These are the questions people ask before they book – and the ones they’re sometimes embarrassed to ask at all. Do you need to dress up? Will it feel crowded? Can you find a quiet corner on a ship with 6,000 people on it? I’ve been cruising long enough to have honest answers to all of them
You probably won’t be surprised to know that in 2024, millions of people went on a cruise. In this post, we examine the latest data from the CLIA (Cruise Line International Association) and compare 2024 cruises to those taken in … Read more
Hey hey, I hope you’re having a lovely week. I’m sending this email from my cabin onboard the Norwegian Star sailing near Iceland! ???????? I know ‘The Sun DOESN’T SET’ might not sound possible, but I promise you it is! ???????? On this cruise, I’ve been visiting some of the most remote places on earth, some of which are so far north that they have 24-hour sunlight during the summer. ????️????️ I visited Svalbard (where I took a trip down a coal mine and crawled through a 60cm high tunnel), and there the sun…
ad • Greetings from the wonderful Norwegian Star, currently bobbing around near Norway! ???????????? The cruise I’m currently on is 12 days long, and we’re visiting Svalbard and Iceland, two places that I’ve never been to before. They’ve been on my to do list for a veeery long time. ???????? In Svalbard, the sun doesn’t set between the 20th of April and the 22nd of August. AT ALL. Isn’t that crazy?! I can’t wait to show you more of this adventure. Glad I’m not here in winter when it’s dark 24/7! ???????? I have…
I went on a cruise recently, and it was advertised as going to Paris and Bordeaux – but it didn’t. I was miles away from those places. The container ports we actually stopped at were miles away from the big … Read more
People often tell me that they think the cost of cruising is getting more and more expensive, often with hidden extras like service charges that aren’t included in the advertised price. Cruises range in price, and always have done. You … Read more
Many people think that Travel Insurance is just for major emergencies – medical issues, holiday cancellations etc.- but it covers many other things as well. Check your policy — you might have missed out on claiming money you are entitled … Read more
Many people assume that bigger ships will mean longer queues/ lines everywhere. It makes sense, in theory, that the more passengers onboard, the more crowding there should be. In reality, it’s not the size of the ship that matters. It’s … Read more
If you have ever considered taking a river cruise, you might wonder if you need to buy cruise-specific travel insurance. Some people assume that that is only necessary for ocean cruises, but that isn’t always the case. The answer depends … Read more
Side-by-side cruising is a term I hadn’t heard of until very recently. A side-by-side cruise is when a traveller books two separate cruises on different ships. Usually, these ships sail from the same port, one after the other. I have … Read more
My goodness me, what a week it has been! I hope yours is going well. ????????⚓️ This week, my video about the time I spent in Sierra Leone onboard a floating hospital ship went live. ????❤️ It was by far the most difficult video to make and edit, but I hope that I managed to put everything I’ve learnt over the last 8 years of YouTube-ing into it because it’s the most important video I’ve ever made. ???????????? The picture below is of a fake plastic dummy, by the way, not a real person. I was in the simulation…
Think cruise ships are just about buffets and sun loungers? Think again! Large modern cruise ships are basically floating cities at sea, and many have features that many wouldn’t expect. It’s not unusual to find a cruise ship with a … Read more
Some people would be surprised to find out that I do sometimes suffer from seasickness. I am a very motion-sick person in general. I can feel ill in taxis, sitting and travelling backwards on trains, in cars, ferries or cruise … Read more
2024 certainly was a year of cruising variety for me. I took ocean cruises, river cruises, a trip on a Norwegian ferry and even stayed on a floating hospital! Ever wondered how much I paid for each one or how … Read more
After 7 rough days at sea… I’m home! I’m so so glad I took the trip, but so so so glad to be back on land now. I feel so much better. ????❤️ I took a transatlantic from New York to Southampton onboard Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. I knew the weather might be bad in January, but I figured it’d either be good weather or a good story to tell you. It certainly will be that! ???????? This trip has confirmed to me that cruises with more than a couple of sea days in a row aren’t for me as, unfortunately, I do feel…
Happy New Year! I hope you have had a lovely Christmas. ???????? What an incredible journey 2024 has been, thank you SO much for your company on this crazy ride. ????❤️ We had a quiet family Christmas this year, and it was just what I needed. I got back from Sierra Leone on the 22nd and went straight into UK Christmas mode, it was quite a drastic change of scenery! I’m so so excited to share that trip with you very soon. ???????? Just wanted to give you a quick heads up, we’ve completely sold all of our…
Hey hey, I hope you’ve had a loooovely Christmas. ???????????? Just wanted to give you a quick heads up, we’ve completely sold all of our Captain Hudson V5’s that we had in the USA! There is some good news though if you are in the USA. We’ve got a few left in the UK, and we can send one over to you if you’d still like one! We post them to any country. This is your last chance to grab one so please please please don’t miss out. Once these are gone, that’s it. V5 won’t ever be back and his Captain’s…
Drumroll please… Last night, I attended the Cruise Critic UK awards, and below are a few of the winners: The winner of best new cruise ship at this years Cruise Critic awards was… Cunard’s Queen Anne! ???????????????? Having been onboard recently I think I’d agree with that one. She’s the first new Cunard ship in 14 years! ????????♀️???? Best Cabins: Celebrity Cruises Best Dining: Virgin Voyages Best Entertainment: Royal Caribbean International Best for Families: P&O Cruises Best Nightlife: MSC Cruises Best…
In December 2024, Cruise Critic U.K. revealed its 2024 Best in Cruise Awards winners. They highlighted the best in cruising as selected by Cruise Critic’s international editorial team. Cruise Critic Combines Editors’ Picks and Cruisers’ Choice Awards Cruise Critic has … Read more
I’ve seen somebody break a cruise rule on almost every cruise I’ve been on. Some are the type that just make you roll your eyes, others are things people knowingly or accidentally do that are against the rules. The worrying … Read more
When you think about cruising to Norway, you might think of fjords, waterfalls, and pretty coastal towns. It’s a stunning destination, no matter how or when you visit. If you’re looking for an intimate, immersive, and more personal experience, a … Read more