Cruise Planning Guides & Resources

A Caribbean cruise is one of the most popular first cruises anyone takes — and for good reason. Warm water, easy beaches, a different island every day. But it's also one of the easiest to get wrong before you ever step onboard, because most first-timers book the very first itinerary they see without realizing something important: the Caribbean isn't one trip. It's essentially three completely different vacations. I'm a travel advisor, and I sailed a 10-day Southern Caribbean

On my last cruise, I booked an aft balcony cabin. I was thrilled about it — I'd heard those cabins have incredible views, and honestly, they were right. It was the best view I've ever had from a cruise cabin, and I've stayed in just about every corner of a ship. But I'd also heard that aft cabins can get exhaust fumes. I heard it. I just didn't take it seriously. And here's how that played out: every time I really wanted the door open, every time I wanted to sit out on that b

I've sailed on both Princess and Celebrity — and the question I get asked the most is which one is "better." Here's the honest answer: there isn't one. It depends entirely on who's traveling. Rather than telling you one line is better than the other, I want to walk you through the four real differences I noticed between the two, plus a decision framework you can use to figure out which line fits your travel style. Key Takeaways Princess Medallion lets you order food and drink

If you've watched my latest video, you already know the premise: after 20 years of travel planning and a lot of cruises — both mine and the ones I've helped plan for others — I've changed my mind on a surprising amount of "standard" cruise advice. Some of what gets repeated as common wisdom is actually a cruise mistake waiting to happen, depending on who you are and how you travel. This post expands on that video. The video covers nine of these because of time, but there are

One of the most common questions I hear from first-time cruisers is, "Where do I even start?" There are so many decisions to make when planning a cruise. Which cruise line should you choose? What cabin should you book? Which itinerary is best? Are cruise packages worth it? Should you book excursions? The problem is that many travelers start making decisions in the wrong order. Instead of asking what cruise I would choose, I want to help you think through the decisions that ma

When I booked my first Alaska cruise, I spent hours researching every detail. I wanted the perfect cabin, the right excursions, and the best possible experience. Alaska isn’t exactly the kind of trip most people take every year, so I wanted to get it right the first time. The funny thing is, after the cruise was over, I realized there were several things I would have done differently. None of these mistakes ruined my vacation. Alaska was still one of the most beautiful places

Planning your first Princess cruise is exciting—but it can also feel a little overwhelming. Between choosing dining options, figuring out embarkation day, understanding Princess Plus and Premier packages, and deciding whether you really need that Medallion shipped to your house, there are a lot of decisions to make. The good news? Most first-time cruisers have a fantastic vacation, even if they make a few mistakes along the way. The better news? A little preparation can help

Planning a Princess Cruise can feel surprisingly overwhelming once you start adding everything up. Princess Plus. Princess Premier. Specialty dining. Wi-Fi. Excursions. Balcony cabins. Spa treatments. The Sanctuary. Suddenly your “simple cruise vacation” has turned into a giant list of upgrades and add-ons, all promising to make your trip better. But here’s the good news: you absolutely do not need to pay for everything to have an amazing cruise. Some extras are genuinely wor

Planning a Mediterranean cruise sounds dreamy in theory. Italy. Spain. France. Greece. Gorgeous coastal cities. Amazing food. Bucket-list experiences. But what surprised me most after taking my first Mediterranean cruise was how different it felt from cruising in places like the Caribbean or Mexico. A Mediterranean cruise is incredible — but it also comes with longer flights, more logistics, packed port days, jet lag, and a lot more walking than many first-time cruisers expec

Kauai is one of those places where it’s incredibly easy to fall into the same itinerary as everyone else. Search for “best things to do in Kauai” and you’ll see the same recommendations over and over again: Hanalei Bay, Poipu Beach, Waimea Canyon, Wailua Falls. And honestly? Those places are beautiful and absolutely worth visiting. But Kauai has another side too. A quieter side. A slower side. The kind of experiences that make you feel like you discovered something instead of

Planning your first Princess cruise? You're probably wondering what's actually included, whether the Plus or Premier package is worth it, how the Medallion works, and what makes Princess different from other cruise lines. After sailing Princess multiple times, these are the things I genuinely think first-time Princess cruisers should know before boarding — including a few things that surprised me the most. If you'd rather watch than read, I also have a full video version embe

There are dozens of cruise lines, ships, itineraries, cabin types, drink packages, dining options, and excursion choices — and everyone online seems to have a different opinion about what you "should" book. If you're struggling to figure out how to choose the right cruise without overthinking every decision, you're not alone. After years of cruising and helping travelers plan vacations, I've found that choosing the best cruise becomes much easier when you stop trying to find