25 days at sea: our cross-pacific cruise from Brisbane to Seattle with 3 kids
- Vimal Fernandez
- May 21
- 3 min read
25 days at sea with 3 kids and I’m just happy we made it to Seattle without catching Hantavirus or 'The Itch.' 🐀🚢🧼
If you want to move 5 people across the planet, you have 2 choices: 20 hours of recycled air and being crammed on a plane, or a 25-day slow-burn voyage across the Pacific. We chose the boat.
We hopped on a Royal Caribbean transpacific cruise from Brisbane, Australia, to Seattle. It took 25 nights and stopped in Tahiti, Moorea, Hawaii, and Victoria. For $9k total for a family of five, it was a sweet deal compared to the cost of long-haul flights and hotels.
Why we choose a cross-pacific cruise over flying
If you have the time, cruising is a game-changer for long-haul travel. There’s zero jet lag because you gain an hour every few days as you cross time zones. Plus, it’s a straight-up voyage—you aren't just "getting there"; you're living there.
On a ship with 4,000 people, the demographic is skewed. Since these cruises don't line up with school holidays, it was mostly retired folks and only about 100 kids.
Finding your floating village
One of the best parts of a 25-day haul is the community. Unlike a week-long Caribbean sprint where everyone is a stranger, you actually get to know people. Through the Kids Club, our girls made a pack of friends almost immediately. Having a crew of "ship-friends" to run around with made the experience ten times more enjoyable for them (and us).
The daily rhythm
The general flow is simple: breakfast, workout, activities or pool time, lunch, more pool, dinner, and a headliner show. Everything is managed through the app, and there is a ridiculous amount of included entertainment:
Active stuff: Laser tag, ice skating, gym, rock climbing, mini-golf.
Social stuff: Trivia, karaoke, game shows, the movie theater, bars, restaurants.
Parenting lifesavers: Kids club, daycare, kids events.
Wellness: Gym, spa, hot tubs, sauna, casino.
You can pay $300 for Starlink, but we chose to ride without it and disconnect fully. You can also pay for excursions on port days, but it's a lot cheaper to find your own.
Stops along the way
French Polynesia
Tahiti: We went to Vaiava beach for great snorkeling. We spent $90 on a cab just to get to a beach. Mistake. We should have rented a car, and for every stop after this, we did.
Moorea: You can grab a tour right off the boat for about $100 for the whole family. We did the stingray and shark petting on a private island. Standing in knee-high turquoise water surrounded by rays and sharks was amazing.
Hawaii
Honolulu (Oahu): We rented a car from Enterprise for $80/day. We hit the North Shore for Waimea Valley—a perfect combo of botanical gardens and an easy, paved walk to a waterfall. We also hit the Makapuʻu Lookout on the east coast for massive ocean views and humpback whale spotting.
Kona (Big Island): Another $80 Enterprise rental. We spent the day snorkeling at Honaunau Bay and toured a Kona coffee plantation.
Canada
Victoria: We rented bikes from The Pedaler for $100. They have kids bikes and kids seats that fit on adult bikes. We spent 4 hours riding the coastal trail through Beacon Hill Park and ended at Fisherman’s Wharf.
USA
Seattle: We rented a car and went to one of the many national parks in the area, Olympic National Park. It’s a beautiful park and there is plenty to do here including lakes, hikes, waterfalls, but something unique we did was bike on an old railway line with Vance Creek Railriders ($190 for 5).
Disconnecting from the noise
This was our second long-haul cruise, and the biggest win wasn't the destinations—it was the disconnect. Going 25 days without internet is tough at the start, but then something shifts.
You realize how much time you spend "noodling" on your phone when you could be interacting with your family, talking to strangers, or just sitting still. It creates space for play, reading, and actually being present. We plan to keep this habit alive by limiting screen time and staying comfortable hands-free. And heck, maybe we do this type of cruise once a year, the side effects are worth it!
This post is part of our 'finding our why' series, sharing real-world stories of why families choose financial independence and early retirement with kids.
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