Cruise and travel tips to help you plan your cruise vacation. You’ll find cruise advice, packing tips, onboard experiences, how to choose a cruise ship shore excursion and much more.
If you are a solo female traveler like me, you’ll find a wide range of solo travel advice. There are articles that cover everything from solo dining on a cruise ship to staying safe in a new cruise port.
I try to review as many cruise ship shore excursions as possible so you can decide what shore excursions to take before you cruise.
For actual cruise reviews, cruise ship profiles and daily cruise reports, head to
Ocean Cruise Reviews.
“It’s not really the middle of nowhere.” That’s what I find myself saying whenever someone declares, “I’d never go on a transatlantic cruise.” A transatlantic crossing is an entirely different cruise. I have to admit, while not exactly in the middle of nowhere, there isn’t a whole lot of activity going on, except maybe […] Read more…
I’ve been a solo cruiser for a very long time and almost always by choice. Maybe once or twice, I cruised solo because a roommate had to cancel. If you’re just about ready to commit to your first solo cruise or only have a couple solo adventures under your belt, here are some things to […] Read more…
Princess Cruises just announced its Alaska cruise-only and cruisetour itineraries for 2020. Both options will go on sale starting November 15. It looks to be a near-record season for Princess Cruises in Alaska. Next year, Princess will send a total of eight ships to cruise Alaska. Among these eight ships, there will be 11 […] Read more…
It’s sort of complicated. The answer is yes, you need a passport to take a cruise from the U.S…and no you don’t. Or should you? I’ve received emails from readers who ask, “I’m a United States citizen taking a cruise from the U.S. to the Caribbean. Do I need a U.S. passport”? After I received […] Read more…
This time for whale watching in Juneau, I was prepared. The words, “Don’t forget to grab a large plastic bag” popped into my head just before I closed the door to my stateroom. This was my second whale-watching shore excursion from Juneau, but the first time I brought along a real camera. On my first […] Read more…
You might already know what to pack for a cruise. But do you know what not to pack? Here are my suggestions for what you can and should leave at home. Ready to pack for a cruise? You might want to leave these things at home. With safety at sea the number one priority, maritime […] Read more…
What to Know if You Travel Solo It’s taken me a lot of years to compile this new list of my best solo travel tips. Decades, actually. My first solo trip happened when I was 12 years old. My dad put me on a two-night train ride from Chicago to Phoenix to visit family. As I […] Read more…
Summer activities are winding down. Kids are almost back in school. The unrelenting heat of summer has taken its toll. Sounds like the perfect time to take that Caribbean cruise. Or is it…. You’ll save money to cruise in hurricane season but be prepared. Yes, cruise lines reduce the cost to cruise in hurricane season. You’re all […] Read more…
You’re going for it – you’ve finally booked your seven-night cruise, but you have no idea what you need to pack. Here’s what I suggest to pack for a cruise. What to pack for a seven-night cruise made easy Packing for a vacation can be a time-consuming experience. Unlike me, some people begin several days […] Read more…
It’s been a long time since I packed for my first cruise. You’d think I packed for an around-the-world cruise rather than a 7-night Caribbean cruise. Read more…
Regent Seven Seas Cruises, the world’s leading luxury ocean cruise line, will introduce an extensive menu with more than 200 gourmet plant-based dishes across its fleet beginning October 1, 2019. The new plant-based cuisine will be offered at breakfast, lunch and dinner to meet the evolving tastes of luxury travelers who are following vegan or […] Read more…
When it comes to travel, nothing seems carved into stone. As least, not the way I travel. But I’ve never missed connections. Til now. Read more…