When I found out I would be getting a week off work to go to the Melbourne Cup with P&O Cruises last November, I saw a teeny tiny opening to win Best Daughter of the Year by inviting my mum to come along.

And by God, I took it.

But mum wasn’t my first plus one choice. She knew it, I knew it, it was fine. Ithinkit was fine. Sorry, I know that comes across as quite brutal, but who else other than your mum would take a week’s annual leave just before Christmas for you? No one, that’s who.

“Guess what, I’m going on a cruise to the Melbourne Cup and I want you to come with me!” I told her over the phone once I realised none of the three friends I’d asked first could make it.

“Oh” was her response.Oh.

After I explained again thatsheandIwould be taking anactual cruisetothe Melbourne Cup,she perked right up, and our conversations over the following month consisted of questions about what dresses we would wear, if we could pull off fascinators, and if I’d need to pack a jacket for Cup Day (typical mum, her answer was, of course, yes).

Soon enough the departure day arrived. Prior to going on the Pacific Explorer, mum and I had never travelled together just the two of us. I was nervous – how would we go stuck in a twin room with only each other’s company for a week? Would we get sick of each other? Would we fight? Would there be… awkward silences?

But I needn’t have worried, because when our six-night adventure with P&O started with the Uber driver asking us, two people not from Sydney, where to go to get to the ship, we knew our trip was going to be… eventful.

Finding our way around the ship.

After we made it on board with literally seconds to spare – for anyone going on a cruise in the near future, do not be late, the ship will legitimately sail away without you – our first task was to find our way to our cabin.

What followed was a five minute walk down a simple corridor, that did not feel at all simple, and like it went for hours. Because the ship’s corridor was so long (260 metres long to be precise), it really felt like we were in anInception-style vortex that would never end. It would’ve been comical if not for the whole thing where we rocked up to the ship’s customs desk right before they were about to close, hence missing our tour of the ship.

Finally we made it to our cabin – a twin room on the ship’s 14th floor, complete with a balcony and an uninterrupted ocean view. It was small but big enough for the two of us, and we also quickly learnt it was the least interesting thing on the whole ship. Staircases with gold banisters wound their way down 11 decks, leading to theatres, lounges, cafes, restaurants, bars, spas and shops – I felt like Rose on theTitanic, except for the repressed by a controlling partner and clinging to life in the ocean parts.

And yes, I heardTitanicreferenced approximately 53 times while on board the Pacific Explorer. It was never funny.

The people.

We can speak freely here, right? OK good, because before I went on one, I honestly thought cruises were just for oldies.

Mum and I routinely overtook large groups of people with walkers and in wheelchairs having the time of their lives doing trivia and playing bingo (disclaimer – there were young people doing trivia and bingo too!),but what surprised me most about the P&O cruise was just how many different types of people were on board.

There were couples of all ages looking ridiculously smitten and in love. And the hens and bucks groups, travelling in matching white sashes and Hawaiian shirt packs. Normally with cocktails and beers in hand before midday (no judgement).

We also saw parents with children reading on the upper deck while the kids ran a muck in the pool. And there were mums and daughters like us – we even saw a family of three generations (grandma, mum and daughter) all dressed up on Cup Day.

And even though everyone on board was there for a different reason – romantic getaway, family friendly holiday or a new and fun way to experience the Melbourne Cup – there was something for all of us.

The… activities.

With 11 guest decks, over 12 dining experiences, pubs and bars, live entertainment venues and outdoor spaces, there was so much room foractivitieson board.

Like sliding down one, or both of the ship’s water slides. Or playing lawn balls, rock climbing or running around in the water park. One of the best things I did on the whole trip was having a crack at the adventure activities. It wasn’t mum’s thing, but I zip-lined the entire length of the almost 300 metre ship, and walked the plank off the edge.

Mum fancied the acupuncture at the on-board Elemis Day Spa to help with the sea sicknesses. I stuck to the Swedish massages and manicures – apparently my hands are ridiculously dry, or so the lovely technician told me before lathering my mits in some sort of oil that smelt really nice.

Check out some more snaps from our time on board P&O’s Pacific Explorer to the Melbourne Cup in the gallery below…