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
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 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
I’ve always wanted to take a transatlantic crossing, experience a classic Ocean Liner route, and take that Iconic sailing from New York to Southampton. I booked the trip knowing the Atlantic in January is often rough, but I hoped the … Read more
Cruise lines are brilliant at making optional extras look essential, especially for first-timers. It is in their interests to make you spend as much money as possible with them whilst you are onboard. As a seasoned cruiser, I only spend … Read more
Most of us know that cruise ships are dismantled, and much of their construction materials are sorted and sent for recycling. But what happens to the ship’s contents? All those fixtures and fittings that are too good to be thrown … Read more
What happens to a cruise ship when she reaches the end of her cruising life? Thousands of passengers might have made lifelong memories on board, but all ships come to the end of their working life sooner or later. Cruise … Read more
Picture the scene, you have a wonderful cruise, get back home tired, but happy – then you realise you have left something behind on the ship. How on earth are you going to get it back? In this article, we … Read more
The cruise industry tracks the number of cruise ships sailing to the Caribbean and also the volume of passengers visiting the region. Numbers reached record levels in 2023 and 2024. The Caribbean has the largest share of global cruise itineraries. … Read more
It’s no secret that I love a bit of ship history! Living in the UK, I feel spoilt for choice when it comes to opportunities to visit places steeped in maritime history. And not just dusty old museums. You can … Read more
When I first set foot on a cruise ship, way back in 2005, my eleven-year-old mind was blown by all the amazing food and drink options, the entertainment, and the many things I could do onboard that I couldn’t do … Read more