My 80-year-old mother said she was done travelling, but this trip changed it all

"I don't think I want to travel any more," announces my mum, a few months before her 80th birthday. "I'm getting older and I'm happy to stay home now." Cue the jaw-drop and the sense of rising panic (mine).

To say her news was met with some resistance is an epic understatement. My profession, my passion, indeed my love language, is all about travel. I really enjoy spending time with my mother on trips, making treasured memories in beautiful places.

Like a high-stakes negotiator, I begin to look for the "yes" in her "no". After some persuasive lobbying, she concedes she might travel again if there are no flights or long drives involved, and if the trip stays wholly within Australia. I have the perfect solution: a Queensland cruise, departing from and returning to our hometown, Sydney.

From previous trips, we're fans of the way Celebrity Cruises caters to Gen X (me) and Boomers (Mum), with upscale dining, entertainment, activity and relaxation zones.

There's an 11-night cruise on Celebrity Edge departing Sydney's Overseas Passenger Terminal on a date that suits us both. It promises an itinerary focused on the Great Barrier Reef, with stops in Brisbane, Airlie Beach and Cairns, as well as lovely, leisurely sea days to enjoy all the ship has to offer. Hand me a Pina Colada - we're going on a cruise. And so we find ourselves sailing out of Sydney Harbour, past the bridge and the Opera House, on one of those sunny, brilliant, blue-sky days that makes you glad to be alive. Settling into our spacious Edge Veranda Stateroom, we unpack and take a restorative afternoon nap, requesting not to be disturbed by placing the provided "Deep Sleep" magnet on the door. It won't be the last time.

On this cruise itinerary, we're treated to a double delight of two sailing days before we reach Brisbane. That means time to enjoy a spa treatment and the SEA Thermal Suite facilities, to find a shaded spot on the pool deck, and to soak up the sunset vibes from the Magic Carpet, the bright orange, cantilevered platform that serves as a stylish open-air bar when it's not being used as a tender disembarkation point.

After the sun goes down, we hop from the main theatre to the tri-level Eden arena to the intimate Club space as I convince Mum to stay up way past her bedtime and catch all the entertainment.

We even join in the fun of a silent disco, clapping on headphones and laughing as we bop to the music and sing off-key.

There's delicious food and drinks on the menu, of course, because what would a cruise be without indulging the tastebuds?

I get in the habit of popping out early to pick up a lemony green juice for myself and a cappuccino for Mum. If there's pavlova on display, I know what she'll be having later for afternoon tea. Lunchtime is a grazing affair at the Oceanview Cafe on Deck 14. You can't call it a mere buffet, not when the daily changing menu includes towers of fresh prawns, juicy marinated short-rib, and a dizzying selection of fresh cakes and doughnuts. We frock up for dinner and keep it classy at Fine Cut Steakhouse, an old-school cruise tradition we relish.

The writer and her mum travelled courtesy of Celebrity Cruises