Planning

Most of us aren’t lucky enough to live within driving distance of a cruise port. Plenty of people onboard a cruise ship have to fly from their home into a port city before boarding their cruise.

Even if you live close to a cruise port, you might want to cruise to other destinations, which often requires airline travel.

Unlike on a Caribbean cruise where most days are spent lounging on a beach or a Mediterranean cruise where most days are spent exploring cities and visiting certain must-see historical attractions, shore excursions on an Alaska cruise are all about outdoor adventures. 

There’s no question that cruising can offer an affordable, convenient, and fun vacation. Unlimited food, tons of entertainment and plenty activities will certainly keep you and your travel group busy each day. You’ll also be waking up to a new port of call most mornings - what more can you ask for?

Everything in life has pros and cons, whether you're debating moving to a new city, starting a job, or even taking a vacation! 

If you're new to cruising, you are probably wondering if they are worth it or not. Would you enjoy everything that a cruise has to offer, or are you better off booking a land-based vacation?

Packing for a cruise can be a bit daunting if you’re unfamiliar with cruising or a first-time cruiser. Deciding what to pack for a cruise will ultimately depend on the length of your cruise, the ports on your itinerary, and the time of year you’re traveling.

In the excitement of an upcoming cruise, packing all that you need, those key must-haves can get lost in the shuffle. And while some things are nice to have, others are essential.  

Ever changing health protocols have added another layer of complexity to travel, making it easy to overlook some of the basics.  The last thing you want to do on a port day is run around looking for a forgotten item or pay 3 times the price for sunscreen. Time and money can be better spent elsewhere, especially on a cruise vacation.

Ladies - this one's for you!

Are you cruising soon and need to start packing? While some might get overwhelmed packing for a cruise, I find that the attire needed is actually very predictable!

What you will be heavily based on your itinerary. From the Caribbean, to Europe, Alaska, and even Asia, each destination requires a slightly different wardrobe. Your planned excursions and day-to-day style will also need to be considered when deciding what to pack. 

Going on a cruise has become increasingly popular, with modern ships providing a host of amenities and activities, along with great port destinations throughout the world.

For a first time cruiser, all of the choices and options can seem somewhat overwhelming. Cruise lines provide a wealth of information but it doesn’t hurt to get the help of a travel agent (free of cost), especially for the first time.

Whether it's deciding where to go, what cruise line, or which itinerary to pick, there are a few key items to plan to make the most of your first time cruise vacation.

There’s no vacation more special than your honeymoon. It’s the first time you and your new spouse will be jetting off as husband and wife! Love is in the air and your honeymoon provides much-needed relaxation to celebrate a new life chapter. 

If your wedding was anything like mine, planning the nuptials turned into a part-time job. I was excited to plan my honeymoon because I love to travel and plan all-things-vacation. However, some couples have no bandwidth to plan their honeymoon after being exhausted from planning the wedding itself.