Holland America Line satisfies a very specific niche in the cruise world, and honestly, it’s one of the reasons I like them so much. HAL is upscale without pretending it’s a luxury line, calm without being boring, and more focused on ports, food, service, and actual cruising than on zip…

Let's be honest - most cruise travel warnings are stuff you tune out pretty fast. Don't leave your drink unattended. Watch for pickpockets. Stay with the group. Don't wear flashy jewelry.  Yeah, yeah. But every so often, something happens that's worth actually paying attention to, and what went down in…

Disney Cruise Line has one of the most fiercely loyal fan bases in cruising. People who love Disney cruises tend to really love them, and I get it. You get the characters, the rotational dining, ships that are kept looking sharp despite their age, and service that makes a lot…

Here's the honest truth about picking a Carnival ship: it matters a lot more than most people think. Carnival has nearly 30 ships out there, ranging from fresh-out-of-the-shipyard megaships packed with every bell, whistle, roller coaster, and possible way to separate you from a few extra dollars, to ships that…

Think Europe is only a summer cruise destination? Think again. If you are tired of the sweltering heat, packed piazzas, and shoulder-to-shoulder museum tours, it is time to look at the off-season. Holland America Line just announced their new year-round Europe program on the beautiful Nieuw Statendam, and it is…

You've been sharing your cruise countdown on social media, luggage tags are printed, excursions are booked, and you've been obsessing over your Excel spreadsheet packing list. And then the email arrives... your cruise is canceled. It stings. But here's the thing: cruise cancellations happen more often than people realize, and…

Wow, it's day six already as this 7-day Alaskan sailing on the Disney Magic is winding down. This will be a bit of an unusual day: half sea day, half port day. We didn't arrive at our last destination, Ketchikan, until 2 PM. With all aboard at 7 PM, there's…

On this episode of ALONE: The Alaskan Frontier... day five of our 7-day Alaskan cruise on the Disney Magic finds us arriving in Icy Strait Point. The weather this morning was the best we've had since leaving Vancouver. Stepping out into mid-50s and sunshine with a projected high temperature in…

MSC Cruises is making history this summer and they're doing it with a whale watch on the bridge. The MSC Poesia is currently sailing its inaugural Alaska season out of Seattle, marking the first time MSC Cruises has ever deployed a ship to Alaska. That alone is a big deal.…

If you're cruising this year (2026), there's a good chance the alcohol policy for your cruise line looks a little different than it did a year or two ago. Several major lines have quietly updated their rules around what you can bring on board, what gets confiscated, and what fees…