Are you considering your first cruise in 2026 or 2027? This article will guide you from pre-cruise through to disembarkation, helping you avoid costly, time-consuming mistakes. I have included tips from seasoned cruisers on a range of cruise-related topics. Use … Read more
I’ve been on cruises with Fred Olsen, P&O, MSC and Ambassador where I have been assigned a shared table with strangers for dinner. These aren’t the only cruise lines that do it but some cruise lines like NCL and Marella … Read more
With many cruise lines, like MSC, Royal Caribbean and Cunard, you can bid for an upgrade to your cruise cabin. The idea is that you offer to pay more to upgrade your cabin category, but not the full amount the … Read more
Cruise Wi-Fi has improved massively in recent years, especially with the introduction of the “Starlink” network- but that doesn’t mean that it always works the way people expect. Most passenger frustration seems to stem from the fact that they think … Read more
I keep seeing news stories about people “falling” from cruise ships. I always wonder “What on earth were they doing to manage that?” I am sure I am not alone in that reaction! Anyone who has ever taken a cruise … Read more
I’ve just disembarked a cruise that I honestly never thought I’d be taking again. The first time I tried this trip, it went very wrong. We were just four hours into the cruise when the Captain announced that the entire … Read more
Note: This post is sponsored by Marella Cruises. All thoughts and opinions are my own based on my 8+ Cruises with Marella. Lots of people like to cruise on the newest, flashiest cruise ships when they are first launched. Others … Read more
Cruise lines often try to give you the impression that you need to buy a drinks package to get the most value and enjoyment out of your cruise. Drinks packages sound simple, pay once and then you can drink what you like … Read more
British people, Australians, and Americans have very different views on tipping. In the USA, tipping is expected because it makes up a large per cent of a person’s wages. Whereas in the UK and Australia, except in a few circumstances, … Read more
I have grown to love oceanview cabins over the years, and seem to be booking them more and more often. They can provide a good upgrade from an inside cabin for a comparatively small cost. Often, the price of an … Read more
I have been lucky enough to go on quite a few excursions while on cruises, some with the cruise line and some independently. If there is somewhere you particularly want to visit that isn’t near the port area, excursions can … Read more
I’ve just disembarked one of the world’s strangest cruises, where nobody onboard had any idea where the ship was sailing to, we only found out each day when we arrived in port. This cruise was with a traditional cruise line, … Read more
I recently took a mystery cruise with the British cruiseline, Fred. Olsen. We took a five-day trip from Portsmouth, and we had no idea where we would be sailing to. The ship itself felt surprisingly British – small and slightly … Read more
Cruise lines run sales throughout the year, not just on Black Friday. Knowing when these sales are likely to happen will help you understand people’s typical cruise booking patterns. It will make you realise that these well-advertised sales aren’t always … Read more
Recently, I sailed from Portsmouth – and I was pleasantly surprised by how straightforward it was. It’s a smaller cruise port than Southampton, but that can actually make things easier and simpler. Also, it is about 15 miles closer to … Read more
Cruiseline excursions can be great in some situations. If you are a first-time cruiser, a nervous traveller, or are a long way from home in an unfamiliar country, they can be the perfect solution. Most of the time, I either … Read more
It was a totally normal, relaxing afternoon onboard Fred.Olsen’s Borealis. I was on what Fred. Olsen calls a “Mystery Cruise.” Passengers had no idea where the five-day journey would take them – they only found out when the ship arrived … Read more
I love a Christmas cruise! Being away at Christmas takes away a lot of the stress that planning and preparing for a Christmas at home can bring. I only have to visit the supermarket in the run-up to Christmas, and … Read more
I took a Transatlantic crossing onboard the last Ocean Liner at sea, Queen Mary 2, in winter. That probably wasn’t a very sensible plan, as I know that I get seasick when things get rough. I had always wanted to … Read more
People are often surprised to find that I occasionally get seasick. Not just seasick, I am a travel-sick person in general – I can feel ill in cars, buses, and coaches – and I have done so all my life. … Read more