Live from... Voyager of the Seas Around Africa. Oct 27, 2025 for 35 nights

twangster · October 23

I've been looking forward to this one... and it's finally here.

I like to find unique and different cruise itineraries so when I saw this repo cruise around Africa I knew I had to book it.

For me this will be a B2B starting in Barcelona, turning in Cape Town and for me, ending in Singapore. Some will go on and more will join in Cape Town to continue with Voyager to Brisbane which was tempting but I've got two transpacifics booked involving Brisbane so I'm taking the opportunity, while I'm in the neighborhood, to bounce over to Hong Kong and sail on Spectrum.

Cruise #1 - 18 nights from Barcelona to Cape Town

Cruise #2 - 17 nights from Cape Town to Singapore

I'll be spending a night in Singapore and two nights in Hong Kong before boarding Spectrum but that's a story for another day.

twangster · October 23

No stranger to Voyager, this will be the third and fourth cruise on her this year.

My earlier cruises on Voyager revealed a great ship with a great crew. I only wish she had a Playmakers but it is what it is.

I originally booked a corner aft balcony when this first opened oh so long ago. Since that time I nudged myself up to an aft Junior Suite when I saw the same cabin available on both, then later to a Grand Suite. Moving up later on meant changing cabins but after 18 nights I figure a change will do me good. It's only a few doors down so hopefully the same cabin attendant.

Reports coming in that this will be, as expected, a cruise with a lot of top tier on board. Rumors are 12% of the ship will be Pinnacle. We'll see soon.

Sailing solo in suite means a whopping 105 CAS points, but who counts those? That means no matter how I am arrive it's a crystal block from the CAS.

With A LOT of sea days I plan to work quite a bit which is how I afford to pay for these cruises, so that's a good thing. Managing the time zones will be interesting but I've done that before.

The Unlimited Dining Plan was a ridiculously low amount for 18 nights so I went for it. It was equally cheap on the 17 night cruise that follows but I'll need those 17 nights to overcome the food coma from cruise #1.

twangster · October 23

Over the years I've met a lot of great crew from Mauritius (as well as other places) so I'm looking forward to stopping there.

As a US citizen the VISAs and related travel requirements are not too bad for this voyage. I've done as much as I can do with some minor additional work coming within the time frames that certain countries require as we get closer. At least so I hope.

For the past few years I've left my good camera at home and used my smart phone for this type of live trip reporting. However for a truly special cruise like this I will probably drag my very heavy camera gear along for this one. I'll need to get my workflow established again but with so many sea days I think I'll have extra time for that.

twangster · October 23

I have a cell phone plan through US Mobile that includes over 200 countries but on a unique voyage like this even that misses a few countries so I've also picked a GigSky World Cruise plan for my other phone. That will hopefully keep me connected if Starlink Voom has any issues in this region.

I've been doing some math. As a Pinnacle I get six free drinks each day. Over 35 days that's over 200 drinks! At $14 per drink that is over $2,900! I hope my doctor isn't reading this. Seriously though I don't plan to sustain that, but it does display the astonishing value of the Crown and Anchor Society on these long repo cruises. The included Voom plan is also a lot of value. Do the math. Wow! Thank you Crown and Anchor Society.

TessFromFlorida · October 23

Jealous!

twangster · October 23

Looking at a map it appears we'll be crossing the Equator twice. Once on cruise #1 and then again on cruise #2. We will also be crossing the Prime Meridian twice.

That makes this a cruise of the hemispheres, all four of them.

Lovetocruise2002 · October 23

Wow! Amazing itinerary. I need to look for one like this too in about 5 years. Here for this blog!

twangster · October 23

I've been watching shore excursion sales over the months since they came available. I've booked a number of ship excursions as place holders in case I can't find anything direct.

These are all first time ports for me and as a solo cruiser there is some comfort doing the easy thing and booking ship excursions. I'm not a fan of the wait in the theater and big bus nature of ship excursions but it's generally safe and easy to go this route.

I've had some 'meh' private excursions or got lost in a group of friends who had their little clique going on a private excursions which doesn't lead to a great day during a long private excursion. The ship excursion approach is at least known and predictable.

Maybe I'll find some new friends on board to share some private excursions with. For such a long voyage I should have time to cancel any of my ship excursions if a better, more appealing deal comes along.

Here is what I have booked, my sale prices are below what I've captured in the screen shots:

Ampurp85 · October 23

I'm so jelly!!!!!!

That game excursion seems cool, I wonder how many lions you will actually see close-ish.

You choose the coolest itineraries.

AshleyDillo · October 23

17 hours ago, twangster said:

As a Pinnacle I get six free drinks each day. Over 35 days that's over 200 drinks! At $14 per drink that is over $2,900!

And when you add in drinks at the casino you may even break even on how much it cost to get your casino status

Hoppy2BHere · October 24

Okay… Glad I was able to cross paths with you on the Pres. Cruise… but you are F..ning killing me. I am afraid to let the wife see this or she’ll be asking why we aren’t along. Sounds like a bunch of fun and will be following closely! Safe Travels!

Jim and Sher

KristiZ · October 24

I had been drooling over this unique opportunity for months -- retirement in 20 months and then this will be me!

I hope you love every second of this trip!!

FionaMG · October 24

Sound like an amazing trip! Looking forward to following along. Safe travels over to this side of the pond.

Just FYI and for anyone else who might be interested, a member of the ice cast who is currently on board Voyager, Jordan Bauth, has a YouTube channel where she documents her travels, in the same way Chris Wong did as a crew member. Her channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/@jbauth

FionaMG · October 24

8 hours ago, KristiZ said:

I had been drooling over this unique opportunity for months -- retirement in 20 months and then this will be me!

You and me both! 26 months and counting down every single day!

twangster · October 24

Work week complete! Time to start packing...

Morning flight connecting in Atlanta then onto Barcelona for a Sunday morning arrival

Lately in Barcelona I've been staying at the Grand Marina which is conveniently located very close to where the cruise bus stop making for an easy transfer to the terminal Monday morning. The hotel is a 10 minute walk to the lower section of La Rambla where I typically find somewhere for dinner.

I walked from the hotel to the cruise terminal for my last Barcelona trip but I'm packing more clothes this time since I have 35 nights on Voyager and 5 night on Spectrum. I did a B2B this past summer from Barcelona using only a carry on roller bag but it was tight without any room for anything acquired along the way. I'm going with a regular sized checked bag this time so a little more room.

Traveler · October 25

4 hours ago, twangster said:

Work week complete! Time to start packing...

Morning flight connecting in Atlanta then onto Barcelona for a Sunday morning arrival

Lately in Barcelona I've been staying at the Grand Marina which is conveniently located very close to where the cruise bus stop making for an easy transfer to the terminal Monday morning. The hotel is a 10 minute walk to the lower section of La Rambla where I typically find somewhere for dinner.

I walked from the hotel to the cruise terminal for my last Barcelona trip but I'm packing more clothes this time since I have 35 nights on Voyager and 5 night on Spectrum. I did a B2B this past summer from Barcelona using only a carry on roller bag but it was tight without any room for anything acquired along the way. I'm going with a regular sized checked bag this time so a little more room.

If you have not try it yet, for dinner consider to try one of the tapas tours at the evening. It's enough food , lots of alcohol and a great way to meet people from around the world. It's cost around 60 Euro in the travel sites (like get your guide).

twangster · October 25

I was today years old when I found these Royal Caribbean links to the cruises:

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/itinerary/18-night-barcelona-to-cape-town-cruise-from-barcelona-on-voyager-VY18R016

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/itinerary/17-night-cape-town-to-singapore-cruise-from-cape-town-on-voyager-VY17R016

WAAAYTOOO · October 25

14 minutes ago, twangster said:

I was today years old when I found these Royal Caribbean links to the cruises:

Wow ! 1970. I didn't even realize Voyager was around in 1970.

Pooch · October 25

Ok now you’re just showing off!!!!

twangster · October 25

Found some cruise maps:

asquared17 · October 25

On 10/24/2025 at 3:39 PM, twangster said:

I'm going with a regular sized checked bag this time so a little more room.

the (over)packer in me is so relieved to read this.

twangster · October 26

Smooth flight from Atlanta to Barcelona.

Goodnight USA, see you in 45 days.

Several hours later...

Good morning Spain!

We've arrived to a rainy Barcelona.

If I had been sitting on the right side of the plane there would have been a great view of Allure docked in Barcelona for her turn around and transatlantic to Florida.

Uber to my hotel to drop luggage while I wait for check in at 3pm.

twangster · October 26

Immigration queue was one hour long in Barcelona. A couple of planes arrived just before us. No biometrics gathered for me but an Asian couple in front of me had their fingerprints taken.

As we zigzagged through the rope course I overhead several conversations related to this cruise so it seems many are flying in this morning.

Traveler · October 26

1 hour ago, twangster said:

Smooth flight from Atlanta to Barcelona.

Goodnight USA, see you in 45 days.

Several hours later...

Good morning Spain!

We've arrived to a rainy Barcelona.

If I had been sitting on the right side of the plane there would have been a great view of Allure docked in Barcelona

So you did not saw me waving?

twangster · October 26

After a nap I did some sightseeing... from the roof of my hotel.

There is Allure getting ready to head across the Atlantic:

Pooch · October 26

9 hours ago, twangster said:

Smooth flight from Atlanta to Barcelona.

Goodnight USA, see you in 45 days.

Several hours later...

Good morning Spain!

We've arrived to a rainy Barcelona.

If I had been sitting on the right side of the plane there would have been a great view of Allure docked in Barcelona for her turn around and transatlantic to Florida.

Uber to my hotel to drop luggage while I wait for check in at 3pm.