As I mentioned earlier, 2016 was as jam-packed as previous years, maybe more so. It felt like a transpacific, transatlantic travel-fest with more flights, more airports and more jetlagged sleep than I care to count. I probably flew with every major airline, racking up air miles at the same time. I love all that; every part of the journey forms part of the memory of all my travels. But it’s the time spent in each of the destinations, the exploring of new lands and the sampling of unknown cultures that really makes it worthwhile and last year will be hard to beat.
It’s fair to say that March and April ranked as my favourite months of the year. During this time, large groups of guests were embarking and disembarking their cruises in Sydney and Honolulu, meaning we were stationed in each city for three weeks.
Honolulu, Hawaii: the name alone is dreamy. I fell head-over-heels in love with this place! Like Tahiti, it feels tropical, exotic and a million miles from grey and chilly Britain. For me, the beauty of Hawaii is that it is a perfect combination of a tropical paradise and classic USA. The white sands of idyllic Waikiki beach sit a mere two-minute walk from the main strip filled with endless shops - from tourist shops to department stores, and from high-end boutiques to chemists. All of this is intermingled with endless eateries, bars and cafes. Carefree tourists stroll alongside local shirtless surfer dudes and the palm trees sway gently in the Pacific breeze.
As an antidote to the glorious glitz of Waikiki, we decided to head up to the north shore of Oahu. Travelling like locals, we paid $2.50 each on the local bus which took us right across the green centre of the island. The contrast was breathtaking and showed us a whole new side to Hawaii, its people and its heritage. The scenery as so rugged - it’s not wonder this destination has played host to Hollywood movie teams shooting the likes of Lost and Jurassic Park.
Back in Honolulu, it’s the atmosphere that draws you in. The warm, balmy air, the happy, friendly locals and the pink, swirling sunsets. At, those sunsets! All this makes for a heady mix of sheer happiness and paradisical bliss.
One more tour that I’d always hoped to be assigned to was the Independence Day cruise and stay experience in New York City. Every year, many ROL Cruise guests book with us to sail on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 over to the Big Apple, spend a few days in the city (including the 5th July celebrations), before sailing back to Southampton. Another true trip of a lifetime.
We weren’t lucky enough to sail on the majestic vessel herself but we were there at Brooklyn port when she glided in past the Manhattan skyline. Our guests were scattered across several hotels in Times Square and Fifth Avenue from where they explored this exciting metropolis at their leisure, as did we in our free time. Rickshaw rides through Central Park, photos atop the Rockefeller Center, shopping until we dropped and dining in Little Italy - these were just a few of the things we got up to.
But the highlight, the very reason for our being there was, of course, the night of the 4th of July. Along with our 250 guests, we embarked Spirit of New York, a glamorous little party ship which would take us up and down the Hudson River past the neon-lit skyscrapers as we dined and mingled. All culminating in an unforgettable firework display. How utterly exhilarating to bear witness to this world-famous celebration in one of the USA’s greatest cities. 
Read next: The diary of a Tour Ambassador, part 9: Bon voyage
