained environment. Duck hunting became the obsession of the trip, a surprisingly adorable game where passengers hide rubber ducks around the ship for kids to find.

The kids wearing silly hats. Image: Supplied.

The teens loved independence. They had arcades, sports courts, pools, food available at all hours, and enough activities to make them feel like they were in their own universe, without ever actually leaving the ship.

The kids and teens' table. Image: Supplied.

And the adults? We got moments of actual rest. We drank coffee and cocktails. We danced, we laughed, we swam, and we lay in the sun. Perfection.

The adult's table. Image: Supplied.

Incredible food.

I already had high expectations for cruise food, and Carnival absolutely delivered.

We alternated between three amazing restaurants, each with its own vibe and menu. We were lucky enough to experience two tasting sessions at Dragon Lady and Angelo's, and they were honestly some of the best meals of the trip.

Yum! Image: Supplied.

The kids always found something they loved. The adults were happy. The fussy eaters were happy.

Another highlight for us was the ability to find gluten-free options. Two members of our family need gluten-free everything, and Carnival handled it so beautifully, including baking two incredible gluten-free birthday cakes for us to celebrate two family birthdays onboard.

Endless entertainment.

Every day had something new — concerts, musical performances, comedians, live music, trivia, karaoke, games, you name it.

We had an 80s party night that turned into full-blown dancing and chaos (the best kind).

There was a white-themed night with a silent disco that had all of us up and moving.

There was always something happening, and you could be as involved (or not) as you wanted.

There was such a festive, joyful energy onboard that even those who "don't really dance" found themselves on the dancefloor.

The beauty was that you could join everything or nothing. If you wanted to read a book in silence, you could. If you wanted to party every night, you could do that too. There was no FOMO because there was always another event an hour later.

Luxury living.

Booking into the Byron Bay Club was one of the best decisions we made. It gave us a home base, a shady cabana where our entire family could meet, swim, relax and spend time together without hunting for sun loungers or shade. For big families, luxuries like this make all the difference.

We spent hours by the pool, sipping cocktails, watching the kids play, chatting, reading, and just slowing down, something we rarely get to do back home.

One of the relaxing views to have. Image: Supplied.

It felt like the kind of holiday you imagine having… but rarely get when you're juggling multiple ages and personalities.

For us, this trip wasn't just a holiday, it was a complete experience, reconnecting with a place that shaped me, and a chance to create new memories and spend time with my entire family.

Carnival made it possible for us to step back into PNG with fresh eyes and zero stress. It was everything I hoped it would be, and a thousand tiny moments more.

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Feature image: Supplied.